Qatar Airways Privilege Club: How to earn and redeem Avios points
Qatar Airways is regarded as one of the most luxurious airlines available, and rightfully so; it has set the gold standard in air travel. In the years 2023-2024, Qatar Airways flew more than 40 million passengers, solidifying its stature as one of the world’s best airlines. There is a reason many fly with the Airways, and that is because Qatar Airways provides its travelers much more than merely a seat on an airplane. And it provides wonderful perks to its frequent flyers.
So if you are a frequent traveler, become a member of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club to fly in style. In this blog, we are going to explore how to become a part of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club and how to use the Avios points. Continue reading to know more.
What is Qatar Airways Privilege Club?
Qatar Airways Privilege Club is a frequent flyer loyalty program. If you sign up for this program, you can get exclusive benefits. Every time you book a flight with Qatar Airways or its oneworld Airlines, or with Qatar Airways' airline partners, you earn Avios points. It is the reward currency you can use to redeem all the member benefits. You can use these points to book your next flight, get cabin upgrades, or enjoy duty-free shopping.
What is Avios?
Avios is a globally known travel rewards currency accepted by a number of well-known airlines in their rewards programs. They can be cashed in for flight reservations or upgrades. Avios can be redeemed for benefits when shopping using Qatar Airways Partners. The following are some of the airlines that accept Avios in their programs.
Airlines Using Avios
- British Airways
- Iberia
- Aer Lingus
- Vueling
- Qatar Airways
- Finnair
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- China Southern
- Fiji Airways
- Japan Airlines
- Latam Airlines
- Loganair
- Malaysia Airlines
- Royal Jordanian
- Srilankan Airlines
- Royal Air Maroc
What are QPoints?
Qpoints are Qatar Airways' loyalty currency. But while Avios is a flexible reward currency that is used by other airlines as well, QPoints is used by Qatar Airways to track your progress in the membership program. These points determine which tier of the loyalty program you will belong to. You can earn QPoints with Qatar Airways only, and its oneworld partner airlines. Qpoints are status points that determine which tier of the program you will belong to, whereas Avios points are reward points for various frequent flyer programs.
How to Join Qatar Airways Privilege Club?
Joining the Qatar Airways Privilege Club is easy. Follow the steps mentioned below to become a Privilege Club Member.
- Go to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club page
- You will get an option to select between the Privilege Club and the Student Club
- Click on the Privilege Club and enter your email address.
- Enter your details like name, date of birth, nationality, and create a password.
- Once it’s done, click on "Submit, and you will become part of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
How to Earn Avios Points?
Members of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club can earn Avios points by taking various actions. We have shared a few activities you can do as a member to earn these points
- Fly with Qatar Airways: Book your flights directly on the Qatar Airways website or app and earn Avios points for every booking. The accrual rate varies depending on your ticket, distance, and cabin class. Higher classes and pricier tickets earn more Avios.
- Bonus Promotions: Occasionally, new members are entitled to earn a bonus joining fee with their initial flight. Qatar Airways also has special offers for new joiners from time to time, so be on the lookout for this offer during your enrollment period.
- Book with Partner airlines: Earn Avios by flying with oneworld airlines and other airline partners of Qatar Airways. You can earn Avios if you book tickets with British Airways, American Airlines, Finnair, and other partner airlines as well.
- Transfer Points from Other frequent flyer programs: As mentioned before, Avios is used by other major airlines too. So, you can transfer your Avios from other programs to Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
- Exclusive partner brands: Qatar Airways has various partner brands, like Accor and British Airways. Every time you shop from these partner brands, you can earn Avios. For example, every time you rent a car from Avis or Hertz, you earn Avios. You can also shop at select Qatar Airways shopping portals or airports to earn Avios.
- Transfer credit card points: Major credit card companies like Citi and American Express also allow you to transfer your credit card points to the Privilege Club at a 1:1 ratio. Check your credit card benefits to know more.
- Join the family program: You can join the family program and pool all your collections and use them for faster rewards. Join the Privilege Club and then nominate your family members to join the program.
