Nov 19, 2013, 3:20 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
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. (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. (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)
Dec 28, 2021, 9:25 am
#1936
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Sorry for the nOOb question...
If i AA.com wont show XXX-DOH-YYY, even though there is partner availability between both XXX-DOH and DOH-YYY, can i call AA and have them ticket this entire itinerary at the flat 70k miles?
AA.com is showing me partner space for both flights if searched separately, but i don't want to pay the combined miles amount.
thanks!
If i AA.com wont show XXX-DOH-YYY, even though there is partner availability between both XXX-DOH and DOH-YYY, can i call AA and have them ticket this entire itinerary at the flat 70k miles?
AA.com is showing me partner space for both flights if searched separately, but i don't want to pay the combined miles amount.
thanks!
Alternatively, you can see if you can find other flights, e.g., instead of foo-doh-gork, try bar-foo-doh-gork, foo-bar-doh-gork, foo-doh-bah-gork, etc. You can have up to four flights on any partners each direction.
Dec 28, 2021, 9:28 am
#1937
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Sorry for the nOOb question...
If i AA.com wont show XXX-DOH-YYY, even though there is partner availability between both XXX-DOH and DOH-YYY, can i call AA and have them ticket this entire itinerary at the flat 70k miles?
AA.com is showing me partner space for both flights if searched separately, but i don't want to pay the combined miles amount.
thanks!
If i AA.com wont show XXX-DOH-YYY, even though there is partner availability between both XXX-DOH and DOH-YYY, can i call AA and have them ticket this entire itinerary at the flat 70k miles?
AA.com is showing me partner space for both flights if searched separately, but i don't want to pay the combined miles amount.
thanks!
It can also depend on if QR is using married segment availability and intentionally not making XXX-YYY availabe as a connection, in which case an agent will not be able to combine them.
Best course of action is to put one segment on hold online XXX-DOH then call AA to add the DOH-YYY to the existing PNR.
Dec 28, 2021, 9:57 am
#1938
formerly DreAAmliner
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 419
Generally speaking yes, but it depends on where exactly XXX and YYY are?
It can also depend on if QR is using married segment availability and intentionally not making XXX-YYY availabe as a connection, in which case an agent will not be able to combine them.
Best course of action is to put one segment on hold online XXX-DOH then call AA to add the DOH-YYY to the existing PNR.
It can also depend on if QR is using married segment availability and intentionally not making XXX-YYY availabe as a connection, in which case an agent will not be able to combine them.
Best course of action is to put one segment on hold online XXX-DOH then call AA to add the DOH-YYY to the existing PNR.
there is lots of DOH-Europe/Europe-DOH award availability, but my goal is to not have to redeem for each segment.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
Dec 28, 2021, 10:08 am
#1939
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Thank you for the help! it is DFW-DOH-Europe (or the other way, depending on what we end up doing).
there is lots of DOH-Europe/Europe-DOH award availability, but my goal is to not have to redeem for each segment.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
there is lots of DOH-Europe/Europe-DOH award availability, but my goal is to not have to redeem for each segment.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
Dec 28, 2021, 10:15 am
#1940
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Thank you for the help! it is DFW-DOH-Europe (or the other way, depending on what we end up doing).
there is lots of DOH-Europe/Europe-DOH award availability, but my goal is to not have to redeem for each segment.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
there is lots of DOH-Europe/Europe-DOH award availability, but my goal is to not have to redeem for each segment.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
Dec 28, 2021, 10:17 am
#1941
formerly DreAAmliner
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 419
Is EF accurate for award space on QR connecting itineraries? I am conditioned to know to always look segment-by-segment.
Dec 28, 2021, 10:18 am
#1942
formerly DreAAmliner
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 419
Dec 29, 2021, 1:18 am
#1944
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Word of warning to anyone changing QR tickets. Cancel the old ticket, because AA and QR clearly can't adequately handle changes to tickets.
Dec 29, 2021, 7:22 am
#1946
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Dec 29, 2021, 7:27 am
#1947
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
Thank you for the help! it is DFW-DOH-Europe (or the other way, depending on what we end up doing). which there is lots of DOH-Europe/Europe-DOH award availability, but my goal is to not have to redeem for each segment.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
AA.com wont show any DFW-DOH-Europe on QR award - only AA/BA - even though i can find them all separately.
Dec 29, 2021, 8:19 am
#1948
formerly DreAAmliner
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 419
I know you stated that you didn't want to book the two separate awards (DFW-DOH and DOH-Europe) but I tell you it's worth it if you can get the Q-Suites. I just booked a 110K point redemption (MCI-SEA-DOH-SIN) which has Q-Suites on all of the QR legs. It normally would have been 70K if I routed via the Pacific. To me, the difference in the products was worth the extra mileage. Just my two cents.
Dec 29, 2021, 8:30 am
#1949
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
I know you stated that you didn't want to book the two separate awards (DFW-DOH and DOH-Europe) but I tell you it's worth it if you can get the Q-Suites. I just booked a 110K point redemption (MCI-SEA-DOH-SIN) which has Q-Suites on all of the QR legs. It normally would have been 70K if I routed via the Pacific. To me, the difference in the products was worth the extra mileage. Just my two cents.
To SE Asia the total travel time and distance can be roughly the same, and the connections in DOH work, so it's really a matter of spending the extra 40k miles for a great product (an especially viable option if award space on JL or CX isn't available).
But to Europe you're looking at an additional 18-24 hrs of total travel time flying ~5k miles out of the way (back to back red-eyes), the connections don't work (typical 8-10 hr. layover in DOH), not to mention having to spend almost double the miles (in business that would be 112.5k compared to 57.5k for a normal routing).