Qatar Airways regularly wins awards as one of the world’s best airlines. However, most of the attention centres on the Qsuite and business class. What is the reality in standard economy class?

On our journey from Prague to Bangkok via Doha, my girlfriend and I took two flights of similar duration. The first, lasting about 5 hours, was on a Boeing 787-8, and the second, lasting roughly 7 hours, was on a Boeing 777-300ER.

Both flights were full; I rate the service and food very highly, and the transfer in Doha went absolutely smoothly. However, the comfort of the seats themselves differed significantly between the two aircraft.

And, somewhat surprisingly, the older Boeing 777 came out on top for me.

Journey overview

	Prague–Doha	Doha–Bangkok
Aircraft	Boeing 787-8	Boeing 777-300ER
Flight duration	5 hours 5 minutes	6 hours 55 minutes
Economy class configuration	3-3-3	3-4-3
Legroom	78 cm	81 cm
Choice of main courses	3	3
Amenity kit	No	yes
Seat	Uncomfortable headrest	significantly more comfortable
Overall impression	above average for economy class	the better of the two flights

We paid approximately 536 eur per person for a one-way ticket from Prague to Bangkok.

It wasthe cheapestway to get from Prague to Bangkok on a fixed date and at short notice (I booked the flights 8 days before departure).

What was included in the ticket price?

Our specific ticket included

• one piece of checked-in luggage up to 25 kg
• one piece of hand luggage + one personal item
• free standard seat selection
• meals and drinks on both flights
• in-flight entertainment
• blanket, pillow and headphones (and a small amenity kit on the second flight)

A checked-in suitcase is an important factor when comparing prices.

Qatar Airways may not appear to be the cheapest at first glance, but with our ticket we didn’t have to pay extra for luggage, as is the case with some of the cheapest fares offered by Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and other competitors.

I thought the price of around 536 eur for a one-way ticket from Prague to Bangkok was reasonable, given the length of the journey, the luggage allowance and the quality of service.

Compare Qatar Airways flight prices

Where did I credit the miles?

I try to earn miles on every flight, which I then mainly use for bonus business class tickets.

Qatar Airways is part of the oneworld alliance, so you don’t have to credit your miles solely to the Qatar Airways programme.

I most often collect them with Alaska Airlines, as it offers a wide range of redemption options and the miles don’t expire there.

Our flight was booked in fare class V. You’ll usually find out the exact fare class once the ticket has been issued, and the number of miles earned depends on this:

• Alaska Airlines: 25 per cent of the distance actually flown
• Qatar Airways: 50% of the distance actually flown

That is why I chose the Qatar Airways Privilege Club programme this time.

Each of us therefore earned approximately 3,210 Avios for the entire journey, but as Qatar Airways allows miles to be accumulated for all passengers via a family account, we have a total of 6,421 Avios for this trip in a single account.

Check-in in Prague: online check-in pays off

Check-in at Prague Airport was probably the weakest part of the whole trip.

A very long and, above all, poorly organised queue had formed at the Qatar Airways counters. A large proportion of the passengers were Vietnamese travellers continuing on to Vietnam via Doha, and the check-in process was moving extremely slowly.

A significantly shorter queue was reserved for passengers who had checked in online.

I therefore recommend checking in online even if you are travelling with a checked-in suitcase. Although you will still have to hand over your luggage at the counter, you can save yourself a considerable amount of waiting time.

The boarding process itself was much better organised. Boarding took place quickly, without any major chaos, and we took off on time.

Prague–Doha on a Boeing 787-8

The first flight departed from Prague at 15:50 and we landed in Doha at 22:15 local time.

The Boeing 787-8 feels quite pleasant once you’re on board. The cabin is enhanced by Qatar Airways’ signature burgundy colour scheme, which is cosier than the grey tones used by other airlines.

We were sitting right at the back in seats 31J and 31K. My girlfriend had the window seat and I was in the middle seat next to her.

The third seat by the aisle was also occupied, as was the rest of the aircraft.

Seat: the width is still okay, but the headrest is a problem

The seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration.

