Mar 8, 2017, 3:40 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: N1Rotate

Qatar have confirmed the presence of a policy whereby if a customer booked a QSuites flight and subsequently gets an aircraft type swap can you request travel on an alternative flight, subject to availability, see post #2709 Previously this included change of routing, now it only includes changing the date on the same routing. QR issued tickets only!

The Q Suite Master Thread

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Dec 16, 2021, 8:27 am

#3601

PROT

Join Date: Nov 2018

Programs: Skywards, BA, Virgin

Posts: 33

Quote:
Originally Posted by PROT View Post
We are flying LHR-DOH-MLE leaving London on 31st Jan, I booked a reserved all seats 2-3 months ago and we've just had our DOH-MLE seats changed from E/F/ to D/G with out warning.
Was there an equipment/configuration change?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PROT View Post
QR "Customer Service" won't even answer why this happened and now the entire flight has had Seat Choice disabled.
How did you book?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PROT View Post
Jut worth bearing in mind as I've seen rumours of them completely disabling E/F to keep social distancing, but only on flights that are leaving DOH, not arriving in (weird!)
I've seen zero evidence of any such thing. QR always blocks the center seats of Qsuite aircraft as those are reserved for parties of two or more. Where did you see these rumors?

- Zero config or equipment change and travelling full J class with a partner. Tickets bought via an agent, but ticketed in full 3 months ago and seats reserved the same day.

- CS not answering has zero relevance on who I booked with, tickets are paid at same as QR online price, in cash and ticketed. The status of the flight has changed only in that they have moved our seats and now disabled seat selection. The only answer I have from QR CS is that the flight is now fully booked and all E/F seats are now booked, even though I had already booked them, so how that can happen is pretty disgraceful.

- I'll see if I can find the rumour on blocking E/F/ seats for social distancing. But I certainly didn't dream it, maybe somebody else did.

Dec 16, 2021, 9:50 am

#3602

realgaga

Join Date: Nov 2018

Location: HKG, BHX, MAN

Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)

Posts: 1,493

Quote:

Originally Posted by robr

So I am on a flight I was expecting to be qsuites but due to the a359 groundings it was swapped for a non qsuites plane. It was booked as an award via AA.

Qr says if it was booked with them, they'd move me to a qsuite flight, but because it was booked with aa, I'd have to call aa as they aren't able to move an AA booked flight. Of course the issue is aa can do nothing as there are no awards open on any other flight anywhere at the time we are flying (Dec 28).

Any idea how to navigate this scenario?

If you insist on flying on a Qsuites equipped aircraft then the only option is to change origin and or destination. QR doesn't have to and won't reaccommodate you.

Dec 16, 2021, 10:03 am

#3603

robr

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posts: 286

Quote:

Originally Posted by realgaga

If you insist on flying on a Qsuites equipped aircraft then the only option is to change origin and or destination. QR doesn't have to and won't reaccommodate you.

They were willing to, they just said their system doesn't allow them to do it for a partner flight. I've been watching for an origin change I can book thru AA and have EF alerts set up. There just aren't any (so far) other than XMAS day out of MIA (which I can't take due to family obligations). I'm probably out of luck, it is what it is, but thought I'd ask more knowledgeable people than I if anyone had found a way past this conandrum.

Dec 16, 2021, 3:30 pm

#3604

anabolism

Join Date: Aug 2004

Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)

Posts: 8,937

Quote:

Originally Posted by robr

If the flight is fairly close, QR has control of the ticket and can rebook you without reissuing the ticket. If they do, AA can reissue the ticket. It's happened to me with other OneWorld partners where my ticketed award flight was cancelled and the operating airline automatically switched me to a different flight. In your case it's a bit trickier and you'd need to call a few times and luck onto an agent who'll do it.

The other option is to call AA and ask the agent to contact their OneWorld Liaison and request that they ask QR to move you. If QR agrees, AA can then reissue the ticket.

robr likes this.

