emirates vs qatar
Jan 4, 2020, 5:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South Island, NZ
Programs: IHG Ambassador, Air NZ lowly Jade now, Emirates
Posts: 559
emirates vs qatar
Flying out of AKL. Anyone have any thoughts on choosing EK over QR? Havent been to Doha before, so not sure what to see or do there for a stopover? Flip side I have a friend in Dubai that I like to see if I can on the way, but not a big deal if I didnt J flights to Paris are actually quite reasonably priced at the mo and the saving is something like NZD3K for the 2 of us, so just wondering if there is any pressing reasons not to fly QR? The Q suites look good. Cant see us being able to use points but then again, cant really use points on EK anymore either as they don't fly out of AKL to Australia anymore except as code share wwith Qantas which is no good for using points.
Jan 4, 2020, 5:33 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,993
Flying out of AKL. Anyone have any thoughts on choosing EK over QR? Haven't been to Doha before, so not sure what to see or do there for a stopover?
Flip side I have a friend in Dubai that I like to see if I can on the way, but not a big deal if I didn't J flights to Paris are actually quite reasonably priced at the mo and the saving is something like NZD3K for the 2 of us, so just wondering if there is any pressing reasons not to fly QR?
The Q suites look good. Cant see us being able to use points but then again, can't really use points on EK anymore either as they don't fly out of AKL to Australia anymore except as code share with Qantas which is no good for using points.
Flip side I have a friend in Dubai that I like to see if I can on the way, but not a big deal if I didn't J flights to Paris are actually quite reasonably priced at the mo and the saving is something like NZD3K for the 2 of us, so just wondering if there is any pressing reasons not to fly QR?
The Q suites look good. Cant see us being able to use points but then again, can't really use points on EK anymore either as they don't fly out of AKL to Australia anymore except as code share with Qantas which is no good for using points.
Stopover in DXB or DOH if possible? [may cost extra]
Been to DXB before?
What is the schedule/ over all travel time for both?
QR is Oneworld. EK is a ff partner of several airlines. Both EK & QR are frequent flyer partners of QF. So do not need to credit ff miles to the operating airline's ffp if you do not want to.
With awards you fly on the native flight number of the partner airline. So with EK ff miles you can get awards on QF, subject to availability. Not codeshares
https://www.wheretocredit.com/ek/j
https://www.wheretocredit.com/qr/j
Jan 4, 2020, 5:39 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South Island, NZ
Programs: IHG Ambassador, Air NZ lowly Jade now, Emirates
Posts: 559
yes paris final destination.
happy to stop in either DXB or DOH. Emirates flights are more expensive though at the moment (this is for September flights)
Ah, so are you saying that I should credit points to Qantas. I'm not a member but could join up and would be way more likely to actually use the points then. Had never thought of that before. Don't particularly like Qantas that much though and tend to fly Air NZ between NZ and Australia but hey a free flight (or upgrade) is what it is... free!
happy to stop in either DXB or DOH. Emirates flights are more expensive though at the moment (this is for September flights)
Ah, so are you saying that I should credit points to Qantas. I'm not a member but could join up and would be way more likely to actually use the points then. Had never thought of that before. Don't particularly like Qantas that much though and tend to fly Air NZ between NZ and Australia but hey a free flight (or upgrade) is what it is... free!
Jan 4, 2020, 6:46 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,993
Not saying you "should" credit to QF, but you "could". Or to another ffp. As this is FT flying and not getting ff miles is heinous crime. 
I note you have Emirates in your profile. Are you a member off the Emirates ffp? If you have Emirates points you can use on QF & JQ. But not for QF upgrades.
Great Circle Mapper
Would need to crunch the numbers to determine ff point earning with QF ffp or another ffp.
With QR AKL-DOH-CDG 9400 & 3000 QF points one way & some status credits.
With EK AKL-DXB-CDG 9400 & 4000 QF points one way & nil status credits.
QF award AKL-BNE economy one way 18,000 points plus some cash
Are better ffp's than QF, but limited by the airlines you earn on.
