Booking Business class with Qatar or third party adverts

[stu961]

I did the IB codeshare DOH-MAD 2 yrs ago. Yes, it was cheapest but not the same level as QR but satisfactory given the savings.

We had MAD-DOH booked on the IB codeshare but it was impossible to select seats. So not a bad outcome cancelling that one. Based on that experience, I’d be inclined to avoid QR marketed codeshare flights TBH.

Iberia has as many "quirks" back end as Qatar!!... and selecting a seat is one of them when a code share... have more than once walked up to the desk at the Iberia Madrid lounge and asked if I can select a seat for an upcoming codeshare flight in say 1 week time... no can do!! same for codeshare flights with BA, their systems are "Interesting".. .. but because we are flying the Spain-UK route often and we have our status with QR it's a case of shrug shoulders and smile...

 

[stu961]

I guess so; and they've also taken CAI off the list of being regional 'First' Class.



Still? I'm surprised. I'm booked on them in November and haven't contemplated booking a fall-back this time. Time will tell!



It may have been a seasonal thing re Madrid. But after 2 bad experiences with them, I have a 'thing' about IB so I avoid them. I could have flown from Malaga to Barcelona on IB in my forthcoming trip with an Avios Award, but chose the train instead, even though it will take most of the day. I've done Cordoba to Barcelona before and its quite a pleasant trip in first 'Confort' class once you got through the crowded stations.

If we have time we do Madrid to Valencia or visa versa on the train... baggage is our bad experiences with IB but after the first couple times you learn the IB way!! file under "interesting"

 

[SYD]

Still? I'm surprised. I'm booked on them in November and haven't contemplated booking a fall-back this time. Time will tell!

It’s the risk of a “Do not travel” warning coming back on.

It may have been a seasonal thing re Madrid. But after 2 bad experiences with them, I have a 'thing' about IB so I avoid them.

I’ve no issue with IB. Just avoid codeshares now. It’s got worse with airlines locking down their MMBs.

I called IB months out, the guy even sent me an email with a seat allocation but they never stuck. You used to be able to just open the IB PNR in the IB app/website and select seats. Not anymore….

 

[equus]

Booking directly with Qatar is usually very close to the lowest price available from anywhere I've found over the years.

Not always. Very much a niche exception, but if booking Business or First fares and you have an Amex Platinum, their International Airline Program fares can be substantially cheaper than booking direct, allow use of a Travel Credit but of course come with the downside of booking via Amex Travel.

 

[stm1sydney]

Is ex-CGK reliably cheaper than from other Asian ports like SIN and BKK? There would be pros and cons - a con for CGK is the requirement for a visa ($) for an overnight stay after the positioning flight (also on return). (I would not be game to have just a two hour transit in the case of separately ticketed flights due to the risk of misconnection.) Seems to me that SIN would be better in this regard. Also SIN has far more flights from SYD should there be issues with the positioning flight.

What are your pros and cons for each of, say, CGK, BKK, SIN and KUL? Grateful for the views of the experts on this forum.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is ex-CGK reliably cheaper than from other Asian ports like SIN and BKK? There would be pros and cons - a con for CGK is the requirement for a visa ($) for an overnight stay after the positioning flight (also on return). (I would not be game to have just a two hour transit in the case of separately ticketed flights due to the risk of misconnection.) Seems to me that SIN would be better in this regard. Also SIN has far more flights from SYD should there be issues with the positioning flight.

What are your pros and cons for each of, say, CGK, BKK, SIN and KUL? Grateful for the views of the experts on this forum.

CGK and MNL are traditionally the cheapest. Sometimes you get discounts from DPS. BKK can be cheap, but you’re already almost halfway to Europe, what’s the point?

Return fares in business class from both Jakarta and Manila are routinely in the $3000 range. Even with the Visa for Indonesia it makes it very cheap compared to Singapore and even Bangkok.

While SIN may have more flights, consider also other Aussie ports. So for example CGK flies from both Sydney and Melbourne so if the Sydney flight is cancelled there is always the Melbourne flight as a backup. The same for Manila ex BNE.

 

[jase05]

CGK and MNL are often the cheapest and CGK is my preference out of the two thanks to the great accommodation options and a very easy airport to get around. CGK is easy to position to/from as good award availability on QF and GA plus CGK often has great J cash fares back to Australia ( have had a couple of one way J flights on VN for not much more than $1k)
KUL has been another good one for us especially with ME airlines including some real good prices on QR. Another easy airport to get around and also stack of accommodation options

 

[SYD]

IME, CGK is cheaper than MNL on QR.

MNL is better for EY (and possibly EK).

CX fares out of CGK/DPS aren’t bad. ~$4k but avoids the sandpit. We’re in the middle of a trip via CGK and switched to CX when the bombs started dropping… We’re same day transiting on the way home ~7hr layover.

With the current exchange rate, the eVOA is ~$40 each way but you’re saving $’00s over flying via SIN (assuming you can get to/from SIN economically. Hotels around CGK are much cheaper than SIN.

Personally, I’d prefer SIN but haven’t been able to get it to work as easily as CGK with good award seat availability.

HKG also has good award seats but I’ve not managed to get that to work yet. CX non-stop to Europe isn’t cheap .

 

[VPS]

CGK and MNL are often the cheapest and CGK is my preference out of the two thanks to the great accommodation options and a very easy airport to get around. CGK is easy to position to/from as good award availability on QF and GA plus CGK often has great J cash fares back to Australia ( have had a couple of one way J flights on VN for not much more than $1k)
KUL has been another good one for us especially with ME airlines including some real good prices on QR. Another easy airport to get around and also stack of accommodation options

How to normally get to CGK from Adelaide?

 

[jase05]

How to normally get to CGK from Adelaide?

We have used SQ and MH awards from ADL otherwise our preference if heading from another Australian port is MEL the night before, stay at the Parkroyal and pick up a QF or GA award flight which are normally plentiful.
Our last time a few months ago was VA J ADL-MEL, stay at the Parkroyal and then QF J awards to CGK. I try to avoid SYD these days