Qatar J with Velocity Points - Questions

[FF98]

Hi All,

I am eyeing Qatar Airways reward flights via Velocity for my wife and I first ever trip to Europe.

I am thinking of a stopover in Doha for 2 nights to explore the area. However Velocity doesn't offer multi city/stopovers. Therefore the only option is to book separate tickets AUS-DOH, DOH-Europe.

A MEL-LHR flight with transit in DOH is 159k Velocity points, but a MEL-DOH, DOH-LHR flight would come to 193k (119k + 74k) points.

Given the 34k points difference per person, would you do it?

If I proceed with the separate ticket options, would I be eligible for any Qatar stopover programs?

Many thanks,

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi All,

I am eyeing Qatar Airways reward flights via Velocity for my wife and I first ever trip to Europe.

I am thinking of a stopover in Doha for 2 nights to explore the area. However Velocity doesn't offer multi city/stopovers. Therefore the only option is to book separate tickets AUS-DOH, DOH-Europe.

A MEL-LHR flight with transit in DOH is 159k Velocity points, but a MEL-DOH, DOH-LHR flight would come to 193k (119k + 74k) points.

Given the 34k points difference per person, would you do it?

If I proceed with the separate ticket options, would I be eligible for any Qatar stopover programs?

Many thanks,

I wouldn’t be going it of my way to stop in Doha for that price, unless you have done your research and are set on seeing certain things.

You could potentially transit for less than 24 hours and still get the through fare? That might give you enough time to sample the city.

You won’t be eligible for any Qatar stopover programs. AFAIK they are valid only on QR tickets for QR/QR transits.

 

[simmomelb]

Yeah I'd look at a 23 hour stopover, you should be able to find them quite easily.
That's enough time in Doha to get a taste of it, if that's your thing and can be handy to break up the flight.

 

[flyguy77]

Yeah I'd look at a 23 hour stopover, you should be able to find them quite easily.

Really? With Velocity Points in J?

I doubt it will offer many connection options, most availability is just to Doha and not connecting onto Europe.

 

[FF98]

yes, don’t really see any long stopover for J for MEL-LHR, at most a 2-3 hour transit at DOH, with the DOH-LHR flight departing at 1-2am. However if I break it up into 2 sectors, DOH-LHR has plenty of timings and availability

 

[flyguy77]

However if I break it up into 2 sectors, DOH-LHR has plenty of timings and availability

I've noticed the same.

I wonder if you can combine them in some way and avoid paying more points.
Calling Velocity?

 

[simmomelb]

Really? With Velocity Points in J?

I doubt it will offer many connection options, most availability is just to Doha and not connecting onto Europe.

I'm seeing them in paid-for fares. I'm doing this myself soon with Qatar Airways and a 23-hour stop in DOH. Perhaps not appearing in rewards. Let me look further...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've noticed the same.

I wonder if you can combine them in some way and avoid paying more points.
Calling Velocity?

Should be possible to call and manually select flights and still get the through fare.

Unless there’s some weird quirk in the VA FF program that says you can’t manually select flights and can only book what the system shows.

 

[FF98]

Thanks will consider that. Just deciding if a long transit is doable, given the flight to DOH arrives at 11pm, and the latest DOH-LHR flight departs at 4:45pm the next day hmm

 

[simmomelb]

Thanks will consider that. Just deciding if a long transit is doable, given the flight to DOH arrives at 11pm, and the latest DOH-LHR flight departs at 4:45pm the next day hmm

It looks like the issue is getting a J seat out of DOH on Qatar to Europe at the moment (with points). Otherwise, I am sure you'd see the ones with a long layover (~23hrs).
Are you subscribed to seats.aero?

 

[jase05]

Thanks will consider that. Just deciding if a long transit is doable, given the flight to DOH arrives at 11pm, and the latest DOH-LHR flight departs at 4:45pm the next day hmm

Hardly worth it IMO. You really need a full day and night in Doha if you want a decent look around. Probably better saving the points and just having 2-3 at DOH

 

[simmomelb]

Hardly worth it IMO. You really need a full day and night in Doha if you want a decent look around. Probably better saving the points and just having 2-3 at DOH

Yeah, although, saying that, I flew to Istanbul with them 3 weeks ago, with a 2-hour layover, and I just made my next flight (10 more minutes and I would have missed it).
It can be quite a hike for some connecting flights, + security, even if you use the train to speed it up a little.
I've promised myself ~ 3 hours now for layovers at DOH, to keep my stress levels under control lol

 

[jase05]

Yeah, although, saying that, I flew to Istanbul with them 3 weeks ago, with a 2-hour layover, and I just made my next flight (10 more minutes and I would have missed it).
It can be quite a hike for some connecting flights, + security, even if you use the train to speed it up a little.
I've promised myself ~ 3 hours now for layovers at DOH, to keep my stress levels under control lol

Our preference for 2-3 nights in Doha but if we are going straight through 3-4hrs for us is ideal. Can spend some time in Al Safwa, have a shower and jacuzzi and sit down for a nice meal.
I’m yet to have a connection at DOH where we have felt rushed or in any danger to miss a flight

 

[simmomelb]

Our preference for 2-3 nights in Doha but if we are going straight through 3-4hrs for us is ideal. Can spend some time in Al Safwa, have a shower and jacuzzi and sit down for a nice meal.
I’m yet to have a connection at DOH where we have felt rushed or in any danger to miss a flight

Yep, 3 - 4 hours is perfect for some lounge time, agreed

 

[RooFlyer]

I’m yet to have a connection at DOH where we have felt rushed or in any danger to miss a flight

My best connection has been 25 minutes, although that was a bit of a scoot.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hardly worth it IMO. You really need a full day and night in Doha if you want a decent look around. Probably better saving the points and just having 2-3 at DOH

That’s the thing, if it was under 24 hours it would be the points for the through fare?

Having a full morning and lunch in Doha to look around is probably enough time for a sample of the city.

Yeah, although, saying that, I flew to Istanbul with them 3 weeks ago, with a 2-hour layover, and I just made my next flight (10 more minutes and I would have missed it).
It can be quite a hike for some connecting flights, + security, even if you use the train to speed it up a little.
I've promised myself ~ 3 hours now for layovers at DOH, to keep my stress levels under control lol

I’ve heard these horror stories! And my friend transited IST both ways a few months ago and was from their plane into the lounge in around 20 minutes each time! And they’re not experienced travellers.

I’m hoping I get the latter, not the former as I really want to check out the lounge!

 

[jase05]

My best connection has been 25 minutes, although that was a bit of a scoot.

I don’t ever think I’ve had a connection time of under about 3hrs and always had a present walk to and from the lounge. Helps that I haven’t had a significant flight delay or had the displeasure of a bus gate