The spacing between rows was 78 cm, which is the absolute standard for long-haul economy class, with no extra space whatsoever. The low-cost carrier Scoot, for example, has the same spacing between seats.

I’m 175 cm tall, so I can fit my legs practically anywhere, but taller passengers certainly won’t have any space to spare.

The seat width is 43 cm. Subjectively, I fitted into it without any major problems, though I’m not particularly overweight. There’s practically no room to the sides, and as soon as three adults are sitting next to each other, comfort is hardly a consideration.

An even bigger problem for me was the non-adjustable headrest.

I consider the ability to bend the side sections of the headrest and rest my head against them to be one of the most important features of a seat when sleeping in economy class. Here, my head was supported only by the pre-shaped headrest, which I found extremely uncomfortable.

It’s fine for a 5-hour flight. But on a longer overnight flight, I wouldn’t be happy with this seat.

Blanket, pillow and a high-quality screen

The following were provided free of charge at every seat:

• a blanket
• a small pillow
• basic headphones

The Oryx One in-flight entertainment system is brilliant and, in my opinion, has long since surpassed Emirates’ much-praised ICE system.

The screen was crisp and responsive. The selection of films and TV series was extensive enough to last even for several considerably longer flights.

We had the following available:

• a universal power socket under the seat
• USB-A
• USB-C

The modern USB-C port is still not standard in economy class, and on a long flight it is certainly more practical than the slower, older USB-A.

We’re also given a wet wipe before take-off. This was the same on the second flight from Doha to Bangkok.

Free Starlink Wi-Fi on both flights

High-speed in-flight Wi-Fi via Starlink was available on both flights. The connection is free for all passengers and the speed is significantly faster than standard in-flight internet.

Browsing the web, using social media and sending photos all worked without any problems. I even managed to download a few YouTube videos.

Starlink was one of the biggest highlights of the whole journey. On both the six-hour and seven-hour flights, it’s no longer just about being able to send a message, but about having internet whose quality is close to that of a standard connection on the ground.

Meals on the Prague–Doha flight: above-average economy class

Shortly after take-off, the first drinks service began.

We could choose from the usual non-alcoholic drinks, beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks. We were given a small bag of popcorn to eat.

Dinner

The main course was served about an hour and a half after take-off.

There was a choice of three main courses, which is by no means a given in economy class. No printed menu was handed out; the crew always presented the options verbally.

I chose chicken with rice.

The main course itself was good, but it was the side dishes that caught my attention the most:

• the pasta salad was absolutely brilliant
• the small sweet bun for dessert was also good
• the strongly flavoured roll, reminiscent of focaccia, was excellent

The portion size was typical for a long-haul economy class flight. It was perfectly adequate for a 5-hour flight.

Snack before landing

About an hour before landing, there was another drinks service, this time accompanied by a packet of popcorn or crisps.

The crew worked quickly and efficiently. I particularly appreciate this on a full flight, where serving and clearing away meals can otherwise take a very long time.

Verdict on the first flight

The flight from Prague to Doha was fine overall. Because it wasn’t very long.

I’d rate the service and food as slightly above average for economy class; the seat features were modern and the flight was on time.

The main drawback was the seat itself. Not so much because of the legroom, but because of the limited width and the unusable headrest.

Connection in Doha: 4.5 hours, no stress

We had approximately 4.5 hours for our stopover in Doha.

After getting off the plane, we followed the signs for transfers and went through another security check. The standard 100 ml limit on liquids applies here.

In our case, however, even larger containers of liquids purchased at Prague Airport, which remained sealed in their original duty-free bags, were allowed through without any problems. This does not mean that the same procedure will work in all circumstances, but during our transfer, security had no issue with it.

The organisation of the transfer in Doha is excellent. You can find detailed instructions, estimated times and information about security checks in our separate guide:How to transfer at Doha Airport (DOH).

Four and a half hours is an unnecessarily long time for a standard transfer, but we made the most of it by visiting the Al Maha lounge.

