Qatar Airways travel agent booking – upgrade options!?

[Tript0nite]

Hi all

Relative air miles newbie here – did check the forums and couldnt find anyone with my exact scenario so here is my question.

I’ve booked to go to the Maldives for our once in a lifetime getaway via a travel agent – seemed the cheapest way at the time.

I do have a decent amount of Avios in my priveledge club account which was created solely for this trip so I am only burgundy status. 202,000 in total. I was hoping to use these to upgrade to business class – hopefully Q Suite but it doesn’t look available on my flight currently. Fingers crossed the aircraft changes.

QR28 booked for departure from Manchester MAN to Maldives MLE on 23rd Jan (not long now!).

Am I right to assume:
Qatar won’t deal with me directly at all because I booekd via a Travel agent?
I won’t be able to upgrade or change anything about the flight (dates, times etc) with Qatar unless it is 24 hours before the first flight of my round trip is booked to depart?
Upgrading at the airport to business class will be the only option other than going via the travel agents who want a substantial fee.
Upgrading at the airport can only be done with cash, not Avios?

Appreciate any light anyone can shed for me.

Ste

[phantomchickenz]

I presume you have a booking reference? Try ‘manage my booking’ on the Qatar site and see what you get!

[anuj]

If it’s like virgin, you should be able to upgrade with points, but for cash upgrades you must contact your travel agent.

[Tript0nite]

Cheers all, manage my booking gave me nothing unfortunately. However today I’ve had an offer to upgrade to business class from Doha to Male for an astronomical 248,000 avios in total for 2 passengers. I can actually book the entire ticket again on the exact same flight for around 140,000 avios in total for 2 passengers and therefore get access to business class lounge. What an absolutely terrible offer!