QF fly B737 & A330 NZ<---> Au. Not worth upgrading on B737 (Or NZ A320)
QF ffp has a $ joining fee, which is easy to avoid.
And Jetstar JQ is owned by QF
I note you have Emirates in your profile. Are you a member off the Emirates ffp? If you have Emirates points you can use on QF & JQ. But not for QF upgrades.
Great Circle Mapper
Would need to crunch the numbers to determine ff point earning with QF ffp or another ffp.
With QR AKL-DOH-CDG 9400 & 3000 QF points one way & some status credits.
With EK AKL-DXB-CDG 9400 & 4000 QF points one way & nil status credits.
QF award AKL-BNE economy one way 18,000 points plus some cash
Are better ffp's than QF, but limited by the airlines you earn on.
QF fly B737 & A330 NZ<---> Au. Not worth upgrading on B737 (Or NZ A320)
QF ffp has a $ joining fee, which is easy to avoid.
And Jetstar JQ is owned by QF
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jan 4, 2020 at 7:31 pm
Jan 4, 2020, 7:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,304
Take Qatar if it's saving you money. I personally prefer DXB to DOH and EK to QR, others disagree and it's all about personal tastes. Q Suite is nice,but QR have a reputation for changing planes so unless your route is different, watch out for this. Saying that, both airlines have perfectly adequate J seats, even if folk make a song and dance over the 6 middle seats (from 42 total) in EK's B777s.
If price, timing, connections etc were the same I'd go EK. If any of these were significantly better on QR, I wouldn't mind moving and have recently made a couple of QR bookings despite many years as Gold with EK (with a few months Silver on occasion).
You can earn and spend EK miles on Jetstar flights, or spend on easyJet if you're in Europe long enough.
If price, timing, connections etc were the same I'd go EK. If any of these were significantly better on QR, I wouldn't mind moving and have recently made a couple of QR bookings despite many years as Gold with EK (with a few months Silver on occasion).
You can earn and spend EK miles on Jetstar flights, or spend on easyJet if you're in Europe long enough.
Jan 4, 2020, 7:44 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South Island, NZ
Programs: IHG Ambassador, Air NZ lowly Jade now, Emirates
Posts: 559
Take Qatar if it's saving you money. I personally prefer DXB to DOH and EK to QR, others disagree and it's all about personal tastes. Q Suite is nice,but QR have a reputation for changing planes so unless your route is different, watch out for this. Saying that, both airlines have perfectly adequate J seats, even if folk make a song and dance over the 6 middle seats (from 42 total) in EK's B777s.
If price, timing, connections etc were the same I'd go EK. If any of these were significantly better on QR, I wouldn't mind moving and have recently made a couple of QR bookings despite many years as Gold with EK (with a few months Silver on occasion).
You can earn and spend EK miles on Jetstar flights, or spend on easyJet if you're in Europe long enough.
If price, timing, connections etc were the same I'd go EK. If any of these were significantly better on QR, I wouldn't mind moving and have recently made a couple of QR bookings despite many years as Gold with EK (with a few months Silver on occasion).
You can earn and spend EK miles on Jetstar flights, or spend on easyJet if you're in Europe long enough.
Yes I think in this case, money talks, so most likely to go Qatar, although I am still dithering over it. Flight deals on emirates at the moment as well that finish tonight, but the difference in pricing is quite significant sadly. I am quite the A380 fan on emirates.
Jan 4, 2020, 8:24 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,536
Flying out of AKL. Anyone have any thoughts on choosing EK over QR? Havent been to Doha before, so not sure what to see or do there for a stopover? Flip side I have a friend in Dubai that I like to see if I can on the way, but not a big deal if I didnt J flights to Paris are actually quite reasonably priced at the mo and the saving is something like NZD3K for the 2 of us, so just wondering if there is any pressing reasons not to fly QR? The Q suites look good. Cant see us being able to use points but then again, cant really use points on EK anymore either as they don't fly out of AKL to Australia anymore except as code share wwith Qantas which is no good for using points.
https://insideflyer.co.uk/2019/03/qa...f-iberia-plus/
Last edited by guv1976; Jan 4, 2020 at 8:35 pm
Jan 5, 2020, 2:27 am
#8
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,600
Take Qatar if it's saving you money. I personally prefer DXB to DOH and EK to QR, others disagree and it's all about personal tastes. Q Suite is nice,but QR have a reputation for changing planes so unless your route is different, watch out for this. Saying that, both airlines have perfectly adequate J seats, even if folk make a song and dance over the 6 middle seats (from 42 total) in EK's B777s.
