Intro
Qatar Airways has built its reputation on delivering premium experiences even in economy class, so I was curious to see how their food programme lives up to the hype.
Flying Helsinki to Bangkok via Doha gave me the perfect opportunity to test their meal service across two different flight segments and see if Middle Eastern hospitality translates to memorable dining at altitude.
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From the moment I stepped aboard, Qatar Airways felt different.
Every crew member offered genuine greetings instead of superficial nods, and the pre departure service included hot towels, headphones, and amenity kits!
These touches immediately signalled that Qatar Airways takes economy class seriously.
The 30% load factor on my Helsinki to Doha sector allowed me to spread out across an entire row.
HELSINKI TO DOHA
About ten minutes after takeoff, menus appeared with three meal choices plus infused focaccia bread, fresh fruit, salad, and dessert.
Having pre ordered a vegan meal, I was pleased when crew members confirmed my special request before service began.
When my vegan meal arrived, the presentation looked promising, with multiple components arranged on the tray.
The vegetarian bean croquette with rice and tomato sauce should have delivered Mediterranean flavours, but fell flat instead.
The croquette had a mushy texture, lacking any distinguishable seasoning, while the rice was disappointingly dry and seemed to have absorbed little of the tomato sauce’s flavour.
What saved the meal was everything else. The salad starter was excellent, with crisp greens, ripe tomatoes, and a tangy dressing that provided the bright flavours the main course lacked.
The infused focaccia bread was a revelation for economy class, with herbs and olive oil that gave it real character rather than being generic airline bread.
Curiosity got the best of me, so I ordered the standard Chicken Kabsa after asking the crew for one.
It featured tender chicken that had absorbed the complex spice blend of cardamom, cinnamon, black lime, and bay leaves that gave kabsa its distinctive character.
The rice underneath was fragrant and perfectly cooked, with individual grains that had soaked up the chicken’s cooking juices, along with saffron that provided both golden colour and subtle floral notes.
Each forkful delivered different flavour layers, from warming spices to the tangy brightness of dried lime. This was authentic Middle Eastern cooking adapted for airline service without losing its soul.
Four hours into the flight, a second service offered a spinach and lemon dahl wrap that redeemed the earlier vegan disappointment.
The dahl filling was creamy and well spiced, with enough lemon to brighten the earthy lentils, all wrapped in soft flatbread that held everything together nicely.
DOHA TO BANGKOK
The 5.5-hour second sector began with similar service rituals, but breakfast proved more challenging than dinner. My egg dish arrived looking appetising, but it was delivered with poorly executed basics.
The eggs were overcooked to rubber consistency, with that bouncy texture that screams “kept warm too long.”
The accompanying elements were equally underwhelming.
However, the later snack service offered a Chinese barbecue pastry, the sauce had a proper umami depth, with sweet and savoury notes balanced well.
Conclusion
The airline has a genuine approach to Middle Eastern hospitality. The crew checked back regularly, offered additional items, and seemed genuinely interested in passenger satisfaction rather than just completing service tasks.
Small touches like infused focaccia bread instead of plain rolls show attention to detail that transforms basic elements into something memorable.
Qatar Airways delivers exceptional value through service quality that rivals premium offerings on other airlines.
The pre departure amenities, multiple meal services, and crew attentiveness create experiences that feel genuinely premium, especially when dishes like the kapsa showcase authentic cultural flavours.
While not every dish delivers perfectly, the overall programme reflects serious investment in passenger satisfaction.
For travellers seeking authentic Middle Eastern hospitality and cuisine, Qatar Airways offers cultural immersion alongside high quality transportation that few airlines can match.
