Among its many industry awards, Qatar Airways has won several for best food, such as this classic caviar service.QATARAIRWAYS 2024There are a few important awards and ratings for commercial aviation, but none carries as much clout as the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, the “Oscars of Aviation.” In the latest 2025 awards, Qatar Airways was named the World’s Best Airline for a record ninth time—more than any other carrier ever. It won 13 awards in all, also more than any other carrier, including regional wins for Cleanest Airline, Best Cabin Crew, Best Business Class, Best Economy Class and Best Airline in The Middle East (for the 13th time)—the most competitive luxury market in the world. On a global level, besides Airline of the Year, Qatar won for World’s Best Business Class Lounge (Doha), and most importantly, World’s Best Business Class Seat and World’s Best Business Class, what the airline is most famous for. After winning World’s Best Business Class for the ninth straight time, Qatar might be tempted to rest on its laurels, but instead, it is getting ready to roll out an even better upgraded version and new lounge.A New Golden Age Of AviationI follow trends in commercial aviation and recently gave a presentation on the “New Golden Age of Aviation” to luxury travel advisors at the annual conference of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), the leading industry group (and if you are looking to use a travel advisor, and you should, ASTA membership is an important qualification). I call it a new Golden Age because almost all of the better airlines around the world, including but not limited to Cathay Pacific, Singapore, EVA, ANA, Thai, Lufthansa, Swiss, Air France, Qantas, Air New Zealand, and even the big three US carriers, have either rolled out new upgraded versions of their premium cabins or are in the process of doing so, with investments of billions of dollars. United alone is scheduled to take possession of around 250 planes with enhanced premium cabins in just the next two years.Nine years ago Qatar changed aviation with its groundbreaking Qsuites, business class seats enclosed by privacy walls, available in singles or combined into doubles or this quad configuration, perfect for both business associates and families.Qatar AirwaysIn my presentation I highlighted three seminal moments in a commercial aviation history. In 1955 TWA added coach and invented the multi-cabin airliner. In 2000 British Airways rolled out Club World, the first lay flat business class seat, and even though there were flaws (like not having aisle access meant you had to climb over sleeping strangers) the idea of bed-like sleep on a plane revolutionized premium cabins.The World’s Best Business Class SeatIn the "Companion" configuration, special bedding turns two Qsuites into a couple's luxury hotel room in the sky.AMER SWEIDAN QATAR AIRWAYSMORE FOR YOUBut what I called the “Game changer” only occurred nine years ago, in 2017, when Qatar introduced the Qsuite, a lay flat seat enclosed by privacy walls and a door, with more comfort, more space, all aisle access, and most importantly more privacy, something that since the pandemic has become one of the most sought after elements of luxury travel. It also had one other revolutionary feature, pairs of seats designed for couples that could be combined (and four seat clusters for business colleagues or families), with the partition wall removed and special bedding to become a double bed in flight, taking the same shared travel experience you’d expect at a hotel above 30,000 feet. While the word “suite” is overused in aviation, and these are more accurately luxury pods (walls don’t reach the ceiling, there’s no second room and certainly no bathroom), just about every one of the improvements on the airlines listed above is a global scramble to catch up to Qsuites, which are not just the best business class seats, anchoring the world’s best business class, but are also better than the vast majority of First Class products in the world, and certainly most first class products flying to the United States. In the Next Gen Qsuites coming this year monitors fold out of the way to make each suite more spacious, but the suites, seats and beds are also all bigger. You still get the signature pajamas, of course.Qatar AirwaysThat’s an important distinction for my main audience, because while alleged social media “influencers” are always eager to take free flights and show videos of themselves in the tiny handful of ultra-luxury First Class suites in the sky, those with showers and such, very few of these serve U.S. airports. Likewise, many of the other new privacy focused business class “suites” are highly limited (for example, Swiss’ new high-end Senses flies only one route from Boston to Zurich and Cathay’s impressive new Aria only goes from three West Coast cities), whereas Qatar offers the industry leading Qsuites every day on flights to and from more than 10 North American gateways (though planes are always subject to logistical substitutions). It’s the best, but it’s also the most consistently available.But Don’t Forget EconomyThe Qsuite and lounges have been so high profile for the past decade that it is easy to associate Qatar purely with luxury. But when I