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)
Mar 30, 2022, 10:22 am
#2221
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
A few additional questions: I am finding that the business class fares for the QR operated flights are coming up as U when paid by AA miles. It looks like U will not earn any travel Base Miles/EQMs/EQs. I have also seen some J fares (only on AA equipment). If paid for with miles, will J fares earn Base Miles/EQMs/EQs? Even if they are Web Special - Business fares?
... in doing some more researching, perhaps I am looking at old earning concepts. It seems like earnings now are LPs. What I am driving at is the following: If I can earn points on AA equipment (even while paying with miles), vs earn no points on QR equipment, perhaps it would be more beneficial to utilize AA business class for the long hall vs.QR business class.
... in doing some more researching, perhaps I am looking at old earning concepts. It seems like earnings now are LPs. What I am driving at is the following: If I can earn points on AA equipment (even while paying with miles), vs earn no points on QR equipment, perhaps it would be more beneficial to utilize AA business class for the long hall vs.QR business class.
However, as others have stated, regardless of the booking inventory, award flights do not earn anything (no RDM, no LPs). There are sometimes exceptions, such as if a flight disruption occurs when one is at the airport and gets hurriedly protected on a different flight on an AA partner airline in a different booking inventory, but those exceptions are rare and unusual.
Mar 30, 2022, 10:46 am
#2222
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,450
Thanks for the clarification- This is really what I expected. What confused me is seeing a mileage ticket showing up as being coded with "J." I expected something other, since the AA "earnings" descriptions show J tickets are business-fare, and mileage eligible:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
Mar 30, 2022, 10:58 am
#2223
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Thanks for the clarification- This is really what I expected. What confused me is seeing a mileage ticket showing up as being coded with "J." I expected something other, since the AA "earnings" descriptions show J tickets are business-fare, and mileage eligible:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
In either case I would not elect to fly on AA metal instead of QR between DOH and the USA - it's a bad trade off.
Last edited by friedablass; Mar 30, 2022 at 11:03 am
Mar 30, 2022, 11:44 am
#2224
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 25
Hello. My first post…apologies if I’m replying instead of starting new. I was able to book MIA-DOH in business with AA miles for Feb. 2023. But DOH-MLE leg only available in economy. Noticed that there are hardly any dates with business available for the DOH-MLE leg. Historically, do you think they will open up more space closer to the date? Also, I was able to select seats on the Qatar website for the MIA-DOH leg. For the economy leg, do I have to pay for seat selection? There seems to be prices on all the seats. Would I be able to select for free as a lowly One World Ruby (from AA gold)? Best done by phone? Thank you for your help!
Last edited by Cvvilla77; Mar 30, 2022 at 11:45 am Reason: Adding info.
Mar 30, 2022, 11:49 am
#2225
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
Hello. My first post…apologies if I’m replying instead of starting new. I was able to book MIA-DOH in business with AA miles for Feb. 2023. But DOH-MLE leg only available in economy. Noticed that there are hardly any dates with business available for the DOH-MLE leg. Historically, do you think they will open up more space closer to the date? Also, I was able to select seats on the Qatar website for the MIA-DOH leg. For the economy leg, do I have to pay for seat selection? There seems to be prices on all the seats. Would I be able to select for free as a lowly One World Ruby (from AA gold)? Best done by phone?
I'm not sure about the seat selection fee for economy, but you have plenty of time between now and your flight to see if they will open J space. It can happen at any time, not necessarily only closer to departure, so check at least once per day, more often if you can, is even better. You should also be open to switching to another flight that day if J opens on that one and not on your preferred already booked flight.
Mar 30, 2022, 8:19 pm
#2227
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,403
No, I'd love to be able to complete the booking online. However, for some reason whenever I put QR reservations on hold pending transfer of Marriott points to my AA account it always tells me that I must call an agent to complete the booking. So that's what I do once the miles hit my account which normally happens within 2 or 3 days. I know it's an extra step but certainly worth it. For me, QR awards via AA are currently the most valuable redemptions.
Funnily enough, I made a date change and while the previous booking I could easily book middle seats on QR.com, the new dates have the middle seats blocked. Guess I'll have to call in tomorrow.
Mar 30, 2022, 8:48 pm
#2228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
This afternoon AA website kept having error message on unable to process payment when I tried to ticket a held reservation online. It is not even close to the deadline (Friday). Tried clearing history / cache, changed browser, incognito window, all to no avail.
Called online tech support per the message. It was useless as 1) rep seems to be in overseas call center, 2) he has no idea what is wrong. After putting me on hold for 10 min, came back said he had to escalate the issue and someone would call me back.
I did not trust this "call back" promise so I went ahead to call AA reservation instead. Luckily the wait was less than 5 min to get a live and very pleasant agent. He was able to put thru the payment. The eTickets came at 9:30pm. Hopefully now the reservation is ticketed, I can select seats on QR site tomorrow. We want the A seats, i.e, the window window seats even though they are facing backward, and have the B row in between. But they are the most spacious. Being always on different schedules, we do not like the middle seats.
Called online tech support per the message. It was useless as 1) rep seems to be in overseas call center, 2) he has no idea what is wrong. After putting me on hold for 10 min, came back said he had to escalate the issue and someone would call me back.
