Nov 19, 13, 3:20 pm
Last edit by: friedablass
Covid-19 Update:
For further information on AA awards see:
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion
and
AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on)
N.B. Upgrades on QR book into fares not granted EQD/EQM by AA. If you're upgraded on QR, be prepared for pushback from some AA agents. You may have to submit a formal request with accompanying documentation reflecting you purchased an eligible fare class.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
If you experience difficulties with the AA reservations system, you may be able to book by calling AA Australia (+61 2-9101-1948 ) then press 4 - or the New Zealand number (+64 09-308-4014) as an alternative - although the call center is actually in Suva, Fiji (South African agency Mindpearl) - as they can often see the inventory more reliably, and you can book.
NOTE: USA Canada travel on QR will earn EQ miles etc. in accordance with the fare class purchased.
Links:
Link to AA.com Qatar miles earning etc.
AA miles earning on QR changed 1 May 2016 (Link):
Minimum miles guarantee applies.
Checking QR award availability:
You can check QR availability on AA's site, BA's site, QF's site, www.awardnexus.com (which pulls from BA and/or QF), or the KVS tool. ="1"% (A certain number of searches are free to FlyerTalk members at AwardNexus; click the "more signup options" link under the green Purchase button to sign up as a FlyerTalk member.)
When checking QR award availability, you have to check each segment individually. Both BA and QF can generate very misleading information if you try to check QR award availability all the way through [xxx-(DOH)-yyy] in one step. Be aware AA can only book 330 days out, even if you see availability farther out.
Awards on QR may not be visible to AA agents if a multi-segment itinerary is requested; broken into individual segments will generally reveal availability, however.
As well, AA Australia or New Zealand (actually MindPearl in Fiji) can often see and book AA awards on QR US-based ones might not be able to.
From danger: For AA awards, Economy is X, Business is U, First is Z. NOTE: Those with Z (First) awards may see "Z (Business Class)" shown on the QR website; this is a known glitch.
As well, QR sells intra gulf two class service as First and Economy, as AA does domestically. This can cause some issues with a Business flight including a Gulf "First" flight potentially incurring an F award redemption.
From hotelmotel: "Got my QR PNR from AA. Popped over to QR and selected seats." (AAdvantage award.)
Days of the week: To/from the USA, especially in business class, Qatar often only offers awards seats for Mon..Thu departures, not Fri..Sun departures. So makes sure you check different parts of the week, and not just always weekends (if you're not finding anything on weekends).
NOTE: At DOH / Hamad International Airport, lounges as follows:
Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying First Class on Qatar or oneworld airlines and QRPC Platniums flying in ticketed Business (not oneworld Emeralds flying other lower classes of service)
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying Business Class on Qatar or oneworld (not oneworld Sapphire flying lower classes of service)
Oryx Lounge: Third party lounge.
Qatar Airways HIA First Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First Class ticketed customers, Emerald members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Qatar Airways HIA Business Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First and Business Class ticketed customers, Emerald and Sapphire members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Arrivals Lounges (not oneworld lounges): only accessible to those arriving in First or Business Class on Qatar Airways (not oneworld Sapphire flying other oneworld airlines or other classes of service)
See FT: QR Lounges at HIA
Selecting Qatar Airways Seats
If you want to assign a seat after booking an award, you should first try the Qatar website or app. If you experience issues, please try a partner site like Royal Jordanian, Malaysia Airlines, or Sri-Lankan. You can also reach out to the QR Twitter team to fix your record in order to be able to select seats on their own site.
- Sapphire+ status pax are temporarily allowed to use the Al Mourjan Business Lounge
- Only tickets issued on QR 157 stock are eligible for the Extending Our Commitment (EOC) rebooking policy
For further information on AA awards see:
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion
and
AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on)
N.B. Upgrades on QR book into fares not granted EQD/EQM by AA. If you're upgraded on QR, be prepared for pushback from some AA agents. You may have to submit a formal request with accompanying documentation reflecting you purchased an eligible fare class.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
From One Mile at a Time (link)
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
NOTE: USA Canada travel on QR will earn EQ miles etc. in accordance with the fare class purchased.
