Qatar Airways Privilege Club is one of the most powerful (and underrated) loyalty programs in aviation. It runs on the Avios currency, gives you access to Qsuites (widely considered the world’s best business class), and lets you transfer points freely between five different airline programs. Yet most travelers overlook it because Qatar’s own search tools make finding award flights frustratingly difficult.

That changes today. AwardFares now supports Qatar Airways Privilege Club, letting you search award availability across multiple days, filter by cabin class, sort by price, and set alerts for when Qsuites seats open up. No more clicking through one date at a time. No more needing Avios in your account just to run a search.

This guide covers everything you need to master the program: what Avios are actually worth, price benchmarks, the best sweet spot redemptions, how to get Avios from credit cards, and a step-by-step walkthrough for finding award flights with AwardFares.

Key Takeaways

  1. AwardFares now supports Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Search award flights across multiple dates, filter by cabin class, and set alerts for Qsuites availability.
  2. Privilege Club uses Avios, the same currency as British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Finnair. You can transfer Avios freely between all five programs at 1:1.
  3. Qatar publishes fixed partner award charts, unlike other fully dynamically priced programs, which means predictable redemption costs on partner airlines.
  4. Avios are worth approximately 1.0 to 1.5 USD cents each on economy, but 3 to 5+ cents on Qsuites business class redemptions.
  5. Award seats release 355-361 days in advance, one of the longest windows.
  6. Qatar uses peak and off-peak pricing. Off-peak Qsuites from the U.S. to Doha costs approximately 70,000 Avios. Peak Saver dates rise to ~94,500. Flexi awards (double the off-peak rate) cost 140,000 Avios (the worst-case scenario).
  7. Transfer partners include American Express (in multiple countries), Citi ThankYou, Capital One, Bilt Rewards (all direct 1:1), and Chase Ultimate Rewards (indirect via BA).
  8. Qatar’s own search tools are limited. Their “My Reward Seat Finder” defaults to economy, requires Avios in your account, and excludes partner flights. AwardFares shows all cabins, all dates, all at once.
  9. You can also book Qatar flights using AA AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards points, often at competitive rates for certain routes.

In This Guide

What Is Qatar Airways Privilege Club?

Qatar Airways Privilege Club is the frequent flyer program of Qatar Airways, one of the world’s highest-rated airlines and a member of the oneworld alliance. The program is free to join and gives members access to award flights on Qatar Airways, all oneworld partners, and several additional airlines.

The program’s currency is Avios (not “Qmiles”, which were ditched in late 2022), the same points currency used by British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Finnair Plus. This shared currency is what makes Privilege Club uniquely powerful: you can transfer Avios freely between all five programs at a 1:1 ratio, meaning points earned through any of these airlines (or their credit card partners) can be pooled together for a Qatar Airways redemption.

Qatar operates from its hub at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), consistently rated among the world’s best airports, serving 160+ destinations across six continents. The airline’s star product is Qsuites, its business class cabin featuring fully enclosed suites with sliding doors, lie-flat beds, and dine-on-demand service. Qsuites has won “World’s Best Business Class” at the Skytrax awards eight times.

Privilege Club has four status tiers: Burgundy (base), Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Status is earned through Qpoints (a separate metric from Avios), and higher tiers unlock benefits like lounge access, bonus Avios earning, and priority services.

Avios, Not Miles

Qatar Airways Privilege Club switched from its old currency (Qmiles) to Avios in March 2022. If you encounter references to “Qmiles” in older articles or forums, those are now Avios at a 1:1 conversion. All existing balances were automatically converted.

What’s New with Privilege Club (2025/2026)

The program has undergone significant changes over the past year. Here’s what matters most for award travelers:

  • Peak and off-peak pricing is now in effect. Qatar introduced variable pricing on its own flights, with peak dates costing significantly more Avios. On U.S. routes, peak Saver pricing for Qsuites runs ~94,500 Avios versus 70,000 off-peak. Flexi awards (which unlock more seats) cost double the off-peak rate — 140,000 Avios. On shorter routes, the peak premium is sometimes lower (20 to 35% more). Qatar does not publish an official peak calendar.
  • “My Reward Seat Finder” launched (November 2024) as a calendar-based tool on Qatar’s website. It shows award pricing across a month, but comes with major limitations (more on this below).
  • New partner airlines added. IndiGo and China Southern joined the earning and redemption network in 2024, expanding options in India and China. JetBlue partner awards also became bookable through Privilege Club, with a unique pricing structure.
  • Avios transfers between programs expanded. The ability to freely transfer Avios between Qatar, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Finnair at 1:1 is now fully operational. This makes it possible to earn through any Avios program (or any credit card that transfers to them) and consolidate for a Qatar redemption.
  • Qsuites Next Gen announced. Qatar unveiled its next-generation Qsuites at the Farnborough International Airshow, featuring movable 4K OLED screens, lie-flat double beds, and upgraded privacy dividers. The new cabin is scheduled for Boeing 777-9 aircraft.

