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Qatar Airways has made a recent change to how seat selection works for business class bookings. And by change, I mean flyers are now being asked to open up their wallets. Effective immediately, reports suggest that there’s a new fee to select seats on Qatar Airways award flights — even its famed Qsuites.
Here's what to know and how to avoid paying these fees.
Qatar Airways Now Charging for Seat Selection on Award Flights
If you're going to splurge and book business class with points and miles, you'd think you'd at least get to pick your seat without paying extra for it. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case on Qatar Airways, unless you meet one of the conditions that let you avoid these fees entirely, which we'll go over shortly.
In short, Qatar Airways now tries to charge passengers for every business class seat they select. For example, on a mock booking from Montreal (YUL) to Doha (DOH), Qatar Airways charges $109 just for the privilege of picking a seat in its Qsuite cabin. And these fees seemingly vary by route and distance.
Even worse, the fee is nonrefundable if your travel plans change.
This applies only to the “Saver” award fare bucket. The higher-priced “Flexi” awards remain exempt from seat selection fees. Qatar has also limited the number of “Saver” awards available to book with Avios. Aside from the occasional large award release, Qsuite “Saver” awards have become harder to find and now come with an added seat fee.
Without a shortcut to waived seat fees, travelers will have to wait until check-in (at 24 hours before departure) to choose their seats. That can be a problem for couples or groups hoping to sit together or secure the middle Qsuites that are side by side.
Speaking of those shortcuts…
Related: Airline Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies
How to Avoid Seat Selection Charges on Qatar Airways Award Flights
Luckily, there are a few ways to avoid paying these seat fees. First, Qatar Privilege Club elite members will pay less. Burgundy and Silver members receive a discount on seat fees, while Gold and Platinum members have the fee waived altogether.
More relevantly, Oneworld elites (those with Sapphire or Emerald status — but not Ruby) can also choose seats at no cost. Several Oneworld airlines offer elite tiers that qualify for free seat selection on Qatar. Here are a few examples:
- American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum or higher
- Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Gold or higher
- British Airways Club Silver or higher
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Gold or higher
- Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer Gold or higher
This is just a sampling, but the takeaway is that there are ways to avoid paying seat fees — even with mid-tier status. Just be sure to attach your loyalty number from the program where you hold Oneworld status to your Qatar reservation so you can choose your seat without paying extra on your award ticket.
Related: A Complete Guide to American Airlines AAdvantage® Elite Status
Bottom Line
It’s long been assumed that booking a premium business class seat on an international flight would include free seat selection. That’s no longer guaranteed. British Airways has long charged for advance seat selection, many other airlines have recently “unbundled” their fares and started charging for seat selection, and now Qatar Airways has followed suit.
While the change is frustrating, there are still ways to avoid the fees through certain elite statuses. Otherwise, travelers will have to pay up or wait until check-in and take their chances.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first frustrating, nickel-and-dime type of change Qatar Airways has made in recent history. A little over a year ago, the airline increased award redemption surcharges. Because of that, you’ll now pay a few hundred dollars in taxes and fees when redeeming Avios for flights from the U.S. to Doha, for example.
Slowly but surely, it’s becoming harder, more frustrating, and more expensive to book Qsuites. And that’s a trend we’re not fans of.
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