I did not trust this "call back" promise so I went ahead to call AA reservation instead. Luckily the wait was less than 5 min to get a live and very pleasant agent. He was able to put thru the payment. The eTickets came at 9:30pm. Hopefully now the reservation is ticketed, I can select seats on QR site tomorrow. We want the A seats, i.e, the window window seats even though they are facing backward, and have the B row in between. But they are the most spacious. Being always on different schedules, we do not like the middle seats.
Mar 30, 2022, 9:11 pm
#2229
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Though I believe it would need a knowledgeable and helpful agent to find a way to do it. That part is a luck of draw.
Mar 30, 2022, 9:54 pm
#2230
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,349
I had something funny happen where the app told me I had to call in to purchase a held award ticket, but on my computer the site let me do it just fine. Is the app telling you to call in? If so, try to computer.
Funnily enough, I made a date change and while the previous booking I could easily book middle seats on QR.com, the new dates have the middle seats blocked. Guess I'll have to call in tomorrow.
Funnily enough, I made a date change and while the previous booking I could easily book middle seats on QR.com, the new dates have the middle seats blocked. Guess I'll have to call in tomorrow.
Maybe next time I'll be lucky and will be able to ticket online.
I couldn't book the middle seats the day after ticketing. But I waited a few days and tried again and then I was able to select 2 middle seats on QR site.
Mar 30, 2022, 10:51 pm
#2231
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Apparently agent has a way to tag on a web special because I have a MIA-DCA, IAD-DOH-AMM ticketed as a 70K award. The MIA-DCA is a web special. At first the agent said the same thing as you mentioned, that it has to be regular 12.5K award not the 8.5K award. But then he said "let me try something else." He came back to tell me the system took it and kept the same 70K. Eventually it was ticketed exactly that way.
Though I believe it would need a knowledgeable and helpful agent to find a way to do it. That part is a luck of draw.
Though I believe it would need a knowledgeable and helpful agent to find a way to do it. That part is a luck of draw.
Mar 31, 2022, 11:45 am
#2232
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I'm glad you got it, but it's very strange. There isn't any legitimate way to have a Web Special leg be part of a SAAver award, and I can't believe AA's system wouldn't catch it if the agent tried it anyway. I wonder if the agent found some SAAver inventory after all. In the eticket confirmation mail, what does it show for the inventory of the three legs, and the code for the AAdvantage award?
Booking code of the MIA-DCA is T. IAD-DOH is U, and DOH-AMM is Z as they should be. I do not know where to find the AA award code on the email. Miles deducted are 70K, Flight Award, one for each passenger.
Like I said, it would be a total luck of draw that you get an agent willing to explore ways to help you. I was totally prepared to book that leg separately but at the end he found a way to incl in the 70K.
Last edited by Happy; Mar 31, 2022 at 11:52 am
Mar 31, 2022, 12:28 pm
#2233
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
No, there was no regular Saaver award space on the flights thru out the whole day. The ticketing actually had gone thru review desk for 4 days - not able to ticket after I made payment online on the last hold day which was 2 days after the agent assistance. At the end it was because of the taxes disappeared from the booking, plus partial info on the payment card expired, hence the review desk could not ticket it when they tried to. Eventually a phone agent input all the missing info again and the tickets were issued in less than 1.5 hrs IIRC. That was last Friday. Payment was made on last Monday.
Booking code of the MIA-DCA is T. IAD-DOH is U, and DOH-AMM is Z as they should be. I do not know where to find the AA award code on the email. Miles deducted are 70K, Flight Award, one for each passenger.
Like I said, it would be a total luck of draw that you get an agent willing to explore ways to help you. I was totally prepared to book that leg separately but at the end he found a way to incl in the 70K.
Booking code of the MIA-DCA is T. IAD-DOH is U, and DOH-AMM is Z as they should be. I do not know where to find the AA award code on the email. Miles deducted are 70K, Flight Award, one for each passenger.
Like I said, it would be a total luck of draw that you get an agent willing to explore ways to help you. I was totally prepared to book that leg separately but at the end he found a way to incl in the 70K.
Mar 31, 2022, 2:06 pm
#2234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
The irony thing is, after all these endeavors, a better routing popped up the next day after this ticket was issued, albeit leaving 2 days later. I want the DOH-AMM leg in F hence take the 2 days later option. As the F ensure access to sleep room at QR DOH AS lounge. Previous dates only have X inventory in the DOH-AMM leg.
Mar 31, 2022, 6:25 pm
#2235
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: So Cal
Posts: 937
What we want to know is, HOW the agent did this when there was no T inventory shown online? I think that is the burning question we all want to have an answer, as in just how he find a way to secure a T inventory when all of them were Web Specials?
The irony thing is, after all these endeavors, a better routing popped up the next day after this ticket was issued, albeit leaving 2 days later. I want the DOH-AMM leg in F hence take the 2 days later option. As the F ensure access to sleep room at QR DOH AS lounge. Previous dates only have X inventory in the DOH-AMM leg.
The irony thing is, after all these endeavors, a better routing popped up the next day after this ticket was issued, albeit leaving 2 days later. I want the DOH-AMM leg in F hence take the 2 days later option. As the F ensure access to sleep room at QR DOH AS lounge. Previous dates only have X inventory in the DOH-AMM leg.