Dec 16, 2021, 3:36 pm

#3605

anabolism

Join Date: Aug 2004

Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)

Posts: 8,937

Quote:

Originally Posted by PROT

- Zero config or equipment change and travelling full J class with a partner. Tickets bought via an agent, but ticketed in full 3 months ago and seats reserved the same day.

- CS not answering has zero relevance on who I booked with, tickets are paid at same as QR online price, in cash and ticketed. The status of the flight has changed only in that they have moved our seats and now disabled seat selection. The only answer I have from QR CS is that the flight is now fully booked and all E/F seats are now booked, even though I had already booked them, so how that can happen is pretty disgraceful.

- I'll see if I can find the rumour on blocking E/F/ seats for social distancing. But I certainly didn't dream it, maybe somebody else did.

The reason I asked how you'd booked is that certain booking situations disable the ability to select seats on QR's web site. Possibly the flight is quite full and QR took your seats away to give to one of their elites or VIPs. I'd asked about equipment or configuration changes because that's a common reason for people to lose their allocated seats (sometimes equipment changes and then changes back, but seat assignments were lost after the first change).

You can try using one of the other airline that web sites to see if that will let you assign seats, such as RJ or EY. Also, check Expert Flyer's info for the flight and see if it is indeed sold out, and what the seat map looks like. You could also call QR and see if they'll move to you a different flight or date. The 10:15 AM out of LHR looks to be Qsuite with plenty of availability and available EF seats.

I've never heard anyone suggest that QR was blocking any J seats for social distancing, and seen just the opposite on all my flights.

Last edited by anabolism; Dec 16, 2021 at 3:42 pm Reason: added info on alternative flights

Dec 17, 2021, 8:53 am

#3606

PROT

Join Date: Nov 2018

Programs: Skywards, BA, Virgin

Posts: 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by anabolism

Was there an equipment/configuration change?

How did you book?

I've seen zero evidence of any such thing. QR always blocks the center seats of Qsuite aircraft as those are reserved for parties of two or more. Where did you see these rumors?

Quote:

Originally Posted by anabolism

I've checked on Expert Flyer now and the flight from DOH - MAL (QR672) is only showing the front 6 rows in J, which is ominous. Even though it is in the Q Suite config.

All J seats are either booked or X'd out, with all E and F seats showing as reserved, weirdly though not as quads. So looks like we have been bumped on for a VIP, which sucks big time and I still never know why this happens.

Dec 17, 2021, 10:05 am

#3607

anabolism

Join Date: Aug 2004

Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)

Posts: 8,937

Quote:

Originally Posted by PROT

Blocked seats show as 'X' on EF; those can be allocated by calling QR or in some cases by other airline's web sites. Separate from the seat map, EF's availability query shows inventory available for sale, which is the best way to see how full a flight is.

Dec 17, 2021, 11:35 am

#3608

Brooke.E

Join Date: Aug 2018

Programs: AA Plat Pro

Posts: 105

Quote:

Originally Posted by robr

I have an AA award ticket booked for January that was changed from QSuites to non-QSuites a few weeks ago; it changed back to QSuites this week. My return flight (cash ticket) also changed from QSuites to non-QSuites and is still currently showing non-QSuites. I decided to not touch either itinerary because Qatar is clearly moving aircraft around and I expect that to continue while they still have some of their a350's grounded. I'm just not sure that there is currently a route that would be any more likely to guarantee that we end up with QSuites. Even if a route is operated by, for example, an a350-1000 (which all have QSuites), there is no guarantee that they don't change that tomorrow.

As frustrating as this is for you, you may want to consider whether it is worth your time and further frustration to try to get your ticket changed knowing that your current itinerary could be reassigned a QSuite aircraft and any flight you change to could lose the QSuite aircraft.

GalaxyChris likes this.

