In March of 2019, I set out on my third trip to India in just over a year. This time, I would be traveling exclusively through the northeastern Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya. It’s a beautiful area that isn’t frequented by many tourists and was an absolute dream to explore. Come along with me as I make the journey from my hometown of Miami to Guwahati via Qatar Airways Economy Class!
I was super excited to be flying Qatar Airways for the sixth time. Their Economy Class is probably the best in the world!
My long travel day started at Miami International Airport, where I caught my 12-hour flight to Doha, Qatar on an A350-900 with a 3-3-3 configuration. The flight was two hours shorter than usual due to the winds! This flight is the only way to get from Miami to Asia as of March of 2019.
They provide you with fantastic entertainment options including 20 different movies, as well at TV shows and games. On the flight, I just so happened to be seated next to a couple of fans!
For my in-flight meal on Qatar Airways Economy Class, I went with the paneer tawa masala. It’s made with a non-melting cottage cheese and also contains dal and rice. The paneer was ridiculous! I had it with some bread, cheese, a brownie, and a KitKat. Four hours into the flight, I watched the Kevin Hart movie “Night School,” which was hilarious!
I slept about 8 hours straight and was super comfortable since Qatar Airways Economy Class provides you with tons of legroom. I woke up in time for brunch and got some eggs with mushrooms.
Qatar Airways also gives you a package containing socks, an eye mask, a toothbrush, and toothpaste so you can freshen up before you land. The bathrooms are very spacious, so you’re not cramped while you brush your teeth!
After a really smooth flight, we landed in Qatar. I recommend moving around during the flight so your legs don’t get stiff. The airport in Doha is probably the best airport in the world and it’s very efficient to get from one terminal to the next.
With 2 hours until my flight to Kolkata, I tried to see if I had access to any lounges, but I didn’t. So instead, I decided to show you a bit of what the airport has to offer, including its restaurants, chocolate shops, a giant teddy bear, and luxury cars that are for sale there!
After boarding my next flight, a Boeing 787-8, I took my seat, which had lots of legroom that was super close to the bathroom. The movies were the same as the last flight, and I love that they give you a wet towelette. They provide you with a menu. All of today’s selections were Indian food, so I went with chicken curry and basmati pulao. It was amazing!
The 5-hour flight to Kolkata was super smooth, as was my overall experience in Qatar Airways’ Economy Class. I was able to get a lot of work done on the flight and recharge my batteries. From there, I had to wait 2.5 hours until my Indigo Airlines flight to Guwahati.
While I waited, I got some piping hot chai with ginger. Always have your ticket printed out when going through airports in India for your convenience. My flight was moved up, which is rare.
While I waited, I grabbed some idli and vada for breakfast. They were served with sambar, coconut chutney, and mint chutney.
There’s just something about south Indian food that just makes my mouth water. Vada is basically a savory Indian doughnut with a crispy exterior. I loved the flavor of it. I couldn’t get enough of the idli as well. Idli is a type of steamed cake made of a batter made from fermented rice and lentils.
Idli is dense and fluffy and slightly nutty. But it has mostly a bland flavor, so the best thing to do is dip it into different chutneys, like coconut and mint! If you don’t eat idli and vada with chutneys or sambar (a type of tomato soup with vegetables), you’re doing it wrong. Whether you choose a creamy, refreshing coconut chutney, some rich sambar, or a flavorful mint chutney, you can’t really get it wrong!
My 4 a.m. meal was fantastic! I love south Indian food. The mint chutney was outstanding! From there, I went to my gate and boarded my flight. And after 30 hours of traveling, I finally arrived in Assam at 6:20 a.m.
I got my bags, went to an ATM, and requested an Uber. The ATM wouldn’t let me withdraw the amount I wanted, which kind of sucked. But I was immediately taken my how relaxed Guwahati was when compared with other areas of the country. It was also cooler, drier, and foggier.
My Uber took me to my Airbnb in the Old Bazaar area, about 32 minutes from the airport. The area is full of food joints I couldn’t wait to visit. Guwahati seemed completely different from other parts of India I had visited in the past. I was so excited to explore it!
After 30 minutes, I arrived at my Airbnb. While it was a 30-hour travel day, it was worth it to finally be in Guwahati to start my epic, two-week-long adventure. Flying Qatar Airways most of the way made it much more pleasant!
It really is the best airline in the world, with the best economy class on the planet. Flying with them to Asia and the Middle East is always a treat! If you’ve never flown Qatar Airways, I highly recommend it!
If you enjoyed coming along on my travels from Miami to Guwahati via Qatar Airways Economy Class, please give this video a thumbs up and leave me a comment. Also, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the notification bell so you don’t miss any of my travel/food adventures around the world!
