FirstClassFlyer

Lock in great savings up to 75% on a wide range of routes around the world, with unusually good low-cost mileage availability.

Got a long flight coming up, or would like one?

Perhaps you’re off to study ancient architecture in the Middle East, trekking to Base Camp after stopping to acclimatize in Kathmandu, hitting the veldt for a safari in Africa, or counting seashells in the Seychelles.

A long trip calls for a comfortable seat, right? And “comfortable” takes your mind straight to First Class. Bear with me here. The typical go-to carriers with a First Class cabin for your trip would often be via Europe: Air France via Paris, British Airways via London, Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, or SWISS via Zurich. Yes, but here’s the pea under the lie-flat mattress: For many far away destinations, you have to make a connection in the middle of the trip — at about 7 or 9 hours into a 14+-hour trip. That’s not a fun way to let your fairy tale unfold.

To avoid the half-time break that you don’t want, you might think of Emirates First Class so your connecting flight can be much shorter. But it can be challenging to find more than one First Class seat on Emirates at low mileage rates.

The answer? If you need more than one seat then Qatar Airways Business Class, offering its top Qsuite on many routes, might be the way to go. You think that’s too far for a seat in Business Class? Qatar has arguably the best Business Class seat in the air. But the airline also has many flights from all across the U.S. including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. That’s a well-connected carrier.

The Qsuite seat is 21.5 inches wide, and it reclines to a fully lie-flat 79-inch long bed. The center quad section on some aircraft are set close together and can conveniently become a double bed for couples or families traveling together, or a welcome place for a chat or business meeting. Check out the airline’s Qsuite site with video here.

Although these aircraft move around and flight numbers may change, here’s the trick to finding the Qsuite:

All A350-1000s have Qsuites.
The A350-900 can be tricky as both layouts have nine rows in Business Class. The Qsuite aircraft has row 2 D/G/J while the non-Qsuite configuration has row 2 A/E/K.
B777-200 aircraft with 11 rows in Business Class have Qsuites.
B777-300 aircraft with 11 rows in Business Class have Qsuites.
B787-800s do NOT have Qsuites.

Where to find flights with Qsuites at the moment:

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Fly Qatar Beyond Doha

Africa: Accra, Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Lagos, Luxor, Mahé, Nairobi, Tunis

Asia: Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phuket, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo

India: Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi

Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Ahmedabad, Amman, Beirut, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Riyadh

Using Amex, Capital One, Chase, or Citi Points

Points collectors who were formerly locked out of one of the world’s top Business Class seats have now been invited to the soiree, as the chart demonstrates, from across the USA. Amex, Capital One and Chase cardholders can transfer to British Airways and Citi Cardholders can transfer to Qatar.

What Does It Cost in Miles to Doha?

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SAMPLE Business Class Round-Trip on Qatar Airways
Beyond Doha FROM NEW YORK

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SAMPLE Business Class Round-Trip on Qatar Airways
Beyond Doha FROM Los Angeles

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Tax Facts

Qatar used to have high taxes running $1,272 round-trip, so many travelers have eliminated it from consideration. However, during our recent survey we discovered that Qatar’s and British Airways taxes are now $242, on all routes from the U.S. to Doha, while Alaska and American are $68 to $89 for a round-trip flight.

No Miles, No Points? Buy them

How Anyone Can Buy American Miles and Save up to $6,536 in Qsuite

With published fares high right now, what if you didn’t want to spend between $6,877 and $9,124 for Qatar’s Business Class, and you don’t have hundreds of thousands of points either? There’s a good option to consider through Qatar’s partner American Airlines. It’ll cost 140,000 AAdvantage miles if you have them, and about $68 in taxes. If you don’t have the miles, you can buy them from American for as low as 1.8¢ each when they’re on sale. That makes a grand total of just $2,588, saving you up to $6,536 / 72% on most of Qatar’s routes. See chart below.

Save Up to 64% By Buying Miles for Travel Beyond Doha

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Save 75% to the Middle East in Business Class Using Alaska Miles

Qatar Business Class from the U.S. to Doha costs 170,000 Alaska miles round-trip. The lowest published fare from Los Angeles to Doha is $9,124 round-trip. So, booking a partner award through Alaska reduces the price to $2,299 round-trip, a savings of $6,825, or 75%, if you have to buy the miles. You can buy miles during Alaska’s mileage-purchase promos for as little as ~1.3 cents each.

Save Up to 64% Beyond Doha Using Alaska Miles

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Qatar Availability From the U.S. to Doha
Using Qatar Miles
(AT TIME OF PUBLICATION)

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FCF found approximate partner availability as follows:

For those of you who have or will purchase Alaska miles there’s good news as Alaska has comparable availability to Qatar.

Not such good news for free award seats on Qatar using American, British Airways and Cathay Pacific miles which shows about 10% availability of what Qatar has (which I would have never guessed, given BA is a much tighter partner now with Qatar than anyone) except if you are booking 10 to 11 months out then British Airways is just as amazing as Qatar and Alaska.

