Qsuite lovers lament, a third of Qatar Airways flights between Singapore and Doha will offer the older Airbus A380 Business Class until March 2027 – but at least there’s an onboard bar!
Earlier this month we reported that Oneworld carrier Qatar Airways had begun loading its Airbus A380 into its Singapore schedules from mid-January 2026, with one of three daily services set to upgauge in size, but arguably downgrade in Business Class, with the Qsuite swapped out for the older Collins Diamond product.
That also marks the end of the airline’s longstanding ‘Qsuite guarantee’ on Singapore flights.
While the A380 swap was initially loaded only until the end of the current northern winter season on 28th March 2026, the latest schedule update now confirms what we feared at the time – year-round superjumbo service is set to take over the QR947/948 flights, right through to 2027.
Qatar A380 to Singapore till March 2027
Since our initial announcement, Qatar Airways has programmed the Airbus A380 on its QR947/948 Singapore flights not only from mid-January 2026 to the end of the current northern winter season (with a short break from late January to mid-February 2026), but also:
- For the entire northern summer 2026 season
29th March 2026 to 24th October 2026 - For the entire northern winter 2026/27 season
25th October 2026 to 27th March 2027
You can book cash fares and award seats on Qatar Airways flights 361 days in advance, which currently means being able to do so until 12th November 2026, but as you can see the Airbus A380 deployment is planned on QR947/948 in the Global Distribution System (GDS) through to 27th March 2027 at the time of writing.
(Photo TJ Darmstadt)
The schedule
The QR947/948 Airbus A380 service depart from Changi in the evening at around 8pm, landing into Doha close to 11pm the same day, to meet the airline’s large late-night departure ‘bank’ – a wave of flights going wheels-up from the airline’s hub to Europe, North America and Africa – between midnight and 3am.
In the return direction QR948 is an overnight flight departing from Doha shortly around 2am for touchdown in the Lion City the same afternoon, predominantly meeting inbound Europe connecting flights.
For those interested in the carrier’s full schedule between Singapore and Doha from now until the end of March 2027, click to expand the sections below for full details, with Airbus A380 flights highlighted
Business Class: Collins Diamond vs. Qsuite
The Collins Diamond seat, which will operate on QR947/948 during mid- to late January 2026, then from mid-February 2026 until late March 2027, is a reputable tried-and-tested long-haul Business Class product, and it remains a comfortable choice for passengers who don’t mind the lack of a fully enclosed suite.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
The seat provides a good amount of personal space, and decent storage for carry-on items.
However, it does not offer the Qsuite’s hallmark features: closing doors, a fully private suite-like cocoon, and the flexible seating configurations that allow for double beds, family dining or meeting spaces for groups travelling together.
(Photo: Qatar Airways)
For passengers who have grown accustomed to the Qsuite experience on Singapore flights, this change will be very noticeable indeed.
Just last month I flew from Houston to London on British Airways in the carrier’s Club Suite Business Class – the same Collins Diamond seat Qatar uses but with BA’s customisation and closing privacy doors – and I have to be honest, it was a better iteration as a hard product than Qatar’s version.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Qatar Airways will maintain the ‘Qsuite guarantee’ on its two other daily Singapore services (QR945/944 and QR943/942), so travellers prioritising this product should book accordingly from January 2026 onwards if Qsuite is the priority.
While the Collins Diamond seat is not significantly inferior in terms of comfort, it does lack the “wow factor” of Qsuite in our opinion, particularly for those flying long-haul and valuing privacy and personal space.
Here’s our detailed review of the Collins Diamond product, on the Airbus A350.
Singapore is currently one of only 22 cities on Qatar’s network served exclusively with Qsuite in Business Class, so this swap is notable, since that won’t be the case from early next year.
For a detailed rundown of the Qsuite experience, see our full review here.
(Photo: MainlyMiles)
Perk of Qatar’s A380 in Business Class: The bar
Although Business Class passengers will miss the Qsuite on these flights, Qatar’s Airbus A380 brings one feature that some will find appealing.
The upper deck bar remains one of the standout elements of Qatar’s A380 Business Class cabin, providing a social space for passengers to enjoy a drink and stretch their legs during the flight.
(Photo: AVIC Cabin Systems)
While we’ve only experienced it once quite a number of years ago, we think it does beat the Emirates version.
Qatar Airways’ First Class: A new option for Singapore
Arguably the biggest upside of the A380 swap is the introduction of First Class to Qatar Airways’ Singapore flights for the first time.
