Qatar Airways has quietly made an unwelcome change for travelers booking business class award tickets: You’ll now have to pay extra to select your seat in advance – even on routes featuring the carrier’s luxurious Qsuites business class.
The change, which appears to have taken effect on Nov. 3, 2025, was first spotted by a Reddit user on the r/awardtravel subreddit, and later confirmed by the German website Travel-Dealz, which verified the fees through test bookings on Qatar’s site.
According to information shared by Qatar Airways customer service agents, this new policy affects travelers who book or upgrade to business class using Avios or Qcredits – the fare class labeled “U” in the airline’s reservation system, used for business class award tickets and upgrades.
“Passengers who upgrade to Business Class (U) using Avios or Qcredits, or those who book Business Class tickets under the U fare class, will no longer be eligible for complimentary seat selection,” the internal memo reportedly states. That means travelers redeeming Avios through Qatar Airways Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club, or even partner programs like Alaska Mileage Plan will likely face the same restriction.
Seat selection fees vary by route but appear to range from approximately €95 to €100 (roughly $100 USD) per flight segment, according to Travel-Dealz test bookings between Frankfurt (FRA) and Doha (DOH).
Elite Flyers Still Get a Pass
There’s one big exception: Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elites – including top-tier members of Qatar’s own Privilege Club – can still pick their seats for free, even on award tickets.
Here's how it breaks down:
- Burgundy members (Qatar's entry-level Privilege Club status) get a 10% discount on seat selection fees.
- Silver members receive 20% off.
- Gold and Platinum members – who also hold Oneworld Sapphire and Oneworld Emerald status – will still get complimentary advance seat selection across all fare types, including Avios redemptions.
These same Oneworld benefits also extend to elites from partner programs like American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum and Executive Platinum or British Airways Silver and Gold members, who should likewise see seat selection waived when adding their frequent flyer number to a Qatar booking.
Everyone else will have to wait until online check-in opens (24 hours before departure) to pick their seats for free – though that means potentially missing out on the most desirable Qsuites configurations or window seats on long-haul flights.
Another Cutback for Qatar’s Award Flyers
This isn’t the first time Qatar Airways has quietly made life more difficult for travelers cashing in their hard-earned points and miles.
Just last year, the airline raised the cash surcharges on its long-haul awards by roughly $100 per one-way flight, bringing the total fees to more than $230 for a nonstop between the U.S. and Doha (DOH) – and $300 or more for connecting itineraries beyond the Middle East. That hike came without warning and applied across the board, whether you booked through Qatar itself or a partner like British Airways.
At the same time, Qatar has tightened award availability on premium routes, making it more challenging to secure its flagship business class seats through U.S.-based programs like American AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan. For many travelers, redeeming Avios has become the only realistic way to book Qsuites in advance – and now, it comes with yet another fee attached if you want to select your seat more than 24 hours before your flight.
Taken together, it’s a clear pattern: instead of increasing award prices outright, Qatar is chipping away at the value of redemptions by tacking on new charges and restrictions. What was once one of the most reliable and rewarding ways to fly business class using points has grown noticeably less generous.
Related Reading: The #1 Trick If You Want to Fly Qatar Qsuites
Bottom Line
Qatar Airways has started charging for advance seat selection on business class award tickets and Avios upgrades, effective Nov. 3, 2025.
While those with elite status still get a break, most travelers booking business class with points will now have to pay roughly $100 per segment to reserve their seats – or roll the dice and wait until check-in.
