The Birthday Email That Sent Me on an Umrah Daydream

🎂 The Birthday Email That Sent Me on an Umrah Daydream

It started with a simple “ping” in my inbox.

Subject: It’s your birthday! Time to celebrate.

It was from Qatar Airways Privilege Club — complete with a warm birthday wish and a gift: a 10% discount code valid for any destination in their growing network. The catch? I had to book within the next 90 days.

My traveller’s heart skipped a beat.

“Book within the next 90 days using code BPxxxxx,” it said.

And just like that… my mind started wandering.

Hunting for the Best Fare

I went straight to my affiliate Qatar Airways booking link and started searching.

Most months were over RM3,000 — but November? I spotted something right around RM3,000.

With my 10% discount, I could bring it down to RM2,600–RM2,800.

And this wasn’t a no-frills deal — it came with full-service perks:

✅ Free cancellation within 24 hours
✅ Checked baggage: 25 kg
✅ Hand baggage: 7 kg
✅ Eligible for Avios upgrades

The First Dream – A Doha Stopover

That’s when another thought popped into my head: If I’m already flying Qatar Airways… why not make the most of it?

A Doha stopover — wandering along the Corniche, visiting the Museum of Islamic Art, getting lost in the souks with a steaming cup of karak tea.

The questions started bubbling:

• What’s the visa requirement for Qatar?
• Should I explore Doha before or after Umrah?
• After Doha, should I fly into Jeddah and begin my Umrah journey?

Planning the Umrah Flow

The big question — Madinah or Makkah first?

If I travel light, I could skip bringing my ihram from Malaysia. That way, I could land in Madinah first for ziarah, buy my ihram there, and then head to Makkah.

My decisions to make:

• How many days in Madinah? (My trip is 1–16 November, minus Doha days.)
• Attractions in Madinah: Quba Mosque, Uhud Mountain, Qiblatain Mosque.
• Travel to Makkah: Haramain High-Speed Railway for speed and comfort, or bus for a slower scenic ride.

If going by train, the miqat would be Dhul Hulaifah (Bir Ali) — perfect for making niat before the journey.

In Makkah

My plan? To pray as close to the Kaabah as possible.

I’ve heard men without ihram might be restricted from the immediate Kaabah area, so performing multiple Umrahs could give me more time for doa in front of the Multazam.

Planning Tools & Comforts

• Hotels: HalalBooking.com for stays near the Haramain.
• Connectivity: Airalo eSIM — no queues for local SIM cards.

Must-See Along the Journey

Doha:

• Souq Waqif – a maze of traditional shops and cafes
• Museum of Islamic Art – priceless artefacts, stunning views
• The Pearl-Qatar – luxury shops, waterfront dining
• Corniche Promenade – perfect for sunset walks
• Katara Cultural Village – art, music, heritage

Madinah:

• Masjid Nabawi – the Prophet’s Mosque
• Quba Mosque – the first mosque in Islam
• Qiblatain Mosque – where the qiblah changed
• Mount Uhud – site of the historic battle
• Dar Al Madinah Museum – stories of the Prophet’s era

Makkah:

• Masjid al-Haram – the Kaabah, tawaf, sa’i
• Jabal al-Nour – Cave Hira, where revelation began  
• Jabal Thawr – Cave where the Prophet hid during hijrah  
• Zamzam Well – drink from its blessed water  
• Mina, Arafah, Muzdalifah – significant Hajj landmarks  

The Temptation of Avios – and a Little Upgrade Daydream

Another thought kept tugging at me — should I redeem Avios points?

Qatar Airways offers “Cash + Avios” to part-pay a ticket. But the real temptation?

Using Avios to upgrade my return flight to Business Class.

The fare difference from Economy to Business is around RM3,500 — only a little over a thousand more than my economy ticket. With points, it might just happen.

Dreaming in Qsuite Comfort

Picture this: after days of walking Makkah’s marble courtyards, exploring Madinah’s streets, and wandering Doha’s souks, I board my flight home… not to a cramped seat, but to Qsuite — Qatar Airways’ award-winning Business Class.

• A private suite with a sliding door.
• A fully flat bed.
• White linen table service with warm Arabic bread, mezze, and fresh coffee at 35,000 feet.

It’s not just a seat — it’s a final chapter. A way to let the journey linger just a little longer.

✈️ Why Join Qatar Airways Privilege Club?

If your travel heart is beating faster reading this, take it as a sign.

Joining Qatar Airways Privilege Club is free — and you’ll earn Avios not just when flying, but also on hotels, car rentals, and shopping with partners.

With Avios, you can:

• Lower your ticket cost with Cash + Avios
• Pay for a flight entirely with points, without touching your wallet  
• Upgrade to Business or First Class and arrive in absolute comfort  
• Enjoy perks like lounge access, priority boarding, and extra baggage (as you climb membership tiers)

Sometimes, the journey isn’t just about where you go — it’s how you get there, and how you feel at the end.

💡 Tip: Read my full guide — How to Maximize Qatar Airways' Privilege Club in 2025 — for insider strategies to earn and redeem faster.

What I See in My Mind

• Doha’s skyline glowing at sunset
• The green dome of Masjid Nabawi after Maghrib
• The Kaabah under soft Fajr light
• Turquoise Red Sea as the plane descends into Jeddah

It all began with one small birthday email… and now my head is full of routes, sacred sites, and coffee by the Corniche.

So, what would you do? Book it now… or keep dreaming a little longer?