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Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is the state-owned national airline of its namesake Gulf country. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, the flag carrier now operates routes to more than 150 destinations worldwide, including 12 cities across the US. Qatar Airways has gained a stellar reputation for both its business class and first class offerings, and was even rated the best airline in the world in Skytrax’s World Airline Awards 2021. Frequent fliers can take advantage of Qatar’s luxurious services thanks to its Oneworld alliance membership.

by Business Traveler

October 01, 2022

Where does Qatar Airways fly?

Qatar Airways operates a hub and spoke network, flying from its base in Doha to more than 160 international destinations in 90 countries. In the U.S., Qatar Airways flies not just to international gateways such as New York and Los Angeles but also to secondary hubs like Washington D.C. and Atlanta. In total, it operates 104 flights to the US every week. Other U.S. destinations it serves include Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. Qatar runs a fleet of 205 passenger aircraft, including 107 Airbus planes and 98 Boeing planes.

FAQ

What is Qatar Airways' Privilege Club?

Qatar Airways’ frequent flyer program is dubbed the Privilege Club and it's free to join.

Reward miles are known as Avios. You earn Avios when:
 You or a nominated family member travel with Qatar Airways, oneworld airlines, or other partners
 You rent a car at one of 20,000 locations
 You stay in one of 350,000 hotels
 You book a holiday

You’ll get the most bang for your Avios by spending them on award flights with Qatar Airways. The cost per flight is based on the destination’s zone. It's a bit complicated but the airline offers a calculator to help you figure out how far your Avios will take you. You can also spend Avios on upgrades and extra baggage.

Flights will also earn you QPoints, which increase your membership tier within the Privilege Club. At higher tiers, you’ll earn more Avios for your flights and access other perks.
 Burgundy: starting rank
 Silver: 25% bonus miles, 10kg (22lb) extra baggage allowance, business class check-in, business class lounge access, priority boarding
 Gold: 75% bonus miles, 15kg (33lb) extra baggage allowance, business class lounge access for the member and one guest, 5% off online award bookings, priority baggage handling
 Platinum: 100% bonus miles, 20kg (44lbs) extra baggage allowance, first class check-in, business class lounge access for the member and two guests

What are Qatar Airways' ticketing options?

Qatar Airways sells three types of fares: Economy, Business, and First Class. Amenities and perks in each of these classes vary depending on the route and aircraft but we've provided a brief glimpse below.

Economy Class

 One of the most spacious seats in the industry
 Personal seat-back entertainment screen
 Amenity kit
 'Quisine' dining experience with local, fresh ingredients on long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights
 Free drinks, including alcohol

Business Class

Qatar Airways is known for its premium business class, specifically its Qsuites, which launched in 2017 and are now setting the pace for the rest of the industry.

Qsuites are first-class style seating in business class, with closing doors, fully-flat beds, direct aisle access, and flexibility that means they can be configured into double beds or four-person work areas for people traveling together. You’ll find Qsuites on Qatar Airways’ flagship routes to London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Seoul, among others.

Other amenities in business class include:
 Separate entrances for check-in and security at Hamad International Airport
 Business lounge access at Hamad International Airport, with multiple dining options, shower and nap facilities, family play areas
 Separate arrivals lounge at Hamad International Airport with refreshments, showers, and private immigration lines
 Sparkling wine before takeoff
 On-demand dining. On select routes, travelers can reserve a meal in advance
 Luxury amenity kits, most recently from Diptyque
 Pajamas and slippers
 Hot and cold towels after meals
 On Airbus A380s: access to the upper deck premium lounge on board

First Class

With Qsuites, Qatar Airways blurred the line between business and first classes. Its separate first-class service is therefore being phased out and is now offered on just its ten Airbus A380s.

Perks include:
 Access to the first-class lounge at Hamad International Airport with a la carte dining, a spa, private bedrooms, and shower suites
 Superior dining, including a caviar service
 Seating with more space and more storage space
 More personalized service
 Upper deck premium lounge

What are Qatar Airways' baggage fees?

Economy Class
 Checked baggage allowance: Flights to and from Africa or the Americas: 2 pieces, 50 each; flights to and from other destinations: 55lbs (Economy Classic), 66lbs (Economy Convenience), 77lbs (Economy Comfort)
 Hand baggage: 1 piece (7kg/15lb)

Business Class
 Checked baggage allowance: flights to and from Africa or the Americas: 2 pieces, 70lbs each; flights to and from all destinations: 88lbs.
 Hand baggage: 2 pieces, 33lbs total

First Class
 Checked baggage allowance: flights to and from Africa and the Americas: 2 pieces, 70lbs each; flights to and from all destinations: 110lbs
 Hand baggage: 2 pieces, 33lbs total

Fees for additional baggage depend on your destination and when you purchase the extra allowance. On flights where baggage is charged by weight, you can save up to 70% by pre-purchasing additional luggage in 5kg increments, up to 100kgs. Closer to takeoff, you can save 20% if you purchase the additional allowance up to 6 hours before departure through Qatar Airways city/airport offices, and contact centers.