With the recent announcement that Qatar Airways will be flying from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Doha Hamad International (DOH), I knew it was finally time to make the Qsuite experience dream a reality. Experiencing the famous Qatar Airways Qsuite has been on my travel bucket list for ages, and I decided to take this opportunity to put my British Airways (BA) Avios points to good use. As a longtime collector of Avios, I’ve generally prioritized using Aeroplan points for international flights, but Qatar's new route felt like the perfect reason to explore a new way to redeem Avios for luxury travel.
Understanding Qatar Airways' Avios Points Program
Qatar Airways uses Avios points as its loyalty currency. Avios can be easily transferred 1:1 between BA’s Executive Club and Qatar’s Privilege Club, allowing you to pool and strategically spend points across both programs. In fact, Avios points can be exchanged among several Oneworld Alliance members, making them an incredibly versatile option for international points travel.
For Canadians, one of the easiest ways to earn Avios is through British Airways' partnership with RBC credit cards. You can earn Avios directly with the RBC British Airways Visa, or you can earn Avion points with one of the Avion Visa credit cards and transfer those Avion points to Avios. RBC also frequently runs bonus transfer promotions, so it's worth keeping an eye out for these before making a transfer, as they can give your balance a valuable boost.
How to Transfer Avios Between British Airways and Qatar Airways
The process for transferring points between BA and Qatar Airways is quick and simple. From Qatar’s Privilege Club website, you can link your BA Executive Club account to your Privilege Club account, allowing you to see your Avios balance in both programs and transfer points instantly. This makes it easy to top up your balance in either program without having to wait, which is especially helpful when award seats open up unexpectedly.
Qatar Airways' Qsuite Routes from North America to Doha
Qatar Airways offers Qsuite service on several North American routes to Doha, with Toronto being one of the latest additions. They also operate Qsuite flights from other major cities, including:
New York (JFK)
Chicago (ORD)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Miami (MIA)
Montreal (YUL)
San Francisco (SFO)
A word of caution: Qatar Airways occasionally changes aircraft at the last minute, so while you may book a Qsuite seat, there’s always a slight chance that a different aircraft without Qsuite might be assigned to your flight. It's a good idea to check your reservation periodically as your departure date approaches.
Booking Award Flights on Qatar Airways Using Avios
Qatar Airways releases a limited number of “Saver” award seats when schedules open about 331 days in advance. If Saver awards are unavailable, consider looking into “Flexi” awards, which offer more availability at double the Avios cost. Qatar Airways does not publish a fixed award chart, but you can estimate the required Avios by checking current redemption levels across popular routes.
You can add a connecting segment within the Middle East or even to another region, often at a lower cost than booking each leg separately. In my case, I booked a connecting flight to Athens (ATH) for a total of 85,000 Avios each way. I secured these saver seats on the day the schedule opened, which is ideal when you need multiple seats. Starting early gives you the best chance of finding availability.
Consider the Fees Involved
While Avios redemptions on Qatar Airways are generally straightforward, be aware that Qatar applies significant surcharges on award bookings. These fees can increase the cash cost of your ticket even though you’re using points. Recently, Qatar increased its award flight fees; for example, the total fee for a round-trip YYZ-DOH-ATH flight for two passengers was over $1500 CDN in fees.
On the plus side, Qatar’s cancellation fees on redemption flights are quite reasonable compared to other programs. Flights can be canceled for only $25 USD if the cancellation is made more than 24h before departure, and all of the above fees will be refunded.
Seat Selection
Once your booking is finalized, you can select your seat free of charge. The Qsuite cabin on the Boeing 777 is arranged in a 1-2-1 layout with both forward and reverse-facing seats, allowing you to choose the configuration that suits you best.
In Summary
Booking Qatar Airways’ Qsuite from Toronto is an exciting opportunity, especially for Avios collectors. The process is relatively simple: plan far in advance for better award availability, and be prepared for some redemption fees. The Qsuite experience is well worth it, offering one of the most luxurious business class cabins in the sky.
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