Wayfarer TV review: Emirates v Etihad v Qatar Airways business class cabins

by James Wilkinson

The ME3 – or Middle Eastern 3 – as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are known, offer some of the best Business Class cabins in the sky.

The Dubai-, Abu Dhabi- and Doha-based airlines have all created super-hubs that have made travel faster to many corners of the world, especially from Asia-Pacific to Europe. The ME3 have also been incredibly popular for business travellers, thanks to not just shaving the time off travel but also onboard product.

Qatar’s innovative QSuite cabin and Etihad Airways’ Business Studio (above)

Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have raised the bar in recent years when it comes to Business Class, offering a cabin that includes spacious seats, top-quality food and wine, epic entertainment and onboard lounges and bars.

In this special report, WAYFARER Host and Editor-In-Chief, James Gregory Wilkinson, finds out what you can expect in Business Class on Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways in three TV reports.

Emirates’ impressive Business Class cabin

EMIRATES: BUSINESS CLASS

Dubai-based Emirates is recognised as one of the world’s best airlines and thanks to its onboard product, lounges and global connectivity, it keeps improving with every month.

From the onboard food and wine – which includes premium bottles of Bordeaux worth over USD$100 in Business Class and have an emphasis on high quality meals led by Emirates’ SVP of Inflight Catering, Joost Heymeijer – is some of the best to be found anywhere in the world, while eating and drinking in the global lounges is also an exceptional experience.

With one of the most expansive networks in the sky, Emirates can fly you to most key business destinations with just one stop.

Here’s what you can expect on Emirates in Business Class.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS: BUSINESS STUDIO

In recent years, Etihad has continued to improve its Business Class offering so much that the product has quickly become one of the best offerings in the world.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s latest offering, the Business Studio, is so luxurious, spacious and innovative that you could be forgiven for thinking you’re actually flying in First Class.

The food and wine impresses, as does the service and with a new mid-field terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport set to open soon, the lounge offering will go to even greater heights.

Here’s what you can expect on Etihad Airways with the Business Studio offering.

QATAR AIRWAYS: QSUITE

Qatar Airways launched its new QSuite Business Class product in early 2017 and the airline’s CEO, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, promised it would revolutionise travel across the globe.

He has certainly come through on his promise because QSuite has become a first class product in business class and it is an experience that right now that is one of the best in the sky.

Patented by Qatar Airways, Qsuite features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as private cabins for up to four people with privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.

Here’s what you can expect on Qatar Airways with the QSuite offering.

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