check flights out of Boston, where I usually fly from, they are often less expensive to connecting destinations beyond Doha than the mainstream European carriers that are my other main options. Skytrax rated them the Best Economy Class and Best Economy Food in the Middle East, Global Traveller magazine rated them the Best Economy in the World, and AirlineRatings.com specifically noted that their economy coupled with exemplary business class made them the world’s best airline.If your budget is limited to Economy, you might as well fly the best economy available.Beyond The Seat: The World’s Best Business ClassI’ve flown in premium class on many of the world’s most awarded airlines, and last month tried Qatar again after a few years absence looking for insights into their unprecedented string of awards. The airline has won Best Business Class from Skytrax every single year since the Qsuite was released in 2017 (awards were suspended in 2020 for the pandemic), and is the only airline to ever win in the age of the privacy suite, but there is more to the successful formula than the seat, as evidenced by the fact that Qatar also won World’s Best Business Class in 2016, before the Qsuite existed. Every detail from food to amenity kits to cleanliness to entertainment is topnotch.Qatar AirwaysMy experience confirmed why they also win for things like best crew, cleanliness and notably, Best Onboard Business and Economy Class Catering Middle East. It was simply among the best in-flight meals I have ever had (Turkish Airlines is another award winner and personal favorite of mine in this category with its famous “flying chefs”), and to be honest, at any price and any airline with any celebrity chef figurehead, I expect relatively little of airline food, usually opt for the lounge instead, and generally it cannot compare to a decent restaurant—except this time my meals on Qatar did. You also have the freedom to choose what you want at boarding to make sure they don’t run out but order it to be served at any time during your flight. They are on your schedule, versus the airline industry norm, which is the reverse.It’s a lot of little things that add up. While some airlines boast of the brand of champagne they serve in premium cabins, on my four legs with Qatar I had three different wine lists, each with different topnotch French champagnes (brut and rose) as well as an interesting selection of Old and New World still wines, which is more interesting than getting the same thing over and over, even when the same thing is very good (after all, the foods change so why not the wines paired with them?). And whereas on many overnight flights even in premium class staff disappears for long stretches, on Qatar they work either side of the cabin in coordinated teams and are on top of everything from a service point of view. Qatar just won both Best Onboard Business and Economy Class Catering Middle East.Qatar AirwaysOne service issue really stood out to me. Many years ago, when I frequently flew US Airways (now part of American), I was upgraded to First on a domestic flight and accidentally left my noise cancelling headphones in the seat pocket. After getting off the plane I called the airline, and even though I had my boarding pass and they found the headphones at my seat, they would not return them because I did not have my name on them and thus could not prove they were mine. For real. The lack of logic and the couple of hundred dollars it cost me were infuriating, but I’ve let go of that. On this last trip, my wife accidentally left her entertainment kit, a zippered pouch with tablet, cords and headphones, in the under screen storage compartment (ironically because of all that was provided on the flight, she never needed to use her own entertainment or audio). We got off in Doha, transferred planes to Delhi, and she realized. When we landed she called Qatar, the next day they emailed us that it had been located, and a couple of days later the pouch was sent on its way and delivered to us at the Delhi airport.Of course, beyond excellent food and service, the privacy and comfort of the Qsuite is a big part of the experience, but so is the bedding, the storage, the entertainment system with a huge array of options, excellent screen and headphones. While most planes now have some form of in seat power, these vary, especially by current, and Qatar’s powerful 60-watt system allows for fast charging, while the airline recently added complimentary inflight Starlink Wi-Fi as a standard offering (in all classes), a huge benefit. Bathrooms are clean and stocked with toothbrush kits, amenity kits are first rate (Diptyque), and it’s one of the only Business Class products that provides sleeping wear (pajamas). Acclaimed aviation journalist and industry expert Ramsey Qubein, who knows more about the minute luxury differences between airlines than anyone I know, told me that it’s not even fair to compare Qatar to other Business Class because it’s more like what passes for First, and noted that “When it comes to food quality and presentation, Qatar and Turkish are outliers in Business. I really like the Doha airport, and Istanbul has an incredible array of lounges, restaurants and shopping. Qatar’s Business class is so nice, even the pajamas—very few carriers