Also called frequent flyer programs, the Qatar loyalty program called Privilege Club comes equipped with some of the crucial benefits for passengers designed to elevate their traveling experience with perks like free flights, lounge access, priority boarding, and cabin class upgrades. 

In this guide, we will learn the loyalty program offered by Qatar Airways, and what it means for travelers.

Qatar Airways: Loyalty Program guide

Qatar offers only one main loyalty program called the Privilege Club that uses Avios as its reward currency, and Qpoints that members of the loyalty program earn based on how far and in which cabin they fly. 

Key features of Privilege Club

Qatar Airways strives hard to make traveling experience for customers seamless and more rewarding. The offering of its loyalty program called the Privilege Club is an elite frequent flyer program where members earn Avios and Qpoints for flights, travel perks, and partner spending. Among other benefits that it offers includes global airport lounge access and priority services. 

Avios and Qpoints: Understanding key nuances 

Earning Avios is the main part of this loyalty program which acts as your reward currency. These reward points are spendable, not only when you fly with Qatar but also when flying with a global network of other airlines partnered with oneworld alliance and Qatar’s independent partner airlines. 

Irrespective of the booking specific airline’s flight, if the airline is associated with an oneworld alliance, you can use your Qatar Privilege Club number to earn Avios. However, if the airline you are booking a flight with has no partnership or alliance connection with Qatar, you won't earn Avios. 

Qpoints is generally a status tracker, something that you can use to upgrade or maintain your elite tier status. In other words, the more you fly with Qatar Airways or with oneworld Alliance member airlines, the more points you will earn, which will eventually (or within a period of a year) be used to determine whether you qualify for a higher elite tier status. It is not spendable. Also to be noted is that earning points can happen only with the flights marketed and operated by Qatar flights or oneworld alliance airlines. 

What makes Privilege Club a special loyalty program?

• Earning Avios: Members of Privilege Club can treat Avios as spendable currency and earn it when they travel with Qatar Airways or oneworld partners. Earning Avios is also possible through Qatar Airways co-branded credit cards and the Card-Linked Offers feature. 
• Speciality of Avios: Qatar uses the same Avios currency as other airlines like British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair. In other words, if you earn one Avios on Qatar is equal to one Avios that you earn on other airlines like British Airways. To transfer your earned Avios from Qatar to British Airways or vice versa, you need to link your free individual loyalty account. 
• Earning Qpoints: These are nothing but status points that members of the Privilege Club accumulate over time, mostly within the period of a year. The earned Qpoints are used to determine whether the members deserve elevation to a higher elite tier status. The Qpoints can’t be spent, do not carry cash value, and are calculated based on how far and in which cabin class you have flown.

Privilege Club: List of membership tiers and benefits

Qatar Airways Privilege Club membership benefits are designed to take care of specific needs of its members in different tiers. This means the elevated status of your membership tier will determine the exclusiveness of benefits you will enjoy out of this program. 

Burgundy tier 

This is the entry-level membership status offered according to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club. This tier offers a wide range of benefits aiming to enhance the travel experience of its members. For instance, the tier allows members to earn 100% mileage for family members on all eligible flights and on non-air partner transactions, so that members can easily accumulate Avios through both travel and daily spending. 

Members can also access Flex Awards, which they can redeem when booking reward flights. Furthermore, the members of Burgundy tier get a 5% discount on seat selection and use Avios as a payment option at Qatar Duty Free and the Member Service Center. 

Note - You have to earn 150 Qpoints within a year to progress to the next membership level that is Silver.

Silver tier

The Silver tier opens the door to elite membership level in the Qatar Airways Privilege Club that offers a wider range of travel benefits than the Burgundy tier. Members of this tier are allowed to receive an excess of 5 kg baggage or one extra piece of baggage, depending on the route and airline. Earning associated with a 25% tier bonus on eligible Qatar Airways flights is also there for members, aiming to help them accumulate Avios faster. 

Some of the additional privileges that members are allowed include priority check-in, priority boarding and priority standby. Silver members will also get 100% mileage earning for family members on eligible flights, access to Flex Awards, and the ability to use Avios at Qatar Duty Free and the Member Service Center. They also get a 20% discount on seat selection and lounge access. 

Note - To keep this membership valid, you need to earn 135 Qpoints within a year or 270 Qpoints within the last 24 months before the renewal date. To upgrade to Gold membership, you need to earn 300 Qpoints within any 12 month period.

Gold tier

This is like an upgrade to premium membership level as facilitated by Qatar Airways Privilege Club. It is designed to make your traveling experience better by offering enhanced benefits. For instance, you receive a 75% tier bonus on eligible Qatar flights, helping you earn Avios faster. You get to enjoy 100% mileage earning for family members on eligible flights, apart from other perks like priority standby, access to Flex Awards, priority check-in/boarding, preferred seating and lounge access. 

As a Gold member, your entitlement comes with an additional 20 kg baggage allowance or one extra piece of baggage, depending on the route network. Members can also enjoy 40 Qpoints that can be redeemed for upgrades, excess baggage, and other services, along with access to the Al Maha meet-and-assist service, though conditional. 

Note: To retain this membership, earn270 Qpoints within the last 12 months, or earn 540 Qpoints within the last 24 months before renewal date. To upgrade to Platinum, earn 600 Qpoints within any 12 month period. 

Platinum tier

This tier is top of the food chain in membership level, offering the most comprehensive range of travel benefits to the members, enabling them to earn a 100% tier bonus on eligible Qatar Airways flights. The tier improves your Avios earning potential, apart from allowing you to receive 100% mileage earning for family members on eligible flights, priority standby, Flex Awards. You can use Avios at Qatar Duty Free and the Member Service Centre. Benefits also include priority check-in/boarding, preferred seating, lounge access, an extra 25 kg baggage allowance or two additional pieces of baggage, depending on the route. And lastly, Avios doesn’t expire. 

Note - To retain this membership, you need to earn 540 Qpoints within the last one year period or 1080 Qpoints within the last 24 months before renewal date.

Winding up

Traveling with Qatar Airways is always a delight for passengers, and you can make this more streamlined and enjoyable with the airline's loyalty program called Privilege Club. Categorized into four tiers: Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, the frequent flier program amplifies the traveling experience of passengers in the most exclusive way imaginable. In fact, in the commercial slogan of Qatar, Privilege Club conveys the essence of its viability by letting your travel lead your imagination.