Article: How to Use Qatar Airways Avios

[AFF Editor]

Amex Membership Rewards points can now be transferred to Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 2:1 rate.

Our guide explains what you can do with QR Avios:

How to Use Qatar Airways Avios

Australians can now transfer Amex Points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club! We explain how to redeem Qatar Airways Avios for award flights and upgrades.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Human]

Thanks for another helpful and practical article. Unfortunately the partner airline award table you've included is the old, out-of-date one. The page from Qatar's website you've linked to also seems to be out of date as it contains the old award table.

This link takes you to the page on Qatar's website with the new table.

 

[levelnine]

Thanks for another helpful and practical article. Unfortunately the partner airline award table you've included is the old, out-of-date one. The page from Qatar's website you've linked to also seems to be out of date as it contains the old award table.

This link takes you to the page on Qatar's website with the new table.

That's right. Qatar recently changed their partner award table to align with that of BA. Much more attractive now.

 

[AFF Editor]

Thanks for another helpful and practical article. Unfortunately the partner airline award table you've included is the old, out-of-date one. The page from Qatar's website you've linked to also seems to be out of date as it contains the old award table.

This link takes you to the page on Qatar's website with the new table.

Thanks - you're quite right. Looks like Qatar's own website still links to the old chart, and I somehow missed this when putting together the article. This is now fixed.

 

[Gold Member]

Nice work Matt.

Considering how many folks here status matched to QR Platinum and still hold that status, it’s worth noting that QR Gold and Platinum members receive a 5% discount on miles required for award bookings if booked via the QR platform (but not BA).

 

[mel1]

Timely for me, as we have many Amex points. Do Avios expire? I was looking at Sydney-Doha first class (playing around with dates a year in advance) and could not see any seats at all. Do they release any 1st class seats for points?

 

[dsotm]

I'm only seeing flights from MEL to LHR as 180,000 Avios for J. I can't find any 90K redemption flights. Is Qatar interpreting flights as 2 x 90K sectors now?

 

[levelnine]

I'm only seeing flights from MEL to LHR as 180,000 Avios for J. I can't find any 90K redemption flights. Is Qatar interpreting flights as 2 x 90K sectors now?

The green banner with Q2 indicates it is a flexi award, which is double the price of a regular award.

You need to find a regular award. They are out there.

 

[dsotm]

The green banner with Q2 indicates it is a flexi award, which is double the price of a regular award.

You need to find a regular award. They are out there.

Okay, I wonder if those regular awards are going to become rarer once the flood of Avios start coming in from AmEx holders?

 

[levelnine]

Okay, I wonder if those regular awards are going to become rarer once the flood of Avios start coming in from AmEx holders?

Almost certainly.

There are plenty of tips & tricks to find them though. One is to focus on the period before Velocity gets access to Qatar awards. That eliminates a major source of competition for the seats.

 

[dsotm]

Almost certainly.

There are plenty of tips & tricks to find them though. One is to focus on the period before Velocity gets access to Qatar awards. That eliminates a major source of competition for the seats.

Maybe the problem is I'm looking at June/July next year. The Paris Olympics may be putting a lot of demand UK and European availability.

 

[Mattg]

Timely for me, as we have many Amex points. Do Avios expire?

Avios only expire if you have no activity in your account for 3 years.

I was looking at Sydney-Doha first class (playing around with dates a year in advance) and could not see any seats at all. Do they release any 1st class seats for points?

They do - these are obviously tricky to find, but seats are out there.

 

[Bringa]

Love the work Matt, missing the podcast.

The article states reward seats are available 355 days before but Brandon Leo on Points Hack in December 22 said 361. Which is it? Anyone know what time they’re released here in Australia? midnight 355 days before or midnight UTC?

 

[Mattg]

The article states reward seats are available 355 days before but Brandon Leo on Points Hack in December 22 said 361. Which is it?

Qatar Airways releases Flexi awards around 361 days out, but the "saver" awards are only made available 355 days out.

 

[Bringa]

Qatar Airways releases Flexi awards around 361 days out, but the "saver" awards are only made available 355 days out.

Thanks for that Mattg, SQ would release theirs midnight UTC is it the same with Qatar?

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for that Mattg, SQ would release theirs midnight UTC is it the same with Qatar?

Not sure, sorry. If you want to know, you could check for the release of seats at different times of the day.

 

[djkelly69]

Are QR Saver awards the ones which don't come with lounge access and/or some other benefits?

 

[levelnine]

Are QR Saver awards the ones which don't come with lounge access and/or some other benefits?

No, those are paid fares (business lite). All award fares get full business class benefits.

 

[Bringa]

Avios only expire if you have no activity in your account for 3 years.

Is transferring points classed as activity?
Just received an email from AMEX offering an additional 20% on transfers but and don't want to get stuck as I have a few in SQ and already booked next year.
I am reading the Qatar page and it looks like accrual / redemption will restart the 3 years.

 

[Hunter4vr]

Is it me or has Qatar drastically reduced their saver reward availability? Pretty much every day now is a Flex Award, this wasn't the case a week ago.