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The Best Ways To Book Qatar Airways Qsuites With Points and Miles

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Stephen Au

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Qatar Airways has consistently taken the airline industry by storm. With the CEO making controversial statements and the fame of its Qatar Airways QSuites business class, it’s no secret that Qatar Airways has made a name for itself.

Perhaps the biggest way Qatar Airways has impressed the frequent flyer world recently is the speed with which it has rolled out Qsuites — this flagship business class product is arguably the best business class around.

Award availability is generally solid if you plan in advance, and the number of routes offering it continues to grow.

The most difficulty you’ll have is figuring out which planes have Qsuites and which don’t. Not to worry, however — Upgraded Points has your back!

A Look Inside Qatar Airways Qsuites

With a fantastic business class suite, excellent award availability, and a rapidly expanding network of routes, Qatar Airways has truly hit this business class product out of the park! Image Credit: Qatar Airways

Arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, you’ll have direct aisle access no matter which seat you pick. You’ll also have access to some of the best inflight dining there is, featuring Arabic and Western cuisine.

You’ll also be graciously anointed with stylish amenity kits, fluffy bedding, comfy pajamas, and posh treatment under the care of Qatar Airways flight attendants!

We’ll get more into this in the later sections.

How To Fly Qatar Qsuites (Business Class) Using Miles

It’s important to note that Qatar Airways operates a few types of long-haul business class products. We want to focus on booking Qsuites, which are the best and newest business class seats.

You’ll need to pay attention to book this correctly. For example, Qatar Airways offers 3 flights from Doha to Paris, 2 of which feature Qsuites (QR 37/38 and QR 41/42).

To find out which flights offer Qsuites, you have to get a hold of the seat map. The best way to do so is with ExpertFlyer, a paid service that costs $9.99 per month or $99 for 12 months.

Here’s what Qsuites looks like with a 1-2-1 configuration:

Qsuites are configured in a 1-2-1 arrangement. Image Credit: ExpertFlyer

Here’s what the Qatar Airways old business class looks like:

Qatar Airways old business class in ExpertFlyer with the 2-2-2 configuration. Image Credit: ExpertFlyer

Alternatively, you can try to use the free service of SeatGuru, but we find ExpertFlyer more reliable.

Here are all the current Qsuites route offerings:

Route (From Shortest to Longest)Frequency
Doha (DOH) – Dubai (DXB)3 times daily (check regularly for aircraft changes)
Doha (DOH) – Riyadh (RUH)Daily (QR 1166/1167)
Doha (DOH) – Tehran (IKA)Twice daily (QR 490/491 and 498/499)
Doha (DOH) – Karachi (KHI)Daily (QR 610/611)
Doha (DOH) – Beirut (BEY)Daily (QR 416/417)
Doha (DOH) – Mumbai (BOM)Daily (QR 556/557)
Doha (DOH) – Cairo (CAI)Twice daily (QR 1301/1302 and 1303/1304)
Doha (DOH) – Lahore (LHE)Twice daily (QR 620/621 and 628/629)
Doha (DOH) – Bangalore (BLR)Daily (QR 572/573)
Doha (DOH) – Colombo (CMB)Daily (QR 662/663)
Doha (DOH) – Frankfurt (FRA)3 times daily (QR 67/68, 69/70, and 71/72)
Doha (DOH) – Amsterdam (AMS)Daily (QR 273/274)
Doha (DOH) – Paris (CDG)Twice daily (QR 37/38 and 41/42)
Doha (DOH) – London (LHR)3 times daily (check regularly for aircraft changes)
Doha (DOH) – Singapore (SIN)Daily (QR 942/943)
Doha (DOH) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN)Daily (QR 858/859)
Doha (DOH) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT)Daily (QR 806/807)
Doha (DOH) – Montréal (YUL)Daily (QR 763/764)
Doha (DOH) – Boston (BOS)Daily (QR 743/744)
Doha (DOH) – New York City (JFK)Twice daily (QR 703/704 and 701/702)
Doha (DOH) – Philadelphia (PHL)Daily (QR 727/728)
Doha (DOH) – Washington, D.C. (IAD)Daily (QR 709/710)
Doha (DOH) – Adelaide (ADL) – Auckland (AKL)3 times weekly (QR 914/915)
Doha (DOH) – Chicago (ORD)Twice daily (QR 723/724 and 725/726)
Doha (DOH) – Seattle (SEA)Daily (QR 719/720)
Doha (DOH) – Melbourne (MEL)Daily (QR 904/905)
Doha (DOH) – Miami (MIA)Daily (QR 777/778)
Doha (DOH) – Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)Twice (QR 729/730 and 731/732)
Doha (DOH) – Houston (IAH)Daily (QR 713/714)
Doha (DOH) – Los Angeles (LAX)Daily (QR 739/740)
Doha (DOH) – San Francisco (SFO)Daily (QR 737/738)
Doha (DOH) – São Paulo (GRU)Twice daily (QR 773/774 and 779/780)

As you will find out below, there are other fantastic ways to book Qatar Airways Qsuites outside of Qatar Airways Avios. Some of the best ways are through airline partners.

Oneworld partners are eligible to book Qatar Airways flights, so long as Qatar Airways releases award availability to these partners. We’ll talk more about that in the sections below.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

The first method we’ll discuss is none other than Qatar Airways’s own frequent flyer program, Privilege Club.

Qatar Airways transitioned away from its old “Qmiles” currency in March 2022 and started using Avios as its rewards currency. Remember, Avios is the same currency used by Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Vueling.

The biggest advantage that Privilege Club has over British Airways or Iberia Avios is that its itineraries are priced out based on the whole itinerary’s total distance instead of per segment.

We’ll discuss British Airways Avios next, but in general, Privilege Club will have the same prices on nonstop flights and lower prices on connecting flights when compared to British Airways Avios.

And although Qatar Airways is currently only partners with Citi ThankYou Rewards, you can transfer points from British Airways to Qatar at a 1:1 ratio by linking your accounts together.

Hot Tip: Remember, you can’t search for award flights on Qatar Airways’s website unless you already have the Avios in your account. To get around this, search on a different partner’s website first, like British Airways or American Airlines.

