Qatar Airways adopted Avios as its award currency a while ago, making Avios even more popular for redeeming flight tickets. More importantly, with BA constantly devaluing partner redemptions without notice, it provides a cheaper alternative when you need to book CX / JL tickets.
One nuisance is, for most partner redemptions you have to go through a manual procedure – fill out a form and wait for QR’s relevant department to process your request. Good news is, Cathay Pacific’s integration is now complete and you can book their tickets online now.
To book, use QR’s website or app to search as usual. Note that you need to use the first tab, instead of “Flights with other partners”.
Two tips:
- QR’s website doesn’t have all airport codes – for example PEK and TPE are missing – use their app instead
- You can link your BA account, and when booking they’ll take Avios from your BA account directly
To compare, here are the costs for select routes by QR / BA:
- HKG – TPE (economy): 6,000 Avios+265 HKD / 9,750 Avios + £47.9
- HKG – TPE (business): 12,500 Avios+335 HKD / 20,800 Avios + £55
- HKG – PVG (economy): 9,000 Avios+265 HKD / 12,000 Avios + £43.6
- HKG – PVG (business): 16,500 Avios+335 HKD / 30,000 Avios + £50.7
- BKK – SIN (economy): 9,000 Avios+780 THB / 12,000 Avios + £39
- BKK – SIN (business): 16,500 Avios+780 THB / 30,000 Avios + £39
- NRT – HKG (economy): 11,000 Avios+4,010 JPY / 14,300 Avios + £68.2
- NRT – HKG (business): 22,000 Avios+4,010 JPY / 32,500 Avios + £68.2
As you can see, it’s cheaper in terms of both Avios and surcharges. I’m certainly happy to see a way around BA’s shameless devaluation, and hopefully it will last.
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