Qatar Airways Privilege Club relaxes Avios redemption rules for others

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has relaxed restrictions for Avios redemptions made on behalf of other individuals, reversing a policy introduced in summer 2026. Burgundy and Silver status holders are still required to list other travellers via "My List" or "Family & Friends" but no longer need to demonstrate prior flight activity or a qualifying co-brand credit card transaction.

Removed Activity Requirement

While members can always redeem Avios for themselves without restriction, booking for others depends on Privilege Club status. Gold and Platinum members retain the flexibility to book for additional individuals without pre-registering them. For Burgundy and Silver members, the requirement to use "My List" or "Family & Friends" remains.

The significant change is the removal of a strict condition previously associated with these features. Introduced in July 2026, the rule stipulated that, in addition to an account being at least 30 days old, a qualifying activity was necessary. This activity was defined as either earning Avios from a flight with Qatar Airways or a partner airline, or a qualifying transaction with a Qatar Airways co-brand credit card. This additional requirement has been removed from the current English terms and conditions.

Now, for all Privilege Club status tiers (Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum), the sole requirement for using "My List" is that the Privilege Club account must have been established at least 30 days prior. The same 30-day account age applies to "Family & Friends." This adjustment makes it more practical for members who primarily transfer Avios into Privilege Club and do not frequently earn through flights.

My List and Family & Friends Features

"My List" allows a Privilege Club member to register up to four adults for whom Avios redemptions can be made. These individuals must be existing Qatar Airways Privilege Club members, at least 18 years old, and cannot be part of another "My List" or a "Family & Friends" group concurrently.

"Family & Friends" operates differently, pooling Avios from group members into the lead member's account. The lead member controls this balance and can redeem Avios for any group member. A lead member can include up to nine people in a "Family & Friends" group. A six-month binding period generally applies after adding a new member. Children between two and 18 years old can join if a parent or guardian is the lead member or another group member.

Remaining 30-Day Account Age Rule

The 30-day account age restriction for adding individuals to "My List" or "Family & Friends" remains in effect. This means a newly opened Privilege Club account cannot immediately be used to book for others. Similarly, linking a Qatar Airways Privilege Club account with a British Airways Executive Club account for Avios transfers is only available 30 days after account opening.

Opinion

Qatar Airways, like all airlines, is trying to strike a balance between user value, security concerns and business interests. This U-turn is a welcome, if unsurprising, correction. The original activity requirement for Burgundy and Silver members was a thinly veiled attempt to restrict Avios redemptions for anyone not flying frequently or holding their specific credit cards, severely limiting the utility of Avios for many.

Removing it, while keeping the 30-day account age, restores some common sense. It’s still not as flexible as other programs, but at least now, a direct Avios transfer from a bank partner can actually be used for a family member without jumping through hoops.