To book your Qsuites ticket using Qatar Airways Avios, follow these steps:

  1. Use British Airways’s website to search for Qatar Airways’ award availability.
  2. Write down the flight details that you wish to book.
  3. Transfer your points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
  4. Visit Qatar Airways’s website.
  5. Log into your Privilege Club account by clicking Login in the top-right corner.
  6. Enter your login details and click Log in.
  7. Once you’re logged in, you will be redirected to the homepage.
  8. At the top of the page, hover over the button that says Privilege Club, and on the left-hand side, click Redeem my Avios/Qcredits.
  9. Enter your flight details, check off the box that says Business/First, and click Show flights.
  10. Find the flight you wish to book, and complete the booking 100% online by using your Avios and a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

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Citi Premier® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points
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Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros

  • 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
  • Access to Citi transfer partners
  • Annual hotel credit
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
  • 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Citi Rewards+® Card

Citi Rewards+® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

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Citi Rewards+® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $250 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
20,000 points
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$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
  • Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel(SM) portal through June 30, 2024.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
  • The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
  • No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Card Categories

Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi® Double Cash Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi® Double Cash Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
None
$0
19.24% - 29.24% Variable
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi® Double Cash Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros

  • Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
  • Flexible redemption options
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • No bonus categories
  • 3% foreign transaction fees
  • Lack of premium travel benefits
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros

  • 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
  • No annual fee
  • Multiple redemption options
  • No redemption minimums

Cons

  • Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
  • Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Card Categories

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British Airways Avios

The next method we’ll talk about is using British Airways Avios, which has attractive transfer partnerships, particularly with Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Also, British Airways Executive Club has implemented special pricing on Qatar Airways flights that make using BA Avios much more attractive.

There are plenty of travelers who are Chase loyalists. Since Qatar Airways is a Oneworld partner, it’s difficult to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points here, as its focus has been on the Star Alliance.

British Airways is an excellent option, so if you’ve got lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to burn, you’ll find great use in this section.

If you’ve decided to use Avios to book Qsuites, follow this easy process:

  1. Search for availability on British Airways.
  2. Transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to British Airways.
  3. Pay with Avios and for any taxes and fees completely online.

Bottom Line: British Airways Avios are great here for Chase Ultimate Rewards loyalists who want to take advantage of new sweet spot redemption rates with Qatar Airways. It’s simpler than the Qatar Airways Privilege Club process, but just keep in mind that you can end up paying more Avios on connecting flights.

Recommended Chase Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
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Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
  • Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

  • 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
  • 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
  • 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

You can also consider the British Airways Visa Signature® Card.

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

American Airlines employs a region-based award chart. We like using this program because it has some pretty cheap sweet spots, especially from the U.S. to the Middle East.

Here’s why we rank American’s AAdvantage loyalty program at the top of our list:

  1. Easy to earn miles through welcome bonuses
  2. Excellent sweet spot on U.S. to Middle East routes
  3. Straightforward booking process
  4. Can hold awards for 5 days
  5. No fuel surcharges on Qatar Airways flights

Although American Airlines only has 2 transfer partners (Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards), the best way to earn American Airlines miles is through Citi and Barclays co-branded credit cards.

Here’s the award chart for Qatar Airways flights to/from the Middle East using AA miles:

Flying Qatar Qsuites is made possible by American Airlines AAdvantage. Image Credit: American Airlines

Here are the steps to book:

  1. Visit British Airways’ website to search for award availability.
  2. Log into your account using your Member ID and Password.
  3. Click Spend Avios (located when expanding the Executive Club banner on the top of the page).
  4. Click Book a reward flight.
  5. Enter your desired dates for travel, destination and origin cities, and check off the box that chooses Business/Club.
  6. Locate your flight.
  7. Write down the flight numbers, dates, and times.
  8. Call AA at 800-882-8880 and provide them with the information you wrote down.
    • If you need to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to American or top off your AA miles balance, request to put your award on hold.
  9. Pay for applicable taxes and fees.
    • Be sure to ask for the Qatar Airways record locator! This will allow you to select your seats in advance through Qatar Airways’ website.

Bottom Line: AA’s easy-to-use frequent flyer program allows for 5-day award holds and great sweet spots for flights between America and the Middle East make it a terrific option!

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

If you are looking for the cheapest redemption cost, look no further than Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. It uses a distance-based award chart, so the optimal usage of miles will be at the longer end of a distance range.

In general, Japan Airlines will at all times be the cheapest mileage cost.

The drawback, however, is the lack of transfer partners. The only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy, so the best ways to earn Japan Airlines miles might be more limited than, say, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles or British Airways Avios.

However, your mileage cost will be lower than Cathay Pacific and British Airways for the most part, so it might be worth it to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to JAL.

Here’s how to use Japan Airlines miles to book your Qsuites flight:

  1. Use British Airways to search for award availability.
  2. Log in using your British Airways Member ID and Password.
  3. Click Spend Avios underneath the Executive Club banner.
  4. Click Book a Reward Flight.
  5. Type in your desired travel dates, Business/Club, number of passengers, and route.
  6. Write down all flight information.
  7. Visit Japan Airlines.
  8. Select your City and Language.
  9. Log in with your JAL Mileage Bank ID and Password.
  10. Select Award Ticket on the red banner next to Flight Status.
  11. Select Book JMB Partner Airlines Award Ticket under the 2 main icons.
  12. Select Qatar Airways from the dropdown menu.
  13. Repeat the same award search to verify award availability.
  14. Reserve your flights and pay for any applicable taxes and fees.

It’s possible to skip the British Airways steps to searching award availability, but British Airways is reliable and easy to use, which acts as a foolproof mechanism.

If you’re sitting on a stockpile of Marriott Bonvoy points, using Japan Airlines to book your Qsuites flights might be worth it.

Just keep in mind that the transfer times can be up to 2 business days for transfers to execute from Marriott Bonvoy to JAL.

Bottom Line: If you want to preserve your precious points/miles, using Japan Airlines miles might be best for you. Keep in mind you can only transfer Marriott Bonvoy points, which may take a while. Look into adding stopovers and open-jaws to truly optimize your trip!

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
30,000 points
$210
$0
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros

  • Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
  • 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
  • Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
  • 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
  • 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Earn 3 Free Nights after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases (each night valued up to 50,000 points) within the first 3 months from account opening.
Up to 3 Free Nights
$1,050
$95
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros

  • Earn big when you use your card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
  • 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
  • DoorDash DashPass subscription
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
  • Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
125,000 points
$875
$250
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • 15 Elite Night Credits per year
  • 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
  • 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $250 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
  • Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months.
Two 85K Free Night Awards
$1,190
$650
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
  • 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • 25 Elite Night Credits each year
  • Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
  • Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

  • Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
  • With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is great if you have a lot of Citi ThankYou Rewards Points or American Express Membership Rewards points.

Asia Miles is a transfer partner with Amex, Bilt, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Importantly, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles employs a distance-based award chart for Oneworld partners, similar to Japan Airlines. Cathay Pacific has 3 award charts, but we’ll focus on the single partner award chart in this guide.

