Qatar, now seat choice when you book with points is fee-based (but not for all)
Nasty surprise for frequent travelers on the Doha-based carrier: since a few days Qatar Airways has introduced a surcharge for [...]
Qatar Airways
Oneworld
Nasty surprise for regular travelers on the Doha-based carrier: as of a few days ago. Qatar Airways introduced a place selection supplement also on the prize tickets at Business Class. A choice that effectively equalizes tickets redeemed with miles with the economy fares already subject to additional charges.
In this article:
Who pays and who is excluded
The news concerns tickets Business Saver, that is, those booked through the program Privilege Club or with partners such as British Airways Executive Club e American AAdvantage.
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Who uses the miles to fly in the famous Qsuite will then have to pay extra if he wants to choose the place in advance. Instead, the following remain exempt members with status oneworld Sapphire and Emerald, which retain the ability to select the chair for free and Those who book in flex rate.
How much does it cost to choose the place
Early reports indicate an average price of about 370 Qatari riyals, amounting to 87 euro approximately, but the amount may vary depending on the route and duration of the flight.
If you do not have the status, the's only way to avoid the surcharge is to wait for the online check-in phase, 48 hours before departure (24 hours for flights to the United States), when the choice of seat becomes free.
This is not a "small" cost if we consider that if flying from Italy to a destination other than Doha means having to pay 4 fees, one for each segment, we are talking about 350€.
Honestly, QR's business class is always top, so. there is no real reason to pay except to choose double or quadruple.
It could have been much worse
It is true that paying cash for a ticket in Business Class with Qatar Airways represents a significant outlay, and redeeming it with miles remains a huge economic benefit. Even with a small addition for seat selection, the savings over the full fare remain evident.
However, the introduction of this ancillary cost could have also brought with it an elimination of lounge access, as is the case when booking a ticket in business basic.
If you plan to redeem an award ticket, or you already have an award ticket (and hadn't yet chosen a seat) it might be the perfect time to apply for the Royal Jordanian's status match and take home a oneworld card. and immediately amortize the cost of place selection.
In conclusion
For now, there are no changes on tickets First Class, where the selection remains included in the price.
However, Qatar Airways' move confirms a trend now widespread in the industry: even high-end products are gradually being segmented, with "premium" benefits and services turned into paid options. For those who frequently fly with miles, this decision represents a Worsening of the overall redemption value, especially for members without status in the oneworld alliance, but the best business class in the world can be quietly appreciated without choosing the seat, Barbone's word.
