{"id":75753,"date":"2022-02-22T20:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T20:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=75753"},"modified":"2026-04-08T13:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:42:25","slug":"qatar-airways-adopt-avios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/airlines\/qatar-airways-adopt-avios\/","title":{"rendered":"Qatar Airways Will Adopt Avios, the Points of British Airways, Iberia & Aer Lingus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Update: Qatar has now adopted Avios as its award program. Transfers between British Airways and Qatar<\/a> are now live. And British Airways has reduced the award price for Qatar award flights<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Major news out of Qatar Airways is that the airline has adopted Avios as its mileage currency. Avios is the points currency of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. There can be some major implications for travelers with this shift. Here is what we know so far and what remains to be clarified in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

Background on Avios<\/span><\/h2>\n

Avios is the currency of International Airlines Group (IAG) — which owns British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling. While all of the airlines have their own loyalty programs, each uses points called Avios. Avios earned in these programs can be transferred to the other programs at a 1:1 ratio. And there's no fee to transfer Avios between accounts. You can read about how to do that here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thus, depending on which program has the best option for the awards you want to book, you can earn Avios in one program but redeem them in another. This even applies to Avios you earn from credit card sign-up bonuses.<\/p>\n

\"Image
Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Qatar Airways preparing for departure at PRG Airport in Prague on May 14, 2019.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

The Qatar Airways Relationship with IAG<\/span><\/h2>\n

Qatar Airways is the largest shareholder of IAG, holding a 25.2% stake. While Qatar Airways isn't technically an IAG airline, it has a vested interest in the program and the airlines that are already using Avios. Although it's uncommon to see airlines adopting the miles\/points currency of other airlines, Qatar Airways isn't a complete stranger to Avios.<\/p>\n

Qatar Airways' Move to Avios<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are things we know and those we don't at this point. We will update this as Qatar Airways reveals more details.<\/p>\n

What We Know<\/span><\/h3>\n

Transfers between British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club are live. You will still need to use BA as an intermediary if you want to involve Iberia or Aer Lingus in your transfers–these can't be done directly with Qatar.<\/p>\n

Qatar Airways has released an Avios landing page at QatarAirways.com\/Avios<\/a>. And we know that IAG has released a press statement here<\/a>. From the press statement, we know several things:<\/p>\n