Flying Business Class with Qatar Airways

Flying Business Class with Qatar Airways is like being in a 5-star hotel in the sky. It is glamorous and what flying should be about. 

Normally, when an airline blows its own trumpet (on the company’s website, it says: “The World's Best Business Class, designed for you”,) you wonder whether you might be disappointed. Having been extremely underwhelmed with British Airways Business Class from London to Seoul, I did not want to get my hopes up too high. I need not have worried. Qatar and its new Qsuites fulfilled every promise. In fact the experience was even better than I could possibly have imagined. 

Qatar Airways QSuites

My first flight was on the airline's Airbus A330-300 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Doha, Qatar’s capital city. From the moment I got on board the crew made me feel special. I had no sooner sat down in my roomy pod when a stewardess introduced herself and said she would be looking after me on the flight. I was asked if I would like a glass of champagne before take-off which I willing accepted. 

After handing me a rather tempting menu, (you can eat when you want and what you want) she explained how the entertainment system worked, including the free wi-fi. She also showed me how to manoeuvre the seat into different positions, from flat to upright. There is a universal power plug and USB port should you need to charge any of your appliances. There was a bottle of water in one of the storage recesses which was a nice touch.

The crew seem to anticipate your needs. After discovering that I was staying in Doha, my stewardess wrote down a list of things to see and do in the city without me asking.

I was also presented with a set of PJs from the White Company as well as a Giorgio Armani cosmetic purse filled with a large tube of his Sì Body Lotion and a small bottle of the matching fragrance.

After take-off I watched a movie on my large touch-screen TV monitor while decadently enjoying a glass of Lanson rosé champagne accompanied by a bowl of scrumptious mixed hot nuts.

For dinner I finally chose a prawn salad to start followed by salmon. The food was delicious. (I was still hungry after my meal with BA Business Class and had to have a sandwich an hour later. Qatar also offered far more choice.) 

Qatar Airways QSuites

Beautifully served, course by course, it was just like being in a high-quality restaurant. The wine list was extensive so no problem in finding one or two great numbers to savour including a rather good Chablis Premier Cru. For pudding I opted for the fresh fruit platter, again a good-sized portion. I also had a plate of berries before I landed.

A feature that I particularly liked was the LED mood-lighting which helps passengers cope better with time differences. All I had to do was relax. The bed was so comfortable that I actually slept. (I find it difficult to sleep on planes.) The lighting must have worked because I certainly did not feel jaded at all when I arrived in Doha despite it being in the middle of the night.

At Hamad International Airport, Doha, the Business Class Lounge was on two floors, the upper being a restaurant where there was a lovely buffet, which was always being replenished, and a superb bar. There are also showers in the lounge should you need to freshen up. Despite its size it was soothing and peaceful.

From Doha, I boarded the Boeing 787-8 in trepidation thinking that the second time maybe disappointing. I need not have worried. Same excellent service by another multicultural professional crew. The Dreamliner has improved air-quality so again I did not get that jetlagged feeling when I got off the plane.

The Business Class cabin has been cleverly designed with the overhead lockers being recessed to make it feel spacious. 

This time I did not get a sleep suit from the White Company as the flight was slightly shorter but I did get a super bright yellow cosmetic purse from Bric’s, the Italian luxury luggage brand, which was filled with a mask, socks and goodies from Rituals.

Qatar Airways makes flying a pleasure. Just what the sophisticated traveller wants. The only problem, Qatar, is that you have spoilt me for travelling with any other airline.

By Daralyn Danns

For best rates visit qatarairways.com Qatar also has flights from Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham as well as Heathrow. There are now flights from Cardiff to Doha

Destination Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, crackles with dynamic energy. It is a leading player in technology, a major force in fashion and a foodie’s paradise. Here beauty trends are made and innovative lotions and potions created.

Today 10 million live in the city where drab uniformity melds with the spanking new. Old white buildings, reminiscent of those in the old communist countries and a stark reminder of a troubled past, sit beside cutting-edge skyscrapers that are testament to its place on the world stage and its quest for an even more powerful tomorrow.

Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

Over the centuries Korea has been invaded several times and occupied by its neighbours including China. From 1910 until 1945 it was under Japanese occupation. This was a double-edged sword, on one hand the regime was often brutal but on the other hand it gave birth to many aspects of South Korea’s modern society. Industry was developed and mass media such as radio and cinema were introduced.

