Qatar Airways Upgrade Guide

You can book a Qatar Airways upgrade before departure in several ways, including receiving cash and point upgrade offers 1 or 2 weeks before your flight’s departure. Depending on your fare type and route a Qatar Airways upgrade will typically cost you anywhere between USD 200 – 4,999, which may still be cheaper than what you would pay for a full Business or First Class ticket. Although a Qatar upgrade will move you to the next higher class, you will not be able to use the privileges that go with it—such as the use of a premier airport lounge or additional baggage allowance (unless stated otherwise).

How to Book Upgrades on Qatar Airways

You can book a Qatar Airways upgrade in any of the following ways:

• By email/push notification from Qatar Airways, sent 1 – 2 weeks before departure.
  To upgrade:
  • Click on the offer link provided in the email
  • Purchase the upgrade offer before it expires
• Online through QatarAirways.com. Upgrade offers will show up when you:
  • Manage an upcoming trip via My Trips, or 
  • Check in online via the Qatar Check-in option
• On the mobile app. To receive upgrade offers available for your journey:
  • Download the mobile app, and 
  • Use My Trips to add an upcoming trip to your dashboard
• With your Avios/Qcredits. Use the Qcalculator to calculate how many Avios or Qcredits you need to redeem an upgrade to Business or First Class—at the airport, online, or mobile app. 
• At Hamad International Airport (HIA). Approach Qatar Airways staff at a designated Upgrade on Departure to purchase an upgrade from Doha to your destination.
  • If you’re transiting from Doha, the counter is located in the Market Hall at HIA. 
  • If your journey originates from Doha, the counter is located after check-in and immigration. 
• By phone. Call Qatar Airways any time by phone (check the section titled Qatar Airways Upgrade by Phone). 

Qatar Airways Upgrade to Business Class

Qatar Airways upgrade to Business Class is possible only from a lower-class ticket (Economy Class)
because Qatar Airways allows upgrades to the next higher class. This means Economy Class passengers can upgrade to Business Class and not to First Class—unless no Business Class seats are offered on your flight. 

If you’ve booked an Economy Class ticket and your flight is eligible for an upgrade to Business Class
you will either be shown the upgrade option at the time of booking or sent an offer by email 1 -2 weeks before your flight’s departure. 

You’ll also be shown upgrade offers when managing a trip online via My Trips or checking in online through the Check-in option. All upgrade requests are considered on a first-come-first-served basis
so the earlier you purchase an upgrade the more likely you are to get upgraded to Business Class.

How to upgrade to Business on Class Qatar Airways. You can upgrade to Business Class only if:

• You’re upgrading from a lower class, i.e., Economy Class
• The upgrade offer is available for your flight route
• You purchase the upgrade offer within the prescribed timeline
• Your upgrade request is eligible for an upgrade 
• Your upgrade request is received and processed before the last eligible request

If eligible and selected, you can upgrade to Business Class for a Qatar Airways flight:

1. Through the offer you received by email from Qatar Airways
   (click on the displayed offer’s link and purchase before the deadline)
2. Through My Trips/Check-in on QatarAirways.com.
3. Through My Trips on the mobile app
   (as above) 
4. At the Upgrade on Departure counter at Hamad International Airport, Doha (HIA)
   1. Located in the Market Hall if you’re transiting from Doha.
   2. Located after check-in and immigration if your journey originates from Doha.
5. By phone 

Qatar Airways Upgrade (Online). To upgrade an upcoming trip online:

1. Retrieve your booking through this page
2. Enter your booking reference number and last name
3. Click on the Retrieve offer button
4. View the upgrade offers on display 
5. Purchase the upgrade offer by clicking on the offer link
   (must be before the deadline)
6. Wait for a reply

You can upgrade online also through the offer you would have received by email/push notification 1 to 2 weeks before your flight’s departure. To upgrade through the email link, follow the steps below:

1. Read the upgrade offer sent to you by email 
2. Click on the offer link provided in the email
3. Purchase the upgrade offer before the deadline
   (by credit card Qcredits or Avios)
4. Wait for a response

Qatar Airways Upgrade Cost

A Qatar Airways upgrade will cost you anywhere between USD 200 –4,999 per flight per passenger
depending on your route and the travel class you’re upgrading to (Economy to Business Class or Business to First Class). However, upgrading it may still be cheaper than purchasing a full Business or First Class ticket.

