Biz for 1/3rd of everyone else??
Oct 26, 2016, 7:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 866
Biz for 1/3rd of everyone else??
I have a trip to India in a few weeks and Qatar is only 4300 in business while everything else is over $10k. It's one of those 'too good to be true' deals. Am I missing something here? Why such a good deal?
Oct 27, 2016, 9:18 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 866
ATL-MAA on 11/12 and DEL-ATL on 11/20. Both through Doha. My question was more generic though as I found their pricing to be significantly lower multiple days and multiple destinations. From what I can tell their Business Class Product is pretty good and some others that look sketchy are twice the price. Mayby I should just be happy and not look for the 'catch'.
Oct 27, 2016, 1:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
ATL-MAA on 11/12 and DEL-ATL on 11/20. Both through Doha. My question was more generic though as I found their pricing to be significantly lower multiple days and multiple destinations. From what I can tell their Business Class Product is pretty good and some others that look sketchy are twice the price. Mayby I should just be happy and not look for the 'catch'.
Your $4300 is a decent price, but it isn't a steal. I could easily find similar prices with other carriers on other dates. QR is often among the cheaper ones. I guess the 'catch' if you want to put it that way is that they are heavily subsidised (their CEO calls it equity, but I have no idea what the difference between equity and subsidy is for a state run corporation).
Oct 27, 2016, 3:41 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 866
Good point on the subsidy. Being an Atlanta resident a do feel a little bad about not supporting the home airline but this booking works really well for my schedule. I was just worried there was something I was missing that would bite me later.
Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the input.
Oct 28, 2016, 4:57 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Programs: Qatar Plat
Posts: 235
I got a seat sale CAI-JFK for end of OCT (next week actually) on the a350 for a shade over $1600 in biz. That rate is over $1000 less than I usually pay. Can't get much better than that. There is no catch...Qatar has REALLY good promotions.
As for subsidies for Qatar, well, chat to their airlines stewards/stewardesses and you'll get an earful of their working conditions (hint: they aren't fantastic). On the other hand, labor relations in the Gulf are a constant work in progress. Prices will increase in time, as will working conditions.
As for subsidies for Qatar, well, chat to their airlines stewards/stewardesses and you'll get an earful of their working conditions (hint: they aren't fantastic). On the other hand, labor relations in the Gulf are a constant work in progress. Prices will increase in time, as will working conditions.
Last edited by Canuck2012; Oct 28, 2016 at 5:03 am
Oct 28, 2016, 5:24 am
#8
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,944
Not wanting to lose his battle with Delta/AA/United, who all moaned about the ME3, he decided to bring the fight to the heart of Delta - ATL.
The loads aren't great hence the low prices, but the product is excellent.
I'd book, relax, and look forward to the QR experience.
Safe travels,
M
Oct 30, 2016, 12:32 pm
#10
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
My father and I took QR J to Australia because they were about half the price of Qantas. We had a great experience with the service, crew, lounges at DOH, food and almost everything else. I'd definitely book that deal.
Oct 31, 2016, 2:47 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,005
I don't see how being another of His Excellency's vanity projects, operating light on passengers with low ticket prices, makes this any less of a drain on Qatar's coffers.
Nov 1, 2016, 8:13 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS), VA Platinum
Posts: 1,672
I booked SIN-AUH-LHR on EY for $3700 return in J. I missed the $3000 EY deal and I thought there'd be no more sales between now and Feb 2017. Of course QR has come out with some awesome deals of $3172 or less from other destinations....
I need to watch their patterns closer! When you see a good deal on these airlines - book first and ask questions later!!!
Nov 1, 2016, 8:19 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,595
I ran into a similar fare disparity flying TYO to DXB last January. EK wanted >$9,000 for the nonstop in business, while QR through DOH was $4,000. Took QR and had a great experience, although the non-EK terminal at DXB was a total dump at the time.
For my next two trips to DXB there was no substantial difference between QR and EK fares.
For my next two trips to DXB there was no substantial difference between QR and EK fares.
Nov 8, 2016, 8:39 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
ATL along with BOS were identified as potential destinations quite a while back, while QR was partnered with UA and still interlined with DL. First 3 month of operations at ATL have average loads in the mid 80% (Data on ATL's website), granted its summer and tickets prices are cheap but not bad for a destination where QR doesn't have much feed at the US end.