Peak vs. Off-Peak Pricing Can Double Your Cost

Qatar now charges significantly more Avios during peak travel periods. On top of that, Qatar offers both “Saver” and “Flexi” award types: Flexi awards cost 20-35% more than the Saver rate but come with greater availability and more flexible change/cancellation policies. This means the worst case (peak Flexi) can be 4x the best case (off-peak Saver). Qatar does not publish an official peak calendar, so the only way to know is to search specific dates and compare pricing. AwardFares’ Timeline View makes this easy: scan an entire month and immediately see where prices jump.

How Much Are Qatar Airways Avios Worth?

Qatar Airways Avios are worth approximately 1.0 to 1.5 USD cents each when redeemed for economy flights, but the real value comes from premium cabin redemptions. Off-peak Qsuites bookings regularly deliver 3 to 5+ cents per Avios, making them among the highest-value redemptions in the entire points and miles world.

The value of each Avios varies significantly based on cabin class, route distance, peak vs. off-peak dates, and whether you’re flying Qatar’s own metal or a partner airline.

Redemption Type Typical Value (cents per Avios) Verdict
Short-haul Economy (under 650 mi) 0.8 to 1.2¢ Average
Long-haul Economy 1.0 to 1.5¢ Good
Qsuites Business Class (off-peak) 3.0 to 5.0¢ Excellent
Qsuites Business Class (peak) 1.5 to 2.5¢ Average
First Class (A380 routes) 2.5 to 4.0¢ Very Good
Partner Economy (short-haul) 1.0 to 1.5¢ Good
Partner Business (oneworld) 2.0 to 4.0¢ Very Good
Upgrades 1.5 to 3.0¢ Good
Duty Free / Merchandise 0.3 to 0.5¢ Poor

How to calculate your own value: Take the cash price of the ticket, subtract the taxes and fees on the award, then divide by the Avios required.

For example: A Qsuites seat from JFK to Doha typically retails for $4,000 to $8,000 depending on the date. The award price is approximately 70,000 Avios plus around $60 in taxes. Taking a mid-range cash price of $5,000, that’s ($5,000 minus $60) ÷ 70,000 = approximately 7.1 cents per Avios, which is exceptional. On peak cash fares closer to $8,000, the value climbs even higher.

The best Avios values come from off-peak Qsuites redemptions on long-haul routes

A business class seat that retails for $5,000 to $8,000 can be booked for approximately 70,000 Avios, delivering 5 to 8+ cents per point. Avoid redeeming Avios for merchandise, duty-free purchases, or heavily discounted economy fares where the value drops below 1 cent.

What you'd pay for the same flight in cash

Total Avios for the award booking

Cash portion due on the award ticket (typically $30–$100)

Helps contextualize your result

Value = (Cash price − Award taxes) ÷ Avios required. Cash prices fluctuate by date and demand. Check current fares for your specific route before drawing conclusions. Qatar My Calculator.

The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Award Charts

Understanding Qatar’s award pricing requires knowing which chart applies to your flight. Qatar uses a mix of published and unpublished charts depending on whether you’re flying Qatar Airways itself or a partner airline.

There are three published partner charts: a general chart (covering most oneworld and other partners), a separate chart for American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights, and a separate chart for LATAM flights. Qatar’s own-flight pricing is unpublished and uses distance-based pricing with peak and off-peak multipliers.

Unlike Delta (fully dynamic, no chart at all) or United (hidden saver buckets), Qatar’s partner charts are transparent and fixed. Even the unpublished own-flight pricing follows predictable patterns that you can check through Qatar’s My Calculator tool or by searching on AwardFares.

Qatar does NOT publish an official award chart for flights on its own metal

The pricing examples below come from Qatar’s My Calculator tool and are accurate as of publication. Pricing can change without notice. Always verify current pricing for your specific route and dates using the calculator or AwardFares.

Qatar Airways Own Flights (Unpublished Pricing)

When you book a flight on Qatar Airways metal (QR flight number) using Avios, pricing depends on your origin, destination, cabin class, and whether your travel date falls in a peak or off-peak period. Peak dates cost approximately double the off-peak rate.

The only official tool to check exact pricing is Qatar’s My Calculator. Below are example one-way redemptions for popular routes, pulled from the calculator. These are accurate as of publication but can change.

Route Economy (Off-Peak) Economy (Peak) Qsuites (Off-Peak) Qsuites (Peak) First (Off-Peak) First (Peak)
New York (JFK) → Doha (DOH) 35,000 47,500 70,000 94,500 N/A N/A
Los Angeles (LAX) → Doha (DOH) 35,000 47,500 70,000 94,500 N/A N/A
Chicago (ORD) → Doha (DOH) 35,000 47,500 70,000 94,500 N/A N/A
Miami (MIA) → Doha (DOH) 35,000 47,500 70,000 94,500 N/A N/A
London (LHR) → Doha (DOH) 20,000 25,000 42,500 55,000 60,000 60,000
Paris (CDG) → Doha (DOH) 20,000 25,000 42,500 55,000 60,000 60,000
Singapore (SIN) → Doha (DOH) 25,000 30,000 50,000 62,500 N/A N/A
Bangkok (BKK) → Doha (DOH) 20,000 25,000 42,500 55,000 75,000 97,500
Doha (DOH) → Maldives (MLE) 15,000 20,000 35,000 42,500 N/A N/A
Doha (DOH) → Tokyo (NRT) 25,000 32,500 60,000 75,000 N/A N/A
Doha (DOH) → Sydney (SYD) 35,000 47,500 70,000 94,500 95,000 95,000
Doha (DOH) → Johannesburg (JNB) 30,000 37,500 75,000 90,000 N/A N/A

Qatar determines peak and off-peak dates internally and does not publish a calendar. The only way to identify peak dates is to search specific travel dates and compare the Avios pricing. AwardFares’ Timeline View makes this easy: scan an entire month and look for price jumps (for example, dates showing 70,000 Avios for Qsuites are off-peak, dates showing 140,000 are peak).

