How to enjoy the ‘world’s best business class’ without actually flying business

Recently, I travelled from Johannesburg to Seoul, South Korea, on Qatar Airways. That’s some pretty serious air time — 8.5-hours to Doha, a few hours’ wait at the airport, then another nine hours in the sky. Flying in first or business class, naturally, would make such an odyssey infinitely more enjoyable but sometimes economy is just non-negotiable. 

That’s how I flew, and not unhappily as even economy on Qatar is pleasant enough. But I did get to test a rather clever way to break the journey with a bit of a treat: by booking the airline’s Al Maha service, a personalised “meet and assist” option for passengers passing through Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Hamad International is one of my favourites for a layover anyway — it is open 24 hours and there are lots of shopping and eating options. Plus, if you’re on a budget and simply need to recharge (your body and your devices), it has free “quiet rooms”, with lounger-style chairs alongside banks of plugs.

But booking the Al Maha option as a transit passenger will firstly save you some time and hassle getting from the plane through security and into the airport. With the “platinum” service, I exited the plane to find a hostess standing at the foot of the stairs with my name on a board.

While all the other passengers piled onto a bus to carry them to the terminal, my escort and I boarded a separate, empty bus. Then, at security, I was fast tracked through the business-class queue — a nice shortcut when you’ve just spent more than eight hours on a plane — and was soon aboard a buggy being whizzed towards the Al Mourjan Business Lounge — The Garden.* 

There are showers, a smoker’s lounge, and for eating you can choose between a sit-down à la carte meal or dishing up your own from a buffet.

There are also two full bars and a large contingent of staff on hand to cater to your whims. Of course, there are also work spaces and wifi.

My hostess helped me at the check-in desk and left with instructions to meet her back there at the same time that my next flight was scheduled to start boarding.

My few hours in the lounge felt so indulgent, in fact, with a great meal and a glass of champagne, that I wouldn’t have minded an even longer layover. But, of course, it had to end, with another buggy ride and a fast-track to the front of the boarding queue.

It didn’t seem so bad after all that to turn right at the top of the stairs, with plans for a movie and (hopefully) a sleep and exciting Seoul waiting on the other side.   

• The Platinum transit service costs 375 Qatari Riyal (about R1,869.28) and is available to passengers in any class. There are also Al Maha services for arrivals in Doha, which include assistance through immigration and customs plus porters, as well as for departures, which include porters and lounge access. Find out more here.

* The Platinum booking officially includes access to the Oryx lounge. However, my hostess said we would be going to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge — The Garden as it was the closest one to my exit gate.