Does Gulf Air's Falcon Gold Business Class Soar Above Qatar’s QSuite?

This is a review of Gulf Air’s Falcon Gold Business Class on two flights from Bangkok to Bahrain and Bahrain to Singapore aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

Gulf Air, with its rich and diverse history, has undergone significant transformations, evolving from serving as the joint airline for Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to eventually becoming the exclusive national carrier of Bahrain in the late 2000s. Positioned as the somewhat overlooked player in the Middle Eastern aviation scene, Gulf Air has navigated its way through a sector largely dominated by industry giants like Emirates and Qatar Airways.

My recent adventure with Gulf Air was particularly noteworthy, as I stumbled upon a genuine error fare, securing a Business Class ticket from Bangkok to Singapore via Bahrain for an unbelievably low price of less than £300. This pricing anomaly was a result of Gulf Air's system miscalculating the cost of the indirect route, treating it as if it were the fifth freedom route from Singapore to Bangkok. As a traveller, I had no complaints about this fortunate error and embraced the opportunity to explore Gulf Air's offerings.

In terms of aesthetics, Gulf Air takes a departure from the opulent styles of Emirates and the rich, deep tones of Qatar Airways, opting instead for a more muted palette of greys and golds. While the interior may come off as slightly soulless at times, the light colours contribute to an overall sense of spaciousness within the cabin. One of the standout features of the experience was undoubtedly the seat, adopting the 'Apex Suite' design also utilised by esteemed airlines such as Japan Airlines, Oman Air, and Korean Air.

Unlike British Airways' Club Suite, Gulf Air's design lacks a physical door, but it effectively achieves a sense of privacy, especially for passengers seated next to the window. The seating layout is intelligently staggered, ensuring that all passengers can access the aisle without inconveniencing their neighbours – a design nuance lacking in British Airways' older Club World product.

What truly sets the Gulf Air Business Class seat apart is its impressive length. When fully reclined, the seat extends to an ottoman, resulting in a total length of 220cm – making it one of the longest Business Class seats in the industry. The absence of a cubby hole for feet provides unrestricted movement, catering particularly well to side sleepers like myself.

While some have criticised the seat for being slightly narrow, I find this assessment unjustified, as its width is comparable to Qatar's well-received QSuite. Personally, I managed to enjoy restful sleep on both flights, although the flight durations from Bahrain to Southeast Asian cities don't necessarily lend themselves to lengthy periods of rest.

For those travelling with a companion, the ability to raise and lower the divider at the touch of a button adds a layer of flexibility. However, conversing may still require a bit of a head-turning manoeuvre.

The control panel for seat and suite lighting commands offers a wealth of buttons at your fingertips, enhancing the overall in-flight experience, particularly in a dimly lit cabin. Yet, the placement of the larger button set on the armrest may be considered slightly awkward.

Upon boarding, a basic amenity kit and a bottle of water await passengers at their seats. However, the limitations of the seat design become apparent in terms of storage, with no dedicated closet or additional space for personal items at the seat – a minor inconvenience but worth noting.

Gulf Air Falcon Gold Business Class takes a sensible approach to its food and beverage offerings, presenting passengers with basic menus. Notably, Gulf Air is not a dry airline, ensuring that those who enjoy a pre-departure glass of champagne are not disappointed.

The airline provides an extensive selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, maintaining a consistent offering on both flights.

On my flight from Bangkok to Bahrain, the menu included a basic salad with small peppers stuffed with cream cheese as a starter, followed by a tasty and filling lamb biryani as the main course, and mango sticky rice with coulis for dessert. While the flavours were commendable, the presentation left room for improvement.

Opting to forego the light meal after take-off on the flight from Bahrain to Singapore, I focused on getting some sleep. The breakfast on arrival in Singapore, however, presented a decent spread, including fresh fruit, pastries and toast, and pancakes with berries compote and maple syrup. Despite a lacklustre attempt at an onboard cappuccino, the overall quality of Gulf Air's in-flight food exceeded that of European airlines, though falling slightly short of the standards set by its Middle Eastern counterparts.

A peculiar observation worth noting is the airline's choice to align its service flow with the origin time zone. This practice can lead to breakfast being served during a late afternoon arrival, potentially affecting passengers' ability to adjust to the local time zone.

Moving on to the crew, amenities, and in-flight entertainment in Gulf Air Business Class, the airline, like many other Middle Eastern carriers, employs a diverse crew primarily composed of foreign workers. In my experience, the crew struck a pleasant balance between being helpful and attentive without becoming overly intrusive. This stands in contrast to the often overly attentive service style found on Qatar Airways, appealing to those who prefer a more laid-back approach.

Gulf Air provides a minimal bedding set for flights of this length, including a thin blanket, pillow, and sheet to cover the seat. On a positive note, the airline offers complimentary pyjamas on both flights, mirroring the quality seen on Qatar Airways.

In terms of in-flight entertainment, Gulf Air impresses with its effective system featuring around 150 films. The sizable 21.5-inch screen provides ample viewing pleasure, although its positioning a few metres away from the seat does slightly diminish its impact.

A notable caveat, however, is the interactive remote, which resembles a smartphone but tends to get excessively hot. This issue was consistent on both of my flights and seems to be a recurring concern in other passenger reviews.

In conclusion, my overall experience with Gulf Air Falcon Gold Business Class was highly positive, marked by a comfortable seat, well-rounded service, and a thoughtfully revamped Bahrain International Airport. However, it is crucial to consider the pricing aspect when evaluating Gulf Air. While my error fare provided exceptional value, standard pricing often brings Gulf Air into direct competition with superior Middle Eastern carriers like Qatar Airways. These competitors offer a broader range of connecting options, higher frequencies, and the opportunity to earn Avios and Tier Points within the oneworld alliance.

If you manage to secure a favourable deal with Gulf Air and are willing to forgo some oneworld benefits, the airline's airport and on-board experience can undoubtedly provide a commendable journey. However, in a market where alternatives offer more routes, frequencies, and loyalty program advantages, Gulf Air may face challenges justifying its position as the preferred choice for discerning travellers.