To book or not to book Qatar Airways flights for a trip between USA and India; many travelers go through the Hamlet’s dilemma while planning their much-awaited travel back home. Qatar Airways is the world’s second best airline, according to the 2023 reports by Skytrax Awards. AirlineRatings.com that rates carriers against various parameters of safety in the sky has adjudged Qatar Airways as the world’s fourth safest airline in 2023. Interestingly, the flag carrier of Qatar has won the Skytrax Airline of the Year Award as many as seven times.
Other than the above ratings and competitive fare deals, Qatar Airways has many reasons to woo you. IndianEagle.com, the most trusted USA-India travel booking portal, elaborates five reasons as the best experiences of flying on Qatar Airways between USA and India. It is one of the few airlines offering the best business travel cabin, child fares, inflight Wi-Fi, baggage tracking technology, pre-select meal facility, child restraint device, Doha stopover; the list goes on.
Qsuite – Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class
A leader in the business class category, Qatar Airways’ business class flights to India from USA are arguably the best of the lot. The airline won several awards and accolades for its business class services, including its recent Skytrax 2023 awards for the world’s best business class seat, business class lounge (Hamad International Airport) and business class lounge dining.
Qatar Airways’ Qsuite is an award-winning, exceptional offering for business class travelers, redefining luxury travel with spacious seating arrangement, sumptuous meals, and world-class amenities. Its 1-2-1 configuration provides ample legroom, cozy workspace, and complete privacy. The Qsuite seats can be converted into lie-flat beds so you can sleep comfortably on Qatar Airways flights from USA to New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
The world’s best business class, Qsuite with opulence and luxury galore, is available on A350-1000s, A350-900s, B777-200LRs and B777-300ERs in Qatar Airways’ fleet.
Qatar Airways’ award-winning menu and pre-select meal facility
You are in for a fulfilling dining experience aboard Qatar Airways flights between India and USA. Its award-winning menu, created by some of the world’s best chefs, features flavors of Qatar along with global gastronomic delights. You can pick from a wide variety of starters, main course, desserts, and beverages. And if you like a cup of tea or coffee after your meal, you can enjoy freshly brewed tea/coffee on Qatar Airways’ flights from USA to Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and other destinations in India.
Qatar Airways also serves special dietary meals to its global passengers with various dietary habits. Its carefully curated special meals range from allergy-friendly options to religious meals. There are special meals available for babies, the vegetarians, the non-vegetarians, the vegans, Hindus, Jains, and also diabetic travelers. You can request a special meal or a baby meal at the time of booking Indian Eagle flight deals for US-India travel on Qatar Airways.
You can pre-select your meal on specific Qatar Airways’ flights from USA to India up to 24 hours before flight. This exclusive service is available at no extra cost for business class travelers.
What makes Qatar Airways one of the best airlines for family travelers
Booking a trip to India for your family with kids? Qatar Airways is one of the best family-friendly airlines; it has everything sorted for kids’ entertainment onboard, thus allowing parents to be at ease and enjoy their flight. For passengers traveling with infants, the airline arranges bassinet seats on request and provides a special baby kit (with diapers, baby food and other items) along with a soft toy. Also, family travelers are entitled to priority boarding.
What is a Child Restraint Device (CRD) on Qatar Airways flights?
Aircraft seats designed for adults may not be quite comfortable for infants. So, Qatar Airways provides a special seat called Child Restraint Device (CRD) for the safety of your kid on flight. It can be fitted on a regular seat.
Although infants younger than 2 years are allowed to travel on parents’ lap (infant ticket mandatory), you can choose to carry a car seat for your young one (minimum 6 months old) or request a CRD for your kid above 12 months of age. In order to use a CRD or car seat for the infant, you need to book an extra seat by paying the child fare.
As for kids amenities on board, Qatar Airways has vast arrangements in place, right from interactive young traveler packs with activity books to special meal boxes (which you don’t have to return) to countless entertainment options. Kids can access various educational programs, movies, video games, and also watch their favorite Cartoon shows and Disney classics on the ‘Oryx One’ in-flight entertainment system. This keeps your kids engaged and entertained throughout the long-haul journey to India/USA.
Doha Stopover – A Mini Vacation during Layover
Read about Qatar Airways’ Doha stopover programs for international transit passengers. It is an opportunity for you to turn your long layover exceeding 8 hours into a mini sightseeing tour of Doha City, among the perks of traveling from USA to India via Doha. You don’t have to worry about the visa requirement for leaving Hamad International Airport for Doha sightseeing tours. Both US citizens and Indian passport holders are eligible for visa waver on arrival in Doha.
Starting 1 October 2024, US citizens are eligible for 90-day visa-free stay and tour in Qatar. It is three times more than the current 30-day limit.
Doha stopover programs also include cost-effective accommodation packages for travelers with Qatar Airways’ business class tickets from USA to India. Doha is a modern city with rich cultural heritage and new-age attractions. 5-star hotel accommodation can be booked at bundle rates starting from $20 for up to 4 nights depending on the length of a Doha stopover, which makes it one of the top reasons for you to fly with Qatar Airways.
Hamad International Airport facilities and tours for transit travelers
Qatar Airways’ transit passengers will never experience a moment of boredom in Doha with so many interesting things to do at Hamad International Airport beyond shopping and dining. You can luxuriate in a shower before your next leg of flight or head to Oryx Airport Hotel to enjoy a swim in the huge temperature-controlled indoor swimming pool. There are private family rooms, spa facilities, luxurious lounges, kid-friendly spaces and more. Fun for kids is also taken care of during your layover at Hamad Airport, Doha. Around eight bronze playground sculptures are set up for kids to play and have a fun time at the airport.
If you have a short layover (less than 5 hours) at Hamad International Airport, you can opt for airport tours that will let you explore the airport’s wonderful art installations and tastefully designed spaces for relaxation such as the Orchard. Among the key attractions of Doha’s Hamad Airport, the Orchard with more than 90 brands in its sprawling retail area resembles Singapore Changi Airport’s Jewel Complex.
Qatar Airways’ Q-Tag tool lets you fly stress-free
Among the few airlines with the lowest reporting of lost or misplaced checked bags, Qatar Airway lets you track your bags through your own mobile device. Using the airline’s Q-Tag technology – a self-service application, you can check the status of your checked bags from the point of checking in to your baggage claim on arrival at the final destination. The airline ensures that you board your flight, travel and arrive stress-free.
There is quite a bit of confusion as to US citizens with prior Indian passports, who currently have OCI.
Some websites refer to OCI having to be renewed, under certain conditions.
Any elaboration you provide will be appreciated.
There’s no renewal of OCI. OCI needs update with Indian consulate only when your current US passport expires and a new US passport is obtained.