Yes You Can!
American Express Membership Rewards program is renowned for its flexibility, offering cardholders a variety of redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to various airline partners. If you are like me then you have learnt the art of collecting miles to travel business and first class for free.
For those eyeing the skies with Qatar Airways, good news awaits – you can indeed transfer your Amex points to Qatar Airways and unlock a world of travel opportunities.
On a recent bleisure trip, I travelled the Perth to Doha route on First Class and onwards to Manchester in Business Class. All on points.
One of the features I absolutely loved about landing in Doha was the premium arrivals lounge dedicated to business and first class passengers. It’s a place you will find after you have cleared immigration and you are in the arrival hall. Why would you use it? Because its a great place to freshen up, grab a refreshment and bite to eat and recharge for your day ahead. It’s also great for travellers who may want to break their journey bit by bit due to travel stress or anxiety. Given that my flight landed around 6:00 am it was a great place to pass time until it was time to check in to my hotel. An experience and opportunity i haven’t actually seen anywhere else. But let’s get you there first!
How Can I Transfer my Amex Points to Qatar Airways?
The process of transferring Amex points to Qatar Airways is relatively straightforward. To initiate the transfer, you only need a minimum of 500 Membership Rewards points. This low threshold makes it accessible for cardholders to start utilizing their points for exciting travel experiences.
How long does it take?
The transfer itself is swift, with the transaction typically taking just 1 business day.
(I have seen them land within minutes)
This quick turnaround ensures that you can make spontaneous travel plans or take advantage of limited-time offers without lengthy delays.
What is the Transfer Rate?
Answer: 2 Membership Rewards points for 1 Avios.
When transferring Amex points to Qatar Airways, it’s crucial to be aware of the transfer rate. In this case, the rate is set at: 2 Membership Rewards points for 1 Avios.
It is considered a good rate given that Emirates and Singapore Airlines are now 3:1.
This exchange rate provides a clear understanding of how your Amex points convert into Qatar Airways’ loyalty currency, Avios Points.
Ensure you understand value of points and try and get as much bang for your buck. A point redemption value calculator can help you with determining good value when redeeming tickets.
Linking Your Accounts:
Before you can begin transferring points, it’s essential to link your American Express Membership Rewards account with Qatar Airways. If you haven’t done so already, follow these simple steps:
- Log in to your American Express account.
- Navigate to the Membership Rewards section. To get to your membership rewards section from your Amex home page go to:
MENU > REWARDS > Membership Rewards > Use Points for Travel > Additional Products > Frequent Traveller Partners
- Click on “Link more airline programs.”
- Ensure you have already joined the Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
- Find and click on Qatar Airways.
- Follow the prompts to link your accounts.
- Once you see a blue triangle with a tick in the top right hand corner, your account has been linked. (Note the image below showing the link with Singapore Airlines)
By linking your accounts, you establish a seamless connection that allows for the smooth transfer of points when you decide to redeem them for Qatar Airways flights. Here’s what the process looks like:
Transferring the Points
Once your accounts are successfully linked, proceed with the transfer:
- Log in to your Amex account.
- Navigate to the Membership Rewards section.
- Click on “Transfer my points.”
Ensure that your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account information is correct:
- Verify that your account details are accurate to prevent any transfer errors.
- Enter the amount of Membership Rewards points you would like to transfer.
- Hit the “points calculator” to review the rate of transfer.
This tool will provide a clear understanding of how many Avios Points you will receive for the specified number of Membership Rewards points. - Enter the security numbers from your American Express credit card to verify the transaction.
- Click on “Review Transfer” to ensure all details are accurate.
- If everything is in order, proceed to complete the transaction.
Confirm the transfer, and you will receive a notification acknowledging the successful initiation of the transfer.
