Checking Qatar Airways availability online?
 

Is there any way of checking reward availability for QR online? ANA only shows it as 'on request' and you don't seem to be able to do it on the QR website only. (QR is a BMI partner, for those wondering why I've posted this here, and I'd be using DC miles.)

I am trying to put together a complex itin involving BA outbound flights to Doha, LH inbound flights via Fra and a Maldives hotel that is very heavily booked. I need to know QR availability DOH-MLE and ringing BMI and asking them to make a request for a number of different days does not seem like fun ...

I'm willing to sign up for Expert Flyer if someone knows if and how you see QR award seats.

Don't think that will help in this case. Here's their list of supported award codes FYI:

http://www.expertflyer.com/sessionlessClassList.do

Raffles, you can check it via ANA.

In award reservation, select the single airline option instead of the *A option.

You are then taken to a list of ANA's partners, and QR is listed. Hit select and you'll get the usual screen but limited to QR flights.

Tried this, but it comes up as 'on request' (the pyramid symbol) for DOH-MLE. Whilst the J availability box is shaded orange on every flight on every day, I assume that 'on request' does NOT mean I should assume I can get availability.

I dont understand what you mean by not on QR website?
When I was checking QR awards, i'd just look it up on their website. I dont however know whether QMiles award availability is the same as what bmi have access to.

Ah - it seems you are right.

I saw this on the website:

"How can I request an award ticket or upgrade?

You can request an award ticket or upgrade by logging on to our website and completing the award request form. We will advise you within 72 hours of your booking details and tickets can be collected from your nearest Qatar Airways office. If your preferred flights or dates are not available, we will advise you of possible alternatives. "

and assumed that online availability checking was not available. Now I look more closely, though, it seems that I can check availability but not actually complete the booking online. Sorry for being a bit dim!

Dunno if it helps, but QR do really cheap business tickets from MLE-LHR via DOH; ie around £480. And thats flexible too! Similar prices for EK via DXB.

I want to go to India later this year, so a couple of questions on Qatar:

1. Are the cash/miles rewards flights good value, or not so good like Virgin?

2. The cheap business class tickets mentioned above, is that via the Qatar website?

3. Do their flights earn status miles or just miles (like Virgin)?

:confused:

Thanks.

1. Miles only AFAIK
2. don't know
3. destinations miles only just like VS

1. They dont do Cash+Miles bookings on QR, only full reward bookings, but the reward is good value compared to using QR's own miles.

2. Yes, their website has all the cheapest fares. You need to look up your route on KVS (or similar) and find what cheap fares are available, then search on QR website until you find it.

You're right .... shocking!

One-way MLE-LHR on Emirates is £595 in J for a random date around the time we're looking at. And its an A380! This compares with £873 in J for DOH-MLE!

Looks like BA Miles to DOH then a one-way to MLE on Qatar for cash, then Emirates back to London for cash. Thanks for the heads up!

^
I only know, as I was planning the exact same trip for January.

BA miles LHR-DXB
EK558 DXB-MLE (£325 in J)
EK552 & EK005 for MLE-DXB-LHR (£595 in J)

(Then maybe 118k Amex MR's transferred to Sirius for 2 nights in Burj! :D)

Good luck.

Just thought i'd add a little more to this QR saga.

They're doing 50% off Qmiles redemptions at moment. Hence LHR-DOH is uauslly 110k Qmiles in F, so this can be had for only 55k Qmiles.

Now 55k Qmiles can be had by transferring from SPG points.

So 45k SPG points for a first class QR flight. Not bad, and QR F is supposed to be very good (the inflight bar/lounge is actually a seperate section rather than the lame VS effort).

Unfortunately it doesnt seem as if the special offer feeds through to bmi redemptions, otherwise it'd be only 40k bmi for an F ticket!

Great tip, thanks!

An A380 at MLE must be pretty hairy! :p

Is it still conceivable to get away with miles&cash LHR-SIN-MLE or has that door now been firmly closed?