Moreover, what makes BA exceptional is the 40% transfer bonus which runs every few months with Amex for points transfers.

Fascinating what FCF truffle hounds come up with!

Qatar Availability Using Lowest Cost Amex Partner Qatar Miles From New York Beyond Doha

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Qatar Availability Using Partner Alaska MILES From New York Beyond Doha

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Qatar Availability Using Partner American MILES From New York Beyond Doha

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Keen to read more about buying miles to upgrade? Be our guest:

Beginner’s Guide to Playing the “Buy Miles to Fly In Style” Strategy

How to Get Around Buying Miles Maximum Limits

[["To Doha From","Flight Number***"],["Atlanta*","756\/755"],["Boston**","744\/743"],["Chicago*","724\/723, 726\/725"],["Dallas","730\/729, 732\/731"],["Houston","714\/713"],["Los Angeles","742\/741, 740\/739"],["Miami","778\/777"],["New York","702\/701, 704\/703"],["Philadelphia","728\/727"],["San Francisco","738\/737"],["Seattle","720\/719"],["Washington, DC","710\/709, 708\/707"]]

*Qsuite service starts Oct. 30, 2022. **Qsuite service starts Oct. 27, 2022. ***Aircraft subject to change.

[["Qatar To Doha From:","Citi Transfer Partner Qatar","Using Alaska Miles","Using American Miles","Amex, Capital One and Chase Transfer Partner British Airways","Amex, Capital One and Citi Transfer Partner Cathay Pacific","Amex and Chase Transfer Partner Iberia"],["Atlanta","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n140,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n170,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n140,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n140,000","\n\n150,000","216,500"],["Boston","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Chicago","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","\n\n\n\n\n309,000"],["Dallas","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","\n\n\n\n180,000","#rowspan#"],["Houston","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Miami","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","150,000","216,500"],["Philadelphia","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","180,000","309,000"],["Seattle","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Washington, DC","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","150,000","216,500"]]

[["From New York (via Doha) To:","Citi Transfer Partner Qatar Miles","Using Alaska Miles","Using American Miles","Amex, Capital One and Chase Transfer Partner British Airways","Amex, Capital One and Citi Transfer Partner Cathay Pacific","Amex and Chase Transfer Partner Iberia"],["Addis Ababa","160,000","240,000","150,000","192,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n180,000","260,500"],["Cape Town","190,000","240,000","150,000","230,000","#rowspan#","371,000"],["Delhi","160,000","170,000","140,000","192,000","#rowspan#","260,500"],["Johannesburg","190,000","240,000","150,000","230,000","#rowspan#","402,000"],["Kathmandu","170,000","170,000","140,000","210,000","#rowspan#","294,000"],["Maldives","170,000","170,000","140,000","210,000","#rowspan#","294,000"],["Seychelles","170,000","240,000","150,000","226,000","#rowspan#","294,000"]]

[["From Los Angeles (via Doha) To:","Citi Transfer Partner Qatar","Using Alaska Miles","Using American Miles","Amex, Capital One and Chase Transfer Partner British Airways","Amex, Capital One and Citi Transfer Partner Cathay Pacific","Amex and Chase Transfer Partner Iberia"],["Addis Ababa","160,000","240,000","150,000","192,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n180,000","353,000"],["Cape Town","190,000","240,000","150,000","230,000","#rowspan#","463,500"],["Delhi","160,000","170,000","140,000","192,000","#rowspan#","353,000"],["Johannesburg","190,000","240,000","150,000","230,000","#rowspan#","494,500"],["Kathmandu","170,000","170,000","140,000","210,000","#rowspan#","386,500"],["Maldives","170,000","170,000","140,000","210,000","#rowspan#","386,500"],["Seychelles","170,000","240,000","150,000","226,000","#rowspan#","386,500"]]

[["Round-Trip From New York (via Doha) To","American Partner Mileage Round-Trip","Cost per Mile When on Sale","Cost","Taxes","Regular Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["Addis Ababa","150,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1.8\u00a2","$2,700","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n$125","$5,353","$2,528","47%"],["Cape Town","150,000","#rowspan#","$2,700","#rowspan#","$5,222","$2,397","46%"],["Delhi","140,000","#rowspan#","$2,520","#rowspan#","$4,458","$1,813","41%"],["Johannesburg","150,000","#rowspan#","$2,700","#rowspan#","$5,677","$2,852","50%"],["Kathmandu","140,000","#rowspan#","$2,520","#rowspan#","$6,538","$3,893","60%"],["Maldives","140,000","#rowspan#","$2,520","#rowspan#","$4,236","$1,591","38%"],["Seychelles","150,000","#rowspan#","$2,700","#rowspan#","$7,911","$5,086","64%"]]