Fuel surcharges will be passed on in this case, with around $600 to $700 each way being the price tag for Qsuites flights between America and the Middle East.

The best use of Asia Miles to book Qsuites is to build it into a complex itinerary. 

Here’s an example route starting in Los Angeles that you can fly using Asia Miles:

  1. Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) on Japan Airlines 777 Sky Suite business class
  2. Osaka (KIX) – Hong Kong (HKG) on Cathay Pacific business class
  3. Hong Kong (HKG) – Doha (DOH) on Qatar Airways Qsuites
  4. Doha (DOH) – Sydney (SYD) on Qatar Airways Qsuites
  5. Sydney (SYD) – Singapore (SIN) on Qantas business class
  6. Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Hong Kong (HKG) on Malaysian Airlines business class
  7. Hong Kong (HKG) – Los Angeles (LAX) on American Airlines Flagship Business class

You can fly this 31,335-mile route between 6 countries and 6 airlines with 65 hours of total flight time for only 210,000 Asia Miles.

We’ve always been huge fans of Asia Miles for this specific purpose: complex Oneworld itineraries involving lots of partners and countries.

Compare this to the round-trip business class cost between Los Angeles and Doha, which costs 180,000 Asia Miles! For only 30,000 more Asia Miles, you get to fly double the amount of miles, visit 5 more countries, and try 5 more airlines! 

The biggest challenge will definitely be searching for award availability.

Here’s a step-by-step booking guide for your Asia Miles to fly Qsuites:

  1. Visit British Airways and follow the same steps listed in the American Airlines and Japan Airlines sections above to search for availability.
  2. Once you have found award availability for all your flights and written down all the flight information including dates, times, and flight numbers, give Asia Miles a phone call at 866-892-2598.
  3. Provide them with all your flight information.
  4. Confirm your reservation and pay for taxes and fees.

Bottom Line: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles presents an unbelievable value proposition for complex itineraries involving travel on multiple airlines to many countries.

Recommended American Express Cards

The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Platinum Card® from American Express

This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express® Gold Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express® Gold Card

This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express® Gold Card is definitely a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are a number of other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Great Qsuites Redemptions and Points Required

Now that we’ve talked about some of the best frequent flyer programs for flying Qsuites, let’s talk about what you came here for: the best Qsuites redemptions!

There are more than 30 routes that either currently offer Qsuites.

Here’s a chart of the award redemption costs between Doha and the U.S. for some of their best routes:

Route from U.S. to Doha (DOH)Qatar Airways one-way (round-trip)British Airways one-way (round-trip)AA one-way (round-trip)JAL one-way (round-trip)Cathay Pacific one-way (round-trip)
Boston (BOS)
New York City (JFK)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Washington, D.C. (IAD)
70,000 (140,000)70,000 (140,000)70,000 (140,000)80,000 (100,000)75,000 (150,000)
Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
Miami (MIA)
Seattle (SEA)
70,000 (140,000)70,000 (140,000)70,000 (140,000)80,000 (130,000)75,000 (150,000)
Houston (IAH)
Los Angeles (LAX)
70,000 (140,000)70,000 (140,000)70,000 (140,000)100,000 (130,000)90,000 (180,000)

Bottom Line: As you will see above, we can conclude that for flights between the U.S. and Doha, one-way flights using Qatar Airways Avios, BA Avios, and AA miles are the cheapest, and round-trip flights using Japan Airlines miles are the cheapest.

Here are a few great uses of Japan Airlines miles for Qsuites:

  • New York City (JFK) – Doha (DOH) round-trip for 100,000 Japan Airlines miles
  • Sydney (SYD) – Doha (DOH) round-trip for 130,000 Japan Airlines miles
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Doha (DOH) round-trip for 100,000 Japan Airlines miles

Here are some fantastic redemptions using Qatar Airways Avios for Qsuites:

  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 Qatar Airways Avios
  • Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 Qatar Airways Avios
  • Seattle (SEA) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 Qatar Airways Avios

Here are some awesome redemptions using British Airways Avios for Qsuites:

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 BA Avios
  • Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 BA Avios
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way for 105,000 BA Avios
  • Singapore (SIN) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 50,000 BA Avios

And here are some examples of the best uses of American Airlines miles for Qsuites:

  • Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 AA miles
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 70,000 AA miles
  • Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 40,000 AA miles

Here are some interesting ways to use Cathay Pacific Asia Miles for Qsuites:

  • Berlin (BER) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 30,000 Asia Miles
  • São Paulo (GRU) – Doha (DOH) one-way for 75,000 Asia Miles

How To Earn Enough Points for Qsuites

If you’ve decided to book a flight on these industry-leading Qsuites, you’ll be pleased to find that there are tons of avenues to earn points for Qsuites.

Qatar AirwaysBritish AirwaysAmerican AirlinesJapan AirlinesCathay Pacific
American ExpressXX
Bilt RewardsXX
Brex RewardsX
Capital OneXX
ChaseX
CitiXX
Marriott BonvoyXXXXX

Qatar Airways is a 1:1 transfer partner with Citi and a 3:1 partner with Marriott Bonvoy.

British Airways is a 1:1 transfer partner to Amex, Capital One, and Chase, and 3:1 with Marriott Bonvoy. Watch for transfer bonuses with American Express (up to 40%).

American Airlines is transfer partners with Bilt at 1:1 and Marriott Bonvoy at 3:1.

Japan Airlines has 1 sole transfer partner in Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.

Cathay Pacific is a 1:1 transfer partner to American Express, Bilt, Brex, Capital One, and Citi, and transfers 3:1 with Marriott Bonvoy. Be on the lookout for transfer bonuses with American Express (up to 30%) and Citi (up to 20%).

Furthermore, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to some of the aforementioned partners, you will receive a 5,000-mile bonus, resulting in a total of 25,000 miles.

Hot Tip: For even more ways to earn, check out our in-depth article on the best ways to earn Qatar Airways Avios

When Should You Search for Award Space?

Qsuites generally have excellent award availability; in fact, Qatar Airways now has an award seat guarantee that there will be at least 2 business class and 2 economy class award seats on every flight.

Here’s a snapshot of the AA calendar view for nonstop Qsuites award availability on the flight from Chicago to Doha:

Image Credit: American Airlines

As long as you can work in some degree of flexibility, you should not have a problem finding Qsuites award availability. Just be sure to check the seat map on SeatGuru or ExpertFlyer before booking your flights!

If you’re looking for the most reliable award search engine and have your dates narrowed down to a small range, use British Airways to search for availability.

To see a calendar of award availability, you can use American Airlines or Qantas — they can be somewhat unreliable when it comes to showing award inventory, but it’s an option nonetheless.

