Jetsetters will soon have more opportunities to secure award seats as Qatar increases flights to Adelaide, Auckland.
Qatar Airways has announced it will boost flights between Adelaide and Doha (plus fifth freedom tag route between Adelaide and Auckland) from early next year. Starting on 22 January 2023, the Doha-based airline is set to increase its Adelaide and Auckland service from five flights a week, to seven.
It may not seem like much, but the additional two flights will see Qatar Airways operate daily flights on this route for the first time since before the pandemic. And, as a result, those travelling from Adelaide will likely be treated to more award seat opportunities than before the global travel halt.
Thanks to Virgin Australia’s freshly minted partnership with Qatar Airways there are more ways than ever to snap up award seats. Yes, this means you could have a greater chance of experiencing unparalleled luxury in Qsuites business.
Following the announcement, we’ve seen increased award seats drop on the Adelaide – Doha and Auckland – Adelaide services. These seats are bookable via popular airline programs including Velocity Frequent Flyer and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner).
However, at the time of writing, no additional availability appears to have been loaded into Qantas.
Here’s what is on offer, and what you’ll pay:
Adelaide to Doha
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Using Velocity Points, a flight redemption on Qatar Airways from Adelaide to Doha comes in at 56,000 Velocity Points (plus $194.73 in carrier charges) in economy, and 104,000 Velocity Points (plus a hefty $464.03 in carrier charges) in business:
At the time of writing, we’re seeing at least one seat in business available for 31 January 2023, as well as for many dates in February and beyond.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
We are also seeing an increase in the number of economy and business award seats bookable via the Asia Miles website for the dates above. Note that for a business award seat, the carrier charges here are even higher at a whopping $560 AUD one way.
Auckland to Adelaide
An increase in award seats is also showing on the fifth freedom services between Auckland and Adelaide, bookable via both Asia Miles and Velocity in both business and economy.
Velocity Frequent Flyer
A Velocity flight redemption on Qatar Airways from Auckland to Adelaide costs 20,000 Velocity Points (plus $141.90 in carrier charges) in economy or 38,000 Velocity Points (plus $347.90 in carrier charges) in business. We’ve found at least one award seat available on both routes across plenty of dates from late January 2023 onwards.
Velocity availability for 22 January 2023 can be found as shown in the screenshot below:
A word of caution: with carrier surcharges sitting at an eyewatering $347.90 on this redemption, travellers will need to weigh up the cost of using points vs snapping up a revenue sale fare on this short-haul route.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
There’s also decent availability between Auckland – Adelaide via Asia Miles, where a one-way business redemption comes in at just 30,000 Asia Miles plus 596 HKD (the equivalent of around $118 AUD).
That’s a saving of 10,000 points/miles and over $200 in carrier surcharges, when compared to Velocity.
Summary: How appealing are these redemptions?
More award seats are almost always a good thing, and the two extra weekly services from Adelaide to Doha provide new options for travellers to seek an award seat into the Middle East – and beyond – in 2023.
The boosted services between Auckland – Adelaide also offer new opportunities to lock in award seats on what is arguably one of the most appealing short-haul fifth freedom routes.
Qatar Airways first introduced the Adelaide – Auckland flight route in April 2022, in line with the opening of New Zealand’s borders.
Will you be making the most of increased award availability when Qatar resumes daily flights from Adelaide next year?
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Hi Zoe, I am looking to renew my QR Gold Privilege Club from the VA status match.
I need 34 points and I now know I can fly on QR metal ADL-AKL with a mix of bz/ec and it will get me there.
I have tried to find an answer without understanding if I can:
1- Earn QR credits flying locally with QF being a OW alliance? eg: MEL-AKL
2- Can I fly MEL-ADL-AKL with QR now that MEL-ADL is a 5th freedom also. I have read Mel-Adl must fly on to Doha, if so, why is it different ADL-AKL?
Hi Peter. Yes, it is possible to earn Qpoints on a QF flight. In saying that, you’ll earn Qpoints via partner airlines at a reduced rate vs when flying with QR metal. As an example, a one way QF economy flight between MEL-AKL that is credited to QR would earn just 7 Qpoints. You can calculate the earn rate of various routes using the “My Calculator” function located in the Privilege Club section of the QR website. As to the flight between ADL-MEL, as QR is a foreign airline, they are not allowed to sell domestic itineraries within Australia. However, we’re not sure why this would preclude on-selling flights from MEL through to AKL (as has been done with ADL-AKL) – there may be other regional restrictions at play here. Best of luck with your requalification.