Qatar Airways Privilege Club - Any ideas on cost of paid upgrades at check-in?

Hi all,

My soon-to-be-wife and I are booking our honeymoon at the moment for the beginning of September. It looks like we'll be flying with Qatar LHR-DOH-MLE. It'll get booked by a package company (alas, the holiday is a ridiculous amount cheaper through them rather than booking separately) so it'll obviously be the cheapest seats on the plane.

Does anyone know the cost to upgrade at check in? Unfortunately they don't have a premium economy class but I'm thinking it might be worth a part upgrade for the overnight outward flight at least.

Also, both the outward and return flights look to have stopover durations of only 55 and 45 minutes in Doha. Isn't that cutting it a bit fine? The flights would be QR002 (A330-300) + QR383 (A320-100/200) on the way out and QR381 (A320-100/200) + QR001 (A330-300) on the way back.

Hello,

Congratulations on your impending marriage! Qatar only operate economy, business and first and I think the latter will be available on QR002 and QR001. There is only a two-class config on the DOH-MLE route.

With regards to your layover in DOH, the transfer times should not be a problem. I regularly travel CMB-DOH-LHR and have a 45 minute connection, which is never a problem. I've had a 20 minute connection (due to the incoming plane being slightly late) and never had any issues, either.

When you arrive from LHR and get into the bus, you will find that it drops you off at the side of the transfer terminal, and you actually bypass security and walk straight into the duty free/gates area - shaving even more time off. On your return, you will have to go through security.

I have never requested an upgrade at check-in on QR (but have been offered an OpUp at the gate a few times - always on the shorter leg). However, I guess it wouldn't harm to ask at the sales desk (which is right next to QR check-in counters)....though I'll suspect they'll ask you for the full J-class fare if there's availability...

Thanks!

I'll certainly ask the sales desk when we get there. We'll likely be there very early anyway as it's not worth driving home after our honeymoon night only to head out to LHR (which we'd almost be driving past anyway). If nothing else, I hope to request the emergency exit seats.

I'm glad to hear the transfer time shouldn't be an issue, bit scary though!

What's weird is that I've just been looking at ticket prices for seperate legs of the route on the Qatar website so as to maybe get an idea as to what it would cost to upgrade part of our route and what's strange is that it's about the same cost to fly LHR-DOH-MLE as just LHR-DOH in economy but the crazy thing is that LHR-DOH-MLE business class is over 34% cheaper than just LHR-DOH business class on the same flights. Madness.

I have asked several times checking in if i could upgrade to business, im a gold card, and have been denied everytime even with business seats open. When i have asked the cost to upgrade it has been the full price of business class ticket even whem i saw seats empty when the plane was in the air.

This is why QR should be a 4.5 star airline, poor treatment of thier FF and horriable ground service.

Guess it is the meddile east menality of i would rather a seat, office building, or house go empty than fill it at a lower price.

What's weird is that I've just been looking at ticket prices for seperate legs of the route on the Qatar website so as to maybe get an idea as to what it would cost to upgrade part of our route and what's strange is that it's about the same cost to fly LHR-DOH-MLE as just LHR-DOH in economy but the crazy thing is that LHR-DOH-MLE business class is over 34% cheaper than just LHR-DOH business class on the same flights. Madness.

This is not so strange -- there is a lot of premium traffic on LHR-DOH, and on other connecting business-oriented destinations. Even though Maldives is an expensive destination, I suppose there is not a lot of premium demand, and, unless you're starting in DOH, you'd be better off taking EK or even WY if you're buying C class (because the DOH-MLE segment is usually, or always, on a regionally-configured single-aisle plane), even though the LHR-DOH service is excellent in C.

As for your original question, I have never been offered an upgrade for cash (unlike, say, Emirates, which sometimes sends out e-mails offering upgrades). I have never asked, either, but it doesn't surprise me that they'd be stingy with them. QR really protects its premium seats, for better or worse. A lot of Golds have also complained that it's difficult to get mileage upgrades, though I can't speak to this, either.

Congratulations on your wedding and enjoy the Maldives!

Guess it is the meddile east menality of i would rather a seat, office building, or house go empty than fill it at a lower price.

That's for sure. It seems to be the norm in real estate in Doha, too. I won't say that this is inherently a bad business decision in general, but does seem to be the norm.

I have asked several times checking in if i could upgrade to business, im a gold card, and have been denied everytime even with business seats open. When i have asked the cost to upgrade it has been the full price of business class ticket even whem i saw seats empty when the plane was in the air.

This is why QR should be a 4.5 star airline, poor treatment of thier FF and horriable ground service.

Guess it is the meddile east menality of i would rather a seat, office building, or house go empty than fill it at a lower price.

I see this as a good thing. Once you start giving away your premium cabin, it goes downhill and no one wants to pay for it anymore...you become United.

Hi all,

My soon-to-be-wife and I are booking our honeymoon at the moment for the beginning of September. It looks like we'll be flying with Qatar LHR-DOH-MLE. It'll get booked by a package company (alas, the holiday is a ridiculous amount cheaper through them rather than booking separately) so it'll obviously be the cheapest seats on the plane.

Does anyone know the cost to upgrade at check in? Unfortunately they don't have a premium economy class but I'm thinking it might be worth a part upgrade for the overnight outward flight at least.

Also, both the outward and return flights look to have stopover durations of only 55 and 45 minutes in Doha. Isn't that cutting it a bit fine? The flights would be QR002 (A330-300) + QR383 (A320-100/200) on the way out and QR381 (A320-100/200) + QR001 (A330-300) on the way back.

Not worth upgrading only the first sector. As you have seen, it's cheaper to upgrade all the way to MLE than to DOH.

Try doing upgrade on way home. Cos upgrading from UK, you also end up paying an extra 200 quid fo the UK departure tax!

And adding to GB's argument, I would strongly recomend you to take a later flight DOH-LHR as 45 minuts will leave you no time to enjoy the Premium Terminal (PT). Instead of QR001 you could go QR017 and get around 4 hours at the PT. And normaly QR017 are slightly less expencive than QR001.

If this is your first time premium QR, the PT is not to be missed! Enjoy the ride and your honeymoon!!

In January we had to return home early from Phuket to Manchester due to my wife's illness so I booked first available flight and upgraded to Business Class and was charged full price. Having flown Qatar previously we have enjoyed the short transit times in Doha but on this occasion no sooner had we sat down in the "Exec. Lounge" at Doha and Emailed our daughter to inform her of progress home than our Manchester flight was called. No time to enjoy the excellent facilities, not that in the circumstances we were really in a position to do so.
However, if I was only hoping for a speculative, affordable, upgrade at the airport I would opt for a 1 hour transit time than a 7 hour one any day!