Hot Tip: To see what routes are available, check out our guide to Qatar Airways’ direct routes from the U.S.

What Makes Qsuites a Great Redemption?

If you’re on this page, you probably already know that Qatar Airways’ Qsuites is one of the best business class products in the world (if not the best). You can expect a luxurious inflight and ground experience here.

Let’s get into just how good Qsuites is.

Business Class Double Bed

Image Credit: Qatar Airways

The Qsuites double bed is arguably the most comfortable bed in the sky. Each of the seats in the business class cabin is arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access offered everywhere.

Seats are 21.5 inches wide and recline to a fully-flat bed that is 79 inches long! Even better, traveling with your family is made fun by the fact that you can reconfigure your seats to be a mini-cabin like this:

QSuites can turn business class into a bonding experience for up to 4 people! Image Credit: Qatar Airways

Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge

Enjoy the huge Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in Doha. Image Credit: Greg Stone

Enjoy a gigantic business class lounge complete with stellar dining options, a game room, and multiple floors of space! Signature dishes offered in the buffet are Middle Eastern foods such as baba ganoush and mezze.

Qsuites BRIC’s Amenity Kit and The White Company Pajamas

This amenity kit features luxurious toiletries from BRIC’s, an eye mask, socks, and a fancy hard-shell carrying case, along with comfy pajamas from The White Company!

Priority Check-in and Boarding

You’ll be able to board ahead of everyone else when flying in Qsuites!

Hot Tip: If you are interested in reading more about the QSuites experience, check out our review of Qatar Airline’s Qsuites on a Boeing 777 from Sydney to Doha.

Final Thoughts

With an all-star business class, Qatar Airways has successfully made its way into travelers’ minds as a hugely aspirational product.

Although it might be confusing to figure out which planes feature Qsuites, it’s only going to get better with Qatar Airways ramping up the rollout of these awesome business class products.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best way to fly Qatar Airways Qsuites will inevitably depend on the route you fly.

If you’re flying from the U.S., British Airways Avios may be great if you have lots of Amex Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy points.

You can also transfer Citi ThankYou Points or Marriott Bonvoy points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Consider also using AAdvantage miles if you have Bilt Rewards points or Marriott Bonvoy points or if you’ve already earned a lot of AAdvantage miles — flights from the U.S. to the Middle East will cost 70,000 miles each way.

You can also use Japan Airlines miles for long-haul redemptions, which are fantastic for those with loads of Marriott Bonvoy points.

Using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is great for its transfer partners (Amex, Bilt, Brex, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy) and also to plan complex award itineraries that include travel on multiple Oneworld airlines.

There are so many credit cards that will help you earn the points and miles necessary to fly Qatar Airways Qsuites.

  • Qatar Airways — Citi and Marriott Bonvoy
  • British Airways British Airways Visa card, Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Marriott Bonvoy
  • American Airlines — Co-branded Citi and Barclays AA credit cards, Bilt, Marriott Bonvoy
  • Japan Airlines —Marriott Bonvoy
  • Cathay Pacific — Amex, Bilt, Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy

On Qsuites flights, you’ll have access to some of the best business class lounges in the world, including the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in Doha.

You’ll sample exquisite beverages and culinary arts in the sky with Arabic and Western choices.

You’ll also be endowed with amazing business class amenities such as hard-shell amenity kits, comfortable pajamas, and fantastic bedding.

Direct aisle access and lie-flat beds are a given in this case.

Lastly, you can expect priority security and boarding.

Not all Qatar Airways flights have Qsuites. In the U.S., you’ll find Qsuites most of the time, but for example, the route between Atlanta and Doha doesn’t feature Qsuites consistently.

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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121 comments

Shaun L Tobin

March 20, 2019

When using AA or Amex miles and flying from LAX through Doha, where are we able to fly on to, and what is the total mileage cost? I know that is vague but can we fly to CAI? IST? TLV? DAR? Great job with this blog. Extremely meticulous and well thought out.

Stephen Au

March 20, 2019

Hey Shaun,

If you’re talking about maintaining the same award price and flying through Doha, you’ll have to go through an award region that is at least as expensive as your transit region. Since Doha is in the Middle East, you can fly to a different city in the Middle East or Africa. You can’t end up in Europe, for example, since Europe is a cheaper region.

Praneeth Kottapalli

March 23, 2019

Great article Stephen. Thanks for all the valuable info.
Between me and my wife we have accumulated about 600k AA points (accrual from credit card spend/bonuses and purchased miles when they were offering steep bonuses). We have started planning our next vacations to take benefit of Q suites and have currently booked RT tickets on Qatar to JNB.

The question I have is, am having great difficulty in finding any award availability in Nov from DFW to Hyderabad (HYD) on Qatar or even DFW to Qatar. Is it generally the case?

Does Qatar release more award seats on AA in the future ? How does that work ?

Stephen Au

March 25, 2019

Hey Praneeth,

Thanks for reading. Award availability on Qatar is best from Chicago, Los Angeles, or Houston. You can try to search there or just continue to look for availability. Qatar QSuites is generally pretty attainable with award availability, but you just have to be a bit creative.

They may release more seats closer to departure (within 1 week of departure). Thanks for your support.

Kate Groenhagen

April 02, 2019

Great article! Thank you for the information. My husband and I are trying to fly the QSuites RT from Chicago to CPT (or anywhere honestly) in February 2020 but we want the middle section. I called AA to book with MileSAAver points, but all of the middle section seats were booked or blocked off. Do you know if I book a window seat through American if I can call and change my seat with Qatar to the middle section? Do they typically block them or do we think they are actually booked up 10 months in advance? Thanks for your help!

Stephen Au

April 02, 2019

Hey Kate,

Yes, Qatar Airways typically blocks off most of the middle seats. They open up these seats closer to departure. Since almost all of the middle seats are blocked, there’s a high probability that you will be able to get a pair of seats when you check in at the airport.

Ricardo

May 01, 2019

I had the same issue with blocked seats……
Couldn’t picked middle seats on AA or Qatar Air website….
Solution- I googled Qatar Air USA number gave them a call and was able to book the middle seats…took about 3 minutes to complete.
Hope this helps

Stephen Au

May 02, 2019

Hey Ricardo,

Calling Qatar Airways is one of the best ways to reserve your seats. Thanks for sharing!

Chris Wyatt

April 14, 2019

Wow, I want to know more about that epic trip using Asia Miles. I may have to get another Amex card to top off my balance for something like that!

Stephen Au

April 17, 2019

Hey Chris!

