Qatar Airways passengers upgrading their flight using Privilege Club Qmiles will no longer receive the lounge access associated with the upgraded cabin, under a new rule announced by the carrier.
This page on the Qmiles redemption section of the airline’s website confirms that “Effective February 5, 2018, baggage allowance and lounge access will be provided as per originally ticketed cabin”.
It means that, unless the customer is eligible for lounge access through their loyalty tier status, an economy passenger upgrading to business class will no longer receive access to Qatar Airways’ business class lounges worldwide.
Equally a traveller upgrading from business to first class will no longer gain access to the carrier’s first class lounges, including the exclusive Al Safwa facility in Doha.
According to this FlyerTalk thread the carrier removed lounge access to Privilege Club members upgrading at airport late last year, but this new restriction goes further by being applied to upgrades made at any point after ticketing, whether redeemed via Qmiles or Qcredits.
Last year Qatar Airways and other Gulf carriers including Emirates began allowing economy passengers to pay for lounge access at selected facilities.
