UA M+ Awards with QR (Qatar)
Sep 9, 2011, 9:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
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UA M+ Awards with QR (Qatar)
Update: QR awards are now bookable online
As many here know QR is currently a partner with UA's M+ and redemptions on them are fairly limited in terms of being able to add in partners (UA will only allow UA operated connecting flights to/from the QR US gateways and then all subsequent travel must be on QR.)
Moreover when CO and EK were still partners OnePass would allow *A/VS/etc. sectors to be sold into an award with an EK flight(s) meaning that EK (and VS) was treated as the functional equivalent of a *A partner.
Obviously there's still a fair amount of dust to settle from this merger but the two questions I have regarding QR are:
As many here know QR is currently a partner with UA's M+ and redemptions on them are fairly limited in terms of being able to add in partners (UA will only allow UA operated connecting flights to/from the QR US gateways and then all subsequent travel must be on QR.)
Moreover when CO and EK were still partners OnePass would allow *A/VS/etc. sectors to be sold into an award with an EK flight(s) meaning that EK (and VS) was treated as the functional equivalent of a *A partner.
Obviously there's still a fair amount of dust to settle from this merger but the two questions I have regarding QR are:
1: Will they remain a partner with M+ going forward? (my guess: yes)
2: Will M+ treat QR as the functional equivalent of a *A partner for award bookings, or in other words will we be able to mix-n-match QR sectors in with other *A partners? (my guess: yes)
Your thoughts?
2: Will M+ treat QR as the functional equivalent of a *A partner for award bookings, or in other words will we be able to mix-n-match QR sectors in with other *A partners? (my guess: yes)
Last edited by J.Edward; Apr 18, 2012 at 8:03 am
Sep 10, 2011, 7:33 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
Unfortunately, I think the days of non-star partners are numbered. While I have never earned EQM/RDM on Virgin etc., having the additional partners for redemptions has certainly been nice--especially since availability has been so good.
But what do I know...
But what do I know...
Feb 28, 2012, 6:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: ATL
Programs: UA 3.6 MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,582
I think the future of the partnership QR is a known unknown. It is truly THE 5 star airline in the world. QR is wonderful and really does have the finest people in the business unlike United which is in roach infested fast food joint manned by the embittered elderly.
Feb 29, 2012, 8:28 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: IAD
Programs: AA EXP, UA PP
Posts: 47
I think the future of the partnership QR is a known unknown. It is truly THE 5 star airline in the world. QR is wonderful and really does have the finest people in the business unlike United which is in roach infested fast food joint manned by the embittered elderly.
But I also think the partnership days are numbered. They operated a codeshare IAD-DOH, allowing govt. and contractors to book using the UA flight number (big military presence in DOH). Great way to connect to southeast Asia for me. Sadly, no EQM or bonii earning as QR is not *A -- just the flight miles. Life is full of tradeoffs, and this was one of them.
I read somewhere that UA was going to start its own IAD-DOH service, maybe involving a stop via DBX.
Apr 2, 2012, 8:15 am
#9
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Update
At the Mini-do even in IAH this past weekend I had a chance to follow up with Scott and Shanno re: Qatar and they are *still* a partner with M+ for award redemptions.
Also the goal is to bring QR into the online reward redemption tool, however this project is still being worked on.
Finally QR will be treated as a partner a la "CO style" which means we should be able to mix-n-match QR sectors with a normal *A award. So for example one could theoretically fly something like:
Now if we could only get EK back...
Also the goal is to bring QR into the online reward redemption tool, however this project is still being worked on.
Finally QR will be treated as a partner a la "CO style" which means we should be able to mix-n-match QR sectors with a normal *A award. So for example one could theoretically fly something like:
CLT > IAH (via US)
IAH > LHR (via UA)
LHR > DOH (via QR)
DOH > DEL (via QR)
DEL > FRA (via LH)
FRA > YYZ (via AC)
YYZ > ORD (via UA)
ORD > CLT (via US)
...point being that QR is treated a kin to a *A partner for constructing awards.
Glad to see they stuck around. ^IAH > LHR (via UA)
LHR > DOH (via QR)
DOH > DEL (via QR)
DEL > FRA (via LH)
FRA > YYZ (via AC)
YYZ > ORD (via UA)
ORD > CLT (via US)
...point being that QR is treated a kin to a *A partner for constructing awards.
Now if we could only get EK back...
Apr 3, 2012, 7:47 am
#12
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Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
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Apr 3, 2012, 9:16 am
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,894
Finally QR will be treated as a partner a la "CO style" which means we should be able to mix-n-match QR sectors with a normal *A award. So for example one could theoretically fly something like:
CLT > IAH (via US)
IAH > LHR (via UA)
LHR > DOH (via QR)
DOH > DEL (via QR)
DEL > FRA (via LH)
FRA > YYZ (via AC)
YYZ > ORD (via UA)
ORD > CLT (via US)
...point being that QR is treated a kin to a *A partner for constructing awards.
Glad to see they stuck around. ^IAH > LHR (via UA)
LHR > DOH (via QR)
DOH > DEL (via QR)
DEL > FRA (via LH)
FRA > YYZ (via AC)
YYZ > ORD (via UA)
ORD > CLT (via US)
...point being that QR is treated a kin to a *A partner for constructing awards.
I am thinking of YUL-IAH-DOH-KIX-ICN
Also, what is the availability like for business class with QR?
Apr 3, 2012, 9:19 am
#14
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
TACA is. Not many agents are familiar with booking TA, but I did it the other day.
I would assume the others are treated the same way. It was a legacy UA rule that non-Alliance partners could not be combined with Alliance carriers.
Part of the reason may have been that the non-Alliance partners usually had different mileage costs in the legacy UA program.
I would assume the others are treated the same way. It was a legacy UA rule that non-Alliance partners could not be combined with Alliance carriers.
Part of the reason may have been that the non-Alliance partners usually had different mileage costs in the legacy UA program.
Apr 3, 2012, 12:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Houston
Programs: UA: MM
Posts: 844
What about earning?
I was Gold on QR for a couple of years and loved their C and F service and the premium terminal at DOH. One of the best deals going was to fly Y IAH-DOH and upgrade your connecting flight to get into the premium terminal on the F side for your layover.
I would like to fly them again and it would be nice if I could get miles and points.
FWIW
DLM
I would like to fly them again and it would be nice if I could get miles and points.
FWIW
DLM
Last edited by dmunz; Apr 4, 2012 at 7:46 am