We have seen airlines increasing shift from frequent flyer programs, which rewarded actual butt in seat flying, to loyalty programs in recent years. These loyalty programs are more incentivized towards credit card spending and the use of airline shopping portals. It’s never been easier to gain top tier airline status without ever stepping foot on a plane. Now, Qatar Airways has just unveiled a new “Loyalty Subscription Program” which will allow members to collect Avios and Qpoints on a monthly basis.
Qatar Airways Launches Privilege Club Pro, a Loyalty Subscription Program
For the first time, an Avios based loyalty program is offering a subscription service that will allow members to collect status points each month for a flat fee. The new program, dubbed Privilege Club Pro, is described as “the latest product developed in partnership with Points, a Plusgrade company specialising in ancillary revenue solutions. The subscription service allows members to grow their Avios balance and provides greater opportunities to enjoy spending on rewards, including bidding on money-can’t-buy experiences on Privilege Club Collection, booking award seat flights, shopping at Qatar Duty Free, and hundreds of partners worldwide.”
Essentially, this is a monthly subscription like many of you probably have for Netflix, Spotify, and The New York Times. Qatar Privelege Club members that choose to participate in this subscription service will have Avios, and in some places, Qpoints, deposited into their accounts each month.
There are four tiers associated with the new program and members who want to participate can choose between monthly and annual subscriptions. Those choosing the annual option will essentially receive two months free vs choosing to pay by the month. Each tier and its corresponding earnings are below:
- Access – provides loyalty members with 2,500 Avios per month; subscription costs USD 50 per month or USD 500 per year.
- Select – provides loyalty members with 7,500 Avios per month; subscription costs USD 130 per month or USD 1,300 per year.
- Exclusive – provides loyalty members with 15,000 Avios per month; subscription costs USD 240 per month or USD 2,400 per year.
- Ultimate – provides loyalty members with 20,000 Avios and five Qpoints per month; subscription costs USD 350 per month or USD 3,500 per year.
Privilege Club members selecting the Ultimate package will be able to use the additional QPoints to maintain or upgrade their loyalty status. The amount of Qpoints required in members’ balance to upgrade their loyalty status is as follows:
- Burgundy to Silver: 150 Qpoints
- Silver to Gold: 300 Qpoints
- Gold to Platinum: 600 Qpoints
When speaking about the subscription program Qatar Airways’ Senior Vice President of Business-to-Consumer, Christophe Guittard, said this:
“As a lifestyle loyalty program, Privilege Club continues to expand the way members engage with their everyday transactions by ensuring steady, predictable progress toward meaningful rewards. Our latest addition, Privilege Club Pro, is a flexible subscription offering that brings members closer to their goals. By boosting their monthly Avios and Qpoints balance, members can now plan ahead for their dream trip or elevate their journey with upgrades and exclusive moments at Qatar Duty Free—home to one of the most expansive collections of luxury brands in any airport, alongside curated boutiques and world-class dining options. It reflects our continued commitment to rewarding loyalty in more personal, relevant, and exciting ways, and we look forward to welcoming members to this new chapter.”
Is This a Good Deal?
While, on the surface, this seems like a potentially lucrative deal, Qatar Airways frequently runs sales of Avios online. Many times these sales include significant bonuses which brings down the overall cost per point.
The subscription pricing puts the cost per point between 1.33 cents at the Exclusive tier and 1.67 cents at the Access tier if purchasing annually. The cost per point is higher, up to 2 cents per point if you purchase monthly. The highest tier, Ultimate, has a cost per point of 1.46 cents but does come with the added benefit of Qpoints.
If you do elect to sign up for this subscription service, you can potentially reduce your cost per point when factoring in additional points earnings that would come with using the card. However, the minor monthly dollar spend shouldn’t do much to move the needle on whether or not the subscription makes sense for you.
I prefer to earn and burn points so this isn’t a promotion that I’ll be taking advantage of. Based on how often we see Avios go on sale, you’re likely better off buying the points necessary for a specific redemption rather than taking part in this subscription. I’m not chasing status with Qatar Airways and therefore don’t need the Qpoints but, if you are close to the next status tier, this offer could make sense in order to hit the next status threshold.
Summary
Qatar Airways has just launched a new subscription program for its Privilege Club members which will deposit Avios, and in one case Qpoints, to members accounts on a monthly basis. Pricing is somewhat in line with where we typically see the airline outright sell Avios so this offering likely will only make sense to members looking for a Qpoints boost to access the next status tier.
I’m curious as to whether any of you are considering signing up for the program and, if so, what your thoughts are.