If price, timing, connections etc were the same I'd go EK. If any of these were significantly better on QR, I wouldn't mind moving and have recently made a couple of QR bookings despite many years as Gold with EK (with a few months Silver on occasion).
You can earn and spend EK miles on Jetstar flights, or spend on easyJet if you're in Europe long enough.
If price, timing, connections etc were the same I'd go EK. If any of these were significantly better on QR, I wouldn't mind moving and have recently made a couple of QR bookings despite many years as Gold with EK (with a few months Silver on occasion).
You can earn and spend EK miles on Jetstar flights, or spend on easyJet if you're in Europe long enough.
In fact, that would be my reason for flying EK rather than QR in this case... I much prefer the A380 over the B777.
Jan 5, 2020, 1:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AKL
Posts: 446
One of the twice daily AKL flights is a 777 but easy enough to avoid if you're careful.
Jan 5, 2020, 2:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE / EK*GOLD
Posts: 2,509
Flying out of AKL. Anyone have any thoughts on choosing EK over QR? Havent been to Doha before, so not sure what to see or do there for a stopover? Flip side I have a friend in Dubai that I like to see if I can on the way, but not a big deal if I didnt J flights to Paris are actually quite reasonably priced at the mo and the saving is something like NZD3K for the 2 of us, so just wondering if there is any pressing reasons not to fly QR? The Q suites look good. Cant see us being able to use points but then again, cant really use points on EK anymore either as they don't fly out of AKL to Australia anymore except as code share wwith Qantas which is no good for using points.
Jan 5, 2020, 3:31 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South Island, NZ
Programs: IHG Ambassador, Air NZ lowly Jade now, Emirates
Posts: 559
thanks everyone for your thoughts. In the end, we stumped up the extra $$ and have booked EK. A380's all the way.
Number of reasons in the end -
- preference for EK and especially the A380, it's good to be able to move around and go to the bar for a cuppa and a chat when wide awake and bored. Whilst Q suites all look very nice and the on demand dining a plus, I feel like I'll be stuck in a pod for way too long.
- hopeful to be able to use some points to upgrade to first on DXB to CDG leg if it comes available before our points expire
- preference to go through DXB and catch up with some friends rather than transit Doha
- slight concern over political issues Qatar having with it's neighbours so makes it close to impossible to do a quick flight out to DXB if we had wanted to
Number of reasons in the end -
- preference for EK and especially the A380, it's good to be able to move around and go to the bar for a cuppa and a chat when wide awake and bored. Whilst Q suites all look very nice and the on demand dining a plus, I feel like I'll be stuck in a pod for way too long.
- hopeful to be able to use some points to upgrade to first on DXB to CDG leg if it comes available before our points expire
- preference to go through DXB and catch up with some friends rather than transit Doha
- slight concern over political issues Qatar having with it's neighbours so makes it close to impossible to do a quick flight out to DXB if we had wanted to
Jan 5, 2020, 3:37 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,993
Good you got it sorted
Many other ffp's do not have hard expiry. Some like, UA & DL, never expire. Others stay alive with an eligible activity every X months.
Expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Jan 8, 2020, 2:21 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 444
Not directly related to OP's route but I've compared GLA-DXB-MEL and EDI-DXB-MEL with Emirates and EDI-DOH-MEL Qatar for a Business Saver on exactly the same dates. Qatar is 25% dearer than Emirates and doesn't include chaffeur drive pick up. No brainer on this route, Emirates every time on price.