How To Upgrade at Qatar Airways

You can upgrade your seat/booking class on a Qatar Airways flight change: 

• Through the email offer you would have received from Qatar Airways
  (click on the upgrade offer’s link and purchase it before the deadline)
• Online via My Trips or Check-in
  (as above)
• Through Qatar’s mobile app via My Trips
  (as above)
• At Hamad International Airport’s Upgrade on Departure counter
• By phone 

Qatar Airways Upgrade Offer

If available for your flight, you will usually receive a Qatar Airways upgrade offer about 1 – 2 weeks before the scheduled departure time of your flight. Do check your email to see if you receive an upgrade offer because upgrade requests are processed on a first-come-first-served basis. 

You can also check for upgrade offers online via My Trips (Manage My Booking) or with the mobile app
by phone or at Hamad International Airport’s Upgrade on Departure counter.

Qatar Bidding Upgrade

Unlike other airlines, Qatar Airways does not offer upgrades on a bidding basis. In other words, passengers are not selected on a bidding system, but on criteria that include but are not limited to:

• Passengers holding a confirmed reservation on an eligible-for-upgrade flight operated by Qatar Airways
• The passenger having a valid email address, or 
• The passenger purchasing the upgrade offer as displayed online:
  • When managing a booking through My Trips 
  • When checking in online through Check-in 
  • After adding the upcoming trip to the mobile app’s personalized dashboard

Qatar Airways Free Upgrade

Qatar Airways’ free upgrades are available for Privilege Club Gold and Platinum members
who can upgrade from Economy Class to Business or from Business Class to First Class by using their Qcredits, which are a part of Qatar’s Privilege Club program. 

To avail of Qatar Airways free upgrade to Business Class or First Class, all you need to do is: 

• Check for upgrade availability
  (online via My Trips, by email from Qatar Airways, or by phone)
• Book a cash fare that qualifies for an upgrade 
• Enter your Qcredits/Avios on the payment page 

You will receive a free upgrade with your Qcredits or Avios.

To check how many Qcredits you’ll need to upgrade
follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to My Calculator 
3. Click on the Upgrade and extra baggage tab 
4. Enter your desired flight requirements
5. Toggle from Avios to show Qcredits 
6. Click on the upgrade button 

The Qcredits required for a free upgrade will appear

Qatar Upgrade with Avios

You can upgrade on Qatar Airways with Avios, as explained below.

To upgrade your seat with Avios:

1. Check if an upgrade is available for your route as follows:
   1. Log in to your account 
   2. Click on My Calculator 
   3. Select the Upgrade and extra baggage tab 
   4. Enter your flight requirements
   5. Toggle from Qcredits to Avios 
   6. Hit the upgrade button 
   7. The Avios points required for a free upgrade will appear
2. Book an eligible cash fare 
3. Pay with your Avios points on the payment page 

Note. You can buy Avios if you don’t have enough left.

Qatar Airways Upgrade by Phone

You can use the numbers below (with the country dialing code) to upgrade your Qatar Airways flight booking by phone. Be sure to have your travel details ready, such as your booking reference/E-ticket number passport details, etc.