Use AwardFares to decode peak vs. off-peak dates

Since Qatar doesn’t publish a peak calendar, the Timeline View becomes essential. Search your route, open the timeline, and look for the price jumps. This visual approach instantly reveals which dates are off-peak (and worth booking) versus peak. It’s something Qatar’s own tools don’t offer.

Partner Award Chart: General (Published by Qatar)

This chart applies to award flights on oneworld partners and other partner airlines, with the exception of American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and LATAM (which have their own separate charts below). Pricing is distance-based and one-way. There is no peak or off-peak distinction on partner awards.

This chart now matches British Airways’ partner redemption rates in most distance bands. Since both programs use Avios and you can transfer freely between them, this alignment makes sense.

Distance Economy Premium Economy Business First
1 to 650 miles 6,000 9,000 12,500 24,000
651 to 1,151 miles 9,000 12,500 16,500 33,000
1,152 to 2,000 miles 11,000 16,500 22,000 44,000
2,001 to 3,000 miles 13,000 19,500 34,000 51,000
3,001 to 4,000 miles 18,000 27,000 42,500 68,000
4,001 to 5,500 miles 24,000 36,000 50,000 85,000
5,501 to 6,500 miles 30,500 45,750 63,750 103,000
6,501 to 7,000 miles 34,000 51,500 72,250 120,000
7,001+ miles 42,500 51,500 85,000 154,500

Partner Award Chart: American Airlines & Alaska Airlines (Separate Pricing)

Qatar uses separate, higher pricing for flights operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. This is important to know because many U.S. travelers want to use Avios on domestic AA flights, and the pricing differs from the general partner chart above.

Distance Economy Business
1 to 650 miles 9,500 20,000
651 to 1,151 miles 12,000 26,000
1,152 to 2,000 miles 18,500 43,000
2,001 to 3,000 miles 25,500 57,000
3,001+ miles 34,000 68,000

Partner Award Chart: LATAM (Separate Pricing)

Qatar also uses unique pricing for LATAM-operated flights, different from both the general and AA/Alaska charts. If you’re booking a LATAM flight with Avios, check the pricing directly through Qatar’s website or My Calculator, as this chart has its own distance bands.

As LATAM award availability through Privilege Club is extremely limited (especially on long-haul routes), we’ve omitted the full chart here. Check exact pricing for your specific LATAM route using the calculator.

Not sure which chart applies to your flight?

Here’s a simple rule: if it’s operated by Qatar Airways (QR flight number), use the own-flight pricing above. If it’s on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, use the AA/Alaska chart. If it’s on LATAM, use the LATAM chart. Everything else (British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Finnair, etc.) uses the general partner chart.

Best Ways to Use Qatar Airways Avios: Sweet Spots

Not all Avios redemptions deliver equal value. These are the specific bookings where the program shines, ranked by the value they deliver.

🏆

Off-Peak Qsuites from the U.S. to Doha (~70,000 Avios)
  • The Deal: Book the world’s best business class for approximately 70,000 Avios one-way at off-peak pricing. Cash prices for these same seats typically range from $4,000 to $8,000, delivering 5 to 10+ cents per Avios.
  • Why It’s a Sweet Spot: This is the flagship redemption of the entire program. Qatar operates Qsuites on nearly every U.S. route: JFK, LAX, ORD, MIA, ATL, IAD, DFW, IAH, BOS, and more.
  • Pro Tip: The key is finding off-peak dates. Use AwardFares’ Timeline View to scan a full month and spot where pricing drops to 70,000 instead of 94,500 (peak Saver) or 140,000 (Flexi).
  • Example Routes:
🌍

Qsuites Beyond Doha — Two Destinations, One Award (~85,000 Avios)
  • The Deal: Use Doha as a connecting hub to reach the Maldives, Cape Town, Singapore, Bangkok, or Bali in Qsuites. For approximately 15,000 additional Avios beyond the Doha fare, you can extend your trip to a second destination.
  • Why It’s a Sweet Spot: On select itineraries, a free stopover in Doha is available, letting you explore two cities on a single award. This effectively turns a 70,000-Avios redemption into a two-city trip.
  • Example Itineraries:
    • New York (JFK) → Doha (DOH) — stop for 2–3 days — then continue Doha (DOH) → Malé, Maldives (MLE). Total: ~85,000 Avios.
    • Chicago (ORD) → Doha (DOH) — stop for a weekend — then continue Doha (DOH) → Cape Town (CPT). Total: ~105,000 Avios.
🇺🇸

