QATAR AIRWAYS: Would I book Business Class just for the caviar service?

The simple answer is ‘No’. I would book Qatar Airways because of their service and cabins, but only if the price was also right.

I was brought up in a household where money mattered. My parents had strict rules on what was worth paying for and what was not. They may have disagreed on the finer points sometimes, but they certainly passed on their values to me.

My mother thought clothes were important, and that paying for quality was worth it. She was the daughter of a seamstress, which might explain that. My father thought how you looked was important, but had severe limits on what he was prepared to pay for that look. Let’s just say that he did the grocery shopping and our larder was always stocked well, because when there was a special or two-for-one offer, my dad bought up big.

The price of airline tickets

I’m the result of those two streams of thought. I’ll pay for a Business Class lie-flat seat, because at my age, and for the distances I fly, that’s the only comfortable way to travel. But I won’t pay any price. I’ll look for what I consider the best value. If that involves an extra stop, so be it.

So for instance, you won’t get me flying business for AU$17,000 on Qantas between Australia and Europe, when I can get a fare on Oman Air and Thai – both of which I think have superior service to Qantas – even when it involves two stops instead of one for a little over AU$7,000.

Will I pay extra for Caviar?

The answer here again is ‘No’, with qualifications. If I was travelling next week, and I had the choice of flying with Thai or Qatar, and the price difference was AU$400, I might be tempted. Not primarily because of the caviar, but because Qatar in whatever configuration has a better seat on a better aircraft – the A380 – than Thai’s A350 seat. So for a few extra hundred dollars for the comfort and less travel time, and the bonus of caviar service, I might be persuaded.

Qatar Airways will give you caviar service in Business Class on 13 routes including Sydney

All of that preamble is by way of announcing that Qatar Airways from 15 August will be introducing caviar service in Business Class on routes to and from Sydney. And services to a total of 13 other destinations including between Doha and:

• Boston
• Dallas
• Hong Kong
• Houston
• London
• Los Angeles
• Melbourne
• New York
• Paris
• Sao Paulo
• Singapore
• Sydney
• Washington

2PAXfly Takeout

Caviar service on Qatar Business Class is a nice addition, but I won’t be basing my travel decisions on this. Price, duration, seat comfort, aircraft type and cabin service will come first. Next is food, and somewhere under that is caviar service.

Having said that, I think this is at least a marketing coup for Qatar Airways. If I’m travelling with them, I’ll be ordering the caviar along with a shot of vodka.