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Carissa Rawson
Senior Content Contributor
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Who’s tired of trying to track down miles that never posted? Or worse — fight with the airline that’s insisting your flight never occurred?
That’ll no longer be a problem with Qatar Airways, as a new change from the carrier means that it’ll credit the miles you earn before you fly.
Privilege Club members will also have the ability to earn and redeem Avios on purchases in the carrier’s home base at Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha.
Let’s take a look at all the details.
Different airlines have different rules when it comes to crediting your flights. Some will award them as soon as you land, while others reserve the right to take more time.
This can be especially true when you fly with 1 airline and want to credit the miles earned from that flight to a partner carrier. However, this is the first time that an airline has chosen to award you your miles before you actually get on the plane.
From now on, Qatar Airways passengers who have already checked into their flights will now earn miles 2 hours before taking off.
Why is this important? Well, it’s nice to know for sure that your flights are being credited. In addition, this can make a big difference for redemptions or upgrades, especially if you’re close to booking an award.
Hot Tip: Learn more about the Qatar Airways Privilege Club in our full review of the program.
Along with the ability to receive your flight miles before flying comes the ability to earn and redeem Avios when spending at Doha (DOH) airport. While we aren’t personally the type of people to spend a lot in the airport (especially when the lounge is right there) this presents a great opportunity to double-dip on earnings, especially when paired with a good credit card.
Here’s what the earning rate looks like:
As we mentioned, you can also choose to spend your Avios on your purchases (thank goodness they’ll already be in your account), though the ratio isn’t great:
Note that those who have elite status with Qatar Airways can benefit from this a little more as they’ll receive a discount based on their status level:
While this isn’t groundbreaking news, it is a nice development for those flying with Qatar Airways. The ability to earn your miles before takeoff represents an improvement over other airlines’ policies, while the option to earn and redeem those Avios at the airport in Doha is the cherry on top.
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Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.
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