Short-Haul AA Domestic Flights (9,500 Avios)
  • The Deal: Flights under 650 miles on American Airlines cost just 9,500 Avios in economy and 20,000 in business using Qatar’s AA/Alaska partner chart.
  • Why It’s a Sweet Spot: For business class, this is exceptional value on routes where AA operates lie-flat seats. It’s also a sweet spot unique to Qatar’s chart that isn’t available when booking the same flights through British Airways Avios (which charges 12,000 for the same distance band).
  • Example Routes:
💺

JetBlue Mint Business Class (17,000–26,000 Avios)
  • The Deal: Book JetBlue Mint (lie-flat domestic business class) using Avios. Short flights start at approximately 8,500 Avios in economy, and Mint seats on routes under 2,000 miles run approximately 17,000 to 26,000 Avios.
  • Why It’s a Sweet Spot: No other Avios program besides Qatar can book JetBlue flights. This is a completely unique redemption. The sweet spot is flights just under 2,000 miles in Mint for 26,000 Avios, like JFK to Aruba.
  • Example Routes:
✈️

Oneworld Partner Business Class (50,000–85,000 Avios)
  • The Deal: Your Avios unlock business class on some of the world’s best airlines through the general partner chart. For a flight in the 4,001 to 5,500 mile range, you’re looking at 50,000 Avios in business class.
  • Why It’s a Sweet Spot: These are fixed, published rates (no dynamic pricing), and the chart aligns with British Airways’ rates in most bands. You can freely compare and book through whichever Avios program offers the best availability.
  • Best Partners to Target:
    • Cathay Pacific — Business class to Hong Kong and onward to Asia
    • Japan Airlines — Business class to Tokyo (50,000 Avios from within Asia, 85,000 from the U.S.)
    • Finnair — Business class to Helsinki and connections across Europe
    • British Airways — Club World to London (watch for higher taxes on BA-operated flights)
🌏

Intra-Region Short Hops (6,000 Avios)
  • The Deal: Flights under 650 miles on most partners cost just 6,000 Avios in economy and 12,500 in business.
  • Why It’s a Sweet Spot: This makes Avios excellent for positioning flights or weekend getaways within Europe, Asia, or the Middle East. It’s one of the cheapest partner awards available from any program.
  • Example Routes:
    • Doha (DOH) to Bahrain (BAH) — 6,000 Avios economy
    • Doha (DOH) to Muscat (MCT) — 6,000 Avios economy
    • London (LHR) to Dublin (DUB) on Aer Lingus — 6,000 Avios economy
    • Tokyo (NRT) to Seoul (ICN) on Japan Airlines — 9,000 Avios economy (651–1,151 mi band)

How to Earn Qatar Airways Avios

There are multiple paths to accumulating Avios, and the best strategy depends on where you live and how you spend. Because Avios are the shared currency of five airline programs (Qatar Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Finnair Plus), you can earn points in whichever program offers the best welcome bonuses or ongoing rates in your country and transfer them freely at 1:1 into your Qatar account.

Flying Qatar Airways and Partners

You earn Avios on every Qatar Airways flight based on distance flown and fare class. First Class earns at 300% of the distance, Business Class at 150%, full-fare Economy at 100%, and discounted Economy between 25% and 50%. You also earn Qpoints (for status qualification, separate from spendable Avios) on qualifying flights.

Flights on oneworld partners and other Privilege Club airline partners also earn Avios. Use Qatar’s My Calculator to check the exact earning rate for any itinerary.

Credit Card Transfer Partners

Credit card points are the fastest way to build an Avios balance in most countries. Qatar Airways Privilege Club is a direct or indirect transfer partner of every major flexible-points program worldwide.

United States

Transfer Program Ratio to Qatar Avios Transfer Speed
Amex Membership Rewards 1:1 (direct) Usually instant
Citi ThankYou 1:1 (direct) Usually instant
Bilt Rewards 1:1 (direct) Usually instant
Capital One 1:1 (direct) Usually instant
Chase Ultimate Rewards 1:1 to BA, then 1:1 to Qatar 1 to 2 days (two-step)

Chase Ultimate Rewards is the only major U.S. program that doesn’t transfer directly to Qatar. Transfer to British Airways first, then move those Avios to Qatar at 1:1. It adds an extra step and a day or two of processing time, but works reliably.

Qatar also offers two co-branded credit cards issued by Cardless: the Privilege Club Visa Signature ($99 annual fee, Silver status in year one, 4x on QR purchases, 2x on dining) and the Privilege Club Visa Infinite ($499, Gold status in year one, 5x on QR, 3x on dining).

Europe

Europe offers some of the strongest Avios-earning opportunities in the world thanks to excellent local credit cards and the seamless Avios pooling system.

  • United Kingdom: American Express UK Membership Rewards transfers directly to Qatar Privilege Club, British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, all at 1:1. The British Airways American Express cards (Personal Gold, Premium Plus, and Business versions) are extremely popular for large sign-up bonuses (often 25,000 to 100,000+ Avios) and strong ongoing earning rates. Any Avios earned through BA can be pooled into your Qatar account for free.
  • Spain & Portugal: American Express Spain transfers directly to Iberia Plus at 1:1. Iberia co-branded cards (via Santander and other Spanish banks) earn Avios directly. Move those Avios from Iberia to Qatar at 1:1.
  • Nordics (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark): American Express transfers directly to Finnair Plus (Avios family), and from there instantly to Qatar. Finnair co-branded cards also earn Avios directly, making this a strong earn path for Scandinavian travelers.
  • Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland & others: American Express typically transfers to British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus at 1:1, after which you pool to Qatar at 1:1. The specific Avios partner varies by country.

