Flying like royalty: My journey in the world's number-one business class

Frequency and duration: 14 times a week; 13 hours 30 minutes

Class and price: Business; one-way fares from $5240

I'm travelling in Qatar Airways' renowned Qsuite from Doha to Melbourne. Since its launch in 2017, it's won many honours, including Airline Ratings' World's Best Business Class award five years in a row. So as I approach Hamad International Airport, my expectations are sky-high. Does the Qsuite deliver? Let's find out.

CHECKING IN: Flying business class from Qatar's home turf has some serious advantages. You can enter the airport via an exclusive kerbside entrance. As soon as we arrive, we're greeted by half a dozen staff; one of them takes charge of our bags and escorts us to the check-in area. There are a number of desks and no queues, and with dedicated security check and custom clearance for business-class guests, it's the quickest, easiest check in ever.

THE FLIGHT: We're taking this flight as escalating tensions in the Middle East have disrupted the schedule of many aircraft, including ours. Our flight's scheduled departure time - 3am - is the most inconvenient thing about it; and it's made worse due to the disruption. After whiling away a few hours in the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, we finally take off just after 6am and - consequently - land in Melbourne at 2am, about 2.5 hours late.

THE CLASS: I'm travelling in a business-class cabin on the airline's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with 1-2-1 configuration. All seats recline fully with massive screens, mega dining trays and loads of storage area. But it's the middle seats where the real fun begins. They come in two formations: Twin Suites feature fixed dividers making it suitable for solo travellers. But because I'm travelling with my partner, I have snagged a Double Suite where you can drop the divider, fully flatten the seats and turn them into a "double bed".Our little piece of real estate also sits within a private cubicle with sliding doors. It's more first class than business, and the reason behind Qsuite's resounding success.

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FOOD AND DRINKS: Would you like to have caviar bumps 30,000 feet in the air? Matched with the finest champagnes? Qsuite's food and drinks menu is next level. A la carte options range from Baeri caviar with smoked salmon to a trio of lobster, while light meals range from fish and chips to traditional afternoon teas. It's also dine-on-demand, meaning you can have whatever you like whenever you like. My finger sandwiches are super fresh and delicate, and scones warm and fluffy. The lobster is a bit too firm, but that's probably because I spend 15 minutes taking pictures of it.

ENTERTAINMENT: There's a mind-boggling array of movies, TV series and other options. I spend about 30 minutes trying to decide what to watch, then give up and go to sleep. In the process, though, I get to try the supplied headphones and realise they're so good I needn't have carried my noise-cancelling Bose headset.

THE SERVICE: Unforgettable. I am on my way to the toilet when one of the staff says they would like to make sure it's clean before I go in. And that's exactly what they do: wipe it sparkling clean, perfume it up and even add a sheet of paper between the toilet lids before I enter the bathroom.

IN A NUTSHELL: I have no idea where those 13.5 hours went. Enough said.

The writer travelled at his own expense.