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Qatar Airways A380 tour: Economy class

17 Sep 2014 by Tom Otley
Qatar Airways’ Airbus A380

Qatar Airways has received the first two of its A380 superjumbos.

There are three classes on board — first, business and economy.

Qatar Airways A380 First Class

First class is configured with eight suites on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat features a 90-inch fully-flat bed, a 26-inch high-definition in-flight entertainment screen and direct aisle access.

 

Qatar AIrways business class 4 (916x687)

Business has 48 seats on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat features an 80-inch fully-flat bed (with an effective pitch of 51 inches)a 17-inch HD in-flight entertainment screen and direct aisle access.

Economy Class

 

Qatar Airways A380 economy class main deck

Economy

Here, we take a closer look at the economy cabins.

There are 56 economy seats on the upper deck in a 2-4-2 configuration and 405 seats on the main deck in a 3-4-3 configuration. Each seat has a 10.6-inch in-flight entertainment screen.

Economy occupies the whole of the main deck in four cabins and the rear of the upper deck.

Qatar Airways A380 economy class upper deck

Economy: Rearmost cabin on the upper deck

Qatar Airways A380 economy class upper deck

View from the back of the rearmost cabin on the upper deck

Qatar Airways A380 economy class upper deck, side storage

Each economy seat has a 10.6-inch inflight entertainment screen

Qatar Airways A380 premium lounge upper deck

Potential noise: Note that immediately in front of the rear (economy) cabin on the upper deck is the premium lounge and bar area

There’s no doubt that the rearmost cabin on the upper deck will be the one that economy class flyers will hope to grab a seat in.

This is because it is small, exclusive, and offers several seats with extra leg room since there is an emergency exit halfway through the cabin. So, in addition to the front row, there is an emergency exit row as well.

Qatar Airways A380 economy class upper deck, rear staiwell

As you’d expect, the best seats are the window seats because of the extra side storage, although note that the overhead lockers are smaller than on the main deck.

Bear in mind, however, that immediately in front of this cabin is the premium lounge and bar area.

This is separated by a curtain on either side. For economy passengers in the front part of that economy class cabin, there may be sounds coming from the bar as you sit through the flight. For that reason, I’d go for the seats in the back half of the cabin.

Stairs at the back of this cabin (see right) go down to the main deck, where there are four cabins of economy class seating in a 3-4-3 configuration.

Qatar Airways A380 economy class main deck

Rear cabin on the main deck: All four economy cabins on this level are 3-4-3

Qatar Airways A380 economy class main deck

Moving forward: The next cabin

Qatar Airways A380 economy class main deck

Further forward: The cabin one from the front

Qatar Airways A380 economy class main deck

Front cabin: The stairs in the middle go up to first class

Qatar Airways A380 front stairs up to first class

Stairway to heaven: Up to first class, these steps are level — my photography isn’t

Qatar Airways A380 seat map main deck and upper deck

Seat map: Provided by Qatar Airways

qatarairways.com

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