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Forums Frequent flyer programs British Airways Executive Club Help finding Qatar Airways redemptions please

  • squishsquash 45 posts

    Hi,
    I’m going a bit nuts trying to find business class redemption for Manchester to Bangkok on Qatar airways.

    The tips says use AA to see but having no luck as it seems to show will aa miles but not with avios on Qatars site.

    I’m after 2 seats between April and June ideally with 4 nights in Bangkok itself (preferably not including a Monday as wholesale stuff tends to not be open)

    Anyone have advise on how to search please?

    I can only find double avios seats.

    I do have a BA companion voucher but I think the Bangkok route finishes next month.

    Any advice appreciated.

    davefl 1,997 posts

    I had a quite extensive search for you but there’s nothing. AA miles don’t equal avios availablility

    For example AA prices at 75k miles OW MAN-DOH-BKK on 7th or 9th May

    Return flight on the 13th May also prices at 75K AA but doesn’t exist in the Avios world on ba.com etc.

    AA have better availability than QR/BA for the same flights. Makes no sense but that’s the way it is today, it may be different tomorrow or next week.

    —————————-
    Quality of replies over the next few weeks may be affected by altitude and amount of wine consumed. E&OE

    Jon 300 posts

    If only Qatar’s search engine would actually pay attention to the ‘Premium cabins’ selection when returning Avios redemption results, instead of ignoring it and showing all availability including Economy. Horrible user experience. To my knowledge (but would love to be corrected), the only way is to click through the date calendar one day at a time, and scroll down to check for non-flexi awards, then repeat ad-nauseum until you die of frustration. FWIW I find searching separately for one-ways makes the process marginally less painful – keep a notepad handy for jotting down candidates, then re-search as a return if you find dates that work. Good luck!

    NorthernLass 10,482 posts

    I’ve never used AA. I find that if there’s QR availability, it’s visible on the QR app and website (though the website has suddenly started an annoying series of questions before displaying the results!) and ba.com.

    Don’t forget QR releases seats up to 12 months out, so they don’t show up immediately via BA or AA, and standard J awards get snapped up really fast – often as soon as they appear.


    @squishsquash
    – you could use your 241 to DOH then connect to BKK or QR if you find availability on the 2nd leg.

    tix 2 posts

    BA LGW-BKK is back on for the foreseeable, reward booking availability is gold dust, perhaps look at seat spy.

    QR award availability search is annoying and the best way I have found is to use the app. I personally say 150k plus taxes is a good deal in business both ways. Gooo luck.

    NorthernLass 10,482 posts

    Looking now for April – June is very late as well, no guarantee of anything becoming available. You could set up a SeatSpy alert for BA seats, but they can be snapped up before the alert reaches you, IME.

    Also IME, QR economy is quite bearable, at least on the 7 hours between MAN and DOH, if you can get an exit row or bulkhead seat, as these have absolutely loads of leg room, and service and IFE are way above BA.

    squishsquash 45 posts

    I had a quite extensive search for you but there’s nothing. AA miles don’t equal avios availablility

    For example AA prices at 75k miles OW MAN-DOH-BKK on 7th or 9th May

    Return flight on the 13th May also prices at 75K AA but doesn’t exist in the Avios world on ba.com etc.

    AA have better availability than QR/BA for the same flights. Makes no sense but that’s the way it is today, it may be different tomorrow or next week.

    —————————-
    Quality of replies over the next few weeks may be affected by altitude and amount of wine consumed. E&OE

    Thank you for taking the time to look for me, yes the AA thing is frustrating ;(
    Good idea re BA for the first leg though. The only thing is Gatwick is a pain to get to from the north a we will be on train but sure it will be fine, ill search for that now.
    Thank you

    squishsquash 45 posts

    Looking now for April – June is very late as well, no guarantee of anything becoming available. You could set up a SeatSpy alert for BA seats, but they can be snapped up before the alert reaches you, IME.

    Also IME, QR economy is quite bearable, at least on the 7 hours between MAN and DOH, if you can get an exit row or bulkhead seat, as these have absolutely loads of leg room, and service and IFE are way above BA.

    It is quite late notice I agree, but when I looked a month ago there was the odd availability and with us being quite flexible on dates I was optimistic.

    We have flown about 12 Qatar economy flights and I agree they are good and I love flying from Manchester, but the husband at 6″2 just can’t sleep and a its a quick trip with demanding long days just need that sleep/less chance of tiredness over the few days we have their, keeping it short so we aren’t away from the kids much. We tend to tack it onto a bigger family holiday but chances of 4seats are so slim. [Plus hubby thinks its a waste they love economy anyway as they are little]

    I don’t think Seat Spy shows the extra availability the voucher opens up or has that changed recently?

    squishsquash 45 posts

    BA LGW-BKK is back on for the foreseeable, reward booking availability is gold dust, perhaps look at seat spy.

    QR award availability search is annoying and the best way I have found is to use the app. I personally say 150k plus taxes is a good deal in business both ways. Gooo luck.

