Summary

• Qatar Airways' QPoints focus on membership tier retention and upgrade, while British Airways' Avios offer a range of redemption options.
• QPoints are earned by flying with Qatar Airways and oneworld member airlines, while Avios can be earned through various partners.
• By understanding the nuances of QPoints and Avios, you can maximize rewards and unlock exclusive travel benefits.

With so many options out there, navigating the world of airline rewards can be both exciting and daunting. Today, we’re looking at two popular loyalty currencies: Qatar Airways’ QPoints and British Airways’ Avios. While both airlines are oneworld members and each currency offers opportunities to earn points and redeem rewards, QPoints and Avios serve two very different purposes.

Distinguishing the two currencies

QPoints is the loyalty currency of Qatar Airways' Privilege Club program. Unlike traditional airline loyalty programs through which members accumulate miles, with the Privilege Club, frequent flyers collect QPoints instead. QPoints can be earned on any Qatar Airways and oneworld member airline flights, per the airline’s website.

Avios, on the other hand, is the loyalty currency of the British Airways Executive Club program. By collecting Avios, members are given access to a range of benefits and redemption options across the airline and its partners. Unlike QPoints – which are earned only via a handful of avenues – Avios can be earned through flights, hotel stays, car rentals, credit card spending, and a host of other partner activities.

At face value, both currencies might seem to serve the same purpose: collect them to redeem rewards. However, the key difference to note here is that Qpoints are awarded to help you upgrade or renew your Privilege Club membership tier, while Avios are the points you can earn and then spend for rewards, according to Point Hacks.

It is also important to know that Avios can, in fact, be earned not only on British Airways flights, but also on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member airline flights. As reported by UpgradedPoints, Qatar Airways replaced its Qmiles air miles currency with Avios in March 2022.

Prior to the switch, frequent flyers could use Avios to redeem flights on Qatar Airways through British Airways’ website. Yet, for bookings made directly through Qatar Airways' website, passengers were limited to using Qmiles.

Earning QPoints

According to Qatar Airways, QPoints can be earned by flying with Qatar Airways and oneworld member airlines, shopping at Qatar Duty Free, or booking packages and travel offers with Qatar Airways Holidays.

The number of QPoints earned are reliant on factors such as the distance traveled, fare class, and membership tier. Depending on these factors, members can earn between 50% to 300% of the actual mileage flown, accelerating their progress from Burgundy through to Platinum status.

The number of QPoints required to retain or upgrade your Privilege Club membership tier is as follows:

By climbing the tier ladder, members can enjoy a range of benefits, including:

Earning and redeeming Avios

Members can earn Avios by flying with British Airways and its partner airlines, as well as through various non-airline partners such as hotels, car rental companies, and retail partners. According to British Airways, Avios can be collected by spending with more than 1,500 partners across fashion, travel, and finance.

With a dynamic award pricing system, members have the flexibility to choose from a range of redemption options, offering members greater flexibility and value. According to Avios, points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, such as:

• Flights, seat and cabin upgrades, and baggage allowances
• Stays in over 320,000 hotels, holiday packages, and experiences
• Avis and Budget car rentals
• Retail
• Charity donations

Key differences

While both QPoints and Avios promise valuable rewards, the benefits they offer differ significantly. With QPoints, the rewards are in the form of Privilege Club membership tier retention and upgrade, which leads to flight-related perks offered by the loyalty program. With Avios, on the flip side, the rewards are across a range of redemption options – from flights and holiday packages to car rental and shopping.

Despite their differences, QPoints and Avios are valuable loyalty currencies that complement one another – and being part of both programs will offer the ultimate travel experience. Whether you're a frequent flyer with Qatar Airways or British Airways, understanding the nuances of QPoints and Avios can help you maximize your rewards and unlock exclusive benefits as you explore the world.

By leveraging the earning potential and redemption options of each loyalty currency, you can enhance your travel experience and make the most of your loyalty program membership.