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Premium Asian and Middle Eastern carriers offer premium economy as a separate class and product. That is how 
Qatar Airways markets its Comfort+ product. However, there is a key distinction that its marketing department likes to keep quiet. Comfort+ acts as upgraded economy. The downgrade compared to other carriers with a true premium economy product is because Qatar Airways offers the product on leased jets that Qatar Airways took on to cover delivery delays.
As a result, the Comfort+ seats are old Cathay Pacific and Virgin Australia premium economy products, which are now outdated and aren’t matched by a premium economy level of service. The use of Comfort+ rather than true premium economy is a central Qatar Airways strategy, whereby it leans into the strength of its pre-existing economy product and flagship Qsuite business class.
How Much Of An Upgrade Is Comfort+ Over Economy?
At first glance, Comfort+ is a substantial step up from what Qatar Airways offers in economy. These extra-legroom seats have a 38-inch (96.5 cm) pitch compared with 32 inches (81.3 cm) in economy. The width is also an improvement at 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) compared with 18.5 inches (47 cm). The ex- Virgin Australia Comfort+ seat layouts have a more generous 41 inches (104 cm) of pitch.
Comfort+ seats come with a deep eight-inch (20.3 cm) recline and a 10.6-inch (26.9 cm) in-flight entertainment screen (measured diagonally), both of which are substantial improvements over basic economy. Furthermore, the dimensions alone don’t tell a full story. The seat is much better padded than in economy, so long-haul flying won’t leave you feeling numb.
The rows also have a far less cramped layout, with a 2-4-2 configuration rather than the economy cabin’s 3-4-3. That means each row has eight rather than ten passengers, and only four passengers without direct aisle access compared with six. The configuration is also ideal for couples who can sit together without having unwanted company. Comfort+ is only available on select aircraft, but you can most commonly find it aboard the carrier’s Boeing 777s.
These jets were formerly flown by Cathay Pacific and Virgin Australia. Qatar Airways chose to take on these jets in response to ongoing manufacturing delays with its orders from Boeing and Airbus. As with all upgrades in commercial aviation, you’ll need to pay an additional fee to enjoy the Comfort+ product. This varies depending on the route you are on. Executive Traveller claims the additional cost is around €150 ($170) between Doha and most covered European cities.
The Seat Is Comfort+’s Only Improvement
Qatar Airways’ Comfort+ seat would fit into other carriers’ premium economy products without issue, although it isn’t as cutting-edge as the most modern offerings, such as Emirates’ new cabin as seen above. However, premium economy products are more than just a better seat. You can expect improved meals and drinks, which you can select from a bespoke premium economy menu.
These premium economy cabins also have dedicated and more attentive cabin crew, amenity kits, and upgraded pillows and blankets. The result is a lighter version of business class rather than an uplifted premium economy. You won’t be able to get any of these when flying in Qatar Airways’ closest equivalent to premium economy. However, Comfort+ could feel worth it because of the excellent standard of economy class service that you can expect.
One of the ways that Qatar Airways’ economy class excels is in its meal services. You can expect multi-course meals served throughout your flight with proper metal cutlery rather than the usual flimsy plastic. Long-haul passengers will usually have three main courses to choose from, which you can view on the airline’s app up to 14 days prior to departure. Qatar Airways says that passengers can:
“Delight your taste buds with fresh ingredients and regionally-inspired flavours, skillfully combined by our award-winning chefs to create delicious meals from around the world.”
An A350 Row In 2021: Why Qatar Airways Leases Cathay Pacific 777s
Comfort+ is available because of Boeing 777-300ERs that are in the Qatar Airways fleet because of issues with Boeing and Airbus deliveries experienced by the airline over the last several years. In the case of the carrier’s Cathay Pacific 777s, these came into the airline’s possession because of a dispute with Airbus over Airbus A350 paint.
As reported by Simple Flying’s Tom Boon in December 2021, the dispute came to a head when an A350 flew to Dublin to be repainted. Airbus insisted it was a cosmetic matter, not an airworthiness issue. Qatar Airways disagreed, with the dispute setting back the A350 delivery timeline. The table below shows the current Qatar Airways widebody fleet according to data collected by Planespotters.net. It shows how the carrier’s 777s and A350s fit into its operations.
Aircraft | In service | Parked | Total | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Airbus A330 | None | 14 | 14 | 1 |
Airbus A350 | 63 | None | 63 | 1 |
Airbus A380 | 7 | 1 | 8 | None |
Boeing 777 | 92 | 1 | 93 | 11 |
Boeing 787 | 58 | 2 | 60 | 1 |
The dispute grounded 21 of Qatar Airways’ then-fleet of A350, roughly 10% of its total capacity. It made plans to lease four 777s from Cathay Pacific to fill the gap. The Hong Kong flag carrier was happy to accept a slight drop in capacity due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic and local protests, which were reducing demand.
The New Qsuite Product Suggests No Focus On Premium Economy
Until Qatar Airways finally bites the bullet, questions remain about when the carrier will go all in with a premium economy product. Recent announcements from the airline suggest that its priorities could not be further away. This spring, Simple Flying’s Alexander Mitchell reported that Qatar’s flag carrier has a new business class product, Qsuite Next Generation, coming to the airline’s much-delayed Boeing 777-9 fleet. A full launch is expected towards the end of the 2020s.
Meanwhile, the product will make its debut on the carrier’s Airbus A350-1000s, and it should be available for customers later this year. The Next Generation Qsuite should be seen as a doubling down and an upgrade on the current Qsuite product. It is due to increasing competition in the high-end business class space.
Carriers like 
Emirates, Air France, Lufthansa, ANA, and Riyadh Air are all rolling out enclosed business suites, giving their passengers a new degree of privacy and space. Qsuite Next Generation also has a focus on work-life balance, with Qatar Airways intending to create a space where passengers can work, relax, and rest without sacrificing their level of privacy. The post embedded above reveals some of what Qsuite Next Generation passengers can expect to find when flying aboard the new product.
Qatar Airways unveiled its new business class product at Farnborough International Airshow in 2024. Its then-Group Chief Executive Officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said that “we are excited to have finally revealed the long-awaited Qsuite Next Gen at the Farnborough International Airshow. Qatar Airways has once again raised the bar for its award-winning product, the Qsuite.”
Qatar Airways Is Also Looking To Use The Boeing 777X For A New First Class Product
Another indication that Qatar Airways is doubling down on its lack of interest in a proper premium economy product comes when we look closer at its plans for its incoming 777X fleet. Although Qatar Airways had previously questioned whether first class had a future, the carrier has teased a private-jet-inspired first class suite. This product replaces its first class A380 experience. It will be available on the carrier’s most premium-heavy long-haul routes.
The concept behind the first class product is that it will not be an upgraded Qsuite. Qsuite Next Generation has already been built with this in mind. Instead, when designing the product, the airline drew heavily from Qatar Executive. This is the carrier’s private jet subsidiary. That means customers can expect something even better and more exclusive than traditional commercial aviation. Much of this exclusivity will be built around the fact that the first-class cabin will be incredibly small.
The main suggestion is that 777-9 first class for most airlines will have up to just four first class suites. These suites could be configured across a single row. The 777X’s high cabin width will allow the first class suites to be substantially wider and more spacious than Qsuite or Qsuite Next Generation. The product will also likely be exclusive to the 777-9. That will allow Qatar Airways to make the 777X its flagship aircraft. Qatar Airways currently has 124 777X aircraft on order.
34 of these are 777-8Fs, while the rest will be 777-9s. The carrier has shown incredible confidence in the 777X despite ongoing certification and delivery delays. When Qatar Airways signed an expansion of its 777X order at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope said that “we appreciate their confidence that Boeing’s market-leading widebody family will provide outstanding fuel efficiency and a superior passenger experience for its global operations.”
