When booking flights on the Qatar Airways website, did you know that you could be paying more if you’re using a computer? That’s because Qatar Airways may offer significantly lower fares to customers that book flights on a mobile device.
We compared Qatar Airways airfares on a computer, versus booking on the airline’s mobile website or App. In many cases, the fares were lower on mobile devices!
In one example, we compared the cost of return Qatar Airways flights from Perth to London. On a computer, the cheapest Economy fare was $1,276.64. But exactly the same flights on a mobile device cost $1,234.64.
In another example, the lowest available price on a computer for a return Business class booking from Canberra to Nairobi was $7,529.38. But by booking on a smartphone, you could get identical flights for $7,088.38 – a saving of $441.
Price discrimination in action
Let’s use a Qatar Airways booking from Perth to Malta as an example. On a computer, the outbound flights for a random date on the airline’s website start at $633.41 in Economy class:
Here’s the full breakdown of the various fare options on the desktop website:
Now, let’s try the same search on the mobile website…
The same outbound flights start from $596.41 in Economy…
And as you can see, a lower price is available on mobile devices in the Economy Promo, Economy Saver and Economy Value fare categories. (Note that to earn Qantas points and status credits on Qatar Airways, you need to book an Economy Value fare as a minimum.) However, the mobile booking discount does not apply to Economy Flexi fares.
In total, you’ll pay $1,229.64 for the cheapest Economy fare on a computer…
But the lowest fare on a mobile device is only $1,154.64…
The price difference is even more extreme in Business class. On a desktop computer, a round-trip ticket from Perth to Malta would cost $6,467.64:
But by booking on a smartphone, you’ll pay a whopping $526 less for exactly the same flights:
Why are Qatar Airways flights cheaper on mobile devices?
Qatar does say in the fine print on certain pages of its website that you can get a 10% discount by booking on a mobile and using the promo code MOBILE2020. This discount seems to be applied to the base fare, but not taxes and carrier charges.
Conveniently, this promo code seems to be applied automatically when you search for flights on the Qatar Airways mobile website or App. In case you’re wondering, this promo code does not work if you try to apply it on a desktop computer.
The mobile booking discount does not apply to all routes and booking classes. For example, you could book the below Business class sale fare from Manila to Rome (which is currently available) on Qatar Airways’ desktop website for exactly the same price as on mobile devices.
Qatar Airways has been offering this mobile booking discount on and off for several years. We’re not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing, but it is a good thing to be made aware of. If you’re planning to book flights with Qatar Airways, make sure you also check the prices on the Qatar Airways mobile website as you could save a small fortune!
In this case, the routine discount for booking Qatar Airways flights on a mobile device is at least fairly transparent. But as personalised airfare pricing becomes more commonplace, it’s already quite possible for other airlines to charge you a higher price based on where you live, your previous flight search history or even the type of device you’re using – without you realising.
I don’t think Qatar is the only airline that does this. I booked an Air France flight last year EDI-CDG. It cost well over EUR100 on its website and through other OTAs. I was on the verge of booking an EasyJet flight instead when I noticed the same flight was EUR77 via the AF mobile app, meals & luggage included.
Expedia are the same, their prices are cheaper through the app on your phone than booking through the computer
I discovered this in 2018 when booking J fares to New York. Couldn’t understand why fares kept changing depending which device I was using, Didn’t need to use a code. still think it is bizarre….
I found this last year when booking 2 x BC seats Melb-Edi-Rome-Melb – saved a whopping $600pp compared to the best price a TA could get me (was booking through Qatar website on an ipad)
Unrelated to travel, but Ebay was showing me some cheaper items on a mobile device than it did on my computer. I didn’t compare prices of the same item but there were certainly cheaper items displayed on the mobile device. I guess it’s worth checking for all online transactions..
Makes sort of sense, if one assumes older folks are generally likely to be richer and less likely to use a mobile phone than youngsters.
Um, there are a lot of pensioners out there .. and they are hardly loaded.. Lot of retrenched workers over 45 not loaded either. Chances are these youngsters do not know what these apps steal or do. Hint. Do not by a pizza or airfare naked. The camera and mic are hot.
Noticed this myself when looking at their prices this past year.
That’s definitely something for both the ACCC same HREOOC to investigate.
It’s harder and less efficient to use a web site on a tiny screen, so it’s leverage to encourage you to use their app. Once you download their app, they hope you’ll keep using it and not look as diligently at other options. Apps are also full of tracking/spyware that isn’t possible on a browser, so they get to harvest way more information about you.
AirAsia does this too. Many people over 50 cannot use a teeny device,(and allow the app to slurp the contact list or more) so I choose to shun companies that openly discriminate. Malaysian Airlines seems to return poor deals and needs promo codes, so they have lost me for now. Airlines are missing a market segment by not targeting savvy purchasers with no bullship sales. In this digital ages, emails for type A,B,C and D category buyers is easy – but not done. Type A buyers never haggle – where type D buyers will only buy if they get lowest… Read more »
Its not just them. The other month I went to book a flight back to adelaide from Bali via VA website and the app gave me a much cheaper option by far…
With rental cars there is a similar discrimination, though by phone brand. My son is an iphone user, I am android. When we do the same search, we get different results on occasion. His is usually better.
Thats all well and good until their mobile app shows no fares and their mobile webpage does not let you book 😩 (although they show a lot more availablilty of different flights)
The information on the Qatar Airways site says the MOBILE2020 discount was only valid from 1-22 January 2020. So, does QR still offer lower prices when booking via mobile devices?