Middle Eastern giants Emirates and Qatar Airways used to be my go-to airlines for business class. But after flying Bahrain-based Gulf Air, I can’t justify their higher fares anymore.
I first flew Gulf Air’s “Apex Suite” business class in 2023 and was surprised by how competitive it felt. Despite a 2-2-2 layout that would usually signal limited privacy and mobility, the Boeing 787 offered coziness while still allowing every passenger to freely access the aisle.
The unique cabin may not be as posh as Emirates and Qatar’s modern premium seats with sliding doors or mini bars, but it offers the privacy, space, and comfort I want at a significantly lower price.
My most recent trip from Dubai to Bangkok reinforced this: Emirates was selling business-class tickets for $3,460, Qatar for $2,940, and Gulf Air for $2,044. Gulf Air was an easy choice.
While there are a few easy ways it could improve its premium experience, Gulf Air delivers everything I need for a long-haul flight — and I haven’t booked Emirates or Qatar on comparable routes since.
I flew Gulf Air from Dubai to Bangkok via Bahrain in May.
I enjoyed a drink at Gulf Air’s luxe “Falcon Gold Lounge” in Bahrain before my 7-hour trek to Bangkok.
It was well-stocked with Champagne and spirits. The buffet had a salad bar, Arabic dishes, live cooking, and desserts. There’s also a business center, a pool table, and even PlayStation 5 consoles.
Falcon Gold strikes a happy middle ground between its bigger competitors: less flashy than Qatar’s flagship lounge, but quieter and more relaxed than Emirates’ often-crowded Dubai offering.
I boarded my red-eye flight to Bangkok around 10 p.m. via a dedicated jetbridge for premium flyers.
There were two jet bridges, one mainly for priority groups, which meant I was among the first on the plane.
Boarding was well organized, with dedicated lanes for business-class and higher-status passengers.
The Boeing 787-9 featured Gulf Air’s unique Apex Suite.
The unique suite has 26 seats in a 2-2-2 layout, with two seats by each window and two in the middle. Window seats sit slightly further back than aisle seats, creating a private walkway into your space that doesn’t force anyone to climb over their neighbor.
Once settled, I raised the privacy shield and cocooned myself away from the other passengers.
My favorite seats are by the window, but not all are equal.
One neat design element of the Apex Suite is that most window seats have three or four windows.
My seat, 3K, however, only had two due to the fuselage design. I normally book 2A or 2K to avoid this, but they were both taken.
The pre-boarding service is five-star, but the amenity kit was inconsistent.
A welcome drink and cold towel were offered during boarding, followed by gahwa — a traditional Arabic coffee — and dates.
Slippers and pajamas were also handed out before departure, a nice touch for an overnight flight. Qatar and Emirates also offer sleepwear on select long-haul flights.
At the seat were menus in English and Arabic, water, and an amenity kit. The kit was noticeably stripped back from previous flights, with only an eye mask, socks, and earplugs.
Earlier kits included lip balm, hand cream, body mist, and a toothbrush. It may have been a one-off, as the kit on my return flight had the missing items.
The 22-inch screen matched newer cabins, but don’t expect 8,000 movies.
The seat had a 22-inch screen, standard for business class, and a touchscreen remote that doubled as a controller. Gulf Air’s smaller entertainment library is inferior to Emirates’ or Qatar’s, but it’s ample for a long-haul flight.
Emirates’ refurbished 777s — which ditched the 2-3-2 layout for one without middle seats — offer 23-inch displays. Qatar’s Qsuite comes in at around 21.5. Their older aircraft typically have smaller screens.
There was more storage than expected, and the massage function actually worked.
The storage was better than most business-class seats I’ve used, with dedicated space for water bottles, a phone, headphones, and even a backpack and shoes under the screen.
The tray table easily fit my 14-inch MacBook Pro and headphones, while the built-in massage function was a relaxing touch at 35,000 feet.
The bathroom had a bidet.
The two business-class-only lavatories up front were kept clean throughout the flight and featured Japanese-style bidet toilets.
Though the amenities were basic, a light upgrade would go a long way to match the premium cabin experience.
Dinner was tasty and well-paced.
I had mushroom soup to start, which was hot enough to be comforting. Warm bread, including multigrain, white, and garlic, came on the side.
Prawn salad followed, with green papaya, cucumber, carrots, and chili salsa. For mains, the options were Bahraini chicken biryani, Thai beef curry, Cajun salmon, and Pad Thai.
I was tempted by the Thai options but held off for Bangkok. I went with the salmon, which tasted fresh. Champagne flowed throughout, with other solid wine options also available.
I was served dessert from a dedicated trolley.
The dessert trolley had several options.
I went with the cheesecake, fruit, and the cheese platter, which they plated on the spot.
The turndown service has changed.
In the past, the crew would usually mention turndown service, especially on red-eye flights. Now, you have to ask. Still, I slept very well.
A mattress topper and fitted bedding made a real difference to what, underneath it all, is a converted seat.
The cabin ran slightly warm at night.
The cabin was well dimmed and quiet.
The only downside was the temperature. The 787-9 doesn’t have individual air vents, so you’re at the mercy of the cabin setting, which ran slightly warm. I prefer it colder.
Breakfast was simple but well-timed.
The lights gradually brightened, signaling it was time for breakfast.
There were no hot options, but I could choose from fruit, yogurt, pastries, and drinks.
Gulf Air is overall a better value for me than Emirates and Qatar.
The Apex Suite gets the basics right: the privacy works, the bed is comfortable, and the service is good.
But there are a few gaps. I had to request turndown service and the inflight library trails both Emirates and Qatar. Those are easy wins left on the table.
Despite all that, I won’t stop booking the Apex Suite. Gulf Air runs roughly $1,400 less than Emirates and $900 less than Qatar on this route — that’s equal to a few nights at a five-star hotel in Bangkok and a Michelin-level dinner.
If it’s your first time in business class, this is a smart place to start. If you already fly often and are open to a unique way to fly business class, you’re getting the same experience without the brand premium.
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