New rebooking policy - 5,000 mile flight radius

[Notyourbag]

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/travel-with-confidence.html

“You can change your travel date or destination free of charge, as often as you need. You can change your origin to another city within the same country or any other destination we fly to within a 5000 mile radius of your original destination.”

Rebooking fees will be waived if reservations are amended before departure (for travel on/before 31 December 2020).
Rerouting is possible free of charge on Qatar Airways operated flights only from the same country of origin and/or within 5000 (five thousand) miles radius from the original destination booked.

The big question is - if you change to a new final destination would you have to pay a fare difference. For those flying to LHR or CDG what would be the cheapest city within a 5,000 mile radius in J?

 

[Danger]

It seems to be an extraordinarily good deal that has the bloggers all hot and bothered.

There are increasing reports on the blogs and FlyerTalk of fare differences being waived. Indeed, that's what Qatar's own document says:

Change entire travel on/before 31 December 2020.

Waive difference in fare, taxes, fees, charges, surcharges, rebooking penaltiy.

https://www.qatarairways.com/content/dam/tradepartners/pdf-files/Passenger%20Guidelines%20v1.7%20-%20Trade.pdf

It's a shame QR isn't able to sell tickets on the domestic flights in and out of Canberra. It would open up some incredible opportunities, apparently such as changing SYD-CBR to SYD-xDOH-AKL.

 

[aus_flyer]

But some of the fifth freedom routes raise some interesting options

 

[Isochronous]

Which fifth freedoms are still operating?

 

[Danger]

I'm not sure that either of the two - SGN-PNH v.v. and EZE-GRU v.v. - are operating now but they don't have to be to take advantage of this deal. Or should I say, didn't have to be to have taken advantage of this deal. Qatar updated its policy about 12 hours ago to specifically exempt the fifth freedom routes. Until then, a ridiculously expensive USD650 J return fare for the SGN-PNH-SGN flights could be changed to a huge number of possibilities, including an outrageously cheap SGN-xDOH-anywhere in Australia and return. I had mapped out SGN-xDOH-NRT return for 480 SCs but wasn't 100% comfortable and didn't proceed.

 

[Hoatzin]

This is a great promotion that was always destined, like anything of that ilk to become harder to utilize in short order. Yesterday there were some great QR J fares available but the ones I looked at have reverted to almost only selling J Flex fares at a higher cost. This gives me confidence that the promo conditions will continue to persist however, QR will extract more $ for the privilege.

My bro is getting married in CBR in November and my aged auntie lives in IST. I am always on the hunt for cheap fares for her and searched all the J pairs between IST and <5000 miles from Sydney. SIN turned out to be the cheapest for $2550. I booked it for her (R) and then after some kerfuffle (Turkish office staff unsurprisingly unhelpful) I got through quickly (2 mins) to the Polish call center and the guy changed the destination no fuss to SYD, (D) on the outbound and (I) on the inbound. So damn good.

Did anyone else get onto this? Perhaps changing a cheap intragulf F ticket to any destination on the a380 aside from those here (sadly MCT-PER is >5000 miles)

Assuming that QR flies their a380s ever again.....

 

[Isochronous]

My $750 CMB-DOH-MCT return in I class is now CMB-DOH-LHR-DOH-HKG in J and C. This will be a very good BA TP run!

 

[aus_flyer]

Just a shame that the tickets can only be booked until end of Dec

 

[Daver6]

My $750 CMB-DOH-MCT return in I class is now CMB-DOH-LHR-DOH-HKG in J and C. This will be a very good BA TP run!

How were you able to tack on the DOH-LHR-DOH sector from the original booking? Hopefully the T4 lounge will be back in operation by the time you travel too, as its excellent IMHO.

 

[Notyourbag]

Qatar have announced overnight you need to wait 14 days from booking and it must be the same fare type to modify your original booking.

 

[Mattg]

Qatar have announced overnight you need to wait 14 days from booking and it must be the same fare type to modify your original booking.

Yep. Applies only to voluntary changes though, i.e. you still get the full flexibility if Qatar Airways cancels your flight.

I guess that would rule out the kind of thing @Hoatzin or @Isochronous did going forward. You guys were lucky to get in when you did!

 

[nightelves]

My $750 CMB-DOH-MCT return in I class is now CMB-DOH-LHR-DOH-HKG in J and C. This will be a very good BA TP run!

Yeah would also like to know how you were able to do that?

 

[Danger]

How were you able to tack on the DOH-LHR-DOH sector from the original booking? Hopefully the T4 lounge will be back in operation by the time you travel too, as its excellent IMHO.

Yeah would also like to know how you were able to do that?

The policy specifically allows for changing the destination to within 5000 miles. Muscat to London is roughly 3600 miles so no issue.

 

[Daver6]

The policy specifically allows for changing the destination to within 5000 miles. Muscat to London is roughly 3600 miles so no issue.

My $750 CMB-DOH-MCT return in I class is now CMB-DOH-LHR-DOH-HKG in J and C. This will be a very good BA TP run!

Except the original destination was MCT and looks like it was change to HKG, hence mine and other peoples confusion as to how LHR was added on.

 

[Danger]

Except the original destination was MCT and looks like it was change to HKG, hence mine and other peoples confusion as to how LHR was added on.

I missed that part.

 

[nightelves]

I missed that part.

Hi Danger here is the post.

My $750 CMB-DOH-MCT return in I class is now CMB-DOH-LHR-DOH-HKG in J and C. This will be a very good BA TP run!

So everyone is curious how HKG as able to be tacked on. Also how were you able to search for SGN-DOH-NRT? I believe Qatar doesn't allow for 5th Freedom flights anymore.

 

[Mattg]

Hi Danger here is the post.

So everyone is curious how HKG as able to be tacked on. Also how were you able to search for SGN-DOH-NRT? I believe Qatar doesn't allow for 5th Freedom flights anymore.

The "no fifth-freedom routes" rule is if you were only booked on the that leg, i.e. the booking was just for SGN-PNH and not travelling through DOH. If flying via DOH, no issues there.

 

[Isochronous]

Hi Danger here is the post.

So everyone is curious how HKG as able to be tacked on. Also how were you able to search for SGN-DOH-NRT? I believe Qatar doesn't allow for 5th Freedom flights anymore.

Because HKG is within 5000 miles of CMB. Can't change the origin but the endpoint isn't restricted.

Getting to CMB will be interesting - still have to figure that out!

 

[nightelves]

Because HKG is within 5000 miles of CMB. Can't change the origin but the endpoint isn't restricted.

Getting to CMB will be interesting - still have to figure that out!

Based on your rule wouldn’t it be CMB-DOH-HKG how were you able to add on LHR as well?

 

[Isochronous]

No, because I'm going to LHR first and staying there for a while before flying from LHR to HKG