Quantcast

Qatar Airways increases fuel surcharges on award redemptions without prior notice

Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Dramatic moment American Airlines plane diverted to Rome is escorted by fighter jets after mid-air bomb threat
Jetstar Faces Major Backlash as Nationwide System Outage Causes Travel Chaos, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Flights Across the Australian Airline Industry
Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry
Southwest's layoffs dent its worker-first culture
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
Jet2 warns of profits squeeze from rising costs and late bookings
Southwest bends further to activist shareholder Elliott's demands
Qatar Airways increases fuel surcharges on award redemptions without prior notice
Research
Webp uefmsw7k0lt5f20uxuve40u9xjr0
Airbus A380 | Airbus

Qatar Airways has significantly increased the surcharges on award redemptions using Avios points, impacting travelers looking to redeem their points for flights. Although the number of Avios points required for these flights remains unchanged, the fees associated with these bookings have escalated.

The airline has transitioned its reward fees policy from a sector-based model to a distance-based structure. According to Qatar Airways Privilege Club, "Reward fees have decreased up to 15% or remained unchanged for several of our most popular short and medium-haul routes while others have increased representative of the distance travelled."

A recent tweet by Juan G. Ruiz highlighted this issue: "Anyone notice a new ‘redemption fee’ of $1,000 from @qatarairways when booking Qsuites? First time I’m seeing this ridiculousness." This sentiment reflects widespread frustration among travelers who are now facing higher costs without prior notice.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

For instance, a business class flight from Phuket (HKT) to Dallas (DFW) via Doha (DOH) that previously required 95,000 Avios plus $265 in fees now incurs approximately $600 in fees. The updated fee structure is not immediately visible on Qatar Airways’ website; it only becomes apparent once travelers have enough Avios in their account to book the award. This lack of transparency contrasts with British Airways' website, which displays these fees upfront.

Travelers can expect around $100 per segment for coach and $200 per long haul segment for business class, nearly tripling previous charges. The fees appear to be based on zones, with longer flights incurring higher costs.

There is also confusion regarding refund policies. Some Qatar agents have indicated that the fees are nonrefundable, although there are customer reports of successful refunds.

Qatar Airways' sudden hike in fees substantially devalues its award redemptions. Previously, redeeming Avios for Qatar’s premium cabins was considered advantageous due to attractive redemption rates and competitive surcharges. However, American AAdvantage no longer has access to as much Qatar Airways long haul inventory as Privilege Club or other Avios programs, making these changes harder to avoid.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club issued an apology stating: "The reward fees that were displayed for booking Qatar Airways award flights were higher than intended. The issue has since been resolved and the correct reward fees...are now being reflected and applied."

---

Organizations Included in this History
More News

With the commencement of the 2025 summer flight schedule, ITA Airways has seamlessly integrated into the Lufthansa Group terminals in Frankfurt and Munich.

Mar 30, 2025

Air China is set to resume its Toronto flights after a 33-year hiatus.

Mar 29, 2025

United Airlines has confirmed that a Boeing 767-300ER, which departed from London on March 26, returned to London Heathrow after experiencing mechanical problems.

Mar 29, 2025

American Airlines has introduced new routes to Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, following its "March Map-Ness" contest.

Mar 29, 2025

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321neo is back in operation after being grounded due to smoke detected in its cabin.

Mar 29, 2025

The Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama, presents an extensive collection of over 120 aircraft, showcasing a range of experimental, military, and general aviation aircraft.

Mar 29, 2025