A350-1000 Mini Cabin
Apr 20, 23, 11:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 205
A350-1000 Mini Cabin
I'm flying on QR730 DFW-DOH and have the option to book in 2J, a forward-facing window seat marked on EF as handicap accessible, or 11K, rear-facing window in the mini cabin. I've previously flown in the middle suites with my wife, but this will be my first solo flight in Qsuites. Everything I read says to choose a rear-facing seat for privacy, but only 11A or 11K are available. Therefore, I have a few questions:
- Should I be concerned about galley and engine noise in row 11?
- Is the handicap accessible seat (2J) different than the other seats in any way?
- My itinerary shows the flight operated by an A350-900, but the seat map shows 12 rows in J, which only the 1000 has. I'm guessing this is a typo and not an indicator this flight could be down-gauged? It's been the 1000 on this route since I can remember.
Apr 20, 23, 4:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: BA Gold, Mucci
Posts: 1,976
I'm flying on QR730 DFW-DOH and have the option to book in 2J, a forward-facing window seat marked on EF as handicap accessible, or 11K, rear-facing window in the mini cabin. I've previously flown in the middle suites with my wife, but this will be my first solo flight in Qsuites. Everything I read says to choose a rear-facing seat for privacy, but only 11A or 11K are available. Therefore, I have a few questions:
- Should I be concerned about galley and engine noise in row 11?
- Is the handicap accessible seat (2J) different than the other seats in any way?
- My itinerary shows the flight operated by an A350-900, but the seat map shows 12 rows in J, which only the 1000 has. I'm guessing this is a typo and not an indicator this flight could be down-gauged? It's been the 1000 on this route since I can remember.
Looking at it, 2J looks the same as the other seats.
Regarding noise, the A350 is very quiet inside no matter where you are, so you should be okay.
Apr 20, 23, 9:28 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,488
11A has a toilet right behind your head, the use of which may or may not be a disturbance. Also both 11A and 11K run the risk of there being an unhappy baby in the bassinet in 12B or 12J, and then also in the front row of economy directly behind those. Any disturbance actually noticed from any source though probably depends on how much of the flight you tend to spend wearing earphones or earplugs anyway.
All of the B and J seats are generally indicated as being disabled accessible. They are all standard seats, just easier to slide into from the aisle than their rear facing neighbours. I would also suggest that once you have the door closed, privacy differences between forward and rear facing are much overstated.
All of the B and J seats are generally indicated as being disabled accessible. They are all standard seats, just easier to slide into from the aisle than their rear facing neighbours. I would also suggest that once you have the door closed, privacy differences between forward and rear facing are much overstated.
Apr 21, 23, 4:01 am
#4
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,153
Hmm tricky one... i would usually always go for the reverse facing seats as you are much further away from the "clomp clomp" of staff/pax walking up/down the aisles (im sensitive to this when trying to sleep), but the mini cabin doesnt look great, plus you'll be served last etc.. id prob take 2J if its a daytime flight and 11 if it were a night time flight....
Apr 22, 23, 10:05 am
#6
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,488
In my experience, crew split the larger cabins into sections. So in a 12 row A350 cabin, row 8 would get their order taken sooner than row 6. And the A380 J cabins appear to work on 4 row sections.
That said, I have also gone hungry in the past on flights where I sat at the back of a.4 row cabin that was completely empty 2 hours before take off, but full at final departure with op ups whose orders were taken first...
Even so, some crews still manage to take orders by FFP status first, and will magically "find" your first choice if not initially available when asked for
That said, I have also gone hungry in the past on flights where I sat at the back of a.4 row cabin that was completely empty 2 hours before take off, but full at final departure with op ups whose orders were taken first...
Even so, some crews still manage to take orders by FFP status first, and will magically "find" your first choice if not initially available when asked for
Apr 22, 23, 3:04 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,153
In my experience, crew split the larger cabins into sections. So in a 12 row A350 cabin, row 8 would get their order taken sooner than row 6. And the A380 J cabins appear to work on 4 row sections.
That said, I have also gone hungry in the past on flights where I sat at the back of a.4 row cabin that was completely empty 2 hours before take off, but full at final departure with op ups whose orders were taken first...
Even so, some crews still manage to take orders by FFP status first, and will magically "find" your first choice if not initially available when asked for
That said, I have also gone hungry in the past on flights where I sat at the back of a.4 row cabin that was completely empty 2 hours before take off, but full at final departure with op ups whose orders were taken first...
Even so, some crews still manage to take orders by FFP status first, and will magically "find" your first choice if not initially available when asked for
Sep 28, 23, 4:16 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA
Posts: 159
How was 11K? I was assigned 11A and it doesn't look like a great seat. I can move to the center in row 6. Would love your insights.
Sep 29, 23, 12:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, UA Premier Plat, DL Silver, ITA Voltaire Executive (lol), Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 994
Id personally take 11A/K as a solo traveler over any middle seat imho. Aside from the extra privacy and nice views, the middle seats have no air vents.
Oct 2, 23, 11:56 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/SFO & ORD
Programs: LT Gold/BA Executive Club/AS MP/Marriott
Posts: 1,646
Actually I took a quick stroll a few weeks ago on the back of one of their A35J's. It was surprisingly loud. I flew on another of their A35J's about a month ago as well and took a stroll in the back and it was certainly quiet.
Fortunately, sitting towards the front of the plane with Bose headphones made the flight very quiet.
Fortunately, sitting towards the front of the plane with Bose headphones made the flight very quiet.
Oct 2, 23, 5:08 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 205
I preferred the mini cabin on the 773 over 9K (last row of the forward business cabin) on the A350 in terms of both privacy and light pollution. From 9A or 9K on the A350, you are staring right at the lav light, which alternately glows bright green or red depending on whether the lav is open or not. I've now been seated almost everywhere in the Q Suites layouts and have to say top choice would be a rear-facing window in the mini cabin on any of Qatar's aircraft.
Oct 4, 23, 2:53 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2012
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA
Posts: 159
So I ended up moving to 9K for the outbound on the 350-1000, but was in 10A for the return on the 777-300. 10A was an excellent seat on the 773. The mini cabin afforded great privacy and I was not disturbed at all by proximity to the lavatory, galley, or Y cabin. Service was excellent throughout the flight, so no issues whatsoever with the mini cabin being overlooked from a service standpoint.
I preferred the mini cabin on the 773 over 9K (last row of the forward business cabin) on the A350 in terms of both privacy and light pollution. From 9A or 9K on the A350, you are staring right at the lav light, which alternately glows bright green or red depending on whether the lav is open or not. I've now been seated almost everywhere in the Q Suites layouts and have to say top choice would be a rear-facing window in the mini cabin on any of Qatar's aircraft.
I preferred the mini cabin on the 773 over 9K (last row of the forward business cabin) on the A350 in terms of both privacy and light pollution. From 9A or 9K on the A350, you are staring right at the lav light, which alternately glows bright green or red depending on whether the lav is open or not. I've now been seated almost everywhere in the Q Suites layouts and have to say top choice would be a rear-facing window in the mini cabin on any of Qatar's aircraft.
Thanks all!