Country Phone Number with Country Calling Code

• United States/Canada +1 312 392 3679 (24/7)
• Qatar +974 4023 0000 (24/7)
• Australia +61 291654313; 1 300340600 (24/7)
• Brazil +55 1147008673 (Monday – Friday) 
• Denmark +45 38 124 124 (Monday – Friday 08:00 – 18:00) 
• France +33 186995684 (Monday – Friday)
• Germany +49 69 260 904 400 (Monday – Friday))
• India +91 95129 72827/79 61556000 (24/7)
  International: +974 4023 0000 (24/7)
• Indonesia +62 21 2358 0622 (Monday – Friday) 
  +974 4023 0000 (24×7)
• Ireland +353 1 526 6489
  (Mon – Sat: 9am – 6pm; Sun 9am – 5pm)
• Kuwait +965 2290 1777 (Sunday – Thursday)
• Malaysia +603 7890 5000 (24/7)
• New Zealand +64 (09) 913-5279 (24/7)
• Oman +968 2252 5500 (24/7)
• Saudi Arabia 8008 4408 86 (STC)
  8008 5001 17 (24/7)
• Singapore +974 40230000 
• South Africa +27 11 267 7700 (24/7)
• Sweden +46 8 4020080 (Monday – Sunday 6am – 4:30pm) 
• Switzerland +41 442043820 ((Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm)
• UAE 8000 4413 519 (24/7)
• United Kingdom +44 330 024 0125
  (Mon – Sat: 9am – 6pm; Sun: 9am – 3pm)

Terms and Conditions of Qatar Airways Upgrade

Under what terms and conditions are Qatar upgrades governed?

Qatar upgrades are subject to the terms and conditions stated below.

• Qatar Upgrade Online/with the Mobile App

• Applies to all passengers listed on the booking. 
• Applies only to specific flights on the dates mentioned and may not apply to all flights listed on the itinerary. 
• Can be purchased online as a one-time offer.
• Must be purchased by all passengers listed on the ticket—cannot be purchased selectively for some passengers and not others. 
• The offer prices include taxes and fees.
• Upgrades are non-refundable, non-changeable, and non-transferable. 
• The fare conditions of your original ticket will prevail even after you purchase an upgrade such as with regards to Qatar airways flight cancellation rebooking fees lounge access
  baggage allowance accrual of frequent flyer miles/mileage credits. 
• Flights not included in the offer will remain un-upgraded as earlier and the original terms and conditions of the fare will apply. 
• Unless stated in the offer, does not provide premium lounge access or additional baggage allowance for Qatar.
• You must be at least 21 years old to book the upgrade offer on behalf of all the passengers named on your flight booking/ticket.
• Upgrade offers are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• You must purchase your upgrade offer:
  • Within the timelines mentioned in the offer, and 
  • Through the links provided in the offer, and
  • Use any of these credit cards: Mastercard, American Express, Visa
    and Diners Club.
• You can only upgrade to the next highest class—such as from Economy Class to Business Class and from Business Class to First Class—but not two classes higher such as from Economy Class to First Class unless there’s no Business Class offered on your flight.
• If you pay for an upgrade and it is not provided the amount will be refunded to the card used for purchasing the upgrade. 
• Original requests for special meals will remain but you must check before travelling (by phone or online). 