We definitely consider all the options and and there’s tons of ways to get huge, outsized value (we’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars in flights)!

Thanks for reading!

Amrit Melwani

May 05, 2019

Hi Stephen,
so for what you mentioned was a “complex itinerary”, we call Asia Miles, and ask them for mile requirements for the aforementioned 6 flights, wont they see each individually which could end up costing a small fortune ?

thanks

Stephen Au

May 07, 2019

Hey Amrit, you’ll need to tell them that you want to book a “oneworld multi-carrier reward flight”. You also want to make sure that there’s award availability for all your flights in your desired cabin class before calling. You can do so via ExpertFlyer, for example.

Andrew

April 17, 2019

Does BA&AA use married segments with QR? Also, it seems to me that what AA shows on its calendar doesn’t match what BA shows on its calendar. LAX-SEZ shows 4 J awards seats on 3/13/20 via AA but BA doesn’t show that? Phantom? Or is AA’s calendar more reliable than BA’s. Or is there a glitch for QR on BA.com?

Stephen Au

April 17, 2019

Hey Andrew, it’s a well-known issue that British Airways’ search engine has difficulty with connecting flights.

To get around this, you can search individual segments and cross reference with Qantas. Thanks for reading!

AA is relatively reliable for QR flights. But BA will still be best.

Rich

April 29, 2019

My wife and I flew Q-Suites BOS-DOH for 70k AA miles per ticket then Doh-ICN for 40k per ticket, spent a couple hundred bucks and flew from ICN to Jeju island then Jeju to Tokyo… Then we splurged and flew home JAL first class NRT-BOS for 80k AA miles per ticket.

Petty incredible that both of us had 2 Q-Suite flights and JAL First Class for 190k AA miles a piece…

Adi Makhija

May 31, 2019

This is an awesome article. Thank you for the detailed information. I tried booking QSuites back in Feb 2019 from Delhi back to US and I am trying to do the same for Labor day weekend, but neither BA not Qantas is showing any availability. Also, Qnatas usually doesn’t display DOH as a starting point. Any suggestions? I am trying to fly on Sep 2 from DEL-DOH and DOH to PHL or JFK or DFW. We are two passengers and I can’t wait to try the QSuites, if I can. I can use AA miles or JAL (tranfer from Marriott)

Stephen Au

May 31, 2019

Adi,

As is the case with all excellent business class products, you’ll need to be flexible to successfully book. If not, you’ll have to plan very far out in advance (~11 months out). Use BA to search from Doha since Qantas won’t show any flights FROM Doha. If you fly TO Doha, you can use Qantas to search. Otherwise, stick with BA and AA. Thanks for reading!

Raju

June 10, 2019

I’m planning to travel to India in May 2020. I’ve 71K Citi points & 48K Capital One points. If I transfer to Asia Miles, I would have around 107,000 miles. I would like to visit an Asian country like Singapore or Hong Kong. Can you please help me book a oneway business class ticket to Hyderabad via Singapore, Hong Kong or any other country to spend 2 to 3 days en route to Hyderabad, India?

Jarrod West

June 23, 2019

Hi Raju,

What city/country would you be starting your itinerary from? Knowing that will make all the difference in determining what routing will be possible for you with the number of points you have. Have you seen our post on the best ways to fly to India with points and miles? You can check it out here: /best-ways-to-fly-to-india-with-points/

Ambarish Vachhani

June 18, 2019

I am planning to travel LAX-DOH in NOV and trying to use AA miles to book QSuites but i am not able to find any flights. Somehow i am not able to find any flights from any of the US airports. I even called the AA and it was not showing for them as well. Any thoughts or suggestions on how to proceed?

Stephen Au

June 18, 2019

Hey Amabarish,

As always is the case, you need to be as flexible as possible. QSuites are a very hot product, and many travelers plan up to 11 months in advance. If you’re looking for November flights (5 months away), you won’t have much luck. Best advice: Plan further out in advance or look again within 1-2 weeks of departure. Thanks for reading!

Michae

July 02, 2019

BA and AA are not showing any direct flights from LAX-Doha. They are all routing to Europe first with a connection to Doha. Any idea what the issue is?

Stephen Au

July 02, 2019

Hi Michae,

Award availability is always subject to the airlines’ rules and inventory. As such, we always suggest to keep look for the itineraries you want and be flexible with dates. Thanks for reading!

Kyah

July 19, 2019

Hey guys,

I’ve had a one-world award trip planned for many months now but at the crucial time of booking for an approx June/July 2020 trip I can’t find a single DOH-JFK flight in business available for awards. Is it possible that these are so rare that unless I’m there the moment they open they are all being booked by someone else. Literally can’t find any dates at all – even in the months prior.

Stephen Au

July 21, 2019

Hey Kyah,

Thanks for reading. There’s something weird going on with Qatar Airways QSuites availability on North American routes right now. Please keep trying and hope for the best. Thanks!

Ruy

July 31, 2019

I have been looking for QR space for any flights back to the US from Doha for April of next year and I have found zero availability for the first three weeks. Something is certainly going on.

Lindsey Jensen

August 06, 2019

Is there a time limit between stopovers/open jaws for a oneworld multi-carrier award? I’m trying to get from KUL – FRA (via DOH) and have onward travel to other European / African destinations over the next 6 months (I’m traveling full-time). Wondering if I can combine them — i.e. book the KUL – DOH – FRA over a couple of days in October, then book another routing (say, VLC – CPT) 3 months later

There’s no mention of it in their rules
https://www.asiamiles.com/en/terms-and-conditions/service/flight-award-oneworld-multi-carrier-awards.html

Stephen Au

August 06, 2019

Hey Lindsey,

No restrictions besides the fact that all travel must be completed within 1 year of ticket issue.

Kristina

August 08, 2019

Great article and very helpful as I’m planning our trip to India. Any idea why the Boston route is listed only until October 25th, 2019? Our trip is after that; do you anticipate the route being discontinued? Wondering if flying out of JFK might be the safer option to ensure Q suite. Thanks!

Stephen Au

August 09, 2019

Hi Kristina, the QSuites is currently showing past October 25, 2019 via ExpertFlyer’s Seat Map. If you have ExpertFlyer, I would highly encourage you to check the schedule prior to booking again. Thanks for reading.

Kristina

August 16, 2019

If I go to pretend book on the exact day and flight number I want in January on Qatar’s own website, it is showing QSuites. Will ExpertFlyer be more reliable even than that, or is it safe to assume availability? Thanks so much again.

