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Unveiling Qatar Airways New Credit Cards: A Complete Review
August 30, 2024
Introducing the Qatar Airways Credit Cards
Qatar Airways, the world-renowned airline known for its exceptional service and luxurious travel experience, recently launched its first credit cards for the U.S. market in partnership with Cardless. The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Signature Credit Card and Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite Credit Card offer travelers a unique opportunity to earn valuable rewards, enjoy premium benefits, and elevate their travel experience to new heights.
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What are the Qatar Airways Credit Cards?
The Qatar Airways credit card is a new offering that comes in two variants: a Visa Signature card and a Visa Infinite card. Both cards are designed to cater to the needs of frequent flyers and travel enthusiasts who value luxury, convenience, and unparalleled rewards. Both the Qatar Airways Visa Signature and Visa Infinite credit cards earn Avios, the versatile reward points that can be redeemed across a wide range of airlines. Avios serve as the loyalty currency not only for Qatar Airways but also for its partner airlines within the Oneworld alliance, such as British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and Finnair, providing cardholders with extensive options for earning and redeeming rewards on global travel.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite Credit Card
We'll start from the top and introduce you to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card first. This matte metal card is Qatar's most premium product with a premium $499 annual fee to match.
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The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card earns:
- 5X Avios per $1 spent at Qatar Airways.
- 3X Avios per $1 spent at restaurants (excluding bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, and convenience stores).
- 1X Avios per $1 spent on everything else.
Additionally, cardholders will earn two Qpoints (Qatar’s status-earning metric) for every $1,500 spent on the card. It also offers a signup bonus of up to 50,000 Avios: 25,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 25,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. Additionally, travelers who get this card will also receive automatic elite status - Gold status with Qatar Privilege Club - for the first year of card membership.
If Infinite cardholders want the fast track to top-tier Platinum status, they can earn 150 Qpoints after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. Since 600 Qpoints are required for Platinum status, you’d only need an additional 450 Qpoints to attain Platinum status.
As a Visa Infinite-branded card, cardholders also have access to a bevy of premium benefits as well:
- Access the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Visa Infinite concierge services.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit to offset your application fee.
- Car rental collision damage waiver insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Trip cancellation or interruption reimbursement
- Trip delay reimbursement
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Signature Credit Card
The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, with its modest $99 annual fee, strikes the perfect balance for travelers who want to enjoy valuable perks without breaking the bank. It's a great fit for those who find themselves frequently flying with Qatar Airways or its partner airlines, but don't necessarily need the premium benefits that come with the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite card.
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The Visa Signature earns:
- 4X Avios per $1 spent at Qatar Airways.
- 2X Avios per $1 spent at restaurants (excluding bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, and convenience stores).
- 1X Avios per $1 spent on everything else.
Cardholders earn two elite-qualifying Qpoints for every $2,000 spent on the card. It also offers a signup bonus of up to 40,000 Avios: 20,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 20,000 Avios after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.
Perks include:
- Silver Status tier for one year, which includes perks such as 25% extra Avios earnings on eligible paid flights
- Priority standby, check-in, and boarding
- Complimentary lounge access and two guest passes annually
- Extra baggage allowance
Qatar Privilege Club’s Silver status equates to Oneworld Ruby status, which comes with benefits when traveling on other Oneworld carriers like American, British Airways, and more.
Eligibility and Application Process To qualify for the Qatar Airways Cards
To qualify for either of the Qatar Airways credit cards, which are issued by Cardless, applicants generally need to have a good to excellent credit score. The application process is straightforward and can be completed online.
Are the Qatar Airways Credit Cards Worth It?
For frequent flyers and travel enthusiasts who value luxury and exceptional rewards, these cards are undoubtedly worth considering. The generous welcome bonus, accelerated earning potential, and premium travel benefits can provide significant value for the right people. However, it's essential to evaluate your travel habits and spending patterns to determine if these cards align with your needs. If you rarely fly with Qatar Airways or its Oneworld partners, you might find more value in other travel credit cards that offer broader earning categories and redemption options.
Final Thoughts
While the Qatar Airways cards offer a decent earning structure and benefits, they may not be the best choice for you unless you're a die-hard Qatar Airways loyalist. For most travelers, there are more versatile ways to stockpile Avios without being tied to a single airline. Take the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example. This powerhouse earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that can be transferred to a variety of Avios-based programs, like British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Iberia Plus. These programs also give you access to the Oneworld Alliance award chart, which means you can still book those luxury Qatar Airways flights. Unless you're chasing Qatar Airways elite status or have a particular affinity for the airline, you might be better off opting for a more flexible rewards card that lets you earn Avios without limiting your options.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
