Originally Posted by
OnePassenger
Dear FT friends: I have just decided to shift all my frequent flying from United Airlines to Qatar Airways. My reasons, ranging from ease of connections to superb in-flight service, are just too many to mention. Yet, most of all, because of my relocation to Kathmandu, Nepal.
What I really really like about being a United Global Services, Million Miler Member with UA are the one-way Global Premier Upgrades (GPUs) and Regional Premier Upgrades (RPUs) - ... and the more you fly, the more of these you get.
They are amazing upgrade instruments. With the B fares I always purchase, I have a 100% upgrade success rate; both domestically (RPUs) and internationally (GPUs).
I am now Qatar GOLD and plan on being PLATINUM by March 2014!
Please, could anyone explain the QR Privilege Club QCredits system to me? I understand 40 QCredits for Gold and 60 QCredits for Platinum members. But ... how does it work?
I tried the QCalculators (did not offer the QCredit option), and did all the possible reading on the Qatar website. I still have no clue how it works.
And, do you only get them once a year, when the elite tier is retained or upgraded? And not by flying more?
With UA, you apply one upgrade instrument for a one-way upgrade. That is all. Thanks so much for helping me understand ... !!
sorry to be the bearer of bad news - see separate post on using qcredits - forget all the privileges you get as an elite member with us airlines - with qr you have to fly business to get elite treatment. e.g. i've been qr gold since 2008. always flew business. bought ONE coach ticket recently to use qmiles/qcredits that i had for an upgrade. no such luck despite checking for an upgrade for a long time - got upgraded for free only because the flight was oversold in coach (i guess that is some recognition). changed the return date to use qcredits on a day an upgrade was available.
very rarely do the qr flight crew recognize your elite status. i remember both me and my colleague being upgraded from business to first on a united flight from jfk to lhr (a long time ago), i was only 1k, not even the global services status you have that is supposed to be real special. we didn't even ask.
bottom line, if you fly business all the time, then qr has an amazing product (imho) much better than ba or lh let alone any of the us carriers. if you fly coach a lot and expect recognition for your loyalty with upgrades etc. qr is definitely not your airline - at qr it will happen only when coach is oversold.