Qatar Airways originally hoped to launch its famous next-generation Qsuite Business Class last year – featuring lockable drawers and double-seat window-side suites – but to this day, not a single passenger has ever flown in it.

The airline, headquartered in Doha, unveiled a redesigned Qsuite at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK in 2024 and promised that this product would bring a higher level of luxury experience with the Boeing 777-9 model in 2025. The 777-9 is the larger model in the 777X series.

However, Boeing's new wide-body aircraft models have yet to be certified. The 777X is now 7 years behind the original schedule, and Boeing is still dealing with issues related to safety, quality, production, and the supply chain.

Boeing CEO Kelly O'Terberg ( Kelly Ortberg ) stated at a Morgan Stanley conference in September that the 777-9 is still on track to meet the 2027 timeline, but engine issues discovered earlier this year could potentially cause a slight delay to that schedule.

Ultrberg said, "I don't think this is a major challenge for us, but we still have a lot of work to do on the flight test project. It's not considered complete until it's finished."

As mentioned by Business Insider, neither Boeing nor Qatar Airways has responded to requests for comments.

While passengers continued to use the original Qsuite – a product that was launched nearly a decade ago and is considered one of the best business class options in the world – I experienced Next Gen at the Arab Tourism Market Exhibition held in Dubai in September.

Hamad Ali Al-Khater, the CEO of Qatar Airways Group ( Hamad Ali Al - Khater ), stated in the same month that Qsuite Next Gen is expected to be launched in the summer of 2027, but the airline has not yet announced any specific routes.

The upgrade includes new combinable suites, better technology, and a more intelligent storage design. Upon closer inspection of these features, I noticed some interesting differences that were not immediately apparent at first.

The following are the seven highlights that I noticed the most on Qsuite Next Gen.

The companion suite can accommodate two passengers seated by the windows.One faces forward, and the other faces backward, arranged diagonally from each other rather than directly opposite. I don't need to lean forward or turn around to see my companion, and there is enough distance between us so that it doesn't feel too close. The screen is designed to be completely retracted, thus allowing for an unobstructed view between the two suites.

I have plenty of personal space. The cabin walls are not close to my shoulders, and the arched design gives the suite a sense of enclosure without making one feel oppressed.

The four-person suite feels huge.The open Quad space is very spacious. I can easily converse with people sitting next to me or across from me, but those on the diagonal side require me to lean forward and raise my voice. I can imagine a family setting up board games in the middle. The dining table feels very sturdy, capable of holding a large laptop, with enough space beside it for phones and personal items.

When I climb onto the completely flat bed, there is plenty of space for my shoulders and feet, allowing me to comfortably turn over and lie on my side.

The 4K screen can be physically rotated and folded away.Qatar Airways is equipped with 4K screens for Next Gen, but what's even more impressive is how those screens disappear without a trace.

The screens in the suite are bright, have vibrant colors, and respond quickly. They also move smoothly during operation. I slid them into back-to-back positions, then rotated them 90 degrees towards the rear seating area, and integrated them into the surrounding structure, thus fully opening up the entire space.

There is also an independent touch remote control next to the seat, which can be used to control the entertainment system.

Through electronically controlled partitions, Quad can once again restore privacy.This open state can be reversed. Electronically controlled internal partitions will restore passenger privacy once again. They rise quietly and slowly above my head. Once the screens return to their original positions and the partitions are raised, this vast shared space once again becomes like my private cocoon.

When my hand blocked the path of the rising partition, I discovered a practical safety feature: it would stop automatically. The corridor door still requires manual operation, but the sliding is very smooth. While sitting, it provides a considerable degree of privacy, although taller passengers can still see through it when they pass by.

There's also a small safe in the air.One of my favorite new features is a hidden drawer that can be unlocked by entering a four-digit code PIN through the suite's touchscreen. It's large enough to hold valuables such as passports, watches, and jewelry. Essentially, it provides passengers with a small in-flight safe.

Qsuite Add wireless charging and USB-C.The current Qsuite uses the USB-A interface, while Next Gen has been changed to use the USB-C interface along with wireless charging. When I sat in different seats, I noticed another difference: the control consoles for the front and rear seats in the Quad suite are not exactly the same.

Below the main console, there are open storage shelves and universal AC power sockets.

“Make My Bed” makes the bed-making service clear at a glance.I didn't press it, but I immediately understood its value. I have been on some business class flights where passengers need to request a bed to be made for them, and first-time travelers might not even be aware of such a service.

Once you see “Make My Bed”, there’s no need to guess anymore. Passengers can directly request this service without feeling embarrassed to ask the crew.

My favorite is the companion seat.After experiencing different layouts, I would choose the seat by the front window in the companion suite. For me, it feels more natural, and the surrounding surface design is also better. Moreover, when I want to keep company, I can open up the space to my companion as well.

However, the cost of obtaining a Qsuite seat is not small. In April, the fare for a Business Class ticket on Qatar Airways' Boeing 777-300ER flying from New York to Doha was approximately $4,000, while the Economy Class fare was around $600. Looking at the peak travel seasons of November and December, the fare for a Qsuite seat can reach $9,000 or even more.

Even so, I will still place the order. Now that I have witnessed the capabilities of Qsuite Next Gen, I just need to wait for the Boeing 777-9 to finally start carrying passengers.