I arranged entry via Revolut, where my ‘Metal’ plan gives me unlimited access to lounges worldwide, plus a discounted rate for a guest (in this case, 27 eur).

A standard economy class ticket, of course, does not include lounge access.

If you don’t have Revolut yet, you can sign up via our link to get a bonus.

Choosing a flight: the A380 or the cheaper Boeing 777?

On our travel dates, there were two Qatar Airways flights from Doha to Bangkok within a short period of time.

Just half an hour before us, an Airbus A380 took off – the one I would have preferred to fly on. However, the A380 flight was 206 eur more expensive.

Paying such a surcharge just for a different type of aircraft didn’t make sense to me.

So when booking on qatarairways.com, don’t just look at the total price. Also compare:

• the length of the stopover in Doha
• the total journey time
• arrival time in Bangkok
• the type of aircraft on each leg of the journey

I’d be willing to pay extra for a better departure time or a significantly shorter layover. But certainly not just for the Airbus A380 itself 206 eur .

Doha–Bangkok on a Boeing 777-300ER

The second flight departed at 2.45 am local time. A dreadful time. But at least I was able to freshen up with a shower in the lounge.

The Boeing 777-300ER is an older model than the Dreamliner, but, paradoxically, the interior of our particular aircraft felt newer and more modern.

At first glance, the cabin was rather austere and the seats didn’t look particularly soft or comfortable. In reality, however, it was considerably better than on the Boeing 787.

At least for me.

A narrower seat, but a much better night’s sleep

Economy class on the Boeing 777 is arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration.

According to the data for our configuration, the seat was narrower than in the previous Dreamliner (by about 3 cm), whilst the legroom was approximately 3 cm greater.

However, due to the shape of the backrest, I didn’t really notice the reduced width. On the contrary, I found the seat more comfortable.

The biggest difference was the excellent, adjustable headrest.

The side sections could be bent sufficiently and really did keep my head in a stable position. Thanks to this, I was able to lean back, close my eyes and sleep quite comfortably for several hours.

Well, ‘comfortably’ is perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but it was definitely better than on the previous flight.

On paper, then, the Boeing 787 may seem more modern and its seat may be slightly wider. For me, however, being able to rest my head comfortably is far more important than a slight difference in seat width.

It was precisely the seat on the Boeing 777 that was the main reason why I rate the second flight more highly.

An amenity kit even in economy class

Once again, a blanket, a pillow and basic headphones were provided at every seat.

In addition, however, we were given a small paper amenity kit containing:

• socks
• an eye mask
• a toothbrush
• toothpaste
• earplugs

The packaging looked cheap and, of course, none of the items were anything special. However, in economy class, an amenity kit is still not a standard feature, and on a night-time flight it’s a handy bonus.

💬 To be honest, I can’t for the life of me remember ever receiving an amenity kit in economy class. Have you had any experience with other airlines? Let us know in the comments below the article – thanks!

An older screen, a mysterious connector and, once again, free Starlink

The in-flight entertainment system was the same as on the first flight, but the screen looked noticeably older.

The picture quality was still good enough and the entertainment options were the same, but the controls weren’t as fast or as modern as on the Boeing 787.

Next to my seat, I found a USB-A port and a socket resembling an Ethernet port. What an ordinary passenger would use it for remained a mystery to me.

A modern USB-C port was missing here.

Starlink was also available free of charge on the Boeing 777, and it worked just as well as it had on the first flight from Prague.

The evening meal, which most passengers turned down

The main meal service began shortly after take-off, at around 4 am Qatar time.

Unsurprisingly, only a very small proportion of passengers took advantage of it. Most people were trying to fall asleep as quickly as possible.

Dinner number 2

For us, this was already the second dinner of the night...

Once again, there were three main courses to choose from. I chose porridge with turkey and carrots:

• the vegetable salad with edamame was delicious
• the main course tasted great
• the dessert, on the other hand, didn’t agree with me at all – in fact, I have absolutely no idea what I ate

The service included a bottle of water and a full selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks by the glass.

A snack before landing

The next refreshments were served about an hour before landing.

