Qatar QSuite availability over Christmas 2024

[Skgwho]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to travel to Sydney (Ideally Canberra but let’s not confuse things) over Christmas 2024 returning on around the 7th Jan 2025 or later.

I’ve got a lot of avios saved up as well as a companion voucher and an upgrade voucher. The options I see feasible are:

1. Use BA companion voucher and get 360k avios business flights (subject to midnight booking jackpot) and companion voucher
2. Use 360k points to book Qatar Q suite, which looks to be a far superior product.

In my eyes, the second option is much better (although open to other suggestions). But the main issue is Q Suite availability in Jan which seems to show up at double flexi awards points. Does anyone know of qatar will release the seats? So far, around Christmas, they haven’t released any at 90k normal rates, as far as I can see.

Other routing option suggestions are also welcome.

[NorthernLass]

There was a discussion here last year about this and it does seem that at peak periods QR is only releasing double priced avios seats in J.

[SamG]

As someone who is still rather tired from “T-355ing” my Xmas plans recently sorry to let you know you’ve potentially missed the boat on 1) they released up to 29th Dec today, potentially you’d get some extra availability from the voucher though (especially if you start from the regions)

Last few northern winters it has been Club Suite down to Aus on BA so not a bad product

[Skgwho]

NorthernLass wrote:

There was a discussion here last year about this and it does seem that at peak periods QR is only releasing double priced avios seats in J.

Thanks. I’ve looked through a number of threads with mixed messages. Early on it said there should be some availability, but later some threads said there won’t be.

Ant idea what are “peak dates” according to Qatar? We are flexible and could delay our return by upto a week or so if it meant we could get the upgrade.

[Skgwho]

SamG wrote:

As someone who is still rather tired from “T-355ing” my Xmas plans recently sorry to let you know you’ve potentially missed the boat on 1) they released up to 29th Dec today, potentially you’d get some extra availability from the voucher though (especially if you start from the regions)

Last few northern winters it has been Club Suite down to Aus on BA so not a bad product

Thanks Sam. I’ve managed to get the leg on the way out with BA already but think the Qatar Business is considerably better value for money, and I can use the voucher for upcoming trips to NYC/SIN later in the year. Plus we could look to stop in Dubai on way back, which would have been another plus.

[NorthernLass]

Not sure, but definitely over school holidays. QR release at 365 days out on their own website so any reward seats will already be being snapped up for your dates.

[Skgwho]

NorthernLass wrote:

Not sure, but definitely over school holidays. QR release at 365 days out on their own website so any reward seats will already be being snapped up for your dates.

Sadly no seats were released from 13 Dec to today for either Sydney or Melbourne, unless they are released at an odd time. I was hoping someone would have more of an insight

[Aston100]

NorthernLass wrote:

QR release at 365 days out on their own website

I don’t think this is consistent.

[NorthernLass]

My insight (and my QR app) are showing lots of economy seats available SYD-LON the first few days in Jan, so clearly they are releasing some inventory. But thinking back to when I was looking for DOH-MAN in Dec 22 for Dec 23, I only ever saw economy, and possibly some 2 x avios released.

[Adder]

Had a similar plan but as mentioned no QR premium availability from the 13th Dec onward 🙁 Before than there was decent availability inc. in F for DOH-SYD so if QF is your goal I think avoiding school holidays is the way to go.

[bobthebuilder]

We’ve been looking for a few weeks now for flights via Doha, but agree with the views here on limited availability over this peak period. Unfortunate, as we were looking forward to experiencing Qatar’s excellent business class product and service.

[fasul]

I kept chasing Qsuite flights over Christmas 2024 but found zero availability. There was good availability of first class seats though on flights from HKG (leased 777 CX)and BKK(A380 departing 7:10pm) only for around 105k Avios I think OW to Doha. But then I couldn’t find any availability for standard Avios from Doha to Europe. Ended up with Finnair C tickets from Phuket to Vienna on 21/12/24 with 55mins transfer in Helsinky. Curious to try their new seat with mixed reviews. I would incline to the theory QR doesn’t release any award C seats for standard Avios in peak season (after 13/12), esp.on a popular routes (NZ,OZ,SE Asia,Maldives – you name it)

[Lambtiger]

We’re flying from Manchester to Auckland via Doha between Xmas and NYE 2024 and spent hours on the app last week constantly checking reward availability incl setting alarms for 21.00 (midnight in Doha) and 00.00. Seats get released about 00.02 UK time. Bagged two business seats all the way but at Q2 double Avios: no normal Avios until early Jan after the peak.

[phantomchickenz]

I tried the same for Christmas just gone. Nabbed two reward seats outbound on 8th December, but never came across any regular redemptions back home in early January. Ended up buying a decent promotional cash fare on Singapore via Air NZ, and as I got the bulkhead seat with no cubbyhole would potentially argue it’s a better product than QSuite. Good to try out both though!