Qatar Airways, the national flag carrier of Qatar, flies to more than 150 destinations, including America, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa.
Qatar currently owns 200+ aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. With those fleets, it flies to various domestic and international destinations from the primary hub at Hamad International Airport.
There are three classes of Travel available on Qatar Airways flights: Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class. Besides, there are different sub-fare categories under these 3 fare classes.
Frequent flyers and loyal customers are offered Qatar Airways Privilege Club membership that offers exclusive benefits and enhances the overall travel experience. Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum are the four different Privilege Club tiers.
Today, we will learn how to become a Gold member of Qatar Airways with requirements and benefits. So, let’s get started.
What is Qatar Airways Gold membership? [Privilege Club]
The majority of reputed airlines reward their loyal customers with loyalty programs. The Privilege Club membership tier is the loyalty program offered by Qatar Airways to its valuable customers.
Privilege Club is our way of saying “thank you” for choosing to fly with Qatar Airways. As a member, you will enjoy a range of exclusive privileges and benefits designed to make traveling with us even more rewarding.
QATAR AIRWAYS
Gold is the second highest tier level of the Privilege Club membership that offers exclusive benefits such as Complimentary Baggage Allowance, Priority Travel Services, Flexi Award, Bonus Mileage, and more.
Before getting into all benefits, let’s find out the requirements to qualify for the Gold level.
How do I Become a Gold member of Qatar Airways? [Requirements]
After you enroll in Qatar Airways Privilege Club membership, you will start your journey as a Burgundy member. As you earn at least 150 Qpoints within any 12-month period, you will upgrade to Silver membership. Likewise, earning 300 Qpoints within any 12-month period will enable you to upgrade to the Gold level.
That means after becoming a Silver member, you need to earn additional 300 Qpoints within any 12-month period to qualify for Gold Level. The Qpoints can be earned when flying on Qatar Airways-operated flights or any flights marketed and operated by any Oneworld member airline
Qatar Airways Oneworld member airline list
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Finnair
- Iberia Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qantas
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
There are also conditions to retain Gold membership and upgrade to the next tier level i.e. Platinum. Current Gold members must earn 270 Qpoints within the last 12 months or 540 Qpoints within the last 24 months prior to the renewal date to retain the status. The next tier level is Platinum for which Gold members need to earn 600 Qpoints within any 12-month to upgrade.
The number of Qpoints earned depends on the travel sector, airline, and fare classes (Booking Class). Customers can use the My Calculator application to find out how many Qpoints can be earned on a specific flight.
In this example (shown in the screenshot above), you can earn up to 44 Qpoints if you travel one way in Economy Class (B, H, Y) from Doha (DOH) to Los Angeles (LAX) on a Qatar Airways flight. But, if you choose to fly with SriLankan Airlines (Oneworld partner) on the same route, you can earn a maximum of 38 Qpoints with Economy fare class (B, H, P, and Y).
Likewise, if you fly First Class Elite (A, F) one-way from Doha (DOH) to Los Angeles (LAX) on a Qatari flight, you will earn 123 Qpoints. So, it depends on the route, airlines, and fare classes while earning maximum Qpoints.
Besides, you can purchase additional Qpoints to upgrade to the next tier level. The maximum purchase limit for Qpoints is 150 for Gold members.
Passengers can only make a one-time purchase of Qpoints in 36 months. For instance, as a Gold member, the Qpoints purchase limit for an upgrade to the Platinum tier is 150 Qpoints. If you buy 50 Qpoints, you will not be able to return to buy the balance of 100 Qpoints. You would only be able to buy Qpoints again after 36 months. Therefore, you need to be sure of the number of Qpoints required before initiating a purchase transaction.
The following are the things to consider while purchasing Qpoints.
- Only Privilege Club main members are eligible to buy Qpoints.
- Purchase of Qpoints is available online only.
- Cost per Qpoint is US$25.
- Platinum, Gold, and Silver members can buy Qpoints to retain their tier.
- Gold, Silver, and Burgundy members can buy Qpoints to upgrade to the next tier.
- Members can purchase Qpoints once in 36 months.
- Qpoints purchased are non-refundable and non-transferable.
What are the benefits of Gold membership?
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold is the second highest level among the four tier levels. So, you can expect more benefits than Silver Level.
Here are the top benefits of Privilege Club Gold membership
Bonus Mileage with Qatar Airways
Gold members can earn 100% mileage per family member on flights eligible for earning Avios.
75% Tier Bonus
As a Gold Member, you will receive a 75% tier bonus on flights marketed and operated by Qatar Airways that are eligible for earning Avios.
Bonus Mileage through non-airline partners
As a Privilege Club Gold member, you can earn 100% mileage per family member on non-air partner transactions.
Earn Qcredits
Gold members receive 40 Qