Questions and Answers

Do you know if it is possible, and if so how do you go about, booking different classes for the same flight.

For example, I am trying to get from Jacksonville, Florida to Kathmandu, Nepal in late March. There are at least two legs (JAX to a major airport and a middle east hub to KTM) that are likely going to be pretty short flights that I wouldn’t mind sitting in economy for. Unfortunately I do not have the points yet that would allow for a points upgrade for the whole trip. Now it makes sense to me to buy the domestic US flight separate from the other, but how would I go about the flight into KTM. I don’t want to have to get a VISA just to switch classes, particularly if its on the same airline.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Can you clarify what you mean about different classes for the same flight? I think you mean a mixed cabin itinerary.

Sometimes when you search, results will show a mixed cabin itinerary and it can be bookable. If youre transiting an airport, the class of service never matters. The only thing that traveling in a premium cabin will get you, in terms of immigration is access to expedited security/immigration lines, if offered. What does matter is each country’s immigration policies. Some will allow visa free transits, some may not. If you are on separate tickets, just show proof of onward travel. If a transit visa is required, you need to get one regardless of the class of travel and whether its separate tickets or not.

I do mean mixed cabin itinerary. So would it be best to book each leg individually? For example:
JAX – ATL (economy one way)
ATL – DOH (Business one way)
DOH – KTM (economy one way)

KTM-DOH (economy one way)
DOH-ATL (Business one way)
ATL-JAX (economy one way)

Or would it be best to book each of those as a round trip (with the dates and times carefully picked)?

Though continuing in business through to Kathmandu doesn’t seem like more than $100 more each way so that’s probably easier anyway.

As for transit visas, can you usually get those in the airport if they are needed?

It’s best if you can book everything on one ticket so that if there are problems, the airline can get you to your final intended destination and instead of somewhere in between if you were to book separate tickets. You can get a free transit visa in Doha on arrival. You may need a visa for Nepal depending on your passport

I’m not quite sure how mileage upgrades on QR work but I’d think you’d book your whole ticket in economy and then upgrade the legs you have the miles for to business. You should still have all your legs on one ticket. Does that make sense? As David mentions it’s better to have all your segments on one ticket because otherwise you’re taking quite a bit of risk with the multiple connections you have.

Gaurav,

That might be the way to go! I didn’t think about booking the whole trip in economy and then just upgrading the legs I want. I’m sure there are lots of good posts about the best way to accomplish upgrading.

Thanks for the help!

See if you can find out what economy fare classes are eligible for upgrades and if there is upgrade space available before booking. Sometimes booking an economy ticket that is eligible for upgrades can be just as or more expensive than a discount business class ticket. You don’t want to pay any for an expensive ticket and then be told that you’re not eligible for an upgrade or that there’s none available. If the business class fare isn’t that much more expensive than an upgradable economy one, I recommend buying the business class ticket outright. Usually an upgraded ticket still earns miles based on the originally ticketed class of service.