- Mr Plane Guy
- Nov 8
- 4 min read
Qatar Airways Now Charging for Seat Selection on Business Class Avios Tickets
By Mr Plane Guy Plane Points & Miles addict
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced airport lattes). Thanks for your support!
In a move that’s ruffled more than a few frequent-flyer feathers, Qatar Airways has quietly started charging for Business Class seat selection on Avios reward flights unless you have British Airways Silver or Gold status (or another oneworld equivalent).
The change kicked in this week and applies to both new and existing bookings, whether you made them through Qatar Airways or the British Airways Club. See my full Qsuite Experience on the 787.
Plane Tip: If you’re connecting through Doha, don’t just rush to your next flight, Qatar Airways offers free 5-star hotel stays on stopovers. I covered exactly how it works in my guide to Doha Stopovers & Free 5-Star Stays with Qatar Airways it’s one of the best ways to turn a layover into a mini luxury escape.
What’s Changed?
For UK-based travellers, each Qatar Airways redemption typically involves four flight segments, which now means four separate seat-selection fees if you want to pre-book.
Seat-selection fee: £75 per segment
That means a couple flying London – Doha – Bangkok return could pay up to £600 total just to choose their Business Class seats. Ouch.
The Good (And Slightly Less Bad) News
There are still a few workarounds:
Book a ‘double Avios’ Flexi award, seat selection stays free.
Hold oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status (BA Silver/Gold or equivalent).
First Class and regional Business flights (like Doha–Dubai) still include free seat choice.
Or wait until online check-in opens 48 hours before departure, you can then select from remaining seats for free.
The last option isn’t as risky as it sounds: Qatar’s Qsuite layouts reserve pairs and quads until close to departure so couples and families can still sit together. If you’re connecting through Doha, the Al Mourjan Business Lounge is still one of the most impressive Business Class lounges in the world, think fine dining, quiet zones, and even a reflection pool.
Thinking of saving your Avios and flying Economy instead? Don’t worry, Qatar still offers one of the best Economy experiences in the sky. You can read my full Qatar Airways Economy Class Review: London to Zanzibar via Doha to see what it’s really like on a long-haul redemption.
Finding the Best Reward Seats Just Got Trickier
With fewer free seat options, planning your Qsuite redemption just got more strategic. That’s where Reward Flight Finder saves the day.
This brilliant UK-based tool tracks 355 days of Avios seat availability on both British Airways and Qatar Airways, showing every open seat in one view. You can:
Set up instant seat alerts for your preferred routes
Use the Worldwide Map tool to see where your Avios can take you
Get notified the moment new reward seats are released
Plane Tip: Set alerts for routes like London – Doha – Maldives or Manchester – Bangkok they’re among the hardest Avios redemptions to find.
With these new fees, squeezing maximum value from every Avios just got more important than ever.
👉 Try Reward Flight Finder free for 7 days and never miss a reward seat again.
Final Boarding Call
Seat-selection fees are never fun, but you’ll still get full lounge access on Qatar Airways Avios tickets, which easily covers four lounge visits on a return trip. So while your preferred Qsuite might now come at a price, the champagne still flows freely in the lounge and that softens the blow.
More from my Plane Blogs:
How I Went from Zero Avios to a Qatar Airways Business Class Upgrade in 3 Months
How I Traveled Business Class on Qatar Airways for Less Than £250
Review of Scoot 787 Sydney to Singapore: Low Cost in Name, Premium in Price
Doha Stopovers & Free 5-Star Stays with Qatar Airways
Flying in Style: My Qatar Airways Qsuite Experience on the 787
Flying Qatar Business Class 787 in 2025, Was It Worth the Upgrade?
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading Qatar Airways Now Charging for Seat Selection on Business Class Avios Tickets.
Plane Extras
The PLANE Smart Way to Take Off
Here are my go-to travel extras that help keep this blog (and me) airborne.
🅿️ Airport Parking Compare prices and save up to 75 % at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and more with Compare Parking Prices UK →
🍸 Lounge Access Why wait at the gate when you could sip a pre-flight prosecco?
Get 30 % off a Priority Pass membership → and access 1 ,700+ lounges worldwide.
🌍Travel Insurance Don’t fly without cover. Coverwise (by AXA) offers annual European cover from £10.20, including medical consultations and pre-existing conditions.
🎒 Plane Essentials My must-pack travel gear, from cabin-size backpacks to neck pillows that actually work. Shop my curated Amazon Storefront →
📱Stay Connected Avoid roaming shock. Arlo eSIMs → give you instant data in 180+ destinations, no SIM swap required.
💳 Boost Your Avios Earn faster and fly farther with my Amex Gold referral → or track reward seats via Reward Flight Finder →.
Comments