Fees & surcharges can make an award flight far more expensive and many frequent flyer programs specifically use those surcharges to make a profit. Currently, Qatar Airways is waiving the Award Ticket Booking Fee for its own frequent flyer program, the Privilege Club.
Until now, that fee was USD25 in economy class, USD50 in business class, and USD75 in first class, per segment! i.e. a roundtrip with four segments normally had a USD100 surcharge in economy, USD200 in business, and USD300 in first class! If you book an award flight now, you won’t have to pay that surcharge.
Here’s an example for a business class roundtrip from Rome to Colombo, Sri Lanka, via Doha (ignore the difference in required miles, the first screenshot was made for this deal in January):
So, you’re practically saving USD200. That definitely makes Qatar Airways Privilege Club award flights far more attractive.
It is unknown until when Qatar Airways will continue to waiver the surcharge.