Qatar Airways cancels lounge access and seat reservations at the lowest business class fare

In a press release Qatar Airways has announced that it has cancelled lounge access and free seat reservations in the low-cost Business Class fare category (booking class R). Unfortunately, Qatar Airways has not yet issued a concrete statement on how to proceed in this connection with tickets already booked. However, it can be assumed that this regulation will also apply to existing tickets.

Click here to find the official press release

This is how the different Business Class fares at Qatar Airways vary in detail

The new tariff classes named Classic, Comfort and Elite differ in cancellation fees, rebooking fees, seat reservation, lounge access and of course the price.

A short example Frankfurt via Doha to Bangkok in Business Class in summer 2021 shows the following price differences: The Business Class Classic tariff costs just under EUR 2,800, the Comfort tariff EUR 3,800 and the Elite tariff more than EUR 5,100. All tariffs offer 40kg free baggage allowance as well as 2 pieces of hand luggage with a maximum of 15 kg. The possible conversion of the ticket into a voucher is currently a goodwill rule of the airline due to the ongoing pandemic.

If you book the Classic fare, it offers a cancellation fee of EUR 384 with refund and a seat reservation at check-in. The Comfort fare offers a cancellation fee of EUR 198 in the event of a refund, free seat reservation (possible at any time) and lounge access. The Elite fare offers free cancellation, free seat reservation (anytime) and lounge access.