In recent months, the British Airways Executive Club has implemented several devaluations of its miles. Flights within North America were particularly affected. Until December 2023, short-haul flights cost 7,500 Avios, but now British Airways charges a steep 12,000 Avios.
However, this price increase could easily be bypassed until now: Avios could be transferred 1:1 from the Executive Club to the Qatar Privilege Club. There, short flights were still available at a bargain price of just 6,000 Avios.
It was foreseeable that this loophole would be closed sooner or later. And unfortunately, that time has now come. The Qatar Privilege Club has also significantly increased prices for award flights with American & Alaska Airlines. Many tickets have become up to 64% more expensive. And just like with British Airways, this adjustment occurred overnight without any prior notice.
New Redemption Table for the Qatar Privilege Club
At least there’s some good news: The devaluation by Qatar Airways isn’t as severe as that of British Airways. One-way flights up to a distance of 650 miles now cost 9,500 Avios instead of the previous 6,000. However, this is still considerably less than the 12,000 Avios that BA charges.
Below is an overview of the old and new prices when redeeming your Qatar Avios within North America. For comparison, we’ve also listed the costs in the BA Executive Club:
Economy Class
| Distance | Old price | New price | Change | Price at BA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| up to 650 miles | 6,000 Avios | 9,500 Avios | + 58 % | 12,000 Avios |
| 651 – 1,150 miles | 9,000 Avios | 13,000 Avios | + 44 % | 16,000 Avios |
| 1,151 – 2,000 miles | 11,000 Avios | 14,500 Avios | + 32 % | 18,000 Avios |
| 2,001 – 3,000 miles | 13,000 Avios | 16,000 Avios | + 23 % | 20,000 Avios |
The price for long-haul flights over 3,001 miles remains unchanged (as with BA).
Domestic First Class / Business Class
| Distance | Old price | New price | Change | Price at BA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| up to 650 miles | 12,500 Avios | 20,000 Avios | + 60 % | 24,000 Avios |
| 651 – 1,150 miles | 16,500 Avios | 27,000 Avios | + 64 % | 32,000 Avios |
| 1,151 – 2,000 miles | 22,000 Avios | 34,000 Avios | + 55 % | 40,000 Avios |
| 2,001 – 3,000 miles | 38,750 Avios | 43,000 Avios | + 11 % | 50,000 Avios |
It’s also worth mentioning that taxes & fees for bookings through Qatar Airways are €10 compared to just under €6 through the Executive Club. Additionally, flights with Alaska Airlines must be requested first; direct online booking is not possible. However, given the amount of Avios saved, this can be overlooked.
An alternative would be booking through Finnair Plus. According to the award chart, it costs 11,000 miles to fly in economy class and 30,000 for domestic first class within the USA—and this can include a connecting flight if desired. However, it often happens that connecting flights are charged separately when booking (via phone/WhatsApp).
Incidentally, the same short-haul flight could be booked through the Alaska Mileage Plan for only 4,500 miles + US$19 (~€16). However, this isn’t really helpful if you’ve been earning Avios, as transferring Avios to Alaska miles is not possible.
Conclusion
Qatar Airways is just as opaque with its frequent flyer program as British Airways. This was evident last year when higher prices for award flights during peak travel times were introduced without warning. The sudden devaluation of Avios for flights with partners Alaska & American Airlines fits this pattern, though it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
A small consolation is that the devaluation isn’t quite as dramatic as with British Airways. However, even 9,500 Avios for a short-haul flight is a steep price.
Translated by Ditmar
Cover Picture: Ditmar Lange