Europe-wide strategy: Earn into whichever Avios program (BA, Iberia, Finnair, or Aer Lingus) gives you the best credit card offer in your country, then consolidate everything into Privilege Club using the free “Combine My Avios” tool at avios.com. Many European travelers hold accounts in two or three Avios programs to maximize bonuses across countries.

Australia & New Zealand

American Express Australia Membership Rewards transfers 1:1 to Qatar Airways Privilege Club directly (available on Platinum and Centurion cards via the Ascent Premium tier; other Amex tiers transfer to British Airways at 1:1 instead). Commonwealth Bank Awards also transfers to Qatar Avios, though at a poor 3.5:1 ratio. PayRewards is another option. The recommended path for most Australian Amex cardholders is to transfer to BA or Qatar directly, then pool as needed.

Asia

Citi ThankYou Rewards transfers to Qatar from Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Poland, and South Korea, typically at 1:1 on premium cards. In Singapore, HeyMax also transfers directly to Qatar at 1:1 with no fees. In Malaysia, CIMB cardholders can convert CIMB Bonus Points to Avios. In Taiwan, CTBC Bank points transfer to Privilege Club as well.

Middle East

Qatar has the deepest co-branded card network in its home region. Partner banks include QNB, Doha Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Commercial Bank, Dukhan Bank, and others in Qatar, plus Dubai Islamic Bank in the UAE and IndusInd Bank in India (Avios Visa Infinite card). If you’re based in the Gulf, these co-branded cards typically offer the highest QR-specific earning rates.

The global principle is simple: any credit card that transfers to any Avios program can feed your Qatar account. That includes dozens of cards in the U.S., UK, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East. Earn wherever rates are best, then pool everything into Privilege Club at 1:1 using the Combine My Avios tool.

Avios Transfers Between Programs

You can transfer Avios freely at 1:1 between British Airways, Qatar Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Finnair. Transfers are usually instant or take up to 24 hours. Transfers to and from Qatar or Finnair must go via British Airways as the central hub, but this process is handled seamlessly through the Combine My Avios tool.

This pooling ability is one of Privilege Club’s biggest advantages. It means that any Avios you earn anywhere in the world (through any of the five programs, their credit card partners, or their shopping portals) can be consolidated into a single Qatar account for a Qsuites redemption.

Buying Avios

Qatar and its Avios partners regularly run promotions offering up to 50 to 65% bonus on purchased Avios. These promotions are often promoted to UK and European members as well as through the Avios.com portal. Buying is generally only recommended when you have a specific high-value redemption locked in (like off-peak Qsuites at 70,000 Avios) where the math clearly works in your favor.

Shopping, Card Linking & Other Partners

  • Card linking: Link any Visa or Mastercard to your Privilege Club account through the Qatar card linking portal to earn or spend Avios at participating partner retailers globally. Transactions typically appear within 14 days.
  • Hotel partners: Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio with 5,000-point bonus per 60,000 transferred), IHG One Rewards, Accor ALL (very popular in Europe), and Booking.com (1 Avios per $1 spent).
  • Car rentals and more: Partnerships with major rental companies, Qatar Duty Free shopping, and other travel services. These are generally low-earning, but any activity resets the 36-month Avios expiration clock.

The ability to transfer Avios between five different airline programs is one of Privilege Club’s most powerful features. Whether you’re in New York, London, Sydney, or Doha, you can accumulate Avios through local credit cards, shopping, and partner activity, then consolidate everything into Qatar for a Qsuites redemption. With direct transfer partnerships spanning Amex (U.S., UK, Australia), Citi (U.S., Singapore, Hong Kong), Capital One, Bilt, and dozens of regional banks, building a Qatar Avios balance has never been more accessible worldwide.

When Does Qatar Airways Release Award Seats?

Qatar Airways releases award seats 355 days in advance, one of the longest booking windows among all airlines. This means you can book nearly a full year ahead, which is critical for popular routes like Qsuites to Doha.

Privilege Club members get first access to Qatar’s own award inventory. Other programs (like AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards) only see what Qatar releases to partner programs, which is often significantly less, especially for business class.

Here’s how booking windows compare across programs:

Program Used to Book Booking Window Access to Qatar Award Seats
Qatar Airways Privilege Club 355-361 days ✅ Best (most inventory)
British Airways Avios ~355 days Good (sees most Qatar space)
American Airlines AAdvantage 331 days Limited (very little Qsuites)
Atmos Rewards (Alaska) 331 days Limited
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles ~360 days Moderate

Tips for timing your search:

Off-peak seats at 70,000 Avios are limited and go fast. Book as close to the opening of the calendar as possible. On A380 routes (London, Paris, Sydney, Bangkok), business class seats sometimes release 5 to 7 days after economy, so check back if you only see economy initially. Some premium seats also open up 1 to 14 days before departure, but don’t count on last-minute availability for popular routes.

