Got QR's newsletter today, where the following was stated:
Service fee:
Effective 1 May 2017, in addition to the applicable Privilege Club Award fee, a service fee will apply for the below services offered at any Qatar Airways City office, Airport office or Contact Centres.
New Award (Qatar Airways or partner airlines) ticket: A minimum of USD.25 per ticket or higher will apply, depending on the country where it is issued.
Change to an existing Award (Qatar Airways or partner airlines) ticket: A minimum of USD.10 per ticket or higher will apply, depending on the country where it is issued.
Award upgrade: A minimum of USD.10 per ticket or higher will apply, depending on the country where it is issued.
Award tickets for First Class are not available on our A380 services to or from London. Business or First Class award flight requests are not valid for infants (below 2 years).
Is it something that community already knew for some time and I just missed it?
While such fees are not unheard of, it looks like, contrary to other reward programmes, there is no way to avoid those (either by means of status or by booking on-line when possible, etc.).