The aircraft is configured in two classes: 30 lie-flat seats in business class and 275 seats in economy. Note that there is also an older A330-300 aircraft, configured with 12 first class seats, 24 business class seats (but only angled flat) and 223 economy seats.
We were flying from London to Colombo, with a 2.5-hour stopover at Hamad International Airport in Doha (DOH). Flight QR660 departs at 0225 and lands at 0945 at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), with a stated flight duration of 4 hours 50 minutes (ours was shorter at 4 hours 25 minutes).
CHECK-IN As we were transiting through Doha, we did not have to pass through security or customs; our baggage was sent directly through to Colombo. We had been given a boarding ticket and luggage receipt in London. Passengers require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Sri Lanka. You should apply a few days before travel and approval normally takes about 24 hours.
Hamad International Airport is an integrated facility, meaning that passengers can arrive, transfer and depart in the same terminal building. While our transit was only 2.5 hours, the airport offers various tours for those with transit times of eight hours or more. These include discovering attractions such as the Corniche promenade and the Museum of Islamic Art, or the chance to play a six-hole Championship Course golf game at the Education City Golf Club. Passengers with a transit of four hours or more can also take part in on-site tours - from discovering the airport's art installations to games of squash and a simulated golf game.
THE LOUNGE We landed in the South terminal so had access to the AI Mourjan Business Lounge, which is open to first and business class passengers flying with Qatar or Oneworld airlines. Note that business class Lite passengers do not have complimentary access.
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Our guide to... VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)
We all know that online activity needs to be private and secure. If you suspected that the business-critical information you're about to share with a colleague is at risk of being seen much more widely, you would hesitate to send it.
Raffles London at The OWO
BACKGROUND The first Raffles hotel in London, owned by the Hinduja Group and operated by Accor, opened in September 2023. It is housed in The OWO, a legendary Edwardian Baroque-style building, with the guest experience built around its exceptional history. The Grade II Old War Office was built for the British Army in 1906.
Hilton Colombo
BACKGROUND Hilton Colombo has been operating in Sri Lanka's capital since 1987. Given its long-standing status and rather dated design, renovations of its guest rooms are underway, with all 345 set to be complete by the time of going to press. Hilton has three more properties in Sri Lanka, including Hilton Yala Resort (see page 44).
The Leela Palace Bengaluru
BACKGROUND The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts operates 12 properties in India, in locations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, New Delhi, Mumbai and Udaipur, with hotels to follow in Hyderabad, Agra and Sikkim. The group is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, and Preferred Hotels and Resorts.
Air France Boeing 777-300 premium economy PARIS-NEW YORK
BACKGROUND Air France has been upgrading its Boeing 777-300 aircraft with its latest premium economy product, already seen on its A350. The 777-300 features 48 seats in the premium economy cabin, arranged in a slightly staggered 2-4-2 formation.
Qatar Airways A330-300 business class DOHA-COLOMBO
BACKGROUND Qatar Airways has eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft in its fleet, which are often used for the carrier's medium-haul services such as this Doha-Colombo flight.
Pre-flight checks
There's a familiar list of announcements when boarding a plane, but what do they actually mean? Our undercover pilot shines a light on pre-flight procedures
Auckland
Thrill-seeking activities, mind-bending art - and performing the haka
Yearning for Yala
Searching for leopards and nibbling wild sage in Sri Lanka's Yala National Park
RISKY BUSINESS
Business travellers need their wits about them more than ever these days - with strategies in place should the worst happen