    Ooo I didnt know that re BA Bangkok, might keep an eye out then. Thanx

    Yes 150k plus taxes i what im looking for as thats the standard avios return in business price. But can only find double so 600k for 2 returns its just too much.

    squishsquash 45 posts

    I’ve never used AA. I find that if there’s QR availability, it’s visible on the QR app and website (though the website has suddenly started an annoying series of questions before displaying the results!) and ba.com.

    Don’t forget QR releases seats up to 12 months out, so they don’t show up immediately via BA or AA, and standard J awards get snapped up really fast – often as soon as they appear.



    @squishsquash
    – you could use your 241 to DOH then connect to BKK or QR if you find availability on the 2nd leg.

    And thanx for heads up on using BA for 1st flight that may work.

    Jon 300 posts

    Could Finnair be an option for you? They fly from Manchester.

    Aston100 1,730 posts

    If only Qatar’s search engine would actually pay attention to the ‘Premium cabins’ selection when returning Avios redemption results, instead of ignoring it and showing all availability including Economy. Horrible user experience. To my knowledge (but would love to be corrected), the only way is to click through the date calendar one day at a time, and scroll down to check for non-flexi awards, then repeat ad-nauseum until you die of frustration. FWIW I find searching separately for one-ways makes the process marginally less painful – keep a notepad handy for jotting down candidates, then re-search as a return if you find dates that work. Good luck!

    Exactly my experience.
    So horrible.

    NorthernLass 10,482 posts

    @squishsquash, no SeatSpy doesn’t show the “extra” availability from the 241, but it will show any cancellations or added standard inventory by BA.

    Rather you than me doing a journey like that for a short trip. I was going to suggest breaking the journey at DOH and trying to get all daytime flights, but it sounds as though you wouldn’t have time to do that.

    Dave1234 37 posts

    I have posted this a few times on here but I had success with searching individual sectors on Alaska airlines and then once I had identified a good combination it was much easier to find on QR/BA websites. They have a monthly calendar view. This was on 2x bussines returns MAN-LHR. Booked November 23 and travelled September/October 24. Hope it helps.

    squishsquash 45 posts

    @squishsquash, no SeatSpy doesn’t show the “extra” availability from the 241, but it will show any cancellations or added standard inventory by BA.

    Rather you than me doing a journey like that for a short trip. I was going to suggest breaking the journey at DOH and trying to get all daytime flights, but it sounds as though you wouldn’t have time to do that.

    Yes it’s a bit mad.
    Done 7night stays 3 times now but never less.

    Just been chatting with the husband and we may combine with Koh Chang and take the kids we usually do Koh Samui but time/money is tight this year but that means finding 4 seats on a 11night trip.
    The kids did well in the wholesale markets last year so it could be done.
    At least Avios has a few airline options I might try looking at mixing it up.
    Not looked at Finnair availability as yet.

    Paul 226 posts

    Have been looking for seats just to Doha for a bit of warmth and to avoid the persistent rain. There is nothing on QR from LHR or any U.K. departure point no doubt to keep fares at the dizzying heights they are. From the EU however it was a different story and seats generally were available from various departures points even for next week and Feb half term. I found the Finnair site had better availability than QR which was very odd and demonstrates the chaos within the Avios world. Flights where QR wanted 2x points were at standard prices on Finnair.
    The QR reward seat finder was obviously purchased from BA IT and is as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. The Finnair system is equally frustrating as it ignores the filter to show only premium seats and cannot handle more than a single sector.
    Above all however my ire is directed to BA where standard pricing to the middle east is double that of QR (I feel a massive devaluation coming)
    In the end I have used an expiring 241 for one way LHR to DOH and home via Brussels, booked direct on QR at the same number of points as BA charged with a 241!! Go figure

    anuj 120 posts

    Could Finnair be an option for you? They fly from Manchester.

    Highly recommend, have brilliant availability even as close as a few days before (just keep checking regularly and they will release as many as 4 seats close to the date). Helsinki is a great airport for connecting. Very low taxes and low avios rates. Also no lottery with seats as every plane has the new seats.

    squishsquash 45 posts

    Could Finnair be an option for you? They fly from Manchester.

    Highly recommend, have brilliant availability even as close as a few days before (just keep checking regularly and they will release as many as 4 seats close to the date). Helsinki is a great airport for connecting. Very low taxes and low avios rates. Also no lottery with seats as every plane has the new seats.

    O that’s helpful thanx.
    Heard good things about them. Never flown with them.

    Unfortunately the journey times are awful from Manchester the shortest is 24hrs 🙁
    There are some 16hr for the return though so could be good to use for a one way.
    No availability from what I can see but Ill keep playing with dates.

    Jon 300 posts

    I know you said it’s only a short trip, so this might not work for you, but have you tried also looking for other nearby airports? Eg QR also flies to Phuket, from where flights to Bangkok are plentiful and generally cheap. Or Kuala Lumpur or Singapore perhaps?

    NorthernLass 10,482 posts

    Whenever I’ve looked at MAN-HEL on Finnair, both cash and avios plus taxes rates have been really high.

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