Qatar newbie confused by Avios...please help
Jul 13, 2023, 6:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 13
Qatar newbie confused by Avios...please help
I'm a bit confused by Avios/Qatar. We have Amex and Mastercard points which we can send to Qatar. Am I joining their Privilege Club (as per KrisFlyer with SIA) or do I need to join Avios, or both?
Looking at flying Sydney-Doha 2024 using points (hopefully first class!). Are seats released 11 months out as per other airlines? Do their points expire? (Sorry, I've tried searching the threads but nothing clear comes up) TIA
Looking at flying Sydney-Doha 2024 using points (hopefully first class!). Are seats released 11 months out as per other airlines? Do their points expire? (Sorry, I've tried searching the threads but nothing clear comes up) TIA
Jul 13, 2023, 11:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,313
You join Qatar Airways Privilege Club where you can earn and spend Avios, which is their currency equivalent to KrisFlyer Miles.
You can do a dummy booking to determine seat release and it looks closer to a full year. At the moment I can see up to 9th July 2024. This is for general release and there is no guarantee that award seats will be released. Often you will find on popular routes and/or at peak times that no award seats will be released as QR realises they can be sold for cash which is much more preferable to them.
Avios do expire after three years, but any earning or spending re-starts the three year clock.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Priv...lessAvios.html
You can do a dummy booking to determine seat release and it looks closer to a full year. At the moment I can see up to 9th July 2024. This is for general release and there is no guarantee that award seats will be released. Often you will find on popular routes and/or at peak times that no award seats will be released as QR realises they can be sold for cash which is much more preferable to them.
Avios do expire after three years, but any earning or spending re-starts the three year clock.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Priv...lessAvios.html
Jul 14, 2023, 1:49 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,062
Avios are the frequent flyer currency of QR Privilege Club ffp.
Avios are also used by BA, IB & IE. Each ffp has different rules. Subject to t&c's avios can be transferred between BA-IB-IE-QR-avios.com. BA forum has threads on transfer,
You can earn avios flying QF Qantas in Australia. Crediting as BA avois can be a lot better the QR Qatar avios. Some QF flights to QR avois are poor earners.
You can earn QR avios flying VA Virgin Australia in Australia. QR & VA are now ff partners.
Avios are also used by BA, IB & IE. Each ffp has different rules. Subject to t&c's avios can be transferred between BA-IB-IE-QR-avios.com. BA forum has threads on transfer,
You can earn avios flying QF Qantas in Australia. Crediting as BA avois can be a lot better the QR Qatar avios. Some QF flights to QR avois are poor earners.
You can earn QR avios flying VA Virgin Australia in Australia. QR & VA are now ff partners.
Jul 15, 2023, 1:18 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 13
thanks
You join Qatar Airways Privilege Club where you can earn and spend Avios, which is their currency equivalent to KrisFlyer Miles.
You can do a dummy booking to determine seat release and it looks closer to a full year. At the moment I can see up to 9th July 2024. This is for general release and there is no guarantee that award seats will be released. Often you will find on popular routes and/or at peak times that no award seats will be released as QR realises they can be sold for cash which is much more preferable to them.
Avios do expire after three years, but any earning or spending re-starts the three year clock.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Priv...lessAvios.html
You can do a dummy booking to determine seat release and it looks closer to a full year. At the moment I can see up to 9th July 2024. This is for general release and there is no guarantee that award seats will be released. Often you will find on popular routes and/or at peak times that no award seats will be released as QR realises they can be sold for cash which is much more preferable to them.
Avios do expire after three years, but any earning or spending re-starts the three year clock.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Priv...lessAvios.html
Jul 15, 2023, 1:21 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 13
Avios are the frequent flyer currency of QR Privilege Club ffp.
Avios are also used by BA, IB & IE. Each ffp has different rules. Subject to t&c's avios can be transferred between BA-IB-IE-QR-avios.com. BA forum has threads on transfer,
You can earn avios flying QF Qantas in Australia. Crediting as BA avois can be a lot better the QR Qatar avios. Some QF flights to QR avois are poor earners.
You can earn QR avios flying VA Virgin Australia in Australia. QR & VA are now ff partners.
Avios are also used by BA, IB & IE. Each ffp has different rules. Subject to t&c's avios can be transferred between BA-IB-IE-QR-avios.com. BA forum has threads on transfer,
You can earn avios flying QF Qantas in Australia. Crediting as BA avois can be a lot better the QR Qatar avios. Some QF flights to QR avois are poor earners.
You can earn QR avios flying VA Virgin Australia in Australia. QR & VA are now ff partners.
Jul 15, 2023, 3:11 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,679
You didn't specify which Mastercard and which country's Amex. Amex Membership Rewards is a bit different in each Amex issuing country. But on both cards, if QR, BA, or IB are transfer partners then you're golden. They all share Avios as a common currency and you can shift the points between them quite easily.
Jul 15, 2023, 4:58 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 13
Oh, sorry, I'm in Australia, and yes, QR are transfer partners with both cards. So I'm assuming it's a similar process as KrisFlyer then, which I'm very familiar with. I realise it's hard to gauge how long it takes to transfer points, but with Amex to KrisFlyer they say up to 2 day but in fact it's often about one hour and then the points are in KrisFlyer. Is that the same with transferring to Avios/Qatar? Thanks