Qatar has been reducing business class inventory released to non-Avios partners

Especially for AAdvantage. If you want the best shot at Qsuites availability, use Privilege Club Avios (or British Airways Avios, which sees similar inventory) rather than AAdvantage miles. Booking directly through Privilege Club gives you meaningfully better access.

Dive Deeper

How to Find Qatar Airways Award Flights with AwardFares (Step-by-Step)

AwardFares now supports Qatar Airways Privilege Club. You can search award availability across multiple dates, filter by cabin class, sort by price, and set alerts for when seats open up. Here’s exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Go to AwardFares

Visit AwardFares to start your search. Creating an account is free and unlocks additional features like alerts and saved searches. You can sign up here.

Step 2: Select Qatar Airways Privilege Club

In the Frequent Flyer Program picker, select Qatar Airways Privilege Club. This ensures you’re seeing award pricing and availability specific to the Privilege Club program.

Select Qatar Airways Privilege Club in the AwardFares Frequent Flyer Program picker.

Step 3: Enter Your Route

Use the Origin and Destination fields to enter your airports. You can search up to six routes simultaneously. For broad exploration, try entering just “DOH” as the origin to see all routes from Doha, or use metropolitan area codes (like “NYC” for all New York airports).

Enter your origin and destination airports in AwardFares.

Step 4: Use the Timeline View

Click the Timeline button to open a visual calendar showing award availability across an entire month. Each day is color-coded by cabin class, and you can see at a glance where seats are available and what they cost.

This is the feature that changes everything compared to Qatar’s own tools. Instead of clicking through one date at a time and being limited to economy pricing, you see every cabin, every day, in one view. Dates showing 70,000 Avios for Qsuites are off-peak; dates showing 140,000 are peak. The pattern becomes obvious immediately.

AwardFares Timeline View showing Qatar Airways Privilege Club award availability across several weeks or months.

Step 5: Sort by Price

Below the timeline, you’ll see a detailed list of flights with available award seats. Click the Biz column header to sort by business class price, instantly surfacing the cheapest Qsuites seats across all dates.

Sort Qatar Airways award flights by business class price in AwardFares.

Step 6: Filter for Your Preferences

Use the filters to narrow your results:

  • Airline: Select Qatar Airways (QR) to see only QR-operated flights, or leave open to include partner airlines
  • Cabin: Select Business and/or First to focus on premium cabins
  • Stops: Filter for nonstop flights if you want the direct Qsuites experience
  • Max Price: Set a ceiling to only see off-peak pricing
AwardFares filters for cabin class, airline, stops, and price.

Step 7: Set an Alert (If Seats Aren’t Available)

If Qsuites isn’t showing on your preferred dates, don’t give up. Set an Alert and AwardFares will monitor availability 24/7, emailing you the moment a seat opens. This is especially useful for peak-period Qsuites where availability appears and disappears quickly.

Set an AwardFares alert for Qatar Airways Qsuites availability.

AwardFares Alerts Guide

Step 8: Book on Qatar Airways

When you find your ideal flight, click the Book button. AwardFares will redirect you to the Qatar Airways website with your flight details pre-filled. Complete the booking on qatarairways.com using your Privilege Club Avios.

Click Book in AwardFares to complete your reservation on Qatar Airways.

✅ That’s it! You’ve now learned how to search and book Qatar Airways award flights using Privilege Club Avios with AwardFares.

Why Qatar’s Own Tools Fall Short (and How AwardFares Solves It)

Qatar launched its “My Reward Seat Finder” in late 2024 as a calendar-based award search tool. It was a welcome addition, but it has critical limitations that make it frustrating for anyone searching for premium cabin awards.

Feature Qatar’s Reward Seat Finder AwardFares
See a month of prices ⚠️ Shows economy only by default ✅ All cabins, all dates
Premium cabin display ⚠️ Only if availability exists that month ✅ Always shows business and first
Partner airline awards ❌ Qatar flights only ✅ Shows partner availability too
Sort by cheapest ❌ No sorting ✅ One-click sort by any cabin
Price drop alerts ❌ Not available ✅ Custom alerts 24/7
Search without logging in ❌ Must be logged in ✅ Free tier, no login required
Identify peak vs. off-peak ⚠️ Click each date individually ✅ Timeline makes it obvious

Booking Qatar Airways with Other Programs

Privilege Club gives you the best access to Qatar’s award inventory, but it’s not the only option. You can also book Qatar Airways flights using miles from several other programs, each with different pricing and availability trade-offs.

Program Qsuites Cost (U.S. to DOH, one-way) Availability Fuel Surcharges Our Guide
Qatar Privilege Club (Avios) ~70,000 (off-peak) to ~140,000 (peak) ✅ Best None This guide
American Airlines AAdvantage 70,000 to 75,000 ❌ Limited None Book Qsuites with AA Miles
Atmos Rewards (Alaska) 70,000 to 85,000 ❌ Limited None Book Qsuites with Atmos
British Airways Avios ~70,000 (off-peak) to ~140,000 (peak) Good (similar to QR) ⚠️ Some surcharges —
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles ~70,000 to 90,000 Moderate ⚠️ Some surcharges —

If you want the most Qsuites availability, use Privilege Club Avios or British Airways Avios (they see similar inventory). If you want fixed, predictable pricing on a long routing (say, U.S. to Africa via Doha), AAdvantage can be cheaper. Use AwardFares to search across programs and compare.