This cabin offers eight seats and features the expected level of Qatar luxury: spacious seating, refined finishes, top-tier catering, and premium beverages including fine wine and champagne.
(Image: Airbus)
Lounge access is also a highlight. While First Class passengers will be invited to the Qatar Premium Lounge in Singapore before departure – just like Business Class passengers are – the Qantas First Lounge comes into play here for what we would argue is a ‘step up’ in the à la carte dining stakes.
(Photo: Qantas)
In Doha, First Class passengers are able to access the renowned Al Safwa First Class Lounge when transiting, even if their subsequent flight is in a lower cabin class.
While the First Class seats on the A380 do not feature suite-style doors like Qsuite does in Business Class, they do offer significantly more space and a sense of indulgence not offered further back in the cabin.
Commercial availability is strong, as expected for a cabin being offered for the first time, but passengers looking to combine Singapore – Doha – Europe travel on the A380 all the way will find a mix of convenient and less-than-ideal connection times.
For example, the ‘all-A380’ SIN–DOH–LHR routing via QR947/QR11 provides a smooth 2.5-hour connection outbound, but returning requires an eight-hour layover in Doha. The opposite applies to Paris, where the outbound leg includes that long eight-hour DOH layover, but the return allows a seamless 2.5-hour connection.
It is worth noting that Qatar plans to introduce a brand-new First Class seat on some of its future Boeing 777X aircraft, but the Airbus A380s will not be retrofitted, since these superjumbos are scheduled for retirement in the coming years.
Nevertheless, for the latter part of the winter season passengers have an opportunity to experience Qatar’s flagship cabin on this route, even if the onward journey is in a lower class.
Award space and redemption
At the time of writing, Qatar Airways is still not loading any First Class award space on QR947/948 when the A380 is operating, though we do expect that will be added over the coming weeks.
Awards in this cabin will be possible to destinations like Doha, London and Paris, shown below alongside Business Class rates using Avios points during off-peak dates.
| Qatar Airways award rates from Singapore |
||
| Cabin | Doha | London / Paris |
| First Class | 75,000 +S$224 |
112,500 +S$348 |
| Business Class | 50,000 +S$224 |
75,000 +S$348 |
| Economy Class | 25,000 +S$146 |
37,500 +S$231 |
Business Class award seats are available on the A380 flights and of course will now be in the Collins Diamond seat rather than Qsuite, which is an important consideration for travellers who are particular about snagging that particular experience when redeeming miles.
For Business Class travellers who only want Qsuite, ensuring the correct flight is booked is now essential on this route (QR945/944 and QR943/942).
Qatar now charging for seat selection
There’s more bad news for those redeeming Avios points or Asia Miles for Qatar Airways flights, with the airline adding a seat selection fee to Business Class award tickets issued on or after 2nd November 2025, as we recently reported.
The fee can be avoided for:
- Awards ticketed on or before 2nd November 2025, including for any subsequent seat changes
- Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald members
- Business Flexi awards (but those cost 2x the usual Avios rate!)
- Seat selection when online check-in opens (T-48h for most flights, T-24h for USA flights)
Otherwise though if you want to lock in a specific seat in advance, you’ll be looking at an eye-watering US$100 (~S$130) per sector on typical flights from Singapore to Europe, meaning an extra S$260 each way or S$520 round-trip just for seat selection, in addition to your miles outlay and Qatar’s already-steep award segment fees.
Qatar Airways’ introduction of the Airbus A380 for the first time on its Singapore – Doha route was always a mixed bag of news, but the situation at first appeared temporary, until the end of March 2026.
Now it’s clear the type is very much in play on a permanent basis, right through to the end of March 2027 based on recently filed schedules.
The A380 finally introduces First Class to a route that previously only offered Business and Economy, giving passengers the chance to experience Qatar’s top-tier cabin, and the Qantas First Lounge at Changi, however the longstanding Qsuite guarantee is removed from one of three daily flights – replaced by the ‘good-but-ordinary’ Collins Diamond Business Class seat.
For those prioritising the Qsuite, two other daily flights continue to offer the experience, but if you locked in a booking or redemption on QR947/948 from mid-January 2026 onwards, you’re likely out of luck now.
Nonetheless, for travellers curious to try Qatar Airways’ First Class, or who might enjoy the social space of the Business Class bar on the A380, this swap does provide an appealing option for the first time.
(Cover Photo: Points from the Pacific)