Dec 17, 2021, 1:45 pm

#3609

robr

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posts: 286

I have definitely considered this. I have an equipment change alert set at EF but I've also looked historically over the past few weeks at equipment and was thinking to change to a route where it appears they are primarily using their 777-300ER. My flight is 11 days off so not much time left to figure anything out if I were to make a change. From what I hear, the non qsuites is still an excellent product, just it's not qsuites

Brooke.E likes this.

Dec 19, 2021, 9:21 am

#3610

rp88

Join Date: Jun 2017

Posts: 114

Does anyone know how many days out QSuite availability opens up on AA? Looking to book something for next Thanksgiving.

Dec 19, 2021, 7:19 pm

#3611

realgaga

Join Date: Nov 2018

Location: HKG, BHX, MAN

Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)

Posts: 1,493

Quote:

Originally Posted by rp88

Does anyone know how many days out QSuite availability opens up on AA? Looking to book something for next Thanksgiving.

Usually J class availability for AA is 330 days.

rp88 likes this.

Dec 20, 2021, 3:38 am

#3612

brunos

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Hong Kong, France

Programs: FB , BA Gold

Posts: 15,564

Quote:

Originally Posted by PROT

First, I suggest that you remain calm as travelling in these times is not easy. A lot of things can still change till 31 January.

QR672 probably changed from a Qsuites 77W with 42J to the new version Qsuites 77W with only 24J.I don't know your seat numbers initially assigned, but if they were beyond row 6, that is unfortunately normal.
However, you are not even "guaranteed" to get Qsuites as most flights to MLE have been operated by old 77W or A320.

I don't know which flights you are taking from LHR nor what is your fare bucket. But if it is QR4, you might not even get Qsuites as it is now scheduled with A380. But could easily change.

Frankly, most people nowadays have huge problems with cancelled flights and trying to get to their destination. Please don't be offended, but I would qualify yours as a minor problem, At least QR has been operating fairly reliably during covid. But with a ticket booked several months ahead, it is not surprising to have surprises in these covid times (and with QR). Keep checking the plane version periodically as it may change or they might consolidate some flights.

Dec 20, 2021, 5:24 am

#3613

PROT

Join Date: Nov 2018

Programs: Skywards, BA, Virgin

Posts: 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by brunos

Thanks for the reply.

I'll answer for completeness. Firstly, I'm seriously praying nothing changes, and I cant see a reason for it to do so with travel at this time.

As for seat, we were indeed booked into 9 E and F, so this answers that question. My only issue here, is that surely then it should be first come first served, i booked 6 months in advance and even the double J cabin wasn't even half full with only one other set of EF booked. QR gave taken the easy option here to just move, but I'll get over it, DG is not the end of the world, it's just annoying and bad CS.

I'm in full price J, so no reason to be amended we leave LHR on 008 and return on 009, the latter has already changed to A380 once they went back into service and that's fine as we've never flow the 380 so happy with that. 672 and 677 have been long standing Q Suite flights, its the plane sandwiches in the middle that is usually an A320

Dec 20, 2021, 7:32 am

#3614

KingCanute

Join Date: May 2021

Posts: 2,155

Quote:

Originally Posted by PROT

As disappointing as this may be, it may also be the case that at the time the aircraft was changed, all of the EF pairs in the forward cabin were already booked.

With regard to first come first served, in my experience the computer automatically reallocates the seats, rather than a person sitting down to do a seating plan. Aircraft swaps happen ALOT. If you have a seat number unaffected by the aircraft change your previous choice usually sticks. If you do not, it will move you to an available seat. Again in my experience, it appears to reallocate into empty seats from the front, top tier frequent flyer members first. It could have been worse, at least you are not in different rows or across the gangway.

As others have said, further changes cannot be ruled out between now and when you fly, even on the day of travel itself. Keep checking your booking from time to time, you may get a nice surprise 🙂

Dec 20, 2021, 3:34 pm

#3615

dwhelan5

Join Date: Mar 2021

Posts: 161

How do I best monitor the configuration on my flights? Currently booked on a Qsuites flight