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Qatar Airways is one of the leading airlines in the world and aims to act as a bridge between Europe, the U.S., and Asia from its base in Doha. The airline has a modern fleet and operates some of the best premium cabin products around, including the now legendary Qsuite.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club adopted Avios as its currency in 2022; since then, the airline has realigned several aspects of its program, including its points expiration policy. Let's take a look at how to hang onto your Qatar Avios and when they expire.
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Do Qatar Avios Expire?
According to the terms and conditions, the Qatar Privilege Club Avios expire as follows:
“By default, if a member has no activity for thirty-six (36) consecutive months, then all of that members balance of Avios will expire as of the Avios Expiry Date.”
“For Example:- if a member performs an accrual / redemption activity on 02 January 2021, then if there is no further activity on the account by 01 January 2024 then the Avios will expire as of 02 January 2024 00:01hrs Doha local time (GMT+3)”.”
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Exceptions to the Qatar Avios Expiration Policy
According to Qatar Airways, there is only one exception to the mileage expiration policy. Platinum members will not see their Avios expire as long as they maintain their status. Of course, to retain elite status, the member is likely generating qualifying activity.
Related: A New Look at Qatar Airways Privilege Club as Per Segment Fees Return
Extending or Reinstating Qatar Avios
If you have been unable to use your Avios and they are about to expire, you can extend their validity for a further 12 months, and you can do. You can do this online. Extending Avios for 12 months costs 1.5¢ (USD) per Avios.
Similarly, you can pay to reinstate your Qatar Avios after they expire. This costs 1.5¢ (USD) per Avios, and the reinstated Avios are valid for 12 months from the original expiry date. This means paying to reinstate your Avios several months after they expired won't make sense for most people — unless you're going to redeem them immediately.
How To Prevent Your Qatar Avios From Expiring
There are plenty of ways to earn or redeem Avios to extend their validity:
Earning Avios
- Take a flight with Qatar Airways.
- Credit a flight on a partner airline to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
- Rent a car with a partner like Avis, Burdge, Sixt, Europcar, or Hertz.
- Stay with a hotel partner like Hilton, Accor, or sites like Booking.com.
- Transfer points to Avios from Citi ThankYou® or Marriott Bonvoy (more partners discussed below).
- Shop with Qatar partners.
Additionally, Qatar Airways will launch two credit cards in the U.S. at some point in 2024, providing another method for earning Avios.
Redeem Avios
- Redeem your Avios for flights with Qatar or a Oneworld partner.
- Use your Avios for upgrades or excess baggage.
- Pay with Avios at various outlets at Hamad International Airport.
- Gift or transfer Avios to another member.
Bear in mind that Qatar Airways has numerous other partners across a range of services. However, they are mostly based in the Middle East. It's always worth checking the Qatar partners page if you're spending time in the Middle East.
Related: Redeem Your Qatar Avios For Experiences and Events
Boosting Your Qatar Privileges Avios Balance
You have multiple options if you to boost your Qatar Avios balance quickly. Qatar Airways is a transfer partner with every major point currency, either directly or indirectly, through its partners.
However, that is not the end of the story when it comes to Qatar Airways Privilege Club. You can transfer Avios between all of the following programs at no cost:
- Aer Lingus
- British Airways Executive Club
- Iberia Plus
- Qatar Airways Privileges Club
- Finnair (coming later this year)
This means you can transfer flexible points to one of the above programs before sending them to Privilege Club. This makes Qatar a de facto transfer partner with every flexible points currency.
Related: How To Transfer Avios Between Accounts
Use AwardWallet To Track Emirates Skywards Expiration
Even though 36 months is a generous amount of time before your Qatar Avios expire, it is easy to lose track of your Qatar Avios and risk losing them. That's why it pays to use AwardWallet to keep track of your Avios. Once set up, you will receive a timely reminder if you have any Avios due to expire soon.
To add your Qatar Privileges Club account to AwardWallet, log in and link your Qatar Privilege Club account. You're set!
Related: How To Track Your Rewards Using AwardWallet
Our Take
While Qatar Airways has some of the best products in the sky, with its QSuite standing head and shoulders above competitors' business class, the program also has some excellent redemption sweet spots.
Couple that with the fact you won't see Qatar Avios expire for a substantial amount of time and Qatar Airways Privilege Club is one of the strongest loyalty programs around.
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