• Qatar Airways Airport Upgrades 
  • Currently available only at Hamad International Airport (HIA), Doha.
  • Purchase an upgrade (if available) at an Upgrade on Departure counter, located:
    • In Market Hall for passengers transiting from Doha. 
    • After check-in and immigration for passengers whose trip originates from Doha.
  • Apply only to flights operated/marketed by Qatar Airways.
  • Available only between 3 or 2 hours to 60 minutes before departure, depending on which country you’re departing from. 
  • Upgrades will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis and subject to the availability of seats/meals.
  • Upgrades for passengers flying with infants are permitted only for flights departing from Doha. 
  • Airport upgrades are permitted only for one sector—from the departure point to/from Doha. If you’re transiting Doha, you can only purchase an upgrade for an onward connecting flight through an HIA Upgrade on Departure counter.
  • The upgrade price includes all taxes and fees.
  • The upgrade service to First Class is not available on A380 flights to/from London.
  • Special meals requested in Economy Class may not be served in the upgraded class. 
  • Upgrades at the airport do not include lounge access and extra baggage allowance.
  • Avios earnings will accrue only to the original booking class and not to the upgraded booking class. 
  • Upgrades are not available:
    • For passengers with an extra seat (EXST)/additional seat for cabin baggage (CBBG) bookings.
    • For passengers travelling on a reduced rate, free non-revenue or promotional/staff promotional flights.
  • Airport check-in upgrade with Avios is presently available at select airports in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
    • Americas. Washington (IAD), Sao Paulo (GRU), Philadelphia (PHL), New York (JFK), Montreal (YUL), Miami (MIA), Los Angeles (LAX), Houston (IAH), Dallas (DFW), Chicago (ORD), Buenos Aires (EZE), Boston (BOS), and Atlanta (ATL).
    • Europe. Zurich (ZRH), Zagreb (ZAG), Yerevan (EVN), Warsaw (WAW), Vienna (VIE), Venice (VCE), Tunis (TUN), Thessaloniki (SKG), Tbilisi (TBS), Sofia (SOF), Rome (FCO), Prague (PRG), Pisa (PSA), Paris (CDG), Oslo (OSL), Nice (NCE), Mykonos (JMK), Munich (MUC), Moscow (DME), Milan (MXP), Manchester (MAN), Malta (MLA), Madrid (MAD), London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), Lisbon (LIS), Larnaca (LCA), Kyiv (KBP), Izmir (ADB), Istanbul [Sabiha] (SAW), Helsinki (HEL), Frankfurt (FRA), Geneva (GVA), Edinburgh (EDI), Dublin (DUB), Copenhagen (CPH), Cardiff (CWL), Budapest (BUD), Bucharest (OTP), Brussels (BRU), Bodrum (BXN), Bodrum (BJV),Birmingham (BHX), Berlin (TXL), Belgrade (BEG), Barcelona (BCN), Athens (ATH), Ataturk (ISL), Arlanda (ARN), Antalya (AYT), Ankara (ESB), Amsterdam (AMS), and Adana (ADA), 
    • Asia. Yangon (RGN), Tokyo (NRT), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), Sydney (SYD), Singapore (SIN), Shanghai (PVG), Seoul (ICN), Phuket (HKT), Phnom Penh (PNH), Perth (PER), Penang (PEN), Osaka (KIX), Nagpur (NAG), Mumbai (BOM), Melbourne (MEL), Manila (MNL), Maldives (MLE), Langkawi (LGK), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Krabi (KBV), Kozhikode (CCJ), Kolkata (CCU), Kochi (COK), Kathmandu (KTM), Jakarta (CGK), Hyderabad (HYD), Hong Kong (HKG), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Hanoi (HAN), Hangzhou (HGH), Haneda (HND), Guangzhou (CAN), Goa (GOI), Delhi (DEL), Da Nang (DAD), Colombo (CMB), Clark (CRK), Chongqing (CKG), Chiang Mai (CNX), Chennai (MAA), Chengdu (CTU), Canberra (CBR), Bengaluru (BLR), Beijing (PEK), Bangkok  (BKK), Auckland (AKL), Amritsar (ATQ),
      Ahmedabad (AMD), and Adelaide (ADL).
    • Middle East. Tehran (IKA), Sulaymaniyah (ISU, Sohar (OHS), Sialkot (SKT), Shiraz (SYZ), Salalah (SLL), Peshawar (PEW), Najaf (NJF), Muscat (MCT), Multan (MUX), Mashhad (MHD), Lahore (LHE), Kuwait (KWI), Karachi (KHI), Islamabad (ISB), Faisalabad (LYP), Erbil (EBL), Doha (DOH), Beirut (BEY), Basra (BSR), and Amman (AMM).

Africa. Zanzibar (ZNZ), Windhoek (WDH), Seychelles (SEZ), Nairobi (NBO), Marrakech (RAK), Maputo (MPM), Lagos (LOS), Kilimanjaro (JRO), Kigali (KGL), Khartoum (KRT), Johannesburg (JNB), Entebbe (EBB), Durban (DUR), Djibouti (JIB), Dar Es Salaam (DAR), Casablanca (CMN), Cape Town (CPT), Asmara (ASM), Algiers (ALG), and Addis Ababa (ADD).

Frequently Asked Questions