Over the weekend I shared an amazing fare on Qatar Airways that I said would be great for mileage running — earning American Airlines miles and American status — once Qatar joined oneworld.
Well, the oneworld website now says that will happen on October 30.
It’s been a rocky road getting here.
Qatar used to be a United partner.
Word leaked a year ago that Qatar was expected to join oneworld. (Incidentally, a one-year transition into an alliance is very fast – I generally expect at least 18 months.)
The airline’s CEO emphatically denied it, boldly declaring that they would not join oneworld… only to announce just over a week later that it would happen.
Back in May we learned that the launch date would be in October and indeed, October 30 is still October.
Lucky offers a list of reasons why this is great. My own list is very similar.
- Another airline that becomes eligible for American’s distance-based awards
- Another airline to redeem short non-stop flights on using British Airways Avios (hopping around the Middle East)
- Another great award ticket routing to the Maldives (much more efficient than flying from the US via Asia)
- Access to the Premium Terminal in Doha for American’s Executive Platinums, regardless of class of service (unless this is somehow excluded, a la British Airways’ Concorde Room).
I’m looking forward to it, even though Qatar only offers first class service on a handful of routes (none of which are to and from the U.S.).
Qatar flies to New York, Washington Dulles, Chicago, Houston, and Montreal. They start service to Philadelphia April 2.
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I just wish they had not reversed on implementing the JFK-ATH route. I had really been looking forward to that. It is a great airline, though!
Gary, on which routes does Qatar offer first class service?
Gary I doubt American PLT will get access to the PT in Doha. QR does not even allow their top FF’s access to the PT lounge and this was even after they rolled out a new FFP structure yesterday. You will only be able to access the PT with a first class or business class QR ticket.
If you have some other information then please do share.
@ Von- QR has only three class of service for 4 routes; LHR, CDG, one other european route and I think a route to India.
When will DOH New Terminal be ready?!
@ Jason, if you mean the new airport probably not until sometime next year. It has been delayed serveral times and even was set to open for low cost carriers back in June only to be canceled the day before opening. There is a thread on FT under QR which discuss the new airport.
Also, I don’t beleive the new airport will include a PT, it will just have lounges.
Joining, but not allowing transfer of their miles to American account to merge then. Morons… :-/
@Sophie Lynn – airlines do not generally let you transfer miles to their alliance partners
I’m devestated that the the DOH-SEZ route is being killed. Even at just over the 2000 miles mark, 12.5k/25k to SEZ would be a lot cheaper than AA’s Middle East to Africa price of 30k/45k.
Gary, I am not talking about merging miles in general.
But if Qatar had been a member of Oneworld in July and August, I would have had 11,000 more miles in my American account instead of having them with Qatar. So they should allow a merger WHEN THEY JOIN.
I believe Swissair did so when joining Miles & More, and I know for sure KLM did allow when joining with Air France.
Qatar only flies to Doha and London from the US, correct? Can one use them to fly to London as the final destination?