Overview
- Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club has introduced new gates that apply only when a member redeems Avios for other people rather than for themselves.
- Members must have an active Privilege Club account for at least 30 days and must have either credited a flight to the program or made a transaction on a Qatar cobranded credit card to redeem for nominees.
- The program requires redeemers to save companions in two lists: up to four Privilege Club members in “My List” and up to six non‑members in “Family & Friends,” with nominees subject to retention rules.
- Customers who only hold transferable bank points and do not meet the flight‑credit or cobranded‑card test will be blocked from booking award travel for others unless they meet the new conditions.
- Workarounds include opening and activating a Privilege Club account now, crediting a short partner flight or using a cobranded card, or booking Qatar award seats for companions through partner programs such as Alaska, British Airways, or JetBlue that do not enforce these specific gates.