Over the past several months we've seen airlines introduce flexible booking policies to make people comfortable with the idea of planning future travel in these uncertain times. Arguably Qatar Airways at one point had the world's most generous policy in this regard, though restrictions were eventually added. Well, there's good and bad news when it…
Continue reading: Qatar Airways Extends But Modifies Generous Rebooking Policy
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
In these uncertain times any airline that does not offer full cash refund is not generous enough!Qatar Airways only offers a cash refund if they cancel a flight. What if the passenger no longer wants to travel at all? Even through next year. Airlines should offer a refund.Period.
@Ben do you know if this new policy pertains to tickets that were originally booked back in May? If a ticket was booked in May for travel in Nov or Dec, are we able to change them per 5000 mile policy still or just to the new policy?
Just looked at the updated T&C and they lowered the QMiles option from 100/$ to 80/$.
after i booked a ticket, they changed it to say no open-jaw tickets allowed. that really annoyed me. Open jaw was about the same price, and only mildly more convenient. With the new rule, I guess I've lost my rights.
Previously, you can change departure city within same country. Is that still available?
First point under updated T&Cs: Unlimited route change option is only applicable when your original travel has been impacted. Sounds like it is not possible to voluntary reroute unless your originally booked flight is cancelled/changed by the airline.
Actually they define it: Impacted travel means flight cancellation for operational reason and/or airport closures; schedule changes; travel restrictions imposed by government authorities outside passenger’s control; passengers testing positive for COVID-19.
@JimC origin change still possible however may only be possible in case of involuntary changes to booking. This document has the examples however does not clearly define the regions (what is Australasia vs. Far East and Indian subcontinent).
Why have you not mentioned that this new change allowance only applies if your travel has been 'impacted'? I would say this marks a huge difference and does not mean that you can just change a flight to Casablanca with a flight to Capetown unless your trip has been 'impacted'...
Pre-COVID, I purchased LAX-DOH-BKK RT for mid-November.
Although my flights have NOT been cancelled yet, Thailand certainly is not going to accept a "disease-ridden American" in about 7 weeks (LOL)
My plan was to wait and see how they handle it, but the fare was so great (originally scheduled as Q-Suites on all 4 legs) that I would prefer to just change the dates to sometime around mid-August 2021.
I don't think the changes have any impact on me, do they?
NOT 5000 miles anymore??? I tried within 4200 miles in July many times and they ALWAYS denied... This is Fraud. I booked business class and now I’m screwed with spending $4000 ... And now within the same region??? Meaning what??? Baltimore-DC region??? How do they define same
Regions now? Grrrr
I trust that folks like me who booked way back when the policy was first introduced (thanks to Ben's tip-off) will still have the original promise honoured by Qatar Airways.
6 weeks ago I was denied check-in by Qatar in Manila due to not having been told I needed a PCR test - a policy brought in a few days earlier. I flew with Cathay Pacific the following day (no PCR test required) and Qatar gave me a full cash refund within 2 weeks. The silly thing is they require the PCR test to have been done at most 96 hours prior to the flight, but at the time the waiting list for testing in Manila was more than a week ! Now I'm about to head back to Philippines, I can't risk booking a return flight with Qatar due to the testing requirement. Nice to be back on Cathay though - always a firm favorite and thankfully not making a song and dance over big pharma / globalist induced hysteria 😉
Per my earlier comment, I am booked LAX-DOH-BKK and back.
I just called about pushing my flight back to next year - same route'; just different dates.
Contrary to the implication in this post that I could change it with ease, they are not charging a change fee, but ARE charging the difference in fare.
People who booked a cheap fare and are hoping to "upgrade" it are going to be sorely disappointed.
For me, my cheap (2500 RT) fare isn't going to cover HALF of a fare next year on the same route!
@Craig, interesting. So even if you found another date with a "Business Saver" fare they asked you for the fare difference? I was of the understanding that as long as its the same Booking class no fare difference is payable? I was thinking of doing something similar but if they are charging fare difference there is no point...
Dear Qatar Airlines,
I had a booking that I asked to be cancelled by my travel agent. Itd has not been easy for me bacause my passport and other documents in my backpack had been robbed. In my last e-mail I asked the agent to cancel my fllight which had been set for January 29th from Manila to Doha and on to Maputo in Mozambique. I plan to book as soon as I get my new passport and I hope this can be done before the 22nd of February. Where do I rebook in Metro Manila?
Best,
PANFILO TABORA