Qatar Airways unbundling business class "R" fares

[Mattg]

Qatar Airways is removing lounge access and seat selection from "R" class sale fares marketed as "Business Classic".

Presumably you'll continue to have advance seat selection and access to a lounge with Oneworld status - although in Doha that may be the inferior lounge for status pax flying Y rather than the Al Mourjan lounge.

Qatar Airways Business Class Fares With No Lounge Access (Pay $500 - $2,000 Extra)

Business-class passengers on Qatar Airways now need to pay extra for selecting a seat and accessing lounges.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[RooFlyer]

Presumably you'll continue to have advance seat selection

The article says no to that. So all you'll get is the better on-aircraft facilities, once you have boarded. Nothing prior, except if its granted by status.

This is bad on face value, although the $3.7K fare SYD-DOH-LHR one way that ET mentions, isn't bad if that's all you want to do.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The article says no to that. So all you'll get is the better on-aircraft facilities, once you have boarded. Nothing prior, except if its granted by status.

This is bad on face value, although the $3.7K fare SYD-DOH-LHR one way that ET mentions, isn't bad if that's all you want to do.

Well... if you want a 'bare basics' why wouldn't you fly Vietnam airlines for $4300 return, and get lounge access, full miles, advance seat selection...

If the inflight soft product really is not important, won't any full flat bed on a modern airliner do?

 

[Daver6]

I wonder if it still includes free sexual assault in DOH or that's unbundled too now?

 

[OZDUCK]

Looking at FlyerTalk it seems that the 'unbundling' has definitely occurred without any corresponding drop in prices. So it appears to a be a classic 'enhancement' by an airline. Considering some of the long connections I have had with them this is pretty unfortunate. My flights withme have been in 'R' class.

Oh well, I just hope Finnair doesn't follow the same line. (Flying from Perth Vietnam Airlines) has not a very good option .

 

[RooFlyer]

Well... if you want a 'bare basics' why wouldn't you fly Vietnam airlines for $4300 return, and get lounge access, full miles, advance seat selection...

Because for me the in-air experience and comfort is more important than lounges etc.I was just saying that the QT price wasn’t bad. Plus I can use QFF and other miles and OW status ( oif it still applies)

 

[Mattg]

The article says no to that. So all you'll get is the better on-aircraft facilities, once you have boarded. Nothing prior, except if its granted by status.

This is bad on face value, although the $3.7K fare SYD-DOH-LHR one way that ET mentions, isn't bad if that's all you want to do.

The rest of the sentence of mine that you quoted says “with Oneworld status”.

 

[RooFlyer]

The rest of the sentence of mine that you quoted says “with Oneworld status”.

Oops, sorry, unintentional termination of your sentence.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking at FlyerTalk it seems that the 'unbundling' has definitely occurred without any corresponding drop in prices. So it appears to a be a classic 'enhancement' by an airline. Considering some of the long connections I have had with them this is pretty unfortunate. My flights withme have been in 'R' class.

Oh well, I just hope Finnair doesn't follow the same line. (Flying from Perth Vietnam Airlines) has not a very good option .

I was thinking this 'unbundling' would - at best - possibly negate the 'Australia tax' we get slugged with. It doesn't surprise me that there is no reduction in fare.

VN ex Perth not an option, but DPS-Europe is around $3500 return in business class on your choice of carrier... EK, CX, QR. TK is around $3k.

 

[moa999]

Don't think there is any point looking at current prices.
Need some form of normal to see an impact

 

[drron]

Well Qatar is going to great lengths to dissuade a lot of us from travelling with them.

 

[SydneySwan]

Well Qatar is going to great lengths to dissuade a lot of us from travelling with them.

I thought it had already done enough. It doesn't need to do anymore.

 

[infrequent_jim]

Qsuites on Qatar flights are very nice.
The paid lounge in the Qatar airport (Hamid?) is pleasant and costs $US50 thereabouts - nothing compared to the cost of the ticket.

 

[OZDUCK]

Qsuites on Qatar flights are very nice.
The paid lounge in the Qatar airport (Hamid?) is pleasant and costs $US50 thereabouts - nothing compared to the cost of the ticket.

Yes but without 'seat selection' my wife and I might be forced to sit next to each other in J

 

[Flashback]

Qsuites on Qatar flights are very nice.
The paid lounge in the Qatar airport (Hamid?) is pleasant and costs $US50 thereabouts - nothing compared to the cost of the ticket.

The J lounge there (for J pax, not for OWS) isn't anywhere near as good as it used to be. Ahh, I remember the days when OWS/OWE could enter why flying Y and there was Krug at the bar. Those days are long gone!

 

[PineappleSkip]

the $3.7K fare SYD-DOH-LHR one way that ET mentions, isn't bad if that's all you want to do.

Something like that would be wonderful. Priced QR BNE-DOH-ADD in early 2021 and it was generally around 13.2k return IIRC. The cheaper fare would readily cover a limo to/from each airport and any number of paid lounge visits. I would cope.

cheers skip

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Something like that would be wonderful. Priced QR BNE-DOH-ADD in early 2021 and it was generally around 13.2k return IIRC. The cheaper fare would readily cover a limo to/from each airport and any number of paid lounge visits. I would cope.

cheers skip

The $3782 one way is based on a round-trip ticket. Total cost for the return was around $7500. A one way, based on the same date, was $6682. Exactly why they are removing lounge access ($50) and seat selection on a $6682 fare, anyone's guess.

Maybe they will file new fares for 'R' class. I'd want to see them at around $2500 each way to be worthwhile.

 

[hasselbladsnapper]

Are they crackers, intended travel for business is according to one survey of travel intentions down by around 40%, - replaced by Zoom meets!.

As a now retired business flyer and now self funding holiday trips to Europe again sometime in the future when COVID safe holidays and cruises can again be made. How is Qatar expecting to fill J again?, with less work flights and the retired taking umbridge at the denial of lounge access, and to some extent seat selection.

Of recent years my wife & I exclusively used Qatar over Emirates from our home base of Adelaide. On every occasion in the lounge at Doha, it was a ghost town, so I fail to see why some peace and quiet is now removed for no good reason. Emirates is looking good, for the future!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How is Qatar expecting to fill J again?

That's easy... fares from just about everywhere else in the world are dirt cheap on Qatar! Ex Europe to Asia is currently just AUD2670 return business class on QR. That fare is valid through September 2021. For just over $1000 each way, who needs lounge access? (Or get priority pass for USD35 a pop.)

 

[Mattg]

According to a German blog article, existing R class bookings will also lose lounge access.

Now that doesn't seem fair, although someone in the comments has disputed this by linking to a FAQ page on the QR agent portal which states the "previous fare families (not the new) will apply for ticketed issues on/before 8 November 2020". Not sure what this is all about - I can only hope/assume the author of that blog post was given wrong information by the QR rep.