[["Round-Trip From New York (via Doha) to","Partner Mileage Round-Trip","Cost per Mile When on Sale","Cost","Taxes","Regular Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["Addis Ababa","240,000","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1.3\u00a2","$3,120","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n$160","$5,353","$2,073","39%"],["Cape Town","240,000","#rowspan#","$3,120","#rowspan#","$5,222","$1,942","37%"],["Delhi","170,000","#rowspan#","$2,210","#rowspan#","$4,458","$2,088","47%"],["Johannesburg","240,000","#rowspan#","$3,120","#rowspan#","$5,677","$2,397","42%"],["Kathmandu","170,000","#rowspan#","$2,210","#rowspan#","$6,538","$4,168","64%"],["Maldives","170,000","#rowspan#","$2,210","#rowspan#","$4,236","$1,866","44%"],["Seychelles","240,000","#rowspan#","$3,120","#rowspan#","$7,911","$4,631","59%"]]

[["Qatar To Doha From:","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Atlanta","","","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Nov.<\/span>","Sept., Oct.,<\/span> Nov.,<\/span> Feb.,<\/span> March, April<\/span>","Aug.,<\/span> Sept., Oct., Feb.<\/span>"],["Chicago","June<\/span>","Dec.<\/span>","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","June<\/span>","Dec.<\/span>","Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>"],["Houston","June<\/span>","Dec.<\/span>","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","July, Nov.,<\/span> Dec., Feb.,<\/span> March.,<\/span> April,<\/span> June<\/span>","Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Dec., Feb.,<\/span> March","Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Oct., Jan.,<\/span> Feb., April,<\/span> May<\/span>"],["Los Angeles","Sept.,<\/span> June<\/span>","","July, Aug., Oct., Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Aug., Sept., Nov.,<\/span> Jan.","Oct., Feb., March,<\/span> June<\/span>","Feb., <\/span>April, May<\/span>"],["Miami","June<\/span>","Dec.<\/span>","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Sept.,<\/span> Nov.,<\/span> April, June<\/span>","Nov.,<\/span> March<\/span>","Oct., Jan., Feb.,<\/span> March, May<\/span>"],["New York","","Dec., May<\/span>","July to Nov., Jan. to April<\/span>","","Sept., Dec., May<\/span>","Sept., Oct., Nov., Jan. to April<\/span>"],["Philadelphia","","Dec.<\/span>","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","","July, Nov., Dec.<\/span>","Aug. to Oct., Jan. to May<\/span>"],["San Francisco","June<\/span>","","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Oct., Nov., Jan.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Oct., Nov., June<\/span>","Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Feb. to May<\/span>"],["Seattle","June<\/span>","","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Nov.,<\/span> Jan.<\/span>","Sept., Oct.,<\/span> Nov., June<\/span>","Aug.,<\/span> Sept., Oct.,<\/span> Feb. to May<\/span>"],["Washington, DC","June<\/span>","Dec.<\/span>","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Oct., Dec., Jan.,<\/span> Feb.,<\/span> March, April, June<\/span>","Feb.,<\/span> April","Jan., Feb., May<\/span>"]]

*Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats; in green at least four seats.

[["Qatar From New York To:","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Addis Ababa","July,<\/span> Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Oct.,<\/span> Nov.,<\/span> May <\/span>","July, Oct.,<\/span> Feb., March, April<\/span>","Jan.,<\/span> April, May<\/span>","Sept.,<\/span> Oct.,<\/span> Nov., Jan.,<\/span> Feb. to April <\/span>","Oct., Feb., April, May<\/span>","March,<\/span> April"],["Delhi","Aug., Sept., Nov.,<\/span> June<\/span>","Aug., Oct.,<\/span> Nov.<\/span>","July,<\/span> Sept., Oct.,<\/span> Jan. to May<\/span>","","Sept., Nov.,<\/span> Jan., June<\/span>","Oct.,<\/span> Nov.,<\/span> Feb. to May<\/span>"],["Kathmandu","June<\/span>","Nov., May<\/span>","July,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span> Sept., Oct., Jan. to May<\/span>","","Sept., Jan., June<\/span>","Oct., Nov., Feb. to May<\/span>"],["Maldives","May<\/span>","","","May<\/span>","",""],["Seychelles","Aug.,<\/span> Sept.,<\/span> March., June<\/span>","July<\/span>","July, May<\/span>","","June<\/span>","July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept.,<\/span> March, May<\/span>"]]

[["Qatar From New York (via Doha) To:","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Cape Town","April, May<\/span>","","","Jan.,<\/span> Feb., March, April<\/span>","March, April, May<\/span>",""],["Delhi","Dec.<\/span>","","July to Nov., Jan. to May<\/span>","Sept.<\/span>","Sept.,<\/span> Jan.<\/span>","Oct., Nov., Feb. to May<\/span>"],["Johannesburg","Oct.<\/span>","Oct., Nov., May<\/span>","Nov., Jan, to April<\/span>","Nov.<\/span>","Nov.","Oct., Jan. to May<\/span>"],["Kathmandu","Feb., March, May<\/span>","","","Nov., Jan.<\/span>","April, May<\/span>","Oct., Feb., March,<\/span> April"],["Maldives","May<\/span>","","","May<\/span>","",""],["Seychelles","March, May","","","May<\/span>","",""]]

For Business Class Long Hauls Going for a Song, Play That Qatar