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Attending college comes with a hefty price tag. While college can be one of the best times to travel the world, the hefty price of attending higher education often forces students to put off travel until after graduation. Fortunately, there are a few programs designed to help students save on flights while unlocking unique perks. One of the best student travel programs is Qatar Airways Student Club.
Here’s a closer look at how college students can take advantage of this program to receive exclusive discounts and even elite status.
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What Is Qatar Airways Student Club?
In 2022, Qatar Airways launched a unique program called Student Club. Student Club is a program that offers students enrolled in higher education discounts on airfare and special perks when traveling with Qatar Airways.
The Student Club program is an extension of Qatar Airways' flagship frequent flyer program, Privilege Club. Like Privilege Club, Qatar Airways Student Club is free to join. The program is open to all college and university students enrolled at an accredited university. There are no location restrictions and you do not need to have an existing Privilege Club account to join.
How do you join Qatar Airways Student Club?
The sign-up process to join Qatar Airways Student Club takes no more than 5 minutes. To enroll, you will need to have proof of enrollment ready to go. A student ID or an official enrollment document, like a transcript, is sufficient. Additionally, I recommend that you use your college email address when enrolling to streamline the process.
To sign up, click this link to access the Student Club landing page.
Enrollment requires some basic personal information and contact details, including your email and phone number. These are the same details required when enrolling in any frequent flyer program. The only difference when signing up for Student Club is the section that requires you to include what school you're attending. As mentioned, you'll also have to upload a supporting document to prove your enrollment.
Once you've completed the enrollment form and verified your email address, you can access your account. It's a surprisingly simple and quick process.
What Are The Benefits of Joining Qatar Airways Student Club?
Unlike some other student travel programs, the benefits you get as part of the Student Club are pretty generous. For a free program, there is significant value available through this program, even if a member only travels with Qatar Airways once or twice.
Here is a complete overview of the benefits offered to Student Club members.
Discounted fares on Qatar Airways flights
Once enrolled, you will receive a promo code good for a 10% discount on eligible Qatar Airways flights. Understandably, this discount excludes flights operated by partner airlines.
Upon completing your first flight on Qatar Airways, you will then receive a promo code good for a 15% discount on eligible Qatar Airways flights. Take an additional flight and you will receive a promo code that allows you to take 20% off your next flight.
And yes, these promo codes are good for all classes of service including QSuites. You will have access to these exclusive fares until you graduate and are automatically unenrolled in the Student Club program.
Greater checked baggage allowance
When you include your Student Club number when booking a Qatar Airways flight, you will receive 10 kgs (22 lbs) in additional checked luggage on most flights. This is essentially one additional free checked bag. For many, this might seem like a pretty insignificant benefit. However, it could potentially save you a ton in extra fees. Qatar Airways charges up to $85 USD for an additional checked bag.
Enhanced travel flexibility
As a Student Club member, you can make one free date change per ticket when you book a flight operated by Qatar Airways.
Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi
When you book your flight using the Qatar Airways website or mobile app, you will receive Wi-Fi free of charge on your flight. In-flight Wi-Fi starts at $10 USD per flight on flights operated by Qatar Airways however, Qatar plans to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi later this year.
Travel companion benefits
Add up to three friends or family members and allow those travel companions to enjoy the same benefits you receive as a student when you travel together.
Privilege Club tier upgrade as a graduation gift
Once you have completed one round-trip flight operated by Qatar Airways, you will be eligible to receive a Privilege Club tier upgrade upon graduation. For example, if you are a Burgundy member, you will receive Silver status upon graduation. You will need to upload supporting documentation to prove that you have successfully graduated. Your upgraded status is good for a year.
Qatar Airways Silver status is the equivalent of Oneworld Ruby status. Oneworld Ruby status gets you access to priority check-in, preferred seating, and higher status on waitlists when traveling on all Oneworld carriers.
Related: Sweet Spots of the Qatar Airways Partner Award Chart
How Does the Qatar Airways Student Club Compare To Other Student-Focused Programs?
When compared to Singapore Airlines' student travel program or Aegean's genAIRation, Qatar Airways Student Club is far more competitive. Just the 10% discount offered following enrollment is worth the time it takes to sign up. The benefit that excites me the most is the opportunity to receive upgraded status as a graduation gift. Keep in mind that Qatar Airways' status comes with benefits when traveling on Oneworld partner airlines.
Bottom Line
If you plan to put some time aside to travel while in college, take a quick break from the books and enroll in Qatar Airways Student Club. It's a free program available to all college students at accredited universities worldwide. You will receive a 10% discount on your first flight just for signing up. And with the ability to get up to 20% off a future flight and earn a status upgrade, the Student Club program has the potential to be quite lucrative for younger frequent flyers.
Will you sign up for Qatar Airways Student Club? What benefit excites you the most?
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