Stephen Au

August 16, 2019

Kristina,

We don’t suggest searching for availability using Qatar Airways’ website. The reason why is because they might reserve more QSuites for their own loyalty members. Unless you’re planning on booking using Qatar Airways Qmiles (which is a terrible idea), then we would suggest using AA or BA to search.

kevin

August 27, 2019

I’ve been checking AA’s website very day for 331 days out…Business awards show up at midnight (Dallas time or LA if that’s the departure city), and the Qatar Business awards show available, with flight numbers and times. When I select a flight and click “Continue” the system comes back with “the flight you selected is no longer available”. Yet, if I search again (all day long) those flights show available until midnight the next day, when the process starts over. This is true for all US gateway cities (JFK, IAD, ORD, etc). Am I missing something? Are these seats really available?

Andrew Kunesh

August 27, 2019

Hi Kevin, good question. You may want to try to call American Airlines to book these award tickets. Unfortunately, they have a history of failing when being booked online, despite the seats actually being bookable. Rest assured that this is a pretty quick process over the phone.

rodrigo v

August 28, 2019

Stephen…. i’ve been trying to get the Qsuites for DAL-DOH and when i clickin the business/first Milesaver for 70k, when the flight show up it Will only display flight to DOH via LHR. When i click on economy milesaver then it Will show flight QR730.. do you know why? Not even in the first milesaver 115k would it let me (here it sends flight to FRA)

Stephen Au

August 30, 2019

Rodrigo,

You need to find availability in the cabin that you want. So, finding economy awards on a specific flight doesn’t mean business or first class will be available. In fact, most flights will always have economy availability, but very few will have business or first. You’ll need to search harder for real non-stop award availability.

Rahul

August 31, 2019

1) BA has no direct flights to Doha from any USA airport available on QATAR, i tried all airports (starting from Cleveland BUT searching from PHL/IAD/IAH/LAX/ORD etc to DOH) and no direct flights available from USA To DOH from tomorrow to as far as searching in 2020 that BA website allows. All flights go via LHR and it’s either BA on one or both legs…. If Qatar is there for LHR to DOH, Qsuites are not available. Something has to be wrong……Even called AA directly and agent on phone could not see any Business class seats at all…..Either something is wrong/has a glitch…or am i missing something?
2) From DOH to AMD (Ahmadabad) or Mumbai, again no Business class award seats available from tomorrow till May/June/July 2020…..Guess all freebies have snatched them i guess (When freebies/sale is there, U will see Indians like “flies on open sweets”

Pardon the Sarcasm but if there is an issue, let us know as neither BA search or AA website/phone call is finding any direct USA flight to DOH under Business award seat/Qsuites, nor is any Business seat available from DOH to AMD or MUM……..annoying and frustrating it is

Stephen Au

August 31, 2019

Hi Rahul,

Please remember that QSuites are among the most competitive in the world to book using points and miles. If you can’t find any award availability far in advance. The best move is to book availability close-in just before departure.

Cities such as Houston and New York City (JFK) tend to have better award availability.

William Barlow

September 14, 2019

I have had the same issue trying to book business class on Qatar. The AA website will show it is available and then when I try to book it says there is an error and doesn’t allow me to book it. I am trying to book dates that are just coming into their system. I have called AA multiple times and they have been no help either. Someone told me it might be phantom space but when I have tried to book an economy ticket on flights from different departure cities to DOH I get the same error message. It always shows me the flight is available up until I actually try to book it. It sounds to me like Qatar isn’t really a partner with Oneworld. If they aren’t allowing people to book an award with AA miles then why are they even listed as a partner. It makes no sense to me.

GD

September 07, 2019

Hi Stephen, thanks for the wonderful article again. I have a question: I want to travel in December from LAX to ATQ (Amritsar) on Qatar Qirways. The flight goes from LAX-DOH-ATQ. I have 180,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points that I can transfer to British Airways Executive Club. But I am not able to find any reward flight. How can I find the connecting reward flight for this route. Thanks!

Stephen Au

September 09, 2019

Hi GD,

Unfortunately, the airlines very carefully regulate the number of award flights. Many of these people who booked these long-haul flights in amazing business class seats plan a full year in advance. Although your chances of getting that flight are slim, you can keep searching on British Airways or use American Airlines to view a monthly calendar.

More award seats might be released a few days before departure, but it’s unlikely. Thanks for reading.

Young traveler

October 20, 2019

Hi. I bought a one-way economy ticket from Chicago to Kuala Lumpur on Qatar Airlines. Can I use my friends’ or my AA miles to upgrade to business class?

Christine Krzyszton

October 21, 2019

Hello. You can use AAdvantage miles to upgrade on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia flights but unfortunately you cannot use them to upgrade on Qatar.

Sean

January 16, 2020

Hi Stephen!

I realize this is an older post, and I’m sorry for keeping the thread going. From what it looks like, QR availability really does seem to be hit/miss (leaning more on the miss side). I’m trying to book two QSuites seats for the last week of December 2020/first week of January 2021, using AsiaMiles (as part of an RTW ticket (last leg is KHI-DFW via DOH)). Is 11 months out still the best timeframe to book? I have a daily search scheduled on AwardNexus via both BA and AsiaMiles, but no dice so far.

Thanks again for such a helpful and thorough writeup.

Stephen Au

January 22, 2020

Sean,

The best advice is to book closer to departure. You’ll notice a good wealth of award space opening up on some routes, such as Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago (ORD), and Boston (BOS).

Deb B

March 25, 2020

RE: Chicago to SJJ (Sarajevo) on Qatar. If your destination is actually Europe, would your AA miles cost be 70,000 in biz (The mid-east coast) or some lesser amount? Thank you.

Stephen Au

March 29, 2020

Hi Deb,

You’re actually not allowed to transit through a more expensive region when using AA miles. If you want to book ORD-DOH-SJJ, you’d have to split it up into 2 separate flights. You’ll pay the individual prices for each flight. That means 70,000 miles plus 42,500 miles for the entire itinerary.

Eric

May 22, 2020

Are there Qsuites on the Miami route? Got some biz class seats on hold, but how to confirm that?

Jarrod West

May 25, 2020

Hi Eric,

When is your flight and what type of plane are you scheduled to fly on? QSuites routing from MIA to Doha is scheduled to operate from August 1 through October 24, 2020, on the A350-1000.

Meghan

August 27, 2020

Are all ORD-DOH QR 725/726 flights Qsuites, even if Qatar’s site doesn’t identify them as Qsuites? I’m seeing those flights on the. 777-300ER. Does it mean they’ve been retrofitted and maybe the system hasn’t caught up to that yet?

