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Qatar Airways’s New Rebooking Policy: A Killer Deal in Disguise?
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I have a booking on 24 hr. hold. ITA notes a booking fare code "I" while the QR booking confirmation shows a "Business R" fare. Am I reading correctly ? are these equal to each other ? Thanks.
I can’t seem to find the PHL-DOH-KBP trip on their website for that price. Is anyone else finding the deals?
They’ve pulled the PHL/JFK–KBP fares for now.
Thanks Ricky! I found a flight from YUL to CPT for around $3000 in July. The same flight in Dec is around $6000 for the dates I want. So as I understand this, I can book the flight in July and ask to move it to the dates I want in Dec with no additional cost. I can also change the destination that is within 5000 miles of CPT for no additional cost.
Is this correct?
Your blog posts definitely bring back life to things that have been dormant for the past few months. Thank you again!
Yes – but under the new rules, you’ll have to check if the flights in December are under the same fare class ("R", "D", "J", etc.) You can check this using ITA Matrix (matrix.itasoftware.com); the QR website should also show you the fare class during the booking process. You’ll also need to wait 14 days after making the booking to request the change.
Hey Ricky, if im understanding the policy right- if for any reason I decide not to take my flight, I can rebook without charge for antoehr flight within 2 years?
You will have to pay the difference in fares, which won’t be worth it as it will be full price.
I’ve called 4 agents and none of them have been able to follow this policy, excluding some airports like MLE when it’s clearly under 5000 miles and claiming they can’t even change dates. A little nerve racking to be stuck with 10,000 USD locked into fares to Kyiv…
Anyone find anything cheaper from the US or CAN through Doha on Qatar, than the PHI-KBP ?
Hey Ricky, aren’t you concerned you won’t be getting the complete experience on this type of flight/seat you would in normal times? That’s a lot of money to spend to potentially having to wearing a mask an entire flight(s), and a dining experience which might be very subdued and perhaps even sanitized?
I’ll almost certainly have to wear a mask, which doesn’t really make a difference in my experience. People should be wearing a mask while in public on the ground anyway.
To your other point, Qatar Airways is known for offering a wide range of food and beverages and a fully customizable menu, and I do expect that that may be reduced. However, I agree with most observers that the entire air travel experience, including business class & First Class, will take several years to return to “normal times” and may well be permanently changed. You know, the idea of the “new normal”.
I would’ve planned to return to Beijing sometime later this year if at all possible, and probably would’ve redeemed 150,000 Aeroplan miles for the round-trip. Thats why the ability to effectively redeem 115,000 MR points, and earn extra miles and Oneworld status, is a steal in my books.
What is the optimal return booking departing from YUL.
I can’t seem to find any destinations in Europe that are accepted.
Thanks
YUL–DOH–DEL as given in the article would allow you to change to any place in Europe.
YUL–DOH–DEL as given in the article would allow you to change to any place in Eurpe.
Hey Ricky, when I called Qatar they said I have to pay the difference in fare between the new destinations. Did I just get a service agent that didnt know about the new policy?
Most likely. Try calling again a few times.
Took 40 minutes but got it done! JFK-DOH-PEK no extra cost. Thanks Ricky, couldn’t have done it without you!!
Hey Ricky, should I call the Qatar airways office in Montreal or its general office in Qatar?
I called the US line at 1 (877) 777-2827.
LIGHT BULB*
So how about booking a off peak (and cheaper) fare for the fall and moving the date back to on peak (and undesirably expensive) June/July departure? Huh, HUH!!!??? lol
Sure thing, with the caveat that not all of QR’s routes will be running in the summer.
Are you saying that changes can be made for free when booking the Business Promo fare even though that fare still lists the (hefty) change/cancellation fees
That’s exactly what I’m saying. The Travel with Confidence policies override the ordinary fare rules.
Cool! Thanks Ricky. I was worried the Business Promo fare wouldn’t count. this is a great deal for sure.
I have not been successful calling in with a business promo fare. Their system already has internal rules where agents can’t change the destination.
Keep trying Leanne. Maybe you’ll get an agent who will work harder for you to make the change. I hope you don’t have a lot of money stuck on a flight you don’t want – Jason
Just to confirm, the 5000 mile destination change is only applicable for flights this year?
If I decide to extend the ticket for 2 years, hence fly in 2021 or in 2022, the destination change can’t be done?
Correct, if it’s changed to later years then the fare difference (at least) would apply.
In regards to “Extend your ticket”. One could initially book travel prior to Dec 31, 2020, than change it to later in 2021?
This is somewhat unclear – if you changed your ticket to within 5,000 miles for travel in 2020, could you then extend that ticket into 2021? Someone will need to try it and see.
Hi Ricky, so could I book the New york to Kiev flight and change Kiev to Taiwan or Shanghai?
I don’t believe QR flies to Taiwan. Shanghai yes.
Don’t forget the EZE-GRU fifth freedom.
Sadly that one’s pricing out much more expensively.
Qatar Airlines stated on their website that fifth freedom flight is not available for this:
"Rerouting is not possible free of charge if the original booking was on a fifth freedom route not touching Doha (such as PHN-SGN and vice versa; GRU-EZE and vice versa)"
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-with-confidence.html?CID=AFALL0204026300000000000&CJEVENT=68637c18960511ea811701150a24060c&PID=7718223
Interesting, they must’ve just added that. I also noticed that they’ve pulled all the fares on SGN-PNH for now.
Great Post. Must have taken a bit of research to put all that together. My head is swimming trying to make the most use of that fifth freedom flight! Also note one could use Avion points with reasonable value for this business class redemption – 2cpp if holding a Avion Business Visa Infinite card.
Don’t you just love it when a new sweet spot makes your head spin in a brand new way?! That’s a great point too, I’ll add a tidbit to the article about it.
Is there an easy way to delineate a 5,000 mile circle around a destination point ?
5000mi@KBP (or any other airport code) on GCMap.
Can you cancel yourself and get a refund or only if the flight’s cancelled? Interested in making a speculative booking but not sure I’ll be able to fly it.
Only if the flight is cancelled. If you choose to cancel, you can either extend the trip for two years, swap for Qmiles, or get a travel credit worthiness 10% more.
Hmm…
Book a $2000+ ticket, cancel and get the 10% which would give you an extra $200+ and then book again for 2 people. Basically getting a discount and on top of that you can then still move the destination by 5k miles.
If only had a P2 (=
Ricky, do you know if we can change our flight twice. I was thinking of buying yul-del then change to yul-sgn but was wondering if i change my mind again, can i switch to yul-bkk or something?
I asked over the phone if I could make unlimited changes and was explicitly told yes.
Of course one should consider if Qatar Airways has a risk of bankruptcy.
That’s always prudent. I’d place Qatar Airways’s chances of bankruptcy at extremely minimal as they’re fully state-owned.
Is it only the destination that can be changed?
So WAW-BKK can become WAW-SYD but NOT LHR-SYD?
Correct. The origin can, however, be changed to another city in the same country. So PHL-DOH-KBP could be changed to LAX-DOH-ICN, as shown in the article.
Any ideas how this would work with a BA Avios multi carrier award chart booking? I am guessing since the ticket will be ticketed through BA Avios that you cant take advantage of the generous Qatar change policies?
Yes, this policy only applies to Qatar Airways tickets booked directly with them. However, BA’s change policies are also quite generous too – I believe it’s a flat ~$50 change fee to make any changes.
Thanks