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)
May 31, 2018, 2:40 am
#227
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
If you have enough Chase UR points (UA miles) for award tickets, consider TK. Usually decent award availability and IMO a better food/beverage service than LH in both Y and J.
Jun 6, 2018, 3:17 pm
#228
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: HGP, HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 23
Can someone advise which One World airlines release up to 4 J awards? Last year I saw that Qatar was releasing 4 or even 5 J awards in some US to Doha segments but don't see anything more than 2 through next year. CX used to be generous in that regard to ... but apparently no longer ...
Jun 7, 2018, 1:25 pm
#229
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum Million Miler, Lifetime Marriott Titanium
Posts: 303
Can someone advise which One World airlines release up to 4 J awards? Last year I saw that Qatar was releasing 4 or even 5 J awards in some US to Doha segments but don't see anything more than 2 through next year. CX used to be generous in that regard to ... but apparently no longer ...
I've been searching for months to find a few J awards from North America to Doha and have had zero luck. In most cases, you can hardly find any Y awards. Last year, I found many options to fly PHL-DOH-BLR...this year nothing. This is so frustrating.
Jun 7, 2018, 5:23 pm
#230
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I am going to be in Dubai following a cruise. I started looking for award possibilities, and realized I have to give up on Emirates-there is no way I will have those kinds of points for dw and I. I was thinking using my AA miles for Qater. Is it possible to connect via miles from Dubai to Doha, so I can then (hopefully) catch a business class ticket back to the states?
I can't speak specifically for DXB, but I routinely book awards between AUH and DOH that connect in MCT, KWI, or AMM. QR is embargoed from serving AUH.
Jun 7, 2018, 5:45 pm
#231
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
Jun 8, 2018, 8:12 am
#233
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
The only possible OW connection I can see would be DOH-AMM-AUH, all on RJ. And there seems to be at least some award availability on both legs (both on the BA and QF award sites).
Jun 8, 2018, 9:37 am
#234
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
QR can't release any award inventory from U.S. to AUH since QR is embargoed from flying to AUH. I fly QR to DOH and then connect on QR to MCT or KWI or on RJ to AMM, and then from there to AUH on EY or RJ.
Jul 8, 2018, 2:14 am
#237
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: SPG/MR Plat, HH Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 159
A bit annoyed having landed in Africa after flying via Doha. After searching all year for availability and never finding anything beyond my terrible 23 hour layovers in New York and Doha, I expected the flights to be completely full. Instead the JFK-DOH leg had 50% of Business class empty and DOH-SEZ had 80% empty.
Why do they make award availability impossible even the day before depature if occupancy is so low? Id love to move around my flights back to the US, but I’m sitting here unable to find anything from Doha back to the US around 7/31... now knowing the flights are empty makes this more unbearable!
Why do they make award availability impossible even the day before depature if occupancy is so low? Id love to move around my flights back to the US, but I’m sitting here unable to find anything from Doha back to the US around 7/31... now knowing the flights are empty makes this more unbearable!
Jul 8, 2018, 9:43 am
#238
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,425
A bit annoyed having landed in Africa after flying via Doha. After searching all year for availability and never finding anything beyond my terrible 23 hour layovers in New York and Doha, I expected the flights to be completely full. Instead the JFK-DOH leg had 50% of Business class empty and DOH-SEZ had 80% empty.
Why do they make award availability impossible even the day before depature if occupancy is so low? Id love to move around my flights back to the US, but I’m sitting here unable to find anything from Doha back to the US around 7/31... now knowing the flights are empty makes this more unbearable!
Why do they make award availability impossible even the day before depature if occupancy is so low? Id love to move around my flights back to the US, but I’m sitting here unable to find anything from Doha back to the US around 7/31... now knowing the flights are empty makes this more unbearable!
I booked an award to SEZ back in June for travel in August and I had my choice of airports for the QR flights, yet my only options on the domestic legs were in coach.
What I found to work best for finding QR space is to use the QF award search, but only specify to the QR destination in the US. Once you have located longhaul availability, call AA and have them get you from their to your final destination. I've also noticed that certain locations (e.g. LAX) only open availability on specific days. So, try all of QR's US and Canada destinations.
Jul 8, 2018, 3:40 pm
#240
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ADL
Programs: QFF, AAdvantage, All
Posts: 1,137
Alternatively, use the BA site as an executive club member.