Links:
Link to AA.com Qatar miles earning etc.
AA miles earning on QR changed 1 May 2016 (Link):
Minimum miles guarantee applies.
Checking QR award availability:
You can check QR availability on AA's site, BA's site, QF's site, www.awardnexus.com (which pulls from BA and/or QF), or the KVS tool. ="1"% (A certain number of searches are free to FlyerTalk members at AwardNexus; click the "more signup options" link under the green Purchase button to sign up as a FlyerTalk member.)
When checking QR award availability, you have to check each segment individually. Both BA and QF can generate very misleading information if you try to check QR award availability all the way through [xxx-(DOH)-yyy] in one step. Be aware AA can only book 330 days out, even if you see availability farther out.
Awards on QR may not be visible to AA agents if a multi-segment itinerary is requested; broken into individual segments will generally reveal availability, however.
As well, AA Australia or New Zealand (actually MindPearl in Fiji) can often see and book AA awards on QR US-based ones might not be able to.
From danger: For AA awards, Economy is X, Business is U, First is Z. NOTE: Those with Z (First) awards may see "Z (Business Class)" shown on the QR website; this is a known glitch.
As well, QR sells intra gulf two class service as First and Economy, as AA does domestically. This can cause some issues with a Business flight including a Gulf "First" flight potentially incurring an F award redemption.
From hotelmotel: "Got my QR PNR from AA. Popped over to QR and selected seats." (AAdvantage award.)
Days of the week: To/from the USA, especially in business class, Qatar often only offers awards seats for Mon..Thu departures, not Fri..Sun departures. So makes sure you check different parts of the week, and not just always weekends (if you're not finding anything on weekends).
NOTE: At DOH / Hamad International Airport, lounges as follows:
Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying First Class on Qatar or oneworld airlines and QRPC Platniums flying in ticketed Business (not oneworld Emeralds flying other lower classes of service)
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying Business Class on Qatar or oneworld (not oneworld Sapphire flying lower classes of service)
Oryx Lounge: Third party lounge.
Qatar Airways HIA First Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First Class ticketed customers, Emerald members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Qatar Airways HIA Business Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First and Business Class ticketed customers, Emerald and Sapphire members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Arrivals Lounges (not oneworld lounges): only accessible to those arriving in First or Business Class on Qatar Airways (not oneworld Sapphire flying other oneworld airlines or other classes of service)
See FT: QR Lounges at HIA
Selecting Qatar Airways Seats
If you want to assign a seat after booking an award, you should first try the Qatar website or app. If you experience issues, please try a partner site like Royal Jordanian, Malaysia Airlines, or Sri-Lankan. You can also reach out to the QR Twitter team to fix your record in order to be able to select seats on their own site.
Qatar Airways / QR: Redeem AA Miles for Award (master thd)
Mar 14, 21, 11:16 am
#1501
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,014
Hi
I’m trying to book jfk to jro or znz via Doha in q suites using american miles next February. I can see availability jfk to Doha, but if I I put jfk to jro or znz I just get economy class and if I put doh to jro or znz I just see economy class. I looked through other months and same issue.
any tips how to get the full route in qsuites? Is this a bug?
I’m trying to book jfk to jro or znz via Doha in q suites using american miles next February. I can see availability jfk to Doha, but if I I put jfk to jro or znz I just get economy class and if I put doh to jro or znz I just see economy class. I looked through other months and same issue.
any tips how to get the full route in qsuites? Is this a bug?
It does not look like there is much business class award availability to either destination in late January or early February. You may want to try booking into NBO and then get a paid flight on a separate ticket to JRO or ZNZ. There seems to be plenty of business class award availability for DOH-NBO. The seat maps do not look like QSuites.
Mar 14, 21, 5:49 pm
#1502
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,188
Hi
I’m trying to book jfk to jro or znz via Doha in q suites using american miles next February. I can see availability jfk to Doha, but if I I put jfk to jro or znz I just get economy class and if I put doh to jro or znz I just see economy class. I looked through other months and same issue.
any tips how to get the full route in qsuites? Is this a bug?
