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)
Nov 19, 2018, 1:37 pm
#496
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,552
Originally Posted by AA.com
Million MilerSM program. Miles earned toward Million Miler status are based on the distance of your flight for travel on American marketed flights or the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights.
Nov 19, 2018, 4:08 pm
#497
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ADL
Programs: QFF, AAdvantage, All
Posts: 1,137
Yes.
"AAdvantage® Million MilerSM program. Miles earned toward Million Miler status are based on the distance of your flight for travel on American marketed flights or the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights."
This statement is not present in the link provided by Dave.
"AAdvantage® Million MilerSM program. Miles earned toward Million Miler status are based on the distance of your flight for travel on American marketed flights or the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights."
This statement is not present in the link provided by Dave.
Nov 19, 2018, 4:23 pm
#498
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
Trying to book CCU-DOH-ORD on 10/15/19. QR awards are available, but I can't book because the connection time is 45 min, which is less than the MCT (60min for flights to the US). I wouln't mind spending a day in DOH, but I can't book that as an award either because then the connection time is 24 hr 45 min, which is more than 24 hrs.
Doesn't seem fair.
Nor does it seem fair that QR had the same timings in the winter 2018-19 schedule, but has just pushed the DOH-ORD departure back 15 min so the connections are now possible this winter---but of course no awards remain available.
Doesn't seem fair.
Nor does it seem fair that QR had the same timings in the winter 2018-19 schedule, but has just pushed the DOH-ORD departure back 15 min so the connections are now possible this winter---but of course no awards remain available.
Nov 19, 2018, 4:39 pm
#499
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,122
Trying to book CCU-DOH-ORD on 10/15/19. QR awards are available, but I can't book because the connection time is 45 min, which is less than the MCT (60min for flights to the US). I wouln't mind spending a day in DOH, but I can't book that as an award either because then the connection time is 24 hr 45 min, which is more than 24 hrs.
Doesn't seem fair.
Nor does it seem fair that QR had the same timings in the winter 2018-19 schedule, but has just pushed the DOH-ORD departure back 15 min so the connections are now possible this winter---but of course no awards remain available.
Doesn't seem fair.
Nor does it seem fair that QR had the same timings in the winter 2018-19 schedule, but has just pushed the DOH-ORD departure back 15 min so the connections are now possible this winter---but of course no awards remain available.
Nov 19, 2018, 4:45 pm
#500
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
Thanks. Easier to fly EY or CX, which do not do this funny stuff with connection times. QR is far better in J, but not worth the hassle you have suggested.
Nov 20, 2018, 5:05 pm
#502
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Curious to hear your experiences regarding how long it takes for flights on QR to post to your AA account? Assuming no manual intervention is involved.
Historically I have noticed they post within 24 hours and I just did four segments on QR. The first one posted while I was in the air and the subsequent three flights have not posted.
Granted it’s still only a few days but just want to get an idea as it’s getting close to year end and I need those flights for EXP. Thanks!
ETA: everything posted.
Historically I have noticed they post within 24 hours and I just did four segments on QR. The first one posted while I was in the air and the subsequent three flights have not posted.
Granted it’s still only a few days but just want to get an idea as it’s getting close to year end and I need those flights for EXP. Thanks!
ETA: everything posted.
Last edited by golfingboy; Nov 21, 2018 at 5:22 am
Nov 20, 2018, 6:37 pm
#503
Join Date: May 2009
Location: California
Programs: AS 75K Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LT Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, National EE
Posts: 236
Has anyone found any further information on why DOH - USA cities award flights are gone post 9/30/19? I am looking specifically on the AA site and am able to hold some other QR flights (MLE-DOH, DOH-MAD), but there is no availability for DOH-BOS, JFK, PHL, EWR, ORD, ATL, etc.....
Nov 20, 2018, 7:40 pm
#504
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
However, they can be seen (but not booked by AAdvantage members, who can only watch helplessly) on ba.com, qantas.com, etc.
Nov 21, 2018, 5:29 am
#505
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Diego
Programs: UA LTP, AA LTG, DL Plat, Marriott LTT, HH Diamond
Posts: 863
Nov 21, 2018, 9:36 am
#506
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: B6 Mosaic
Posts: 18
QR opens bookings at 355 days out. AA allows booking QR (or any other booking) at 330 days. So there need not be a blackout; if QR awards are booked by others between 355 and 330 days out, which often happens, they will never appear on aa.com.
However, they can be seen (but not booked by AAdvantage members, who can only watch helplessly) on ba.com, qantas.com, etc.
However, they can be seen (but not booked by AAdvantage members, who can only watch helplessly) on ba.com, qantas.com, etc.
Nov 21, 2018, 12:19 pm
#507
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
The "no longer available" message appears on aa.com when you are choosing a flight on the first day it becomes available, but including a connection that is the following calendar day (because it's overnight to Doha). It's a bug, AA should not be displaying flights that can't be booked; but it's not a conspiracy.
Nov 21, 2018, 1:01 pm
#508
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
But of course, this current case seems to slightly different, in that it's a specific almost-two-week block that's zeroed out.
Nov 21, 2018, 3:31 pm
#509
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: California
Posts: 12
I'll continue to check the AA site but won't be holding my breath.
Last edited by dcinmb; Nov 21, 2018 at 5:55 pm Reason: To fix date errors.
Nov 21, 2018, 5:16 pm
#510
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: B6 Mosaic
Posts: 18
No idea what you mean by "some sort of a blackout". It's quite common that they get booked up between 355 and 330 days; and on some days, no awards are released (and there is no rule requiring them to release awards).
The "no longer available" message appears on aa.com when you are choosing a flight on the first day it becomes available, but including a connection that is the following calendar day (because it's overnight to Doha). It's a bug, AA should not be displaying flights that can't be booked; but it's not a conspiracy.
The "no longer available" message appears on aa.com when you are choosing a flight on the first day it becomes available, but including a connection that is the following calendar day (because it's overnight to Doha). It's a bug, AA should not be displaying flights that can't be booked; but it's not a conspiracy.