Qatar Airways – am I understanding this correctly ?

[Lady London]

Like the similar Finnair thread here’s a thread for Qatar Privilege Club queries.

Looks like I might accidentally trigger Qatar status 1 or more times in the next year.

How long is Qatar status valid once you obtain it?
Is it for 12 months once obtained or only till your next card anniversary?
Also do they do soft landings ?

It’s weird but I’m seeing lots of marketing type speak on the website, and there are bits in the Other Place (though sadly no Wiki) and I’m struggling to find this info.

Any pointers as to where this info can be found please?

[memesweeper]

– 12 months
– clock starts ticking once obtained, not card anniversary
– yes, provided you have some flying activity in the previous 24 months (like BA, this is unofficial)

I believe they have a 12 and 24 month “lookback” for requalification at 12 months, but I cannot find a reference online to the 24 month point requirements.

This is my guide: https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qatar-airways-privilege-club-status/

[BJ]

According to my OH status lasts 12 months from the date of qualification. He also says that you get 2 shots at requalification based on either the previous 12 months or 24 months, if you fail in the last 12 months alone. Yes to soft landings. Please don’t shoot the messenger if that’s wrong 🙂

[BJ]

Ah sounds about right per @memesweeper.

[Lady London]

Thanks @BJ and @memesweeper.

The 12 months is worth to know. So doesn’t have the potential decent stretch of status validity period that can be arranged with BA. This was very worth knowing thanks memesweeper.

Thank you also for the Australian link memesweeper – am a big fan of that site but hadn’t thought to look there. And of course the many opportunities thrown up by the Qatar-not Qatar Virgin Australia flights for earning and spending including VA’s domestic Oz flights will be useful for some.

On the 24 months I did see on QR site that either 4 QR codedandoperated flights in 12 months are required or 8 QR codedandoperated flights in the past 24 months, at renewal time.

[Aston100]

I might be getting confused a bit, but a couple of years ago, did you say you’d never fly Qatar again? Possibly due to the invasive examinations of some female passengers?
Wondering what’s changed, or maybe I’m just not remembering correctly.

[Lady London]

You are correct Aston100 I’m still not happy with Qatar. But had to do a chunk of emergency longhaul travel at short notice in peak of peak season and simply couldn’t find seats on another airline whose safety I trusted or that didn’t worry me about an unexpected long stay in China if they changed their flights.

I also wanted to stay in OneWorld just after British Airways nerfed their loyalty club. At the time there was no guidance available as to alternatives and no time to seek out detail before flying. So safest seemed to be to stay put but there was defunitely no point in crediting to BA. Eeny meeny miney mo amongat OneWorld programs and Qatar was the airline that had reachable flights so left it accruing to Qatar.

A few flights added and looks like even though I shouldn’t have chosen Qatar I may accidentally accrue status. Following that up for a year or two covers travel I can see I’ll be doing and then I can re-strategise. Although the whole game may be gone to pot by then depending on what the future holds.

So yeah I am still uncomfortable with what can hapoen on Qatar but I needed help from them in London and on my day of travel when something went very, very pearshaped their staff were so kind and helped me. Also cabin crew are trained to be robotic but like the rest of us they are human and you get to hear some stories if you interact more with them, they are just nice people trying to earn a living like the rest of us. So we might not like the regime but when I really needed to fly they could fly me and took pity on me when I needed some help.

So yeah very mixed feelings and still wary but found myself “supping with the devil”. For now.

[Scomac23]

Hi Everyone, I’m new to the forums and this is my first post.

I was exceptionally lucky to take a business trip to Bali in October last year; which netted me quite a few Avios & Q Points; however this trip is not likely to be replicated this year, and my Q points will expire in October this year. Most of my business and personal travel is within Europe but with very occasional opportunities to travel further afield. It would be great not to waste the Q points I have already.

I have the option to buy 4 Q points ($100) to upgrade to Silver status.

My Questions are:

1. Would buying the points to upgrade to Silver change anything in regards to validity period?
2. I have no Qatar flights planned before the current expiry date, is there any way to preserve the Q points If I’m not flying?
3. The Avios expiry is 24 Months, is there any way to preserve / extend these too?
4. I have not yet explored the Credit Card / AMEX options available, would that change my options at all?

Thanks in advance for any help 🙂