Qatar charging seat selection fees for Business (U) award bookings

[2APlease]

So far my seat selectons on four Avios redemptions PNRs in 2026 are holding. Mel/Mxp/Mel in May and Mel/Ist/Adl in Sept are holding.
Thanks azza007 for the Chat suggestion, easier than a phone call.

 

[Growing Older]

Watching this thread with interest.

Just last week, I made an Avios redemption with QR for 2 x J seats FCO-xDOH-xMEL-CBR in April 2026 through QR Privilege Club. I am a nobody Burgundy with QRPC but WP with QF and SG with VA. I was able to select U seats on all flights and they appear to have stuck a week later, being visible in the QR app.

I left my QR number in the booking (as it was made with Avios), so cannot be sure if my OWE or VA SG status was somehow recognised and allowed me to select these seats? Booking was made on 2nd November, so if something did indeed change at the start of this month, I may have dodged a bullet...

OT - did I really want to go from Rome to Canberra? No - but this was a married segment and a simple DOH-MEL U redemption on exactly the same day and same QR metal was not available. I can make my own way home from CBR-SYD and the transit in MEL isn't horrendous but this little loophole from the DOH-xMEL-ADL flights looks to continue on in a new form once the CBR flights resume for QR.

 

[2APlease]

Like you, I took an indirect routing to ADL when my destination is Mel. Low cost in the greater scheme of airfares,

 

[BriarFlyer]

Looking at my return flight possibilities and this time I actually read the terms and seat selection is included in the price.

 

[tinkybelle]

yes but when u went to book the actual seat what happened? I was told by the res agents that u need to book the flights then do the seating or the system can crash( which it has on several occasions)

 

[BriarFlyer]

I select my seats after completing the booking, mostly because I want to get through the process as quickly and smoothly as possible. Then I select my seats later. Used this process for the outbound flights, booked last week, and they've stuck so far.

 

[ols]

Glad I've recently booked my four Qatar redemptions for August/September next year.

Had a scare when going over the flights with my wife this morning.
The SIN-DOH flight on which we could only get a Y reward had changed planes fro A350 to A380.
We had been moved from the two best Y seats on the A350 to 43A and 50A on the lower deck of the A380(not even together)
Was able to mange booking and change to 25J and K upstairs with no charge for seat selection (they are considered extra legroom) so old bookings seem to be safe from seat charges.

 

[madrooster]

so old bookings seem to be safe from seat charges.

They are, but you're also VA platinum which gets free seating.

 

[goldenhorn]

So glad I found this thread. Just booked Qsuite awards and was almost going to pay for seat selection. After reading this thread I just used the QR customer support chat and changed my frequent fly number to Qantas and then my one world sapphire status gave me free seat selection.

Yay!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

That's rough, what's next, no lounge access with (U) award tickets?

Don't joke, back in 2022 when I transited Doha with a friend, the friend was admitted to the lounge immediately but I was initially told my identical award business fare didn't include lounge access. They tried to direct me to another lounge due to OWE status. It was cleared up by a manager and we both eventually went in, but it discouraged me from taking award flights with QR.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I just booked a business reward seat on QR (class U) and they want $$ for seat selection - kind of poor tbh. Same as BA.

Also, the middle seats (quads) are blocked out (only the sides are selectable at this stage) - I assume that this is normal for bookings with one passenger on the PNR?

 

[ols]

I just booked a business reward seat on QR (class U) and they want $$ for seat selection - kind of poor tbh. Same as BA.

Also, the middle seats (quads) are blocked out (only the sides are selectable at this stage) - I assume that this is normal for bookings with one passenger on the PNR?

As Qatar Privilege Club member I have never had to pay for business reward seats selection booked on Velocity

 

[BriarFlyer]

Also, the middle seats (quads) are blocked out (only the sides are selectable at this stage) - I assume that this is normal for bookings with one passenger on the PNR?

Correct.

 

[jase05]

just booked a business reward seat on QR (class U) and they want $$ for seat selection - kind of poor tbh. Same as BA.

Unfortunately I think it will become more common and I know a few airlines already charge

 

[SYD]

As Qatar Privilege Club member I have never had to pay for business reward seats selection booked on Velocity

Nor with OW status and you’d hope VFF status?

 

[MelbFlyer]

As Qatar Privilege Club member I have never had to pay for business reward seats selection booked on Velocity

I am too (Burgundy) and yet it still displays a fee if I select a seat.