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After running a few dozen searches over the last month or so, I’ve come to the conclusion that Qatar will not offer any award options for any airports it flies to/from other than their own flights. The most ludicrous routing I’ve be offered was for a search today for 5 August from Osaka (KIX) to Shanghai (PVG)… widely available on OneWorld partners directly with Japan Airlines… but on Qatar’s website it only offers a routing via Doha for an unsurprisingly unattractively high number of Avios.
Even on days where Qatar has no availability in any class they offer nothing via a partner, even one that flies direct, if Qatar will serve those airports.
Even the most ardent fan of Qsuites isn’t going to fly to China from Japan via the Middle East… what on earth are they thinking?
Hmmm… In the past (3 months ago), I have booked and flown CX using QR website for return flight between PNH – HKG and I checked just now that it still provides that direct option.
Yes it does also offer (silly) option PNH – (stopover SGN) DOH – HKG
Hmmm… In the past (3 months ago), I have booked and flown CX using QR website for return flight between PNH – HKG and I checked just now that it still provides that direct option.
Guess I’m just unlucky and there are issues pulling partner availability on every route and every date I’ve checked recently (it’s not just Japan Airlines that has been missing).
Yes it does also offer (silly) option PNH – (stopover SGN) DOH – HKG
Which still begs the question why … if you booked this in a hurry without looking at the flight times you’d be livid. It’s absurd, even offering as an option is customer hostile.
After running a few dozen searches over the last month or so, I’ve come to the conclusion that Qatar will not offer any award options for any airports it flies to/from other than their own flights.
The ones which show up online are the ones where the booking can be processed immediately.
Chances are, if you can find partner availability on other OneWorld websites (eg on BA’s website for a JL flight), then you can call up Qatar and book it there. They’ll process your booking on the call.
If using Qatar online search, partner availability is more likely to turn up for BA (assuming it’s due to both using Avios), and CX (I assume this is due to Qatar being a shareholder), but less likely to turn up for other OW airlines
I managed to book RJ from LHR – AMM on the Qatar website last week and at a cheaper redemption rate than showed on BA, wasn’t expecting that.
I managed to book RJ from LHR – AMM on the Qatar website last week and at a cheaper redemption rate than showed on BA, wasn’t expecting that.
If the rates may be lower — which is precisely what I’m hoping — I’ll call in. Availability is showing on various oneworld partners, just not Qatar.
Turns out Qatar have a special form online where you can ask to redeem with a specific partner airline. My choice wasn’t bookable online, so it’s gone to a back office team.
Bookmark this: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/postLogin/dashboardqrpcuser/redeem-Avios.html#beTId_partner-flight|
It will not pull in Avios from BA, so you need to transfer/combine to book. … and for the route I want, it is a few Avios less than BA, waiting to find out if the taxes/fees/charges are much different. To give you some idea of the differences:
Alaska: 7,500 + 40 USD
Cathay: 12,500 + 70 HKD
BA & Finnair: 11,000 + £ 64
Qatar: 9,000 + ???Sadly I’m short of the required number of Alaskan miles for my party…
There is often availability on Malaysia Airlines, through the Qatar site.
To complete the set:
Alaska: 7,500 + 40 USD
Cathay: 12,500 + 70 HKD
BA & Finnair: 11,000 + £ 64
Qatar: 9,000 + £ 45… so, if all you have is Avios, in this case, despite the faff, Qatar is cheapest for points and cash.
Thanks for the feedback.
I did some alternative checking of my own and came to the conclusion that booking Malaysia Airlines reward flights through the Qatar site is slightly cheaper than through BAEC.By the way, are you going to struggle in Osaka in mid summer?
I tried to book JAL domestic flights on the Qatar website last year, because the number of Avios required was lower than booking through BA. Found the available flights easily. Filled in two online forms for the return flights. Called up a week later to check progress. After 50 minutes on the phone they were about to make the booking when they told me the fees (payable in Euros). The fees made booking through Qatar a worse deal than booking through BA, but there was no way of establishing what the fees were in advance.
(Ended up booking directly with JAL and paying cash, which was better value that using Avios and booking with BA or Qatar.)
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