After the Second World War Korea was, eventually in 1948, divided into two zones, the communist North and the capitalist South. Two years later North Korea invaded its neighbour. Three years of intense fighting took place which ended with the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953. Millions of Koreans lost their lives as did many Chinese and American soldiers.

The Korean Peninsula is still separated by the DMZ. Despite its name, the Demilitarised Zone  remains one of the world's most heavily militarised borders. (A day trip to the DMZ is a must on a visit to Korea as what happens here could affect all our lives thisdannsworld.blogspot.co.uk)

Seoul seen from Nansam Park

With sheer guts and determination, Seoul, in relatively few decades, went from rags to riches to emerge as one of the world’s star performers. It is not just high-tech, food and fashion that has grabbed it headlines but also its wealth of top-notch museums, first class architecture and a prominent art scene.

To get to grips with Seoul you have to understand where it came from as it is not what you would class as beautiful. So much of it was built out of need. Nobody cared about winning beauty contests, anything constructed had to be functional so they could cope with the large number people from the countryside who came to live and work in the capital. 

Seoul’s old palaces have been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the years. Gyeongbokgung Palace is the one high on tourists' sightseeing lists. Minutes from the President’s residence, the Blue House, it was originally built in 1395 and was the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty that ruled from 1392 until 1910. Gwanghwamum Gate is the impressive main gate of the palace and a renowned symbol of Seoul. 

Gwanghwamum , the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace

But, to appreciate Seoul, you need to get up close and personal with this electrifying 24-hour city.

On my first day I took a walk in Nansam Park up to the N Seoul Tower perched on top of Mount Nansam. On this cold, crisp sunny day, I was treated to a spectacular view of the capital and surrounding hills.

Bukchon Hanok Village, another hilly neighbourhood, is where you can see traditional Korean homes, called hanoks. These date back to the Joseon Dynasty.

Insa-dong captivated me with its quaintness. Here you can mooch round stores selling Korean handicrafts or explore the alleys awash with art galleries and typical restaurants and teahouses.

If you like markets and want to see if you can get your hands on a bargain, put the bustling Namdaemun Market on your itinerary. It is said to be the largest traditional market in the country selling goods as diverse as fine arts to flowers and ginseng.

Gangnam

For fast fashion, Dongdaemun Market is a must. There are approximately 20 shopping malls here stocked with an array of items to tempt you. 

Shopaholics will also want to head to Myeong-dong, one of the main shopping districts of Seoul. You will find plenty of department stores such as Shinsegae and Lotte which carry top-noch labels as well of plenty of shops overflowing with beauty masks for everything as well as the latest products. There are plenty of restaurants where you can refuel during your shopping expedition. 

A must to try is bibimbap, one of the most renowned Korean dishes. It is a bowl of steamed rice assorted vegetables mixed with chilli paste. Meat can be added and it is often topped with a fried egg. Another classic is kimchi, spicy, fermented cabbage. 

Itaewon

Itaewon, an edgy and gritty neighbourhood, buzzing with bars, clubs and restaurants as well as shops stocking a wide-range of goods from Korean pottery to jewellery to clothes and cosmetics. This multicultural area is popular with expats and tourists alike, especially at night.  

Head south of the Han River to the bustling upmarket district of Gangnam. to get a sense of Seoul today. High-rises are interspersed with shops stacked high with designer labels, beauty clinics as well as plenty of cafés and restaurants full of stylish people taking selfies. From theatres to clubs where you can party all night long, this exclusive neighbourhood is fast gaining a reputation as Seoul’s cultural hub. Rapper Psy renowned for his quirky 2012 hit Gangnam Style, has described the area as the capital of Seoul and from what I have seen I am in agreement.

When you are sauntering around Seoul it is hard to image that only 35 miles or so lies another world, the DMZ. Technically, the two Koreas may still be at war but judging the atmosphere in Seoul, life could not be better.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

I flew Business Class with British Airways. (For best rates, britishairways.com)

When you have flown Quatar Airlines you realise just how poor BA has become. It is like comparing a five-star hotel with a three-star

Stay at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. (For best rates visit seoul.grand.hyatt.com) It has a lovely, warm atmosphere even though it is a corporate hotel. Rooms are spacious and service good