Booking Qatar / Qantas Business class flights through BA?

[hatters]

I would like to book 2 business class return flights (Qatar or Qantas) to Sydney using Avios to reduce the cost (a little). Will I have to pay the absurd seat selection charges at time of booking on Qantas or Qatar that BA charge if I book through the BA website? Is there any way to book Qatar or Qantas flights using Avios without going through the BA website? HELP?

Please don’t tell me I have to telephone BA to achieve any of this, at my age I don’t have that many hours to waste!!

[rams]

You can book Qatar through BA’s website (seats released 330 days or so in advance). No need to pay fees to book seats on Qatar

[nectar collector]

hatters wrote:

I would like to book 2 business class return flights (Qatar or Qantas) to Sydney using Avios to reduce the cost (a little). Will I have to pay the absurd seat selection charges at time of booking on Qantas or Qatar that BA charge if I book through the BA website? Is there any way to book Qatar or Qantas flights using Avios without going through the BA website? HELP?

Please don’t tell me I have to telephone BA to achieve any of this, at my age I don’t have that many hours to waste!!

You can book Qatar flights with Avios directly on the Qatar Airways website, Rob wrote an article on this recently

https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/02/09/qatar-airways-avios-redemption-chart-from-uk/

[hatters]

Great information people, thank you so much!

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

BA only charge seat selection on its own flights and if you chose to pick specific seats and don’t have status.

Since you’d me managing the actual flights on the QR/QF app/website you’d be under any rules they have re seat and other fees.

I don’t think the phone lines are as bad as some make out at the moment. Long waits are only back when something happens like mass cancellations.

[hatters]

Thanks again all.

[Lyn]

Qantas don’t charge to select seats in business class either, but it is usually difficult to find award seats on Qantas in business class for international flights.

If you are planning to take any flights within Australia while you are there, award seats are often available on Qantas domestic flights. These can be a really good use of Avios, especially in business class. I think seat selection would be free in either economy or business for domestic flights.

[hatters]

Thanks Lyn, excellent information.