For The Huffington Post. September 2016.

Qatar Airways has been consistently rated one of the best airlines in the world. The independent airline review and rating company, Skytrax, named Qatar Airways “Airline of the Year” in 2015, 2012 and 2011, and “Business Class of the Year” in 2014 and 2013.

So what makes this 19-year old State of Qatar based airline best in class? I personally investigated further by flying to two of its newest hubs, Atlanta, Georgia and Yerevan, Armenia.

Young Fleet

Qatar Airways has a fleet of 189 aircrafts ranging from Airbus A380 to Boeing 777. In fact, Qatar Airways acquired 29 new aircrafts just in 2015. I was in business class on a 777-200 airplane which featured fully flat horizontal beds in a 2-2-2 configuration.

Sufficient Comfort

Having newer planes means a more comfortable ride for travelers. The seats in my cabin had over 6 feet of legroom and lots of overhead space. The windows were large to allow natural light to come in, which helps me avoid motion sickness and jet lag. One could easily walk around the isles without bumping into arms and legs of seated passengers.

I had enough personal space to get some writing done without rubbing elbows with my neighbor. It was great to have a USB plug at my seat to charge laptop and phone during the 15-hour flight.

Also, the seat had two inbuilt vibrating massage functions. This is especially helpful on long flights so your body doesn’t feel tired and achy.

A Little Indulgence

Standard airlines offer amenities, but Qatar Airways goes above and beyond to make passengers feel pampered. Toiletries kit included feminine fragrance Si (Armani pour Homme for men) and Crema Nera Extrema, comb, lip balm and eye mask, delivered in a sleek black Giorgio Armani pouch.

Qatar Airways branded warm and cozy Italian designer, Missoni sleeper suits were passed out according to passenger size. I actually put them on during the flight and felt right at home!

Did I mention you get a turn down service when you are ready to sleep? My attendant flattened the seat to 180 degrees, laid out luxury Italian Frette linens and left gourmet chocolates on my pillow.

Upscale Dining

I really enjoyed the Dine On Demand style, meaning passengers can order whatever food and drinks they want, whenever they feel like it, and are not at the mercy of scheduled services. The menu included flavorful and healthy dishes inspired by Iranian, Arabic, Indian, Japanese, French and Italian cuisines. Hummus, squash salad, paneer tikka masala, kippered salmon, carrot cake, chocolate tart, fresh fruits – this is perhaps the only airline food that has made me salivate rather than detest airplane food! I particularly enjoyed the kadak cardamom chai and cappuccinos made-to-order.

Qatar Airways hired acclaimed chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, to create the appetizing menu. You can also sample some of his signature dishes, like spicy clear broth with seafood, enoki mushrooms, pak choi and nori, while dining on luxurious table lines with modern cutlery.

Condé Nast Traveler has rated Qatar Airways as one of the airlines with the best wine lists. The drink menu in my hand offered Australian Shiraz, Spanish Mencia, French Bordeaux, Tawny Port, as well as many other selections of wines and champagnes from around the world.

Nonstop Entertainment

Each passenger on board had a personal Oryx One Inflight entertainment system programmed with over 3,000 hours of entertainment in 30 languages. On demand movies, TV shows, games and music were readily available to watch on a 17-inch screen. Because Qatar Airways serves a global audience, there were plenty of new release Hollywood, Bollywood, as well as Arabic movies to choose from.

Another notable feature was the ability to make calls to passengers in other seats, as well as to phone numbers on ground, directly from the flat screens.

Best Airlines Staff

There is no doubt that the service onboard Qatar Airways was far better than what I have experienced on other flight. For starters, the flight attendant addressed me by my last name, escorted me to my seat, and had polite conversations at the beginning and at the end of the flight. The flight attendants were professional, yet relaxed, and always smiled.

Don’t you hate it when a flight attendant behaves like a headmistress of a Catholic school where she has taken you hostage? Trust me, it has happened to me before!

Giving Back is Obligatory

An announcement before landing, reminded passengers of Qatar Airways’ social commitments and sought donations towards childhood poverty and women’s empowerment programs. The airline also funds treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors in children, avoidable blindness and visual impairment programs, sports safety, medical center in Pakistan, a school in Djibouti, and refugee aid in Jordan, among others, through several nonprofit organizations located in Qatar and around the world.

It feels good to know that you are not only buying a luxurious travel experience, but also contributing to the community.