When it comes to luxury travel, Qatar Airways QSuite stands out as the pinnacle of business class experiences. From the moment you step on board, you are enveloped in an atmosphere of elegance and comfort that is unparalleled in the aviation industry.
One of the most remarkable features of the QSuite is its versatility. The seats can be transformed into a double bed, making it perfect for couples who want to enjoy a restful sleep together during their flight. Additionally, the QSuite's unique design allows four seats to be converted into a quad, creating a private space for families or groups traveling together. This innovative setup makes traveling with kids or family members not only convenient but also enjoyable.
Qsuite converting to a double bed.
But the luxury experience doesn't end on the plane. Upon arrival at Doha's Hamad International Airport, you are greeted by an environment that has been recognized as the best airport in the world by Skytrax. The airport's state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional services ensure that your journey is seamless from start to finish.
Doha Hamad Airport has been rated as the best by SkyTrax.
Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, Qatar Airways QSuite offers an unparalleled level of luxury and convenience that makes every trip a memorable one. If you are looking to elevate your travel experience, the QSuite is undoubtedly the way to go.
This blog post is to help your family find the best bargain to "land" these seats. And NO, this is not another credit card points or award travel hacking post. There are several of those online. I personally find point collection and award flight availability too cumbersome to manage. Getting an awar flight for 1 is hassle enough and for a family is almost impossible. This post is about finding the best cash bargain for your next Qsuite journey.
My Travel Habits
I’m based in the US and fly QSuites once a year for a roundtrip between the USA and India with my family of three (two adults and one child). I typically pay about 11-12 thousand USD for this trip. This puts us at less than 4000 USD per person for an almost 40 hour journey in Qsuites across the world. Typical Cash price for this trip would be close to 8000 USD per person. For me this is a great bargain and easier to accomplish than award travel.
Domestically, I live in a city that is a hub for Alaska Airlines, which is a OneWorld partner with Qatar Airways.
How do I get this price?
Book your trip 4-5 months before you travel data
This step is easier than award travel. Compared to this, Qatar award travel seats need to be booked around 10-12 months in advance.
Use Google flights alerts to keep on top of price falls
I use google flights around 5 months before my flight to get alerts on pricing and availability of various date combinations. Its the sweet spot to find the cheapest cash price. There is an almost certain chance than you will get the alert for a cheapest price during this period.
Date vs cost comparison tab on google flights
Set alets via "Track Prices" toggle
Look for Business Lite Fare
These fares offer significant savings over other fares but have certain disadvantages like seat selection costs and no lounge access. For instance, seat selection for Qsuites on a US-India trip for a family of three can cost around $1,100, and lounge access can add up to hundreds of dollars. I have a hack below using the Qatar card that can help you avoid these costs.
Comparison of fare types
Use a Cashback site for additional saving
All you need to here is signup on a cashback site and use their link to initiate the Qatar booking. No gotchas or no catch. Its very simple . I used capital one shopping that was running a 6% cashback offer (on the base fare and not taxes). I got 450 USD back! You do not need a capital one card to do this. Anyone can sign on Captial one shopping
Capital One Shopping Qatar offer
Proof of my cashback
Consider getting a Qatar Infinite Card (US) to counter the Business Lite Fare Disadvantages
I recently signed up for the Qatar Infinite Card (US version) at $499 a year. Despite the high fees, I found it incredibly advantageous for my travel needs.
Qatar Gold Status: The card grants me Qatar Gold Status for a year and offers an easy way to extend it for two more years with a 150Q points bonus. This status provides several benefits:
Free seat selection for all members on each trip, saving $1,100 per trip.
Doha Gold lounge access for the entire family (using member + guest passes and four free yearly lounge passes for additional guests). While the Gold lounge is slightly inferior to the Business class lounge, it’s still quite good.
OneWorld Sapphire lounge benefits, allowing access to Business class lounges in India and the US. I only need to pay for the third guest, which is reduced for a child.
40 Q credits annually for upgrades.
75% bonus Avios earnings on flights.
MVP Gold Status with Alaska Airlines, offering benefits like free seat selection, upgrades, and free baggage. Alaska is my primary local carrier.
70,000 Signup Bonus Avios Points: A decent bonus that can be used for future travel.
150 Qpoints Signup Bonus: These points help extend my Gold Status for an additional two years, making it a total of three years of Gold status as long as I book my annual trip each year. I can provide a detailed breakdown of how this works if anyone is interested.
Silver Tier Guarantee: Even after three years, one flight a year guarantees at least a Silver tier with Qatar Airways.
Discount codes to save money off fares – Ever since the card launched, there has been a 12% off fare price code for card holders (excluding taxes). Code - QRPCFLIGHT I suspect there will be something like this always. But cannot rely on this one.
Gold lounge at Doha
In my case, the card provides enough value for at least three years. After that, I might consider switching to a lower-fee card or closing it altogether.