CPH-Flyer

Without asking about a lot of details in your travel patterns and aims of redemption. I would say accrue to AA.

The redemption rates are decent, miles do not expire with activity, searching and booking awards is very efficient even from the app. And if you already have miles with AA don't start splitting your funds in to additional OW programs.

The main argument against PC is probably the redemption rates.

sfvoyage

Thanks, after playing around on QR's website today, I am tending towards accruing to AA as well. The QR website is so slow and wonky, it really is a test of patience and sanity. I used the Qcalculator on QR for LAX to MLE and got a very high mileage cost. On AA, it only cost 70k one way in J, although I don't know if award inventory is next to impossible to come by. It took me several tries to successfully book the tickets; the system bombed and I had to re-enter all the passenger details.

Experience with their US call center # has been terrible; I managed to reach one agent (in Doha), and he was nice and friendly, but I couldn't get through with follow-up calls and was on hold forever with no music or periodic announcement.

All in all, not a good first impression. Hope the inflight and ground service will make up for their shortcomings.

FoxFlyer

I am flying LAX-DOH-MLE in a few weeks, and I know that the One World Lounge is temporarily closed due to COVID. Will I be able to access the AA Admirals Club lounge in T4 since it's "OneWorld" or does access come only with OneWorld Status (I lost mine last year, so just a nobody on OneWorld these days)?

Also, I am on a J award ticket to DOH, but connecting to a Y award ticket to MLE. Will I still have lounge access in DOH based on my arrival J ticket?

ISTFlyer

For LAX, you would be able to visit the AA Admirals Club despite having no status with only a J ticket.

For DOH, the answer in this thread did not change: Doha Lounge - Transit
If your onward flight to MLE is until 06:00 the following day after your arrival at DOH, you would be able to access the Al Mourjan Lounge if you present your LAX-DOH boarding pass at the lounge alongside with your DOH-MLE boarding pass. For example, if you arrived at DOH on 1 November 17:00, your flight to Male should depart before 2 November 06:00; otherwise no lounge access.

NWplatinum

...Or go to the OW Business Class lounge in LAX in the TBT. Another option would be to purchase a fully refundable AA flight from LAX-JFK in F to gain access to the Flagship Lounge or the Qantas F lounge.

You could of course then refund that ticket if you decide not to travel in F on AA from LAX-JFK.

ISTFlyer

The QF and the OW Business Class Lounge's are closed for the long-run. As far as I heard, they would not open Australia open their borders ( with no quarantine ) and QF has a decent number of business travellers and elites on their AU flights.

Also, AA does not plan to re-open their Flagship Lounges for the while, so the OP is left with the Admirals Club.

higham44

I enjoy flying with QR due to quality of their Business in-flight experience. If I take a voucher and then book future flights, but the find that the destination countries are still closed to UK citizens at that future date would I be able to change the flight dates free of charge to a later date in 2021 or in 2022?

plunet

The problem you face is that no-one knows.

The way that Qatar appear to be approaching their book with confidence policy is that whatever confidence policy is currently in force is the policy that applies; not the policy in force when you booked the ticket. This has been noted that the previous policy of destination changes within 5000 miles no longer applies with the new policy that was introduced in October.

Qatar seem to be therefore applying the confidence policy as additional customer service gesture on top of their standard T&C's.

Having said all of the above, Qatar seem to be going the extra mile with their confidence policy at the moment. But they do have the right the change the policy with no notice.

oreomilkshake

I have a question about BOS connection times-- If I am flying from YYZ to BOS to DOH, I believe a 2 hour connection is fine as I will be precleared in YYZ, but on the way back (DOH-BOS-YYZ) will 90 minutes be enough to clear US customs, move from Terminal E to Terminal B, and go through security again? There's another flight with a 210 minute connection but if there's any way that the 90 minute connection could work that would be heavily preferred. Thanks

ISTFlyer

Would all flights be on a single ticket? If so, you are protected in case of a missed connection.
If you are on a separate ticket, depending on the time you arrive at BOS, the connection might be doable as I remember that I had multiple occasions at BOS where I cleared immigration and claimed my bags in less than 10-15 minutes. Plus, if you need to check bags, you would need to do it so before the other airline's bag drop time limit and reclear security at Terminal B.

oreomilkshake

yeah it's all on one QR ticket, YYZ-BOS and BOS-YYZ are AC Express flights. Would I still need to re-check all of my checked baggage at BOS if it's all on one ticket?

ISTFlyer

On YYZ-BOS-DOH, you would not need to recheck your bags. Your bags would be checked through to your final destination.

On DOH-BOS-YYZ, you would have to recheck your bags as US law mandates passengers to collect their bags at their first point of arrival in the USA ( I guess MIA is the only exception for international transfer pax ). Although as you are in a single ticket, you would be able to head to the Qatar Airways baggage recheck desks after you clear customs and left the baggage reclaim area, and drop your baggage over there without stopping by the check-in counters.

oreomilkshake

oh okay. thank you so much for the help. In this case, I guess it'd be smarter to choose the 90 minute connection, and if something is delayed I should be put on the next flight, right?

ISTFlyer

Yes, it would be smarter to choose the shorter connection as QR would be responsible in any delays including the wait at US immigration. If you miss the connection because of QR, they would rebook you on the next available flight.

oreomilkshake

awesome, thank you so much for the help