Qatar Airways vs. Singapore Airlines: How They Differ – NerdWallet

If you’re looking to travel internationally, you may be checking out flights with either Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines. This is a good thing — both airlines are well known for their high-quality service, seats and experiences.

However, if you’re debating Qatar Airways versus Singapore Airlines, we’re here to break it down for you.

The biggest difference between these two airlines is their route network. Qatar Airways is based in Doha, Qatar, while Singapore Airlines is based in Singapore. Although both run flights around the world, each airline has its own focus on different regions.

Qatar Airways is a certified five-star airline according to Skytrax, who looks at an airline’s seats, amenities, food and beverages, in-flight entertainment, cleanliness, and service when rating airlines. This places Qatar towards the top of the list of best airlines in the world, which is no small feat.

Most of Qatar Airways’ route network relies on flights to Europe. This can be seen with the airline’s route map, which includes dozens of flights to Europe from Doha.

Qatar Airways also flies to 12 U.S. airports, including options on the East and West Coasts. Beyond this, you’ll be able to fly to all inhabited continents with Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways operates three classes of cabin — economy, business class and first class.

Qatar Airways is most famous for its Qsuite business class product, featuring closing doors and ample space. It also has the ability to build a quad seating structure for groups traveling together. By sliding down the dividers, up to four people can talk and dine together at the same time.

Qsuite also allows couples to create a double bed for a good night’s rest together.

Qatar Airways is a member of the Oneworld alliance, which includes airlines such as British Airways, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. This means you’ll be able to earn and redeem your miles with these airlines.

The Qatar Airways Privilege Club earns Avios as its loyalty currency. British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia also use Avios, which means that the points you earn with these airlines are entirely interchangeable.

Qatar Airways is a full-service airline, so you can expect to pay more than you would with low-cost carriers. For example, you can expect to pay around $1,600 for a round-trip nonstop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Doha (DOH).

Singapore Airlines is also a certified five-star airline via Skytrax. Aside from this, Singapore Airlines has won and continues to win numerous awards for its products.

Singapore Airlines doesn’t have as many destinations as Qatar Airways. With only six destinations available in the U.S. and none in South America, the airline is much more focused on intra-Asia flights.

That being said, Singapore Airlines also operates the longest flight in the world, which flies between New York-JFK and Singapore (SIN). Clocking in at 18 hours and 30 minutes, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Singapore Airlines operates four cabins of service — economy, premium economy, business and first class. It’s most famous for its first class, which are in a class of their own. Each features a chair and a bed.

Like Qatar Airways’ Qsuites, Singapore’s suites allow couples traveling together to create a double bed for restful sleep.

Singapore Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, which includes airlines such as United, Lufthansa, Air Canada and ANA. This means you’ll be able to earn and redeem miles with each of these programs.

KrisFlyer is Singapore Airlines’ loyalty program, through which you can collect miles for your flights. If you’re trying to redeem miles for an award flight, business and first class availability is much better through KrisFlyer than most of Singapore’s partners.

Singapore Airlines’ flights can be cheaper than those with Qatar Airways. For example, that nonstop flight from New York-JFK to Singapore (SIN) in premium economy will cost just under $1,400 round-trip.

Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines are well-respected airlines with good service. Though you’ll find differences in where they fly, your experience is bound to be a comfortable one — no matter whether you’re in economy or first class.