BAEC reward flight on Qatar – equipment change

[PB2]

In September I have an Avios reward flight booked via the BAEC, operated by Qatar, MAD-DOH. This was originally a 777 flight with Q suite. I’ve noticed that the aircraft has now changed to a 787-9 which I understand has a new (very good) business seat, albeit perhaps not as good as the Q suite, which I was specifically targeting when booking. I’m happy to leave things as they are for now and still hope to try Q suite on the return leg, DOH LHR (I read “premium” routes like LHR less likely to have Q suite removed?) – but it got me thinking. I’ve read that if Qatar do switch from a Q suite aircraft to one without, they offer a free change with some flexibility on dates and departure airport. If for example the aircraft changed again to one with the old 2-2-2 configuration, I’d be less inclined to let that slide. My question is, as this is a BA booked Avios reward flight, do you think there would be any free change option if such a “downgrade” occurred – or would it just be subject to the regular £35 Avios change fee – so long as I still have a ticket on the route booked in a business cabin – I.e. technically not a downgrade. Thanks.

[ChrisC]

BA won’t regard this as a downgrade.

When you buy an avios ticket from BA it’s under their T&Cs which has advantages and disadvantages.

If you want QRs then you need to book with them – which is much easier these days as QR now use avios and you can easily move them from BA to QR and vice versa.

[SamG]

You’d need Avios availability on the new flight and to pay any change fees. Some of their routes change config/aircraft very frequently unfortunately

[PB2]

Thanks guys, had a feeling that would be the case.