Qatar Airways Reverses Strict Avios Booking Restrictions

Qatar Airways has reversed some of the most restrictive changes it introduced to its Privilege Club loyalty program a few months ago. These changes provide significant flexibility for members who want to redeem Avios to book flights for others.

Here’s a look at what has changed with Privilege Club and how you use your Avios going forward.

Qatar Airways Backtracks on Avios Booking Restrictions

Earlier this year, Qatar Airways introduced some new restrictions on who Privilege Club members could book award travel for. Under those restrictions, Privilege Club members could only book award flights for people on their designated “My List.”

Members also previously needed to have qualifying activity in their accounts, such as earning Avios by crediting a flight to Qatar Airways or a partner airline, or receiving an eligible transaction through a co-branded credit card.

After some backlash, Qatar Airways backtracked on some of its Avios booking policy, though only for its top-tier elite members.

Now, those requirements have largely been eliminated. According to Qatar Airways’s updated terms, the only restriction listed for adding someone to your “My List” is that your Privilege Club account must have been created at least 30 days prior.

What This Means for Qatar Privilege Club Travelers

For most Privilege Club members, this is welcome news. Travelers can once again redeem Avios for award flights for others with far fewer hurdles.

These changes are particularly significant for members who like to transfer flexible credit card points, like Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou Points, to Qatar Airways Privilege Club for award travel.

Under the old restrictions, Privilege Club members could not immediately redeem transferred points for award travel unless they had completed a qualifying activity. Though that requirement is gone, travelers will still need to be aware of the 30-day account requirement when planning award travel. Creating an account now, if you don’t have one, is a smart move so your account will be ready for redemptions when the time comes.

Final Thoughts

Qatar Airways has backtracked on its Avios booking policy, making it much simpler for Privilege Club members to redeem Avios for others. Previously, members needed some qualifying activity; thankfully, that restriction has been eliminated.

Now, the only requirement to add someone to your “My List” is that your Privilege Club account must have been created at least 30 days ago. By removing the older, stricter requirements, Qatar Airways has restored much of the flexibility that made its Avios program one of the more compelling award programs.