It consisted solely of a small stuffed pizza roll, which wasn’t very good and I could easily have done without.

On a night-time flight lasting around 7 hours, I wouldn’t have wanted a larger meal anyway. What mattered more to me was that the crew served the meal quickly, turned off the lights and let the passengers sleep.

They managed that.

Generally speaking, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the cabin crews on either flight. Professional and, above all, very efficient service.

Boeing 787 vs. Boeing 777: which was better?

	Boeing 787-8	Boeing 777-300ER
First impressions	cosier and more colourful	more modern, but more austere
Seating configuration	3-3-3	3-4-3
Legroom	standard	slightly better
Seat width	slightly better	slightly worse
Headrest	non-adjustable	very easily mouldable
Sleep	uncomfortable	significantly better
Screen	more modern	older
Charging	mains socket, USB-A and USB-C	USB-A
Amenity kit	No	Yes
My winner		Boeing 777

Of course, the experience is influenced by the specific aircraft configuration, the seat you choose and who is sitting next to you.

On these two particular flights, however, the Boeing 777 was the clear winner for me.

A more modern aircraft does not automatically mean a more comfortable economy class.

The most important factor is still the flight’s occupancy rate

Unfortunately, both our flights were completely full.

In economy class, however, the level of comfort is often determined not by the airline’s logo, the food or the age of the aircraft, but mainly by whether there’s someone sitting next to you.

At least, that’s certainly how it is for me on every flight.

A single empty seat in the middle can turn an average flight into a pleasant journey. Conversely, three adults sitting next to each other will always have limited space in economy class, whether they’re flying with Qatar Airways, Emirates or any other airline.

At least we were always lucky enough to have a friendly fellow passenger by the aisle who let us through without any fuss whenever we needed to go to the toilet.

Arrival in Bangkok

Qatar Airways lands at Bangkok’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi.

You can continue to the city centre by the Airport Rail Link, by taxi, or via the Grab and Bolt apps. The best option depends on the time of day, the location of your hotel and the number of passengers.

This time, our hotel was outside the metro line, so we took a regular taxi.

We describe all the options, current prices and information about tickets here:

• 👉 How to get from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city centre

This was my fourth visit to Bangkok, and I’ve updated our guide a little again:

• 👉 Which area should you choose for your hotel?
• 👉 How does transport work in Bangkok?
• 👉 What to see in Bangkok?

From Bangkok, we later travelled on to Hong Kong, but this time in a completely different way: in Emirates First Class on one of the shortest and cheapest flights on which you can experience this class.

Read our review of Emirates First Class on the Bangkok–Hong Kong route too. (Available from late July 2026).

Is Qatar Airways worth it in Economy Class?

I’d happily book Qatar Airways again for a trip to Bangkok.

Not because economy class offers exceptional comfort.

It’s still standard economy with limited space, and on a full flight you’ll be sitting right next to other passengers.

I see Qatar Airways’ strengths elsewhere:

• a very well-organised and quick transfer at Doha Airport
  • in my view, better than Dubai, Riyadh or Jeddah airports, and on a par with Abu Dhabior Muscat airports
• Free Starlink Wi-Fi for all passengers
• Good food with a choice of three main courses
• High-quality in-flight entertainment
• Checked-in luggage included in the price

The weakest link was undoubtedly the seat on the Boeing 787-8.

Despite its narrower configuration, the Boeing 777-300ER was more comfortable, mainly thanks to its significantly better headrest.

With a one-way fare of around 536 eur, I consider Qatar Airways to be a decent choice.

However, if a competitor were to offer a similarly fast connection for a few thousand cheaper and with luggage included in the price, the Qatar Airways brand alone would not be a reason for me to pay extra.

You can find the latest fares from Prague to Bangkok and other destinations in Asia directly on qatarairways.com.

💬 Have you flown with Qatar Airways on a Boeing 787 or 777? Or on another aircraft that was significantly different? Let us know in the comments which aircraft you found more comfortable.

💬 And what’s your favourite airline for economy class flights to Asia?