scholten

I can confirm that even with cash upgrades QRPC are not allowed in Al Safwa. It was a email offer upgrade, not an airport upgrade.

So just to let all of you know, the previously mentioned information here in the thread " "Upgraded with miles means no Al Safwa. Upgraded with cash means Al Safwa" posted by the QR representative here is incorrect. As someone else pointed out, maybe (and like anything else qith QR, just maybe) this means if you pay the full fare difference you can access. However to me that is not an upgrade, but an upfare.

This is just an incredibly ridiculous policy, I had a ticket all with cash paid, and was directed to the incredibly subpar "First" Class Lounge, but if I has used miles to book the ticket outright I would be able to access, just does not make sense. Furthermore If I knew this would happen, I would never have accepted the cash upgrade, I would rather upgrade with my qcredits or qmiles.

the worst was that I had a 8:15 layover, and this ordeal made it impossible to get my complimentary room due to a layover over 8 hours, as at that point (after all the discussion with the lounges managers going back and forth to confirm info, etc) it was useless

intuition

The policy clearly says a platinum traveller in business can bring 2 guests.
What was not clear in the initial press release was that you need to be in paid business class. AFAIK, this is in line with how access has been determined before in regards to paid vs upgraded tickets (an upgrade to first did not give access to Al Safwa under old rules).

fgw_

same with upgraded tickets and access to AM! been through this several times: when on upgraded ticket u wont have access to premium lounges (AM and AS). dont like this rule either, but thats how it is!

railways

As I recall, we were informed that, when the new policy was introduced, for "technical reasons" Plat upgrades to J were not - temporarily - allowed access to AS (see post 77 of this thread).

So it's frustrating - and misleading - to still be getting emails stating "As a Platinum member, you and 2 guests travelling in Business Class with Qatar Airways can access Al Safwa lounge." I suspect that this would get short shrift in countries with more developed consumer protection legislation than Qatar.

intuition

I vaguely remembering seeing such a post, yes. Now I've refreshed memory and looking back to post 77 that sounds like the closest to 'official' we can get on this board. Still, that was in October and so one starts to doubt there are going to include upgrades in the policy. It seems they have not yet made any changes. And when I passed by in January with a revenue F ticket, I was specifically asked if it was upgraded before being sent to Al Safwa lounge

I share that feeling about misleading and/or incomplete communication. But for the notion of it being any differently in countries with developed consumer protection I can tell you this: Finnair has for years and years and years sent out personalised 'before-your-trip' communication quoting your baggage allowance and they still can't get it right. You will be told one allowance in your ticket, another one in this 'before-your-trip' e-mail and a third one in the Finnair app. They all differ from each other...
Consumer protection clearly can't cope with poor communication skills and sloppy marketing.

kaffir76

I was looking for this as well but I believe there isn't a dedicated line for Plat members
What was your question regarding?

I've sent in 2 emails 7 + 14 days ago, asking about an extension of my current membership period in light of the current situation, but I have not gotten a reply yet

Perhaps @goingplacestogether can help?

Does anyone have any experience getting an extension with QR PC to renew & retain their current status?
Other airlines such as SQ & CX are currently reviewing & renewing / extending members' statuses

If I still don't get a reply this week, I'll have to call in ...

SullyofDoha

we are all on rolling renewal dates. It would not make much sense to blanket everyone at the same time, especially so early in the outbreak. I would imagine a x2 QPoints offer to travel would be more realistic.

Matt4

Just got that option when making a dummy booking on the app. I was offered to save a maximum of $150 using 20,000 Qmiles on a $400 flight... No bad...

purple1addict

From monthly statement email:

lifeonthego_k

Have you read the Covid-19: Free Status Renewal / Extension thread? Eligible members' status was extended. SQ, CX, etc. are all extending status based on certain criteria incl. when the original expiry of the status was. In my experience writing in asking for an exemption to their criteria will not help.

LebaneseInQatar

Who else received an email that QRPC is now doing away with their "per sector award fees" ?

kl1987

Me

LebaneseInQatar

In stark contrast with the membership "enhancements" they slapped us with almost a year ago.

Really sameful that I had to refund some redemption tickets (for the entire family) that I had booked for March because of COVID-19 related travel restrictions, and they outright refused to refund said fees.

MKE-MR

It's entirely possible that current management has taken this long to collect the data to support undoing the great value massacre of a couple years ago.
Also possible that during this crisis they have more leverage. Regardless of how we got here, at least (at last) it's a real positive move, though it doesn't gain back the value that was lost on the redemption rates of course. Standard pattern that programs chop 90% and then get cheered when they restore 50%.

statusunlimited

Hi there,

Is there any update in Al-Safwa complimentary access for Platinum members? Last week, I contacted Platinum Hotline in the U.S and the rep told me that regardless of the original booking class or upgrade system (i.e Y upgraded to J using Qcredits/Qmiles or cash promo upgrade during OLCI) if a Plat member is holding a Business Class boarding pass, he or she will receive complimentary access to Al Safwa.