Jane and I are off to the United Kingdom and Ireland for three weeks. The itinerary includes: flying to London with Qatar Airways; 5 days in London; Cardiff for two days; Dublin for two days; self drive around Ireland and Northern Ireland ending in Belfast; Edinburgh; self drive around Scotland for five days; returning back to Edinburgh before heading home.
This trip has special significance, as we’re carrying some of the ashes of my Mother and Father who both passed away in the last twelve months. We are meeting up with my cousins, Keith and Alison in Edinburgh to spread the ashes of my parents and Keith and Alison’s parents on Arthur’s Seat overlooking their homeland city of Edinburgh. I was lucky enough to visit Edinburgh in 2024 with my Dad while he was still able.
We had booked the flights late 2025 to get the best possible deal. After spending days analysing the prices and whether we can use our frequent flier points, we decided to book economy with Qatar Airways, flying via Doha. My dream was to fly business class, but we didn’t have the required points and the prices was outside our budget.
My dad passed away in August 2025, and my mum followed soon after in February this year. It was incredibly hard to watch their decline over the past few years, but they built a good life together and created a loving family. Although we’re not a particularly spiritual family, my sister Ann and I felt it would be meaningful to take some of their ashes back to Scotland, where they both grew up.
As the flight day grew closer I kept an eye on the business class upgrade offer from Qatar. It was still very high one week away from departure. But eventually it did come lower and we snapped up the Perth to London leg. The Edinburgh to Perth leg was still very high, so we left that as economy (for now). So we’re flying to London Business Class – how exciting!
QSuite
The Perth to Doha leg was on a Boeing 777-300ER with QSuite Business Class. This is widely accepted as the best business class in the world.
We arrived and checked in early to take advantage of the lounge. Qatar Airways uses the Air New Zealand lounge at Perth Airport. It’s fairly small and basic, by world standards, but the booze flowed freely and the food was ok.
Priority boarding soon had us settling into our home for the next 11 hours. WOW the seats … or should I say cubicle was spectacular. Where’s my champagne? It came with the level of service we were quickly going to get used to.
There were no set meal times, the flight attendants took our orders from the menu and will be delivered whenever we wish. I was still full, so I ordered a cheese platter after take off and breakfast before we land in Doha. Boarding at 10.30pm means much of the flight is overnight. The biggest advantage of business class is you get a flat bed in which to sleep. I got my cheese platter along with a classic gin martini. I settled in and watched a movie, Anaconda (the 2026 reboot) starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd. It was ok. After the movie I got changed into my complimentary pyjamas. When I got back to my seat the attendant have converted it into a bed. Nighty night.
I had a pretty good sleep. Probably around six hours. with still 2 and half hours to Doha I freshened up and changed back into my clothes. By bed was returned to a seat when I go back. Then breakfast was served.
Doha
We arrived ahead of schedule in Doha and went immediately into the Al Mourjan Business Lounge. Wow the lounge seemed as big as Perth Airport itself. It was 5.30am – too early for the breakfast buffet, although Jane and I just had breakfast on the plane and weren’t really hungry. We found a nice spot to sit. I had a coffee while Jane went for a shower. I had a shower later.
We decided to check out the buffet and had a little bite to sample the food. No bacon – but was expected in a Middle East country. We decided to see if the bar served Bloody Marys – they did indeed – not expected in a Middle East country.
“Normal” Business Class
The leg from Doha to London was on a Airbus A380. This aircraft wasn’t fitted with QSuite. But the “normal” business class was still spectacular. Where is missed with no QSuite, it made up for with a lounge area. This is a full bar surrounded by seats. After another breakfast (3rd one on the trip) we visited the lounge and had more bloody marys. We also had canapes and I had a couple of drams of The Glenlivet.
We arrived at London Heathrow again ahead of schedule very refreshed (and a little tipsy). Through immigration with no line and delay out to a waiting taxi.
What an experience. There was nothing to fault in the whole journey. Qatar Business Class is truly magnificent.
Thanks Dad.
JellyfishKing Travel 