Living the Champagne Life from Paris to Melbourne

My Qatar Airways QSuite adventure

Oh, man, am I spoiled now. How will I ever be able to face the prospect of a flight in economy class after being treated to what many million mile frequent fliers call the best airline experience in the world? Picture it: me, a mere mortal armed with nothing but frequent flyer miles and sheer determination, boarding not one but TWO Qatar Airways flights, first from Paris to Doha, Qatar, then from Doha to Melbourne, Australia. A total of 22 hours of flight in the skies’ equivalent of a five-star hotel. Yes, my friends, I’m talking about the legendary Qsuite—the epitome of aviation luxury.

Step 1: The Great Redemption

It all started with weeks of obsessively refreshing award availability back in early 2024. These seats are NOT easy to snag, which is how I ended up with a route from NYC to Paris to Australia to New Zealand to Japan to Hawaii to Boston. Every day, I played the "what flight is available?" game with the airline websites like it was a reality show where the prize was reclining in 22 square feet of airborne bliss. Who Wants To Fly Like A Millionaire? ME. Finally, the stars aligned, and my miles were redeemed, 344,000 in total. This is what happens when you fly for a living and don’t use any miles for 5 years. I was going to experience what influencers make look effortless: a bougie flight experience without creating a single TikTok video.

Step 2: Boarding the Qsuite (AKA The Throne Room)

When it was time to board, I casually strolled onto the plane, silently chanting, “Be cool, be cool.” Then I saw my Qsuite, and my phone came whipping out to get photos like I was a Swiftie at a Chiefs game. It wasn’t a seat; it was a small kingdom. There was a sliding door for privacy, endless storage compartments, and a lie-flat bed with a blanket so plush I half expected it to start purring like a spoiled cat.

The flight attendant came over to welcome me, calling me by name like we’d been school pals. “Would you like a glass of champagne?” he asked, and before I could respond, she added, “Or perhaps some Arabic coffee with dates?”

“Both?” I ventured, trying not to sound too greedy. He nodded indulgently. Clearly, I was new to all this, but he was letting me enjoy the experience.

Step 3: Gourmet Dining at 30,000 Feet

The flight from Paris to Doha was 6 hours, and my intention was to sleep in an attempt to get my body clock on an Australian schedule. Yeah, right, not when there’s an endless supply of amazing food. The dining experience was basically a Michelin-starred restaurant…but in the air. A lobster dumpling amuse bouche to start, sweet potato and pumpkin soup, and beef tenderloin from New South Wales. And check out the added ambiance of a little LED lantern! I had a bowl of mixed berries for dessert and managed to grab a couple of hours of sleep before landing in Doha.

Pro tip: You don’t have to worry about sleeping through the meal in a Qsuite. All food service is on demand, and you can order anything on the menu no matter what time of day it is. Breakfast for dinner? Why not? It’s 7:00 AM somewhere.

Lobster Dumpling to start

Step 4: Entering the Lounge Like a Rock Star

With the change of planes in Doha, I had access to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge. I wanted to swish in like a Kardashian, but even with the most comfortable flight ever, the changing time zones were starting to take their toll. I staggered like Jagger. The place was a shrine to indulgence. There were trickling fountains, gourmet food stations, and buttery soft leather chairs that whispered, “Come. Sit. You deserve it.”

I was tempted to have yet another meal in the lounge, but with just a 2 hour layover (and me wasting 20 minutes walking in the wrong direction looking for the lounge - have I mentioned the jet lag?), I just enjoyed a hot tea with Amaretto. The next leg would be the true test of comfort, 13 hours non-stop to Australia tucked in my high altitude bed.

Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge

Step 5: The Bed, The Pajamas, The Bliss

Speaking of beds, let’s talk about the lie-flat experience. Once the flight to Melbourne was at cruising altitude, I changed into Qatar Airways’ provided pajamas (yes, you get pajamas—because nothing says “luxury” like airborne loungewear). I returned to my seat to find that the flight attendant had transformed my Qsuite into a mini hotel room. The seat was now completely flat, a cushioned seat cover was placed down and I had not just one but two pillows awaiting my weary head.

As comfortable as it was, I wasn’t able to clock a solid 8 hours of sleep in one go. Instead, I treated the flight like an all-you-can-eat-and-watch buffet. First, I slept for 2 hours, then woke up for a snack—the cheese plate was the clear MVP, proving that even 30,000 feet up, cheese reigns supreme. Then, I queued up Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, because nothing says "calm inflight entertainment" like post-apocalyptic chaos. Plus, Australia. After another 2-hour snooze, it was time for popcorn and Inside Out 2, which seemed fitting since my emotions were having their own in-flight rollercoaster of anticipatory highs and travel nerves lows. One last 2-hour nap later, I was greeted by breakfast and IF, a movie I can’t tell if I dreamt or actually watched. With this staggered snooze schedule, the 13-hour flight zipped by, and when we landed at 11:30 PM Melbourne time, I felt surprisingly ready to grab a few more hours of sleep at the hotel—assuming I didn’t accidentally call room service for another cheese plate at 2 AM.

Pajamas and cheese - is this heaven?

Step 6: Landing Back to Reality

All good things must come to an end, and sadly, so did my Qsuite experience. As the plane descended, I mentally prepared to rejoin the ranks of regular humanity. But for those glorious hours, I’d lived the high life. I’d sipped champagne at altitude, eaten lobster while wearing pajamas, and closed a sliding door to avoid eye contact with the commoners (no offense, economy travelers—I’m one of you 99% of the time).

Final Thoughts

Flying Qatar Airways Qsuite with frequent flyer miles isn’t just a trip; it’s a magical experience. It’s the travel version of beating a video game on the hardest level, except instead of a trophy, you get a hot towel and a cheese plate.

If you ever get the chance to try it, do it. Burn the miles. Take the lobster. And when you’re back in economy on your next trip, clutch that memory like it’s the last piece of chocolate in the snack cart.

Because once you’ve tasted the Qsuite life, you’ll never look at seat 34B the same way again.