QATAR AIRWAYS FROM DOHA TO MIAMI. 15 HOUR PLEASANT FLIGHT. QATAR AIRWAYS IS THE BEST

Miami – 12 July 2026, 6:00 a.m.

I flew nonstop from Doha, Qatar, to Miami on Qatar Airways. The flight lasted fifteen hours. I have travelled this route many times and have learned to prepare myself for the long hours in the air—not with anxiety or boredom, but with quiet anticipation and pleasant occupation.

There are hundreds of movies to choose from, yet I prefer sitting by the window, watching the world unfold beneath me. I also hope, whenever possible, not to be disturbed by fellow passengers. It is extremely rare for me to strike up conversations with other travellers, although I make a point of speaking with every flight attendant on board. On this flight, I especially enjoyed chatting with Max from Buenos Aires and Arathi from Quilon, Kerala.

I usually carry a book, which I read intermittently, alternating between the pages and long moments gazing at the horizon, wondering which country lies beneath us. Yesterday’s route took us over Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, across Egypt, then along the coasts of Libya and Tunisia before crossing the Mediterranean into Spain and Portugal. Leaving the Old Continent behind, we crossed the Atlantic and arrived over the coast of Florida a few hours later.

I also keep a notebook beside me, jotting down thoughts that arise spontaneously or are prompted by something I have just read. Lately, I have found myself thinking a great deal about artificial intelligence and, perhaps paradoxically, appreciating even more the originality of human thought. AI is extraordinarily good at gathering and organising facts, but at the level of literature, reflection, and lived experience, I still find myself drawn to the human voice.

Accumulating information without the time or context to absorb it into our own patterns of thinking is like looking at a beautiful photograph of a pomegranate and wishing to eat it. The image is perfect, but the taste, texture, aroma, and pleasure of the fruit remain forever beyond reach.

The food on this flight was superb, even by Qatar Airways’ already high standards. I deliberately spaced my meals so that they resembled a normal day’s eating: an omelette early in the flight, later a beautifully seared sea bass accompanied by a lobster and crab appetiser, and, just before landing in Miami, a traditional Qatari breakfast with foul medames. Along the way, I enjoyed a couple of glasses of champagne and, as always, several cups of fragrant karak chai infused with cardamom.

Without doubt, Qatar Airways remains my favourite airline for long-haul travel. Even before arriving home, I found myself looking forward to my next journey with them.