Qatar Airways offers a compelling frequent flier program called the ‘Privilege Club.’ Similarly to other loyalty programs throughout the globe, members can earn loyalty points, which can then be used to redeem flights or other bonuses while flying with Qatar Airways. However, there are some unique benefits that are provided by Qatar Airways and Privilege Club.
Busiest routes:
While loyalty program benefits are plentiful, one would not be swayed to sign up to Qatar Airways Privilege Club if they were not planning on flying with the Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH)-based carrier. Similarly to the other two big airlines in the Middle East, Qatar Airways has developed its route network to connect passengers via its main – and only – hub at DOH.
Photo: MBekir | Shutterstock
Some of the most popular routes in terms of weekly flights out of DOH in May 2024 include London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Dubai International Airport (DXB), and others, according to data by the aviation analytics company Cirium.
In total, Qatar Airways serves over 170 destinations, which includes many points in the Western and Eastern hemispheres. In May, the airline will have 1,811 weekly flights out of its DOH hub, resulting in 502,370 seats and 2.3 billion available seat kilometers (ASK), meaning that there is plenty of capacity on offer wherever a traveler might be inclined to go. As a result, there are a lot of opportunities to earn Avios as well as spend the currency on potential upgrades to get to a destination while saving cash.
Qatar Airways is developing a new first class concept.
Skytrax awards in 2023:
Another similarity between the airlines in the Gulf is that all have heavily invested in their onboard product, which includes the cabin, service, and seats, especially the more premium cabins. As such, carriers like Qatar Airways have earned plenty of rewards for their cabins throughout history. While the objectivity of the awards could be questioned, there is little doubt that joining Privilege Club will grant easier access to getting upgrades to business class on a Qatar Airways flight.
Photo: VanderWolf Images / Shutterstock
According to the airline, passengers can use Avios to upgrade their tickets and secure a place in the business class cabin. Describing the seat, Qatar Airways said that its Qsuites have a fully lie-flat bed, dine-on-demand service, and many more incredible perks for passengers to enjoy while flying.
Take advantage of the various ways to upgrade to business class on your next Qatar Airways flight.
Exchange rate:
In March 2022, Qatar Airways adopted Avios as the currency for Privilege Club, converting its older loyalty currency on a 1:1 basis to Avios. At the time, Akbar Al Baker, the now-former chief executive officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, remarked that the transition marked a new era for the loyalty program, which allows its members to participate in the most compelling loyalty network in the industry.
“As the World’s Best Airline, Qatar Airways continues to redefine loyalty through the adoption of exciting digital innovations to create unique world-class experiences for our members.”
Photo: Qatar Airways
Nevertheless, British Airways Executive Club says that through the unique 2-way ‘Combine my Avios,’ it is easy to move Avios where customers need them, even if it is just moving a single point of the currency. The move is very simple once members connect their British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club accounts.
Earning Avios from flights is still distance-based, plus there are other ways to earn.
While the other big airlines in the Gulf are not members of an alliance, Qatar Airways has been part of oneworld since 2013, celebrating over ten years of its membership as a fully-fledged member. Being part of an alliance brings many benefits to Privilege Club members, including granting top members access to more than 600 lounges globally.
Other benefits include earning Avios on all oneworld flights, with Privilege Club status being recognized as oneworld Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald status, with the only exception being Privilege Club Burgundy. The lowest tier of Qatar Airways’ loyalty program, apart from the ability to earn Avios and Qpoints on oneworld flights and the redemption of Avios on all of the alliance’s flights, has no other benefits.
Akbar Al Baker, who recently resigned as the CEO of Qatar Airways, serves as the chairman of oneworld.
Non-oneworld airline highlights:
In addition to the oneworld airlines, Qatar Airways Privilege Club offers opportunities to earn Avios on other carriers that are not part of the alliance. This includes airlines such as JetBlue, LATAM Airlines, Virgin Australia, RwandAir, and Bangkok Airways.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
Not only do these partnerships expand the global reach of Qatar Airways, but they also facilitate Privilege Club members to earn Avios while traveling through an even larger network of destinations, which includes North America, Latin America, and Australia.
Qatar Airways is now JetBlue’s most significant internationally-based partner.
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