Qatar, Etihad and Gulf Air fare sales - ending soon

Three of the Middle-East based airlines are currently running fare sales. While Qatar's and Etihad's sales end on 5 and 6 September 2016 respectively (yeah, in a couple of days), Gulf Air's sale has only just begun. Here is more info on these sales, from an ex-India perspective.

Qatar's Travel Festival

Qatar's running a Travel Festival sale, offering up to 50% discounts on various routes, in business and economy classes. What's more, sales during this period will also earn 3x Qmiles, on Qatar's Privilege Club frequent flyer program. Book by 5 September, travel between 15 September 2016 and 30 June 2017.

The sale offers discounts for one-person travel, and special fares when you travel in groups of 2 or 3 persons. Children under 12 travel for free when accompanied by an adult, but this additional offer is only for economy class travel.

There are blackout dates between 15 December 2016 and 10 January 2017. Additional blackout dates apply in some countries.

Here are some indicative fares ex-India.

You can access this sale here.

Etihad's Explore a World of Experiences Sale

Etihad is running a global sale as well, offering up to 50% discounts for bookings done by 4 September 2016, for travel between 18 September 2016 and 30 June 2017. 

We've also written earlier today about ex-US fares to India and the Indian sub-continent under this promotion.

Etihad claims that discounts up to 40% are available under this promotion. You can access this promotion here, as also the T&Cs.

When you scroll down the promotions page, there's a list of fare offers that are available under this promotion. 

Blackout period applies for below:

• Outbound Date: 12 August – 10 September 2016, 02 January – 17 January, 2017
• Inbound Date: 10 December – 25 December 2016, 23 June – 08 July 2016, 08 September – 10 September 2016 and 08 December – 22 December 2016.

Gulf Air Sale Season up to 75% off

Finally, Gulf Air is running a sale starting today, valid for bookings by 15 September 2016, for travel between 15 September and 10 December 2016. 

This sale is available for travel in economy and business class. However, it is restricted to Gulf Air flights alone, and not to partner airlines.

There appear to be no black-out periods / dates for travel under this offer (which is logical, since the travel period ends 10 Decemeber 2016).

You can access this sale here.

Bottom line

I have some upcoming travel to Europe, so I checked out fares under all of these sales. However, none of them really worked that well for me, and I was not able to get anywhere close to the maximum possible discount. However, depending on your route and travel dates, you may get lucky with some great fares.

Pro tip: If you're OK to position yourself into and out of Colombo (CMB), then Qatar's Sri Lanka website offers some really good fares (though the promotion is for up to 45% discount, and not 50%). You can get into Colombo on Sri Lankan, which is also a oneWorld airline (same as Qatar).

Readers: Did you find any reasonably good fares under any of these sales? Do let us know in the comments below.