Qatar has been reducing business class inventory released to non-Avios partners, especially AAdvantage. If you’ve been struggling to find Qsuites seats using AA miles, switching to Privilege Club or British Airways Avios may open up significantly more options.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club Partners

Privilege Club connects you to a broad network of airlines for both earning and redeeming Avios.

oneworld Alliance Partners

American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SriLankan Airlines, and Fiji Airways. Oman Air is also joining the alliance.

Other Airline Partners

JetBlue, LATAM, IndiGo, China Southern, Bangkok Airways, Virgin Australia, Airlink, RwandAir, and others.

Avios Family (1:1 Transfer Partners)

British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Finnair. You can transfer Avios freely between all five programs (including Qatar) at a 1:1 ratio.

Online Booking vs. Call-In

Not all partner awards can be booked online through qatarairways.com. Here’s the breakdown:

Booking Method Airlines
Book online American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, JetBlue, Virgin Australia
Call to book (find availability on AwardFares first) Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, and most others

For airlines like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, or LATAM, you’ll need to find availability first (using AwardFares) and then call Qatar Airways Privilege Club at 800-988-6128 to complete the booking. The call center operates during weekday business hours. You can also submit a booking request through Qatar’s website, but calling is generally faster and more reliable.

Privilege Club Status Tiers & Benefits

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has four status tiers. Status is earned through Qpoints (separate from Avios) accumulated by flying Qatar Airways and oneworld partners.

Tier Qpoints to Earn (12 months) Qpoints to Retain (12 / 24 months) oneworld Equivalent Key Benefits
Burgundy (Base) 0 — — Earn Avios, basic member benefits
Silver 150 Qpoints 135 / 270 Ruby Priority check-in, 25% bonus Avios, extra baggage
Gold 300 Qpoints 270 / 540 Sapphire Lounge access (self + guest), 75% bonus Avios, award fee waiver
Platinum 600 Qpoints 540 / 1,080 Emerald First class lounges, Al Maha meet and greet service, guaranteed award seats

Qpoints vs. Avios: Avios are the spendable currency you use to book flights. Qpoints only count toward status qualification. You earn both when flying, but they serve completely different purposes. You can check how many Qpoints any flight earns using Qatar’s My Calculator.

Qatar has periodically offered status match promotions for members holding elite status with competing airlines. These are time-limited and not always available, so check the Privilege Club website for current offers.

Program Rules & Policies

Do Qatar Airways Avios Expire?

Avios expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Any activity (earning, spending, or transferring Avios) resets the 36-month clock. This is different from programs like Delta SkyMiles or Atmos Rewards, where points never expire.

The easiest way to prevent expiration is to make a small earning transaction (like a Booking.com hotel stay) or transfer a small number of Avios from another program.

Cancellation & Change Fees

Changes and cancellations on award tickets are not free. Expect fees of approximately $25 per ticket if cancelled more than 24 hours before departure, with higher fees for last-minute changes. For flights departing from the United States, the DOT 24-hour free cancellation rule applies.

Taxes and Fees on Awards

Qatar does not charge fuel surcharges on award flights, which is a major advantage over programs like British Airways (which does add surcharges on some itineraries). Taxes and fees are generally low, typically $30 to $100 from most origins. Departures from the UK carry higher Air Passenger Duty.

Avios and Cash (Part-Pay)

Qatar offers a “Part-Pay with Avios” option where you pay a minimum of 50% in Avios and the rest in cash. This is generally not recommended because it reduces the value you get per Avios. The exception: if you’re just a few thousand Avios short of a full award and don’t want to wait for a transfer, Part-Pay can make sense.

Booking Rules

One-way awards are available (you don’t have to book round-trips). A free stopover in Doha is possible on some multi-segment award itineraries. Partner awards must be on a single airline (you cannot mix carriers on one ticket). Mixed-cabin awards are available but priced at the highest cabin in the itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Qatar Airways Privilege Club?

Qatar Airways Privilege Club is the frequent flyer program of Qatar Airways. It uses Avios as its reward currency and allows members to earn and redeem points on Qatar Airways, oneworld alliance partners, and several additional airline partners. It’s free to join.

What are Avios and how do they work?

Avios are the reward currency shared by five airline programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Finnair Plus. You can earn Avios by flying, through credit card transfers, or through partner activities. You can also transfer Avios between all five programs at a 1:1 ratio.

How much are Qatar Airways Avios worth?

Qatar Airways Avios are worth approximately 1.0 to 1.5 cents each on economy redemptions and 3 to 5+ cents on Qsuites business class (off-peak). The value depends on the route, cabin class, and whether you’re traveling during peak or off-peak dates. The best values come from off-peak Qsuites bookings on long-haul routes.

What Is Qsuites?

Qsuites is Qatar Airways’ flagship business class product, featuring fully enclosed suites with sliding privacy doors, lie-flat beds up to 79 inches long, and adjustable panels that let couples traveling together create a shared double suite. Every seat has direct aisle access, a personal wardrobe, and dine-on-demand service. It’s available on most long-haul widebody routes from Doha. Qatar is currently rolling out Qsuites Next Gen (announced at Farnborough 2024) with 4K OLED screens and upgraded double beds for the Boeing 777-9.

