The Art Of Flying

Qatar Airways’ first flight to the Turkish city of Izmir was just the excuse Amit Dixit needed to sample the Middle Eastern carrier’s offerings.

- Amit Dixit

It felt like being jolted out of a long dream. I think I’d forgotten what flying business class was supposed to be like, until I recently flew Qatar Airways from Delhi to Doha and then onwards to Izmir, their latest destination. While business class across the world is, increasingly, bland and unmemorable, Qatar Airways has managed to retain the old-world glamour of flying in style. We tend to make a virtue of non-obsequious service. More often than not it’s just a euphemism for indifferent. Flying Qatar reminded me what service on an airplane is supposed to be like.

What follows will sound like an ode to Qatar Airways and their lounge at the Hamad International Airport in Doha; but I’m helplessly smitten, I’m afraid.