If you’re redeeming miles or points for Qatar Airways business class, seat assignments will now cost you…
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Qatar Airways expands business class seat fees
As of November 2025, Qatar Airways has added a fee to assign seats in advance when traveling in business class on award tickets:
- This applies to all business class awards in the “U” fare bucket, whether booking through Qatar Airways Privilege Club or a partner program (it doesn’t apply to Flexi awards, since those don’t book into “U”)
- Those with oneworld Sapphire and oneworld Emerald status are exempt from these seat assignment fees
- Complimentary seat assignments continue to be available for all at online check-in, which opens 24-48 hours out
For example, looking at a Doha to Frankfurt business class award ticket, I see a fee of 370 QAR (~$102) to assign a seat in advance.
This is a disappointing change, but not that surprising
In 2021, Qatar Airways overhauled its business class fare bundles. With this, we saw the airline add seat assignment fees on its Lite and Classic business class fares.
We’ve seen the trend in recent years of airlines increasingly introducing “basic” business class, intended as a further way to segment potential customers, and maximize revenue from each passenger. In particular, this has been more of a focus as we’ve seen more premium leisure travel, which has caused an increase to premium cabin demand, but maybe not with the yields of traditional business travelers.
So it was interesting that award tickets were still treated similar to full fare business class tickets in terms of seat inclusions, rather than being treated as more basic or discounted business class tickets. Of course I liked that policy, for obvious reasons.
However, it’s also not surprising to see this change. The airline has definitely focused on maximizing revenue in premium cabins, as we’ve seen Qatar Airways become much less generous with business class award availability, not only for partner programs, but also for Privilege Club. So I guess this is viewed as yet another way to improve the economics of these redemptions.
Here’s to hoping this is the extent of changes to business class award tickets, and that we don’t see the airline cut lounge access on redemption tickets, as is the case with the most discounted revenue tickets.
If you want to frame this differently, those with oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status may be fans of this policy change, since it should leave more seats for them to assign in advance at no cost.
Bottom line
Qatar Airways has added seat assignment fees for saver level business class award tickets. If you want to assign seats before online check-in and don’t have eligible oneworld elite status, you can now expect to pay a pretty penny to select seats.
In 2021, Qatar Airways added seat assignment fees on its lower business class fare bundles, so I guess this is an extension of that policy.
What do you make of Qatar Airways adding seat fees in business class?
In addition to paid seats in Business ( remain free in First ), award tickets are now changeable and non-refundable.
I would hate to pay that fee but honeymoon suite might just be worth it. However, travelling to LIS via LHR next week, the BA flight from YYZ is charging $186 per seat in business class which already has a $1400US YQ charge. I refused to pay it initially and at this point there are only single seats randomly distributed. I'll be on a relocation flight when checkin opens (no wi-fi) so my wife and...
I would hate to pay that fee but honeymoon suite might just be worth it. However, travelling to LIS via LHR next week, the BA flight from YYZ is charging $186 per seat in business class which already has a $1400US YQ charge. I refused to pay it initially and at this point there are only single seats randomly distributed. I'll be on a relocation flight when checkin opens (no wi-fi) so my wife and I (~80) will probably be alone, lost in the crowd.
I have fond memories of upper deck Queen of the skies in row 62 no fee.
This maximizing profit nonsense means bye bye BA!
1st time I book with Qatar ASAP. 1st person I book with was Dexter. He promised that he would provide the best service and have all my details? Next thing I know he is not longer working with booking regular flights?, because according to him the was mow transferred to 1st class booking reservations. I was quoted 1 price and yes I was charged twice for extra leg room and for choosing my meal. Then...
1st time I book with Qatar ASAP. 1st person I book with was Dexter. He promised that he would provide the best service and have all my details? Next thing I know he is not longer working with booking regular flights?, because according to him the was mow transferred to 1st class booking reservations. I was quoted 1 price and yes I was charged twice for extra leg room and for choosing my meal. Then today November 6th I get the scare of my life!!!!!! I was told I didn't have a reservation. I thought i was having a stroke. I had called ASAP and spoke to many call takers who had no idea what i was taking about. I decided to ask for the highest manager available. Off course I never got a call but I did get a copy of our itinerary and a new booking
Number. The cost of this trip was way-way out of our limitations. I'll never believe in any of their advertisements. Ohh yeah don't expect a refund. That's a nightmare i would not wish on anyone. Book through an airline. Not ASAP.
Qatar lost my reservation for Q suite, made me pay another fare for row 42, and have made no refund. Don't expect customer service unless you have a buddy in Hamas.
I guess this is what happens when Qatar stops investing in premium airlines like Cathay, and invests in low cost airlines like Virgin Australia.
Do customers get their money back when Qatar changes their equipment for the 70th time before departure?
Not yet. 3 years of "discussions"
I'm not surprised, but I'm not a fan. I expect business and first to be "all inclusive", isn't that supposed to be the point?
Any seat-selection fee in business class is total BS, whether you’re paying for that seat in cash or points.
One more reason to not give Air Hamas any of your business. Their being owned by a terrorist-supporting slave-state should have been enough, but so few people seem to act ethically these days.
Is your Real Name BiBi The Nut n yahooo?
I paid $ 178.40 for my seat on Air France BKK to CDG. But at least it's refundable. Qatar's fee not being refundable is pure rip-off. They are losing nothing if I change plans, and they can charge for the same seat again. Ridiculous.
Same as BA whose egregious fees are only exceeded by the poor quality of their operation
I hope this doesn't spread. Fortunately, it is not an airline I'd ever use.
Just found out about this 5 minutes ago after booking a SYD-CDG AA award in U/biz for late September 2026. Roughly A$186 for the SYD-DOH (per person per seat) and then roughly A$160 for the DOH-CDG leg. Shame really - was always great to be able to log in and just pick seats… But. Availability is nearly non-existent so will just have to suck up the new policy and take chances with allocation at online...
Just found out about this 5 minutes ago after booking a SYD-CDG AA award in U/biz for late September 2026. Roughly A$186 for the SYD-DOH (per person per seat) and then roughly A$160 for the DOH-CDG leg. Shame really - was always great to be able to log in and just pick seats… But. Availability is nearly non-existent so will just have to suck up the new policy and take chances with allocation at online check-in. The race to the bottom has another horse. Fingers crossed they leave the lounge access alone.
Now the important question is, if you’re a OW elite traveling with a companion, does the free seat selection only apply to you, like CX, or both, in a world with common sense.
Made it just under the wire. Booked a long haul in J a few weeks ago and managed to pick my seats for free.
I’ve dropped Qatar Privilege Club. They’ve drastically limited “Saver” awards and opened up many more “Flexi” awards. For instance, it’s now almost impossible to find a U-class (Saver) booking from Australia to Europe via Doha. This means that instead of paying 90,000 Avios one way, it now costs around 180,000. In addition, they’ve substantially increased the taxes and fees on award tickets.
If you book an award seat using Qatar Avios, but have sapphire status with Alaska, are they one of the airlines that I could change that after booking?
When travelling with your partner, Qsuites is one of the few seats that I would be willing to pay a seat assignment fee for.
Frankly in the case of QR it is almost unneccessary to pre-reserve a seat, since all of them are good. Just if you really really want a window seat you might "gamble" by waiting until the check-in.
I started flying oneworld (QR and CX) in March this year and with my next return in two weeks I have QR PC Platinum.
Before I was Gold, I always waited until the check-in, and was happy. Be aware that the QR B787-9 row 5 window seats don't have a .window
Crap, I have to pick a seat before my Sapphire status expires
I hate this. It’s tacky and cheap.
I wonder if they gonna do massive or moderate devaluation on their award chart. It’s been same price for awhile and I think they are overdue for devaluation. I hope they balance it out with this stupid seat fees with moderate devaluation like 10-20% increase but not holding my breath though. Already booked out all QR award flights in 2026 with seat selected so I guess I’ll leave it alone unless forced to cancel
QR did devalue. Booked 2 J YUL-CPT for late this month for 190K Avios. Looking into next year for North American gateways, everything is 400K and very limited availability. And forget using AA miles for anything.
It’s about that. They didn’t devalue the program per se; instead, they’ve drastically limited “Saver” awards and opened up many more “Flexi” awards. For instance, it’s now almost impossible to find a U-class (Saver) booking from Australia to Europe via Doha. This means that instead of paying 90,000 Avios one way, it now costs around 180,000. In addition, they’ve substantially increased the taxes and fees on award tickets. So, to me, Qatar used to be...
It’s about that. They didn’t devalue the program per se; instead, they’ve drastically limited “Saver” awards and opened up many more “Flexi” awards. For instance, it’s now almost impossible to find a U-class (Saver) booking from Australia to Europe via Doha. This means that instead of paying 90,000 Avios one way, it now costs around 180,000. In addition, they’ve substantially increased the taxes and fees on award tickets. So, to me, Qatar used to be one of the best programs, but I’ve now used up my remaining miles and won’t be using it anymore.
That's really sad news. I used to book QR YLW-SEA for about 60K not that long ago (on AA points).
OOPS - that would have been expensive. YLW-SEA-CPT. Don't know where Capetown went when it left the room.
They’re saying… “Boo-urns!”
(Thank goodness for oneworld status.)
Did they buy their pillows at Hobby Lobby?
This is a ridiculous change. Have a QR award for Q1 2026 that I've been babysitting for months because there is an equipment change every few weeks (so have to re-select seat). Looks like I've been wasting my time because inevitably there will be another change and I will lose my seat assignment yet again. Not giving them a dime to pick a seat when I have already done so probably 4-5 times already. Query...
This is a ridiculous change. Have a QR award for Q1 2026 that I've been babysitting for months because there is an equipment change every few weeks (so have to re-select seat). Looks like I've been wasting my time because inevitably there will be another change and I will lose my seat assignment yet again. Not giving them a dime to pick a seat when I have already done so probably 4-5 times already. Query whether they can assess this charge retroactively to previously ticketed awards under their contract of carriage (haven't reviewed).
I believe this only affects new award reservations. I was able to change my seat on my award ticket yesterday, so as long as you don't cancel and rebook you should be fine.