| TIP: If you are at the Hamad International Airport, you can shop duty-free at over 180 retail and dining options. Get access to the Louis Vuitton Lounge or shop at ORCHARD and get an elite travel experience. |
Qatar Airways Elite Status Tiers and Benefits
Qatar Airways Privilege Club has four elite status tiers: Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The higher your membership tier is, the more benefits you will enjoy. To be included in the tiers, you will need to have earned at least 20% of your QPoints or flown 4 sectors (within 12 months prior to retention) or 8 sectors (within 24 months prior to retention) on flights marketed and operated by Qatar Airways. Here is a breakdown of the various tiers and their benefits:
| Tier | Benefits | Points Needed |
| Burgundy | 100% mileage per family member on all flights eligible, flexi awards, save 10% on seat selection, Shop and pay with Avios at the Qatar Duty Free and Member service center | Earn 150 Qpoints within any 12 month period. |
| Silver | All Burgundy benefits + 15kg extra baggage allowance, 25% tier bonus on eligible flights, priority stand-by, flexi-awards, priority check-in, priority boarding, lounge access, and 20% on seat selection | Earn 135 points within 12 months to retain Silver and earn 300 Qpoints to upgrade to Gold |
| Gold | All Silver benefits + 75% tier bonus on eligible flights, preferred seats, 20kg extra baggage allowance, 40 QCredits to redeem for upgrades, excess baggage, Al Maha "meet and assist service | Earn 270 points within the last 12 months to retain Gold, and earn 600 Qpoints to upgrade to Platinum |
| Platinum | All Gold Benefits + 100% tier bonus on eligible flights, 25kg extra baggage allowance, 60 QCredits for upgrades, excess baggage and more, No Avios expiry | Earn 540 points within the last 12 months to retain the Platinum tier. |
How to Redeem the Avios Points?
The Avios points you earn can be used to redeem a bunch of benefits like award flights, cabin upgrades, and more. Here are some ways you can redeem your points:
Book Award Flights
Avios can be used to redeem award flights on Finnair, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and their associated partner airlines. One can redeem award flights with Avios alone or with a mixture of Avios and cash. These flights can be booked on the airline’s sites directly. When you book the flight, on the payment screen, you can choose the option to pay through a combination of Avios and cash or Avios alone.
Get Cabin Upgrades
Avios can be used not only to book award flights but also for cabin upgrades. You can upgrade your flight to a luxurious business or first class. Please remember that upgrades can be made online until 2 hours prior to departure or at the check-in desk until 1 hour before departure. You can use cash + Avios to part-pay for your upgrade.
| TIP: Try to mix cash + Avios to cover the fare if you don't have enough points, allowing for more flexible redemption. But if you want to buy the points, you can do so as well. You must be a member of the specific program in order to purchase Avios. Check which method offers you more value and do that. |
Book Holidays with Avios
Avios is also used by members to book their packages for holidays. You can earn even more if you book travel packages with flights, hotels, and tours. Apart from earning Avios, you also get QPoints for each package. You earn 1 Qpoint for every $100 spent on a package. Occasionally, there are promotions like collect 3X Avios on holiday package bookings. Search for any current package deals and get the most out of your vacation.
Duty Free Shopping at Hamad
If you are going to Hamad International Airport, then you can shop duty-free. You just need to download the Qatar Airways application and enter your Privilege Club account. Go to any duty-free stores at the airport. Show your membership card and boarding pass on payment, and then you can purchase the products accordingly.
Additional Benefits
Qatar Airways has other partners like American Airlines, Avis, Caesars Foods, etc. You can use Avios to purchase from these partners as well. For example, you can use Avios when shopping at these partners, or you can rent a car using the points. You can use Avios to book stays, car rentals, pay dinner bills, shop, and more. If you want to save more on your flights, GrabOn has exciting deals on Qatar Airways that you can use. Explore these offers, and use them to save more on your next travel adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to retain the silver tier at Qatar Airways?
To keep Silver status, you need to earn 135 Qpoints in the last 12 months or 270 Qpoints in the last 24 months before your renewal date. You must earn at least 20% of those Qpoints on Qatar Airways flights, or complete at least 4 Qatar Airways flights in 12 months, or 8 in 24 months. If you don't meet these rules, your tier will be downgraded to Burgundy.
What is the difference between QPoints and Avios?
As previously noted, Qpoints are Qatar Airways status points. You get Qpoints each time you fly with Qatar Airways or partner airlines that are eligible. Qpoints assist in reaching or maintaining Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels. Be aware that they can’t be used to spend. But Avios are reward points. You earn Avios on flights, shopping, hotels, and so forth. Avios may also be used to claim several benefits, such as award flights, upgrades, and shopping.
Is Qatar Privilege Club the same as Avios?
No, Qatar Privilege Club is the loyalty program of Qatar Airways, and Avios is the name of the reward currency you earn and spend within Privilege Club (and other programs like British Airways Executive Club).
Is it free to join the Qatar Airways Privilege Club?
Yes, you can join the Qatar Airways Privilege Club for free. But you need to earn Qpoints to move up the tiers and enjoy the benefits.
Wrapping Up
If you fly frequently and want to enjoy premier benefits, Qatar Airways Privilege Club is a stellar choice. There is no sign-up fee, making it easy to join. The program offers a rich earning potential of Avios points, which you can use to redeem rewards. You can use your Avios to upgrade flights, book award tickets, shop, or enjoy luxury holiday packages. Additionally, the elite tier benefits provide priority services, lounge access, extra baggage allowance, and more. Sign up today and upgrade your travel experience with Qatar Airways Privilege Club!