Qatar Airways Overview:
Qatar Airways, based in Doha, Qatar, is the flag carrier of the country and one of the world’s leading airlines. Known for its modern fleet, top-notch service, and extensive global network, Qatar Airways has become a preferred choice for both business and leisure travelers. It’s QSuites is one of the reasons why Qatar is one of the best business class airlines to fly. But you also need to know the Qatar Airways QSuites routes and which aircrafts are equipped with this product. For example if you look at the seat map of the Qatar A350-900 it has two configurations. One with the QSuites and the other with the Super Diamond Business Class seats.
Qatar Airways, a prominent player in the global aviation industry, has gained a reputation for its luxurious travel experience and commitment to excellence. At the heart of their customer-centric approach is the Qatar Airways Privilege Club, the airline’s frequent flyer program that offers a range of benefits to its loyal passengers.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club:
The Privilege Club is Qatar Airways’ loyalty program designed to reward frequent flyers for their continued patronage. Members can earn Avios, the program’s new loyalty currency, by flying with Qatar Airways or its partner airlines, as well as through various other activities such as hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping with program partners.
This is where you are transferring your Amex Points.
Avios is a well-known reward currency associated with the one world alliance, offering members the flexibility to earn and redeem across a network of partner airlines. Qatar made the strategic switch from Qmiles to Avios in March 2022.
QPoints
Qpoints are part of Qatars Privilege Club loyalty program. They are separate from Avios and serve a distinct purpose within the program.
Qpoints are a measure of a member’s tier status within the Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Unlike Avios, which represent the currency used for earning and redeeming rewards, Qpoints are specifically tied to the elite status of a member within the program.
Key features of Qpoints include:
- Tier Qualification: Qpoints determine a member’s tier status within the Privilege Club. Members progress through different tiers, including Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, based on the number of Qpoints they accumulate. Each tier comes with its own set of benefits and privileges.
- Earned through Flights: Qpoints are primarily earned through eligible flights with Qatar Airways and its partner airlines. The number of Qpoints earned depends on factors such as the booking class and distance traveled.
- Tier Retention: In addition to qualifying for a higher tier, Qpoints also play a role in retaining a current tier status. Members need to earn a certain number of Qpoints during their membership year to maintain their elite status.
- Validity Period: Qpoints typically have a validity period, and they are reset at the beginning of each membership year. This encourages members to consistently engage with Qatar Airways and its partners to maintain or progress through the tiers.
- Benefits and Privileges: The higher the tier a member achieves, the more Qpoints they accumulate, unlocking additional benefits such as lounge access, priority check-in, excess baggage allowance, and more.
It’s important to note that unlike some of the other airlines, Qatar allows its members to buy Qpoints as a means to hold onto their tier, renew it or upgrade it. You can do this once in 36 months and the cost per Qpoint is $25USD.
This could especially attractive to loyalty members on other airlines who become increasingly frustrated at losing their tier or status (and the privileges that go with it) for a mere 5 points per sae.
Qatar does not require their members to have a minimum Qpoints balance to retain their tier but requires a minimum balance to upgrade their tier. Here’s how it works:
To Retain your TIER
Silver:
Qpoints Balance Required = 0
Purchase limit: = 40
Gold
Qpoints Balance Required = 0
Purchase limit: = 80
Platinum
Qpoints Balance Required = 0
Purchase limit: = 150
To Upgrade your TIER
Gold:
Qpoints Balance Required = 200
Purchase limit: = 150
Silver
Qpoints Balance Required = 100
Purchase limit: = 80
Burgundy
Qpoints Balance Required = 0
Purchase limit: = 40
Summing Up
In conclusion, the answer to whether you can transfer Amex points to Qatar Airways is a resounding yes. With a low minimum transfer requirement, a quick processing time, and a clear conversion rate, Amex cardholders can easily turn their accumulated points into unforgettable travel experiences. By linking your accounts and following the straightforward steps, you can harness the power of your Membership Rewards points and soar to new heights with Qatar Airways. The Qatar Privilege Club has its own unique perks and benefits and is certainly a frequent flyer program worth looking into.
