I spent 15 hours in Qatar Airways' business class. Parts of the trip felt like a bus ride, but it was pretty exceptional.

• I flew 15 hours in Qatar Airways business class on two different flights.
• I booked Qsuites , but a plane change meant I was switched to standard business class.
• Some of the food was just OK, but the lie-flat seats and amenities exceeded our expectations.

I recently spent 15 hours flying in Qatar Airways business class from South Africa to Tunisia.

When booking, I paid 35,000 American Airlines miles and $84 in fees a seat in Qsuites, Qatar Airways's luxurious lay-flat business-class seats with sliding doors for privacy.

I've seen these flights go for about $2,700 one-way, though Qatar Airways business class can sometimes cost significantly more (over $10,000).

Unfortunately, a few days before my flight I received an email notifying me that my plane had changed to one with a different configuration and I'd be in standard business class instead of Qsuites.

I was disappointed not to be in Qsuites, but I knew when I booked that a seat in it was not guaranteed. Here's what my flight was like.

The check-in and boarding process was lackluster.

Business class was called for boarding early on, but we were then held in the steamy jetway for 20 minutes until the plane was actually ready.

Once I was finally on board, I was surprised to find that most of the seats were already occupied by reclining passengers.

A flight attendant explained to me that this plane route is a triangle between Doha, Durban, and Maputo. So, the passengers traveling from Doha to Maputo were already sitting on the plane in Durban while we boarded.

In turn, we sat on the plane in Maputo as other passengers exited. This made my flight feel a bit like a bus route and less of a luxury experience.

The seats felt private and comfortable with an impressive customizable design.

The 1-2-1 herringbone seat configuration angled seats away from the aisle, allowing for an increased sense of privacy.

The wide seat created a spacious environment, and many components of it — including the height of the armrests — were fully adjustable.

There were also several storage options for carry-on items.

I was welcomed with a drink and a refreshing towel but had to request an amenity kit and headphones.

When I arrived, a blanket and two pillows were at my seat.

After several minutes, the flight attendant greeted me with a refreshing towel and a welcome drink. Because the flight from Durban to Maputo was only an hour, only snacks and limited beverage service were provided.

I had to request headphones and the Diptyque amenity kit. The kit was nice and I was excited to take the luxury-feeling lotion, lip balm, and perfume home to continue to use on land.

The layover situation continued to throw me off, but I embraced it.

Once in Maputo, most passengers disembarked. Only the handful of people who boarded in Durban stayed on board as the plane was cleaned and prepared for the next segment.

At this point, I was presented with pajamas and slippers, plus the food and drink menus.

Layovers where passengers remain on board are rare, and this hour on the ground provided a great opportunity for me to snap some photos.

I also took this time to check out the bathroom, which felt more lavish than typical facilities. It was roomy and even featured a window. It also had Diptyque products: lotion, mouthwash, and rehydrating facial spray.

Thankfully, the leg from Maputo to Doha was longer, so I had a chance to wine, dine, and sleep en route to Qatar.

My dining setup looked great but the food fell below my expectations.

Meals were served on demand, and when I was ready, a white tablecloth was smoothed out over my pull-out table.

The attendant set it with mini salt and pepper grinders and a battery-operated tea light, which made my in-flight meal feel like a romantic dinner for one.

I was impressed by the beverage menu, which featured several fine wine, liquor, and non-alcoholic options, including the Champagne cocktail — one of my favorites.

Unfortunately, the beef short-rib dish I got was just OK. I enjoyed my cheese plate, though, which paired well with my aged tawny port.

After dinner, I relaxed in my lie-flat seat and watched movies.

The entertainment options on my flight were great. Each seat had a large screen with a selection of Hollywood, Bollywood, and Arabic movies.

The headphones I got were high-quality with a noise-canceling feature.

To make my setup even cozier, I dimmed my window shade with the touch of a button. I liked being able to see outside without being bothered by the sunlight.

I landed in Doha just before midnight for a nine-hour layover.

My ticket provided complimentary access to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge .

My amenity kit and pajamas from the plane were useful during the layover, and I enjoyed exploring the lounge.

Eventually, we headed back to the gate to board our plane for the next part of our trip, which was six hours to Tunis, Tunisia.

My next flight was operated through Oman Air.

Qatar Airways and Oman Air have a partnership, so though the exterior of my plane was different, the flight felt quite similar.

This flight was operated by Oman Air, but I had access to the same entertainment system and plush purple blankets as before.

This time, though, I was in Oman's Apex Suites. These business-class seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration.

Oman's Apex Suites exceeded my expectations but were not as ergonomic as the first flight.

The cushy chairs reclined flat, but my seat wasn't as comfortable as the one on the previous flight. The armrests were slightly narrow, so the area felt a little cramped.

There's a small divider between the two seats, which I lowered because I was next to my husband. But if I was next to a stranger, I don't think having the low screen raised would offer enough privacy.

I thought the food was better on this leg of the trip.

I preferred the food on this leg of the flight. My beef tenderloin was perfectly prepared and served on a white tablecloth similar to what I'd seen before.

We also received chocolates right before we landed. It was a nice touch.

The flight was worth every mile.

Even though I didn't get to fly in Qsuites, I was happy to travel in elevated comfort.

After all, Qsuites are not guaranteed, and I had a pretty luxurious journey regardless of the plane configuration. My flights were pleasant, and both crews were extremely polite and attentive.

Although a few small parts of my trip let me down, I would definitely seek out Qatar Airways for future flights.

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