The stopover as part of the trip
Qatar Airways and Emirates publish stopover programmes with reduced hotel rates for passengers in transit. Two or three days in the Gulf on the way to the Maldives, India or Japan go on the same ticket.
The house view
Doha is 11,858 kilometres from Guarulhos and Dubai 12,218. Both have nonstop flights from São Paulo, and both work as a destination and as a connection to Asia, India and the Indian Ocean.
Qatar Airways flies from Guarulhos to Doha, and Emirates links São Paulo to Dubai with the A380. On Qatar, the Qsuite, the airline's business cabin with a closing door, is not on every flight of the route: it depends on the aircraft, which is checked on the date before issuing.
Both airlines run stopover programmes, with reduced hotel rates for those who stop a few days on the way to Asia. The Gulf network has been changing with the regional situation, and each flight's operation is confirmed before ticketing.
Cabins
Qatar Airways Qsuite and Emirates Business
Published reference
R$ 17k to R$ 30k
Below published
25% to 45%
What is included
- 11,858 km to Doha and 12,218 km to Dubai
- Nonstop flights to both cities
- Gulf stopover on the way to Asia
- Written proposal within 24 business hours
How the price comes down
Four levers specific to this route.
These are not general techniques. They are the ones that work on this city pair, because of how the network is drawn and the published rules of the airlines that fly it.
The aircraft decides the cabin
On Qatar, the Qsuite depends on the aircraft. The choice of departure takes that into account, because the same fare can buy different products.
Doha against Dubai
The two airlines compete for the same passenger to Asia. The comparison is made on the same date, to the final destination, not on the sector to the Gulf.
The Gulf calendar
Winter is high season at the destination, with mild weather. Summer is hot and cheaper to stay, but it coincides with the July holidays in Brazil, which push up the flight.
The route year
When the price rises, and when it gives.
The published fare is not the same all year, and the availability of the lower fare classes changes with it. This is the general shape of the year on this route.
PeriodWhat happensEffect on price
January and FebruaryGulf winter, mild weatherHigh season at the destination, with the outbound expensive because of holidays in Brazil
March to MayEnd of the mild season, heat startingA good window
June to AugustExtreme summer heat and July holidays in BrazilCheap hotels at the destination, expensive flight in July
September and OctoberHeat easingThe best window for travellers continuing to Asia
NovemberStart of Gulf high seasonPrices rising, low fare classes still open
DecemberHigh season at the destination, Christmas and New YearPeak, and the one period when buying early is mandatory
This is the typical pattern for the route, not a forecast. Events, holidays and schedule changes alter the picture, which is why the quote is made for your date, not for the month.
Questions
What people ask before booking.
How much is a business class ticket from São Paulo to Doha and Dubai?
The published market reference sits between R$ 17k and R$ 30k for a round trip with taxes, in high season and bought late. On this route, the best fares we usually reach are 25% to 45% below published. The exact figure comes in the written quote, for your date.
Which airlines fly business class from São Paulo to the Gulf?
Qatar Airways to Doha and Emirates to Dubai, both nonstop. On Qatar, the Qsuite depends on the aircraft of the flight, checked on the date before issuing.
How does the Gulf stopover work?
Qatar Airways and Emirates publish programmes for those who stop a few days in the city on the way to another destination, with reduced hotel rates. Conditions change by season and fare, and they go into the quote when they fit the itinerary.
Doha or Dubai to reach Asia?
It depends on the final destination and the date. Both cover Asia, India and the Indian Ocean well. The comparison is made to the final city, and the difference usually lies in the connection time and the cabin on each sector.
All routes
The flights page has the full table.
Twelve routes with the published reference and the range of our best fares, the six aircraft categories, and the ticket rules explained line by line.