Notes

Qatar Airways' 777-200LR Is Still the King of Cross-Continent Flights
When Boeing first introduced the 777 widebody twin-engine jumbo jet in 1995, airlines couldn’t get enough. The aircraft can fly 20 hours without refueling and transport 40 to 80 people in ridiculous opulence on runs like New York to Sydney or Hong Kong to London. And although it’s getting a bit long in the tooth, the 777 remains one of the most popular airliners in the world, with used copies (in airline configuration) selling for as little as $3.5 million.

The 777 is one of the most successful commercial jets ever produced and has seen countless iterations over the years, including the 777-8 and 777-9 variants currently on the drawing board. The 777-9, which should debut in 2025, has been touted as a game-changer with a new engine and wings that promise better fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and a longer range. But if you’re not willing to wait, the current-generation 777 is still one of the best airplanes for a cross-continent flight.

During my trip from Doha to Los Angeles, I traveled aboard Qatar Airways’ refurbished 777-200LR fitted with the new Q Suite business class seats. Unfortunately, premium cabin award availability on this route is hard to come by. Luckily, Qatar offers one of the finest economy classes in the world so I settled in seat 51D, a refurbished middle section aisle seat that provides plenty of legroom.

Qatar Airways’ 777-200LRs feature two Qsuite cabins at the front of the plane with seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. When booking, travelers can select single Qsuite seats along the windows or book pairs or quads for parties of 2 to 4. Families with young children should select seat pair 11 B and G as these are close enough to allow a parent to supervise a child without having to leave their seat. The Qsuite seats can also be converted into a bassinet for infants.

As with other 777s, the cabin is well-appointed with ample storage and decent seat pitch. The galleys are spacious and well-stocked with a variety of snacks, drinks, and beverages. In addition to the standard IFE, each passenger receives an individual tablet preloaded with movies and games. Throughout the flight, the crew kept up with beverage service and did an excellent job of keeping the cabin clean.

The 777 is powered by GE90-series engines, which can produce up to 115,000 pounds of thrust. On usd777 , the GE90s are rated to burn 5.5 gallons per nautical mile and require 26 minutes to fully refuel. Early Dash 200 models could be outfitted with a choice of Pratt & Whitney or Rolls-Royce engines; later versions including the 777-200LR and 300ER variants can only be equipped with GE90 engines.
My Website: https://usd777.lat/