Qatar Airways, the national carrier of Qatar, has a flexible cancellation policy that varies by fare type, booking method, and applicable regulations.
24-Hour Cancellation Policy:
- You can cancel any flight booked directly through Qatar Airways’ website (www.qatarairways.com), mobile app, or ticket office within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, provided the flight departs at least 7 days later (168 hours or more). This applies to all fare types, including non-refunded tickets, and aligns with U.S. DOT regulations for U.S.-related bookings. No cancellation fees apply within this window.
- For bookings made through third-party agents (e.g., Expedia, Alternative Airlines), you must contact the agent within their business hours (e.g., 9 AM–8 PM GMT for Alternative Airlines) to process the cancellation, and the 24-hour policy may not apply if the window elapses before the agent processes the request.
General Cancellation Rules:
- Refundable Tickets: Fully refundable fares (e.g., Business Flex, First Flex) can be canceled anytime before departure with no fees, and the full fare, including taxes, is refunded to the original payment method.
- Non-Refunded Tickets: Non-refunded fares (e.g., Economy Lite, Saver) incur cancellation fees that vary by fare type, route, and timing. Fees range from USD 25–100 for cancellations made more than 24 hours before departure for non-elite Privilege Club members. Only airport/government taxes are refunded for no-shows or cancellations within 3 hours of departure.
Privilege Club Award Tickets:
- Platinum/Gold Members: No cancellation fees apply if canceled more than 3 hours before departure.
- Silver/Burgundy Members or Guests: A USD 25 fee applies for cancellations more than 24 hours before departure; USD 100 for cancellations between 3–24 hours before departure.
- Within 3 hours or after departure (no-show), Avios and cash are forfeited, with only taxes refunded.
Partially Used Tickets: Refunds are calculated as the difference between the fare paid and the applicable one-way fare for the traveled segments, minus cancellation fees. If no one-way fare is available, the next higher booking class fare is deducted.
No-Show: If you fail to cancel before departure and don’t board, you’re considered a no-show, and only taxes are refunded. For non-Amadeus GDS bookings, agents must contact Qatar Airways to offload passengers from the Departure Control System to avoid no-show penalties.
Cancellation Deadline: Cancellations are permitted up to 3 hours before departure for most fares, but fees apply unless the fare is fully refundable.
Special Circumstances:
- Medical Emergencies or Bereavement: Refunds or fee waivers may be granted for medical emergencies or death of a passenger/close family member, with documentation (e.g., medical certificate, death certificate). Submit via the refund form on Qatar Airways’ website or contact customer service.
- COVID-19 or Geopolitical Disruptions: For cancellations due to restrictions or regional issues (e.g., 2025 Middle East tensions), Qatar Airways offers refunds or travel credits (valid up to 2 years). Refunds are preferred over vouchers due to limited validity.
- Third-Party Bookings: Cancellations must be processed through the agent (e.g., Alternative Airlines, Expedia). The 24-hour policy may not apply, and agent fees may be charged. For example, Alternative Airlines requires cancellations during their business hours (9 AM–8 PM GMT) to honor the 24-hour policy.
- Cancellation Protection: If purchased through third parties like Alternative Airlines, this add-on allows full refunds for emergencies (e.g., serious illness, mechanical issues), subject to documentation.
Refund Processing:
- Refunds for direct bookings take 7–10 business days for online/card payments, up to 15–20 business days for other methods. Third-party bookings may take 6–8 weeks. Delays have been reported, especially during disruptions.
- Refunds are issued to the original payment method. Non-refunded tickets may receive travel credits or Avios, valid for up to 12 months (or 2 years for some COVID-era credits).
- Some countries (e.g., unspecified in Qatar Airways’ policy) restrict refunds to the country of sale, per local regulations.