Stephen Au

September 09, 2020

Hi Meghan,

To figure out if the 777-300ER you’re looking at has QSuites, you’ll want to look at the seat map. I’m almost 100% sure that your flight has QSuites. If there are 4 seats across in a 1-2-1 configuration for the 777-300ER, you’re looking at QSuites. If there are 6 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration for the 777-300ER, you’re looking at an older business class, though this plane is usually only flown for shorter routes.

Hope this helps!

Sarah

September 28, 2020

Hello!
Looking to book the easiest Qsuites US-MLE route, doesn’t matter which airport I’m departing from in the US. I just can’t get AA to give me availability, keep getting errors no matter what route (ORD/PHL/JFK/etc). Do I have to book US-DOH separate from DOH-MLE? I hope not, trying to do this for the 140k AA miles in biz and I thought the route qualified for that…thanks!

Stephen Au

September 30, 2020

Hi Sarah,

For this specific route, you’ll need to find availability on both segments. Then and only then will you be able to book the U.S. to Male in business class.

Unfortunately, Doha to Maldives is rare to find.

But if you feel like you’d get value from a service that will optimize your award travel and offer ultra-personalized points wealth management, please feel free to contact me directly at stephen@upgradedpoints.com to inquire about a monthly subscription service as little as $97 per month

Carmelita Valera

November 22, 2020

Thank you for the wealth of information here. What I’m really interested is using Asia Miles for 6 countries, 6 airlines itinerary. I will be retiring Oct 2021 and will have more flexibility, i currently don’t have all the miles needed yet. I am working on Chase UR points and Amex rewards. When is the best time to start looking for award availabilities for travel starting Dec. 2021 into 2022?

Also, does the itinerary allow for stopovers on each of those countries or side trips? While in HK, I would like to fly to Philippines and visit family before continuing to the next destination.

Stephen Au

November 22, 2020

Hi Carmelita,

Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for reading!

When it comes to planning a multi-country itinerary as you’re describing, it’s important to note that every airline releases award availability differently.

It’s all about juggling many different trends to maximize success.

To answer your question about the stopovers/side trips, yes, stopovers are allowed in almost all situations. Because these are round-the-world trips, the airline almost expects you to stop for at least a few days to explore the new country!

After all, what’s the point in flying all over the world if you can’t see new cultures and have new experiences on the ground? 😉

If you’d like to look into an award planning or booking service, please reach out to me directly at stephen@upgradedpoints.com, and we can discuss some options that would fit you.

Thanks!

Ronald Gene Robinson

November 26, 2020

So I cannot book with AA miles from DFW to BKK?

Jarrod West

November 27, 2020

Hi Ronald,

Yes, you can use AA miles to fly from DFW to BKK.

Prabhu

September 15, 2021

This doesn’t seem to be working anymore. British Airways or AA does not show Qatar Airways on their bookings 🙁 It does not seem to be a proper way to use AA miles to book Qatar.

Stephen Au

September 16, 2021

Hi Prahbu,

We can confirm that these 2 booking engines still work for Qatar Airways Qsuites searches. Keep searching! And remember, you can always pick up the phone to book your ticket if you find online availability but can’t seem to redeem your miles online.

Kartik

October 04, 2021

I have 80,000 American Airlines points and would like to fly from Washington DC, USA to Mumbai, India in Business Class in December 2021. What would be my best bet? I have been trying for months to book via AA since they offer business class seats from the US to India @ 70,000 point miles on Etihad or Qatar, but cannot find anything. Can you please help me find another alternative? Thank you very much in advance.

Stephen Au

October 11, 2021

Hi Kartik,

Unfortunately, you’re searching way too late in the game. During this time, there are blackout dates for the second half of December. On top of this, most of the award availability that is going to be released has already been released and booked by other travelers.

The best thing you can do is hope that Qatar Airways opens up more award space. Etihad Airways isn’t searchable on AA’s website, so you can use ExpertFlyer or Aeroplan’s website.

Pete

December 22, 2021

Looking at DFW-BKK in Oct 2022, ideally Q-Suite all the way.

Have about 300k AA points (and 1M Amex)…looks like my best bet is DFW-DOH on AA points, then just book the DOH-BKK with cash due to lack of reward availability, anyone disagree? I want to get the flights booked early so I can plan the rest of the trip, so can’t really gamble and leave it to the last minute.

We flew DFW-MLE on Qatar (amazing!), but had the points go to AA, rather than Qatar. It got us Platinum for another year, but if I’m planning on more travel with Qatar over the next few years, is it better to just get QMiles?

Stephen Au

December 28, 2021

Hi Pete,

Everybody’s travel plans are different — ultimately, it’s always better to get plans confirmed earlier than later (hopefully, you agree).

Qmiles are much less valuable than AA miles, but the value of each elite status is subjective. Again, it’s a judgment call on your end, but AA miles can be redeemed for more value.

Pete

December 25, 2021

Hi Stephen

I booked Economy on Qatar Airways , I want to upgrade to Qsuite for my family of 4 as a one time experience, Should I call Qatar Airways for upgrade? we have plans on FEB-6 & MAY -01 . what’s the best way to get Qsuite ( IAD –> DOH–>BLR )? Please let me know.

Stephen Au

December 28, 2021

Hi Pete,

It depends on your ticket booking class. Some tickets are upgradeable, and others are not. If you booked the economy ticket using AA miles or any other points besides Qatar Qmiles, your only shot is to pay for an upgrade at the airport. That’s because if you redeemed AA miles, the ticket is issued by AA, not Qatar. Qatar cannot touch any tickets issued by other airlines, including for upgrades.

Sam T

December 26, 2021

Hi,

Any idea why AA website doesn’t show Qatar airways flights from BOS-BOM? I get QR flights in results when I try to book BOS-DOH but not for BOS-BOM? Does AA website only show QR flights for flights originating/ending in DOH?

Stephen Au

December 28, 2021

Hi Sam,

You’ll need to find availability on each segment separately on back-to-back dates, since AA doesn’t allow stopovers. First, search BOS-DOH. Then, search DOH-BOM. Then, circle the dates with availability as a continuous itinerary. Those are the available dates for redemption.

M Brown

January 11, 2022

I am so lost! Looking to book ATL-DEL via DOH at the end of the months and really wanted to do it with points. Only have a bunch of Amex points and for whatever reason my brain is so confused! Can you help?!

Stephen Au

January 18, 2022

Hi M Brown,

You need to plan further in advance if you want any chance at booking these Qsuites flights with points. You are probably not seeing any availability because there is none. We recommend following the instructions in this guide and planning further out in advance.

Steven Block

January 24, 2022

Looking for Qsuite to BKK for family of 5 Oct 2022, from any of options in US. How difficult to find a flight for all 5 on same flight? Will be very difficult to arrange lodging, tours, etc, and have to cancel week prior if the other seats do not open up.