offer this outside of First.”The LoungesThe three award-winning lounges in Doha are huge, luxurious, and each has a lot of different seating options for every need, from sleep to work to relaxation.Qatar AirwaysTransiting in Doha is pretty easy, but even easier for Qatar premium class passengers who can access a special VIP immigration checkpoint that no one else qualifies for. The three lounges in Doha are stunning, which is why Qatar won three awards just for these: World’s Best Business Class Lounge, Best Business Class Lounge Middle East and Best First Class Lounge Middle East. I visited two of the Business class lounges in Doha, which are huge, and finding a quiet, comfortable and private (one of Qatar’s specialties) spot is no problem. Just a couple of months earlier I flew Business class on Qatar’s prime Middle Eastern competitor, known for its premium products, but in comparison found the lounge disappointing, having to take a seat surrounded by other people because it was so crowded, with food, service and amenities that were much less impressive, including lines at the bars as opposed to strolling staffers constantly trying to get you something, the Qatar approach. The Doha longes have something for every taste, with sit down restaurant service, sushi, grab and go buffets and in between counter service, plus tons of staff, lots of shower suites, quiet rooms for napping, even a gym and spa.There are no shortage of choices for how to enjoy Qatar's Doha business class lounges.Qatar AirwaysThe latest upgrade is the world's first-ever Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno, the ultra-acclaimed French chef second in the world in Michelin Stars (15). Like the luxury hotel within the hotel concept I’ve written about a lot in Las Vegas, this swank enclave is inside the Qatar Al Mourjan Business Lounge-The Garden, and accessible only to those who typically get lounge access (Business and First international passenger and Qatar Gold and Platinum members). It is a la carte, you pay for whatever you get, more a fancy restaurant that’s private than a typical lounge (like a high-brow version of United’s “secret” invitation-only Classified restaurant in Newark). It’s not my thing, as Qatar’s lounge is more than good enough (Best in the World winner) but I see how if you go through Doha regularly and money is no object you might want to try something different, so it’s another option.In a very simar vein, at one end of the lounge is a portal into the Dior Luxury Beauty Retreat, a branded Dior Spa you can spurge on—that’s in addition to the separate spa inside the lounge, about a 45-second walk away. Bonus VacationOne other big plus Qatar offers that few rivals can match (again only Turkish really comes close in this category) is its Doha stopover packages where you can add one to four nights in a 5-Star (Qatar rating not Forbes) hotel for $24 a night. Yes you read that right. Of course, if that’s too rich for your blood you can go 4-Star for $14, There are also lots of heavily discounted tours and activities. These kinds of airline stopovers are so good—two vacations in one trip—and so unknown to most travelers, that I recently did a feature on the subject here at Forbes, rounding up all the best programs of which Qatar is near the top.More AccoladesThe Skytrax World Airline Awards are the most prestigious, but they are hardly the only honors airlines compete for. The next most important authority is generally considered to be AirlineRatings.com, which rates for both safety, and in its World’s Best Awards, focuses “solely on the inflight product and passenger experience.” By excluding its award-winning lounges, its award-winning hub airport, and its exemplary staff and service off the plane, this is a potential competitive disadvantage for Qatar—but nonetheless, they were ranked the World’s Best Full Service Airline 2026. Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings.com, said, “It was a tight competition at the top, but Qatar’s value proposition, combined with a superior economy product and award-winning business class, secured that top position once again.”The Next Gen Qsuites are bigger, more private and have bigger seats and beds, but they also add details like a wider choice of lighting modes and more options available at a push of a button.Qatar AirwaysAnother high-profile rating comes from international publication Business Traveller Magazine, and in its most recent contest, Qatar made the headline: “Qatar Airways Wins Big At The Business Traveller Awards 2025.” How big? They were theoretically eligible for seven categories, but that includes Premium Economy, which they don’t have. Of the remaining six, the only one they didn’t win was Best Airport, which went to Singapore’s Changi—with Doha (where Qatar has 81% share of the flight market) coming in second. The five wins included Best Business Class, Best Lounges, Best Economy Class, and World’s Best Airline.What’s Next For The World’s Best Business Class?So how does an airline that already wins all the most important accolades get even better?The main event is the coming rollout of “Qsuite Next Gen.” The display sample was introduced to the world at the United Kingdom’s high profile Farnborough International Airshow in mid-2024 and is