Qatar Airways Backtracks on Avios Booking Restrictions — But Only for Elite Members

Qatar Airways is partially reversing one of the most unpopular changes it made to its Privilege Club loyalty program last month.

After introducing strict new rules that limited who Privilege Club members could book award flights for using Avios, Qatar Airways has now confirmed that its top-tier elite members will be exempt from the restrictions.

While the move is a step in the right direction, it still leaves the vast majority of Privilege Club members subject to the new booking rules. Here’s everything you need to know about this change.

Qatar Airways Eases (but Doesn’t Eliminate) Avios Booking Rules

Last month, Qatar Airways introduced a policy limiting Privilege Club award bookings to the account holder and people enrolled in the airline’s “My List” program.

The list came with several restrictive conditions, including account age requirements, qualifying activity, account requirements, and a 6-month period before members can be removed.

The changes sparked criticism from frequent flyers because they effectively ended the long-standing ability to redeem Avios for friends, colleagues, or extended family members at short notice.

Now, Qatar Airways has backtracked a bit — though only for elite members. According to Qatar Airways’s updated terms, Gold and Platinum Privilege Club members are exempt from these restrictions.

Unfortunately, Silver and Burgundy members, who account for the majority of the program’s membership, must still comply with the new eligibility rules.

What This Means for Qatar Privilege Club Travelers

For elite members, the update bears good news. Frequent Qatar Airways flyers who hold Gold or Platinum status can continue using their Avios as they always have — and do so without worrying about maintaining preapproved traveler lists. However, this backtracking doesn’t help the vast majority of travelers.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club members who frequently book awards for family members and friends will need to plan well ahead by creating eligible lists and ensuring each traveler meets Qatar Airways’ requirements. Last-minute award bookings for someone outside those lists are effectively no longer possible.

The change also reduces one of the biggest advantages of transferable Avios currencies. Because Avios can be transferred between programs like British Airways Club, Club Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, many travelers transferred points to Qatar specifically to book premium cabin awards for others. Those transfers now offer less flexibility unless the account holder has elite status.

Final Thoughts

After some backlash, Qatar Airways has slightly backtracked on its Avios booking policy, though the good news is limited to Gold and Platinum members. While this is a tangible improvement for the program’s most elite members, the broader restrictions remain in place for all other members.

Unless you’re a top-tier Privilege Club member, redeeming Avios for others remains more complicated than it was just a few weeks ago. These changes make advance planning more important than ever for anyone hoping to maximize the value of their points.