I’m trying to book jfk to jro or znz via Doha in q suites using american miles next February. I can see availability jfk to Doha, but if I I put jfk to jro or znz I just get economy class and if I put doh to jro or znz I just see economy class. I looked through other months and same issue.
any tips how to get the full route in qsuites? Is this a bug?
Mar 15, 21, 5:27 pm
#1504
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,474
QR reserves award availability for QRPC members for peak dates in exchange for double the number of Qmiles required.
If these seats are left unredeemed closer to the date of departure, they then get released to partner FFPs (Eg. AAdvantage).
I can see plenty of Q2 availability for Feb 2022 on QRPC.
If these seats are left unredeemed closer to the date of departure, they then get released to partner FFPs (Eg. AAdvantage).
I can see plenty of Q2 availability for Feb 2022 on QRPC.
Mar 16, 21, 5:58 pm
#1505
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, DL Gold, HH Gold, MMRRT Plat
Posts: 876
Don't waste your time with QR unless you're booking a month out and are lucky enough to find any award availability, or are willing to pay cash. We were supposed to go to Maldives in May. We booked 4 months out, and by two months in they had changed our flights 5x to the point that we would be traveling for 3+ days (original total travel time was just about 1.5 days) on planes and ridiculous 12+hr airport overnights that we never would have initially booked. We cancelled. Likely that was exactly what their RM dept wanted considering they posted a 1.9bn loss in 2019/2020.
Mar 17, 21, 12:55 am
#1507
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,277
Mar 17, 21, 6:10 am
#1508
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,487
Yeah, but I liked the idea that RM was coordinating with Network to reschedule flights in order to achieve some nefarious RM strategy. That's just funny stuff.
Mar 23, 21, 8:39 am
#1509
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 94
Just wanted to provide a negative DP about QR opening up award space (Y or J) close in. I have been watching DOH-MLE for end of March for months now (around the weekend before Easter), and it never opened up. This seems to support the theory that they release the space early and once they are gone they are gone.
Mar 23, 21, 9:00 am
#1510
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,014
Just wanted to provide a negative DP about QR opening up award space (Y or J) close in. I have been watching DOH-MLE for end of March for months now (around the weekend before Easter), and it never opened up. This seems to support the theory that they release the space early and once they are gone they are gone.
Mar 23, 21, 9:12 am
#1511
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,158
I have also been watching DOH-MLE U availability for the past few months hoping to travel on a specific date in April. I have an EF alert but, because I'm a crazy person, still check the AA website on calendar mode every day. I have noticed they do often open up new availability within 10 days of departure, but it's inconsistent and certainly not for every day. Also seems to happen more often for the flights that arrive at 3:30pm in MLE as opposed to the morning arrivals, which are preferable for most people looking to make seaplane transfers and maximize their time at the resorts.
Mar 23, 21, 11:40 am
#1512
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 94
I have also been watching DOH-MLE U availability for the past few months hoping to travel on a specific date in April. I have an EF alert but, because I'm a crazy person, still check the AA website on calendar mode every day. I have noticed they do often open up new availability within 10 days of departure, but it's inconsistent and certainly not for every day. Also seems to happen more often for the flights that arrive at 3:30pm in MLE as opposed to the morning arrivals, which are preferable for most people looking to make seaplane transfers and maximize their time at the resorts.
Mar 23, 21, 12:30 pm
#1513
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,158
There is a thread on this over on the QR forum: Does QR release additional award inventory closer to departure?
Mar 27, 21, 1:01 pm
#1514
Join Date: May 2005
Location: California
Posts: 146
What's the best strategy for ensuring that two separate bookings can select seats together? Flying Q-Suites in March with my wife and we'd love to get the reverse-facing middle seats that are usually reserved for couples/families. We each booked our own award ticket separately through AA on the same QR flight (no PNR issued yet), would it be easiest to call AA to get each PNR and then call QR together to ask for the seat assignments? Should we expect any difficulties getting those particular seats?
Mar 27, 21, 5:30 pm
#1515
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Here today, gone tomorrow
Programs: Nothing shiny :-(
Posts: 2,453
So there is no problem with booking seats (personal experience) or lounge access (no personal experience yet though).