How many Avios do I need for a Qsuites business class flight?

An off-peak Qsuites flight from the U.S. to Doha costs approximately 70,000 Avios one-way. Peak dates can cost up to 140,000 Avios for the same route. Shorter routes (like Europe to Doha) start at approximately 42,500 Avios off-peak.

Does Qatar Airways have an award chart?

Qatar publishes fixed, distance-based award charts for partner airline flights (oneworld and other partners). However, Qatar does not publish an official award chart for its own flights. Own-flight pricing is determined by route, cabin, and date, and can be checked using Qatar’s My Calculator tool or by searching on AwardFares.

When does Qatar Airways release award seats?

Qatar Airways releases award seats approximately 361 days in advance, one of the longest booking windows in aviation. Privilege Club members get the best access to Qatar’s own inventory. Other programs (like AAdvantage) see less availability, particularly for business class.

Can I use American Airlines miles on Qatar Airways?

Yes. Qatar Airways is a oneworld partner of American Airlines, so you can book Qatar flights using AAdvantage miles. However, availability for Qsuites booked with AAdvantage is very limited compared to booking with Avios. See our dedicated guide: How to Book Qatar Airways Qsuites Using AAdvantage Miles.

How do I transfer British Airways Avios to Qatar?

You can transfer Avios from British Airways Executive Club to Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 ratio through the “Combine My Avios” feature on the British Airways or Qatar Airways website. Link both accounts and initiate the transfer. It typically processes within minutes to 24 hours.

Do Qatar Airways Avios expire?

Yes. Avios expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Any earning, spending, or transfer activity resets the clock. To prevent expiration, make a small earning transaction or transfer a small number of Avios from another program.

Why can't I find Qatar award flights on my dates?

Several factors could be at play: your travel dates may be sold out (especially peak-period Qsuites), you may be searching through a program with limited access (like AAdvantage), or Qatar may not have released seats yet for your dates. Try searching through Privilege Club on AwardFares, check dates further out, or set an alert to be notified when availability opens.

What is the difference between peak and off-peak pricing?

Qatar charges different Avios amounts depending on whether your travel date is classified as peak or off-peak. Off-peak dates cost significantly less (often half). Qatar does not publish a peak calendar, so the only way to identify peak dates is to search and compare pricing. AwardFares’ Timeline View makes this easy to spot visually.

Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Qatar Airways?

Not directly. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to British Airways at 1:1, and then you can transfer those Avios from British Airways to Qatar at 1:1. It requires two steps and takes 1 to 2 days, but the ratio is effectively 1:1. Note that most other major U.S. programs (Amex, Citi, Capital One, Bilt) now transfer directly to Qatar.

What is Qatar's "My Reward Seat Finder" and why is AwardFares better?

My Reward Seat Finder is Qatar’s own calendar-based award search tool. It defaults to economy pricing, requires 50% of the Avios in your account just to search, doesn’t show partner flights, and has no sorting or alert features. AwardFares shows all cabins, all dates, requires no Avios balance, includes partner availability, and supports one-click sorting and 24/7 alerts.

How far in advance can I book Qatar award flights?

Qatar releases award seats approximately 361 days in advance. Booking through Privilege Club or British Airways gives you the earliest access. AAdvantage and Atmos Rewards members can book starting around 331 days out.

Can I book a Qatar award flight for someone else?

Yes. Privilege Club allows you to book award flights for family members and other travelers. You don’t need to add them to a household account, though some programs have restrictions on booking for non-family members.

What is the best way to find Qatar award flights?

Use AwardFares. Select Qatar Airways Privilege Club as your frequent flyer program, enter your route, and use the Timeline View to scan an entire month of availability. Sort by price to find off-peak Qsuites seats, and set alerts for dates where availability hasn’t opened yet.

Get the Most Out of Your Avios

Here’s your action plan for maximizing Qatar Airways Privilege Club:

  1. Know what a good deal looks like. Use the award charts above to benchmark pricing. Off-peak Qsuites at 70,000 Avios? That’s exceptional. Peak pricing at 140,000? Consider shifting your dates.
  2. Search on AwardFares. Open the Timeline View to scan a full month of Privilege Club availability. See every cabin, every date, in seconds.
  3. Set alerts for Qsuites. If seats aren’t available on your dates, set an alert. AwardFares monitors 24/7 and emails you the moment something opens.
  4. Pick the right program. Use Privilege Club or BA Avios for the best Qsuites access. Use AAdvantage for fixed pricing on long routings. Use Atmos Rewards for the free Doha stopover perk.
  5. Transfer strategically. Earn through whichever credit card program gives you the best return, then transfer to Qatar (directly or via British Airways) when you’ve found your flight.

On average, AwardFares premium users get 3x to 7x more value from their points, regularly booking $5,000+ flights at a fraction of the cost.

AwardFares is the easiest way to find the cheapest and most convenient award flights across multiple frequent flyer programs. It takes just seconds and a few clicks to get started. You can create an account and try it for free here.

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