expected to start flying later this year (though the Iran conflict has slowed many Middle Eastern timetables). For the upgrade, Qatar doubled down on its signature connectivity of seats in various configurations, and the “Quad Suite,” four interconnected pods, has been redesigned with large 4K Panaosnic OLED monitors that are movable in an aviation first so they can be stowed out of the way, creating a large social or workspace for four people, co-workers or family, in what is essentially a giant airborne living room. The Quads also have enhanced design for dining together, extending the plane as hotel concept for families. The new moveable screens will also increase space in the popular two unit couples seats, the “Companion” suites, making them even more comfortable. In the current Qsuites Companion doubles are only in the middle, but Next Gen includes window Companion Suites, and many fliers strongly prefer the window. Technology on planes is always fast evolving, and Next Gen has enhanced lighting options and upgraded touchscreen passenger controls. But a big win is that the suites are even bigger, the walls are higher, the sliding doors now automated, and the seats themselves wider and more comfortable. A luxury stopover vacation in Doha is practically free when you fly business class on Qatar.gettyIn a recent very detailed deep dive into Next Gen, frequent flier site Simpleflying.com describes Next Gen as “a product designed to silence those who believed the original 2017 design was the apex of wide-body luxury,” which it has remained. Of the redesign they note “Qsuite Next Gen expands upon the idea that true luxury is measured in the cubic inches of personal space. Carriers globally have been tightening their cabin layouts to squeeze in extra rows, but Qatar Airways has opted for the opposite, pushing the boundaries of the wide-body fuselage. Every single detail, from the aircraft type to the placement of charging ports, has helped make Qsuite as spacious as possible.”“When transitioned into a lie-flat environment, the gains are even more pronounced, with the bed mode offering an additional four inches (10.2 centimeters) of lateral space at the hip and shoulder levels. This prevents the coffin-like sensation often associated with high-walled suites, providing a sleeping surface much closer to a standard bed. For these especially long flights, this growth can allow passengers to truly feel rested. The most startling metric, however, is the 100-inch (254-centimeter) total pitch, a figure that looks straight out of a first class product. This massive longitudinal footprint allows for a deeper recline and more generous storage cubbies, ensuring that even with a laptop, a meal, and a selection of amenities, the passenger never feels claustrophobic. Where every inch is a battleground for airlines, these measurements represent a decisive victory for those who value the freedom to stretch out.”The new higher walls and doors exceed the new business class being rolled out by just about everyone else, and Simpleflying thinks it’s a big enough difference to prevent passersbys gazing at you or not and for Qatar will “ensure they maintain a psychological barrier of privacy that rivals can only match in their much smaller first-class cabins.”What else is coming for travelers?Qatar is moving at JFK from Terminal Eight to the new Terminal One, and in the process, opening a new flagship lounge—its first in the United States.Even without the lounge, this is great news for New York area passengers. The main international terminal, Eight is older, crowded and hectic, and when I flew Qatar recently, the security and TSA lines were the worst I’ve seen in this country in recent years, an unsupervised free for all where anyone who wanted to jumped into “priority lane” and ahead of the dedicated business/first lanes, which in turn were much slower than the regular economy lanes. Had Qatar opened a new lounge in Eight, by the time I finally cleared security it would have been hard to even experience it. I did however take a quick peak into the British Airways premium lounge Qatar currently uses for Business class passengers (they are part of One World alliance with BA and American) and while nicer than a United, American or Delta lounge, with some interesting features, it is definitely not comparable to Qatar. Terminal One, on the other hand, is state the art and will only serve international carriers, with just 23 gates (once filled, it’s starting with less). The Port Authority, which runs the city’s three airports, has revamped terminals at La Guardia and Newark to widespread acclaim (La Guardia’s B won Skytrax Best New Airport Terminal in The World), and they bring these recent years of expertise and practice to JFK. The move in date has not been finalized but is scheduled for the second half of 2026 and will include the new 15,000-square foot Qatar lounge, which will feature the luxury of direct lounge to plane boarding, along with relaxation areas, prayer room, children’s play areas, elevated dining, and more. Very little detail has been released, but it’s hard to imagine it will not be a big luxury upgrade, and in a more manageable terminal. After all, to be the world’s best business class you have to standout on and off the plane.