Stephen Au

January 30, 2022

Hi Steven,

It’s doable, not impossible. But you’re already planning a bit too late for an early October departure date. That’s around 8 months before departure, but the ideal timeframe to start is 11 to 12 months before departure. I would recommend being flexible and searching for multiple date ranges and departure cities. Good luck!

Mave

March 14, 2022

Hi,
I want to try and book Qsuites for a trip I have booked for next March. I see that AA is the best way to do that, and while I know there are no flights for March yeat (only up to early Feb of next year), I want to be prepared. Is there a certain time they release these award seats and how fast do they go? Is it completely random when they do? I’m trying to either fly from SFO or LAX. my reservation is for Monday-Friday so I would need to take a Saturday flight here to land there on Monday. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you

Stephen Au

March 16, 2022

Hi Mave,

The best way to succeed here is to check back frequently. AA has access to Qsuites up to 331 days before departure, so I would calculate what exact date you should start looking and confirm it immediately from there. However, Qatar Airways has a reputation of adding more flights than it truly intends on offering, so be prepared to re-book or change your booking if they cancel your flight closer to departure.

Origami

March 27, 2022

Quick note: Qatar Airways seat maps include Q Suites for Seoul, South Korea (flights 858/859), as do some other points/miles sites (verified QR 3/27/22). Seat Guru does not, not sure if ExpertFlyer shows this. Nevertheless, the “current” QSuites flight list might need to be updated.

R

April 02, 2022

Amex to Aer Lingus Avios (+40%) limited time, Avios to Qatar and book directly? any advantage/disadvantage?

Jarrod West

April 09, 2022

Hi R,

I’d recommend transferring to British Airways over Aer Lingus. In terms of booking through BA or Qatar directly, if you’re just trying to fly QSuites to Doha, you should see the same pricing regardless of which program you book through. If you’re looking to layover in Doha, and then travel on to another destination, the pricing is often better by booking through Qatar directly. Safe travels!

Braulio

April 18, 2022

Hi Jared,

I did this too, I transferred MR points to BA for the 1.4 rate till May 15th 2022. Qatar said that I need 150000, for a business class round trip ORD – DUBAI. So I transferred my avios to Qatar. Then while booking thru Qatar, I found out that points needed is 322,000 so I’m confused why it is expensive. Then I see some flights at BA that requires only 150000 with Qatar Airlines. My question is can I transfer back again to BA my avios? Thank you

Jarrod West

April 18, 2022

Hi Braulio,

Yes, you can transfer your Qatar Avios back to British Airways to book the cheaper ticket.

Keith Lewis

April 25, 2022

Hi Stephen,
I have recently found Qatar and Qantas business availability through Avios (and Qantas), and called AAdvantage reservations for booking, only to be told each time, that flights not displayed on AA.com are ineligible for booking through AA (period). Please advise.
Thanks,
Keith

Stephen Au

May 19, 2022

Hi Keith,

I would recommend feeding the flight numbers manually to an experienced AAdvantage reservations agent. They should be able to help book these flights. Sometimes, AAdvantage doesn’t have access to the same availability as other airlines do.

Jon

November 17, 2022

I get that response all the time too, even if I provide flight numbers etc.

matt

April 30, 2022

Hi, Anyone know if there is a way to book with a layover in DOH and fly 2 classes of service via points. Call Qatar?

Stephen Au

May 19, 2022

Hi Matt,

If you are booking using AAdvantage miles, simply call AAdvantage and ask to book a mixed cabin award itinerary. You’ll then feed the agent the flight details and they should be able to help.

However, different frequent flyer programs have different rules about mixed cabin bookings, so this only works for certain frequent flyer programs.

Christine Flowers

July 09, 2022

Hi Stephen,
This article was extremely helpful; however, every time I try to book a one way flight from SFO or LAX to DOH in September, Qatar Airways wants to charge me 140000 Avios instead of 70000. What am I doing wrong? Many thanks for your insight.

Jarrod West

July 11, 2022

Hi Christine,

There must be saver award space available on the dates that you want to fly in order to book the 70k pricing. Keep in mind that this availability on popular routes can be booked up quickly, so you’ll want to book as far in advance as possible.

Alfredo Parker

August 08, 2022

Hello!

Love the article. Wanted to fly from MIA to DOH on a qsuite but was confused having so many different sources for points. I have 70k bonvoy, 200k chase ultimate, and 60k Amex points. I’m guessing bringing them all to bonvoy and then to British airways or American is the best way? Saw that bonvoy was 3:1 via avíos. Or maybe go straight to British or American? Any recommendations on how I can maximize my points to get the best deal for a qsuite?

This is amazing article btw!

Jarrod West

August 15, 2022

Hi Alfredo,

Your best option would be to transfer your Amex or Chase points directly to British Airways at a 1:1 rate, and then link your British Airways account to Qatar. Then you can easily book a Qsuites ticket through either program depending on the availability for your dates.

Mei

August 17, 2022

Have you ever seen Business award availability on last minute flights ? Planning a last minute LAX-DOH next month. Thanks!

Jarrod West

August 22, 2022

Hi Mei,

Yes, you can certainly find last minute award availability at times.

David Walter

November 15, 2022

Expert Flyer doesn’t help with BA or Qatar. Do we know why?

lisa

April 04, 2023

Trying to upgrade to qsuite on an AA flights serviced by Qatar and neither party are able to assist. I have October travel to Maldives via Dallas, returning through JFK. Any idea how I can get one of the seats?

Jarrod West

April 05, 2023

Hi Lisa,

Just to clarify, did you book through Qatar using Avios or AA using AAdvantage miles?

Kara

April 18, 2023

I keep finding saver award availability through British airways, but when I search for the same flights on Qatar Airways they are never there. Qatar will not show me any non-stops :/ Any advice?

Jarrod West

April 19, 2023

Hi Kara,

Try calling the Qatar customer service team and giivng them the dates, times, and flight number of what you are seeing on British Airways, then they should be able to book it manually for you using your Qatar Avios.

Cat

July 12, 2023

Hi, I’m looking at LAX->DOH on Qatar Airways and in the calendar it says from “70000 Avios +$$”, but when I click the Business choice it shows up as being 140k Avios instead (one way 1 person.) Am I doing something wrong or it 70k only for certain flights?

Jarrod West

July 12, 2023

Hi Cat,

After clicking on the date, when the results come up, are you sorting by the lowest priced flights? Sometimes BA will default to “recommended flights” and hide the lower priced flights toward the bottom of the page.

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