Qatar Airways Cuts Lounge Access for Upgraded Passengers

Qatar Airways patrons planning on an upgrade using their frequent flyer points with  will now be denied airport lounge access prior to their flight when upgrading to business class or first class.

Customers who want to upgrade their economy ticket to a business class ticket using Qmiles or Qcredits through Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme, Privilege Club, will not gain entry to the Al Mourjan business class lounge in Doha or any other of the airline’s business class lounges worldwide. 

The same rule applies for passengers wanting to upgrade their business class ticket to a first class ticket. In such cases, the Al Safwa first class lounge in Doha (or any other first class lounge) will not be offered either, but will instead be redirected to the corresponding business class lounge that their ticket comes with. 

Further misfortunes for upgraders is that Qantas lounges will also not be available for those seeking to use their miles to book the premium classes on Qatar Airways. On flights from Australia, passengers upgrading will see ‘QF Business Lounge’ or ‘QF First Lounge’ on their boarding passes in line with the class they are booked in even though they have upgraded to the one above. 

The changes apply to tickets issued after February 5 and will also apply to the baggage policy. Qatar Airways will no longer allow passengers who have upgraded to a premium cabin using Qmiles or Qpoints to receive baggage benefits of that upgraded cabin. 

In addition, those wanting to upgrade their ticket using money through Qatar’s Upgrade offer system will also not be welcomed in the lounges unless it is already stipulated in the original ticket of purchase. On the bright side, passengers who book a full award ticket are still eligible for baggage benefits and lounge access.

Qatar customers are still granted all of the perks when flying on an award ticket — it’s only the upgraded tickets using points that are being excluded.