Qatar Airways A380 First Class: Bar, Caviar, and a Stellar Award Deal
Since its inception, Qatar Airways First Class has been offered on key premium routes. But as the airline’s Qsuite Business Class turned into a headline act, First Class slipped into the shadows, at least on most aircrafts. And service standards were increasingly becoming blurred.
For a while, Qatar’s colorful former CEO Akbar Al Baker insisted the airline does not need First Class anymore. Qatar has since come full circle and a brand new First Class in smaller cabin is expected for next-gen 777s. If this 777X even makes it’s first delivery this decade!
Qatar still offers First Class on the Airbus A380 to select destinations (think London, Bangkok, Perth, Sydney) and on some leased Cathay 777 routes to South Asia.
So what’s the A380 First Class experience really like? And how does it compare to Qsuite Business Class? Let’s dive in.
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Flight Details
- Route: Bangkok (BKK) → Doha (DOH)
- Flight No: QR833
- Date: April 2024
- Departure: 9:05 pm
- Block Time: 7h 30m
- Aircraft: Airbus A380 (Tail: A7-APC)
- Seat: 1K (right window, front row)
Check-in & Security at BKK
I checked in via the Qatar app and, with no checked bags, headed straight to security. Bangkok’s screening is thorough, so the priority lane was a welcome timesaver.
Lounge in Bangkok
There’s no dedicated Qatar or other Oneworld First Class lounge at BKK, but Qatar’s own Premium Lounge is excellent—very close to a true First Class lounge experience.
Boarding Qatar Airways First Class
A last-minute shower meant I reached the gate ~30 minutes before departure.
General boarding was in full swing and the area was packed.
I slipped past most passengers, but my mobile boarding pass stopped working at the gate and had to be reprinted.
From there, a ground agent escorted me aboard and handed me to the crew at the upper-deck doors.
Grace, a wonderful Malaysian flight attendant, guided me to my seat.
If boarding had been on the lower deck, you’d get a grand entrance via this sweeping staircase:
Qatar Airways A380 First Class: Cabin & Seat
Qatar’s A380 features 8 open suites at the very front of the upper deck in a 1-2-1 layout.
Seat 1K was my home—right-side window, front row.
To say this is a spacious cabin would be an understatement..
The openness of the whole cabin creates that sense of space that you no longer feel in the most modern fully private First Suites these days..
The seat is long with a proper ottoman for buddy dining, a large IFE screen plus a handheld controller, and thousands of entertainment options.
Seat controls are intuitive and let you fine-tune recline and lumbar settings with ease.
The armrests are generously wide and comfortable.
One drawback: limited enclosed storage.
Beyond a slim laptop pocket near the armrest, most items must be stowed for taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Waiting at the seat: the plush maroon blanket, The White Company pyjama’s and slippers, and a Diptyque amenity kit.
The hard product isn’t “old,” but next to Qsuite’s sleek curves it does feel a touch dated.
Bright boarding lights didn’t help; the cabin looked far more premium once the mood lighting kicked in.
First Class Service & Dining
Within seconds of boarding, a welcome drink was offered.
Tonight’s star: Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millésime 2006, the same vintage poured in some flagship First products—served with warm nuts.
And yes, there were refills.
The beverage list was extensive (think top-shelf champagne, premium wines, and a serious spirits lineup):
It’s easy to see why Qatar consistently wins beverage awards.
On some First routes Qatar serves a 12-year Krug 2004; if stocks are low, the Rare 2006 is still a classy pour.
Soon after takeoff, the crew offered more drinks and delivered amenity kits.
Dining is à la carte and on demand. With an evening departure, the menu leaned dinner-heavy:
I ate around two hours after takeoff. We opened with caviar and batik-style salmon:
Perfectly presented, with blinis and classic garnishes—clean plates all around.
Next up: wild mushroom soup with truffle.
Superb—one of the best soups I’ve had in the air.
For the main, I chose the Beef short rib with Gaeng Koa white curry by Thai chef Ian Kittichai.
Every bite popped with layered Thai flavours, and the riceberry rice set it off beautifully.
I skipped the lobster and pomelo salad to save room for dessert: a steamed coconut custard by the same chef.
Quintessentially Thai—and delicious.
Onboard Bar: The A380 Showstopper
After dinner, the First Class crew insisted on walking me to the bar—and what a space.
It’s the largest bar on any commercial aircraft—around 30% bigger than Emirates’ A380 bar—with seating for roughly 15.
Better yet, I had it all to myself with two bartenders ready to shake and stir anything.
We bonded over our love for the A380.
The design is classic Qatar—rich finishes, warm lighting, and lounge-like seating.
First Class Lavatories on the A380
As with many A380 First Class cabins, Qatar provides two huge restrooms reserved for First passengers.
They’re nearly identical, fully stocked, and even finished with fresh orchids for a homier vibe.
Qatar First Class Bed
With about 2.5 hours left, I asked the crew to make the bed and queued a movie.
For an airplane, it’s a genuinely spacious bed.
Two full-size pillows, a thick mattress pad, and a duvet made it cozy and plush—perfect for a long-haul sleep or movie night.
On a 15-hour sector to Perth, I could have easily logged eight hours of sleep. About an hour before landing, the crew offered snacks or more food, but I was still too full.
Overall Verdict
This was a fantastic Qatar Airways First Class flight. Service felt genuinely pampering and the A380 remains a magical way to fly First.
While Qatar has been non-committal about the future of First Class, there’s still a meaningful gap between this A380 First and even the excellent Qsuite Business—especially with the bar, the sprawling lavatories, and slightly elevated dining.
How I booked: I used 50,000 American AAdvantage miles + $126 in taxes and fees—an absolute steal for First Class.
Pros
- Spacious open-suite seat with excellent bedding
- Outstanding onboard bar—largest of any commercial jet
- Top-tier dining (caviar, chef-designed mains) and premium champagne
- Huge First Class lavatories stocked with amenities
- Attentive, personable service
- Great award value via AAdvantage on this route
Cons
- Limited enclosed storage at the seat
- Hard product design feels a bit dated next to Qsuite
- First Class availability limited to select A380 routes
Qatar A380 First Class: FAQs
Is Qatar Airways First Class worth it over Qsuite?
On the A380, yes if you value the bar, larger lavatories, elevated champagne, and a more personalized service flow. Qsuite remains phenomenal, but First adds exclusivity and space.
Can I dine on demand in First Class?
Yes—Qatar offers à la carte, dine-anytime service in First (and in many Business cabins as well).
Which champagne was served?
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millésime 2006 on my flight; Qatar also serves Krug 2004 on some First routes subject to stock.
What’s the best way to book Qatar First Class with miles?
Look for award space via partners; this flight priced at 50,000 American AAdvantage miles + taxes/fees, which is exceptional value.
Faze, founder of Wander Up Front and Elevate Your Stay, is a London-based travel specialist with a deep passion for aviation. With over 2 million miles flown, he has spent the last 7 years focusing on First and Business class experiences.
Faze provides straightforward, no-frills insights into premium airline products and services, sharing what matters to help travellers make informed choices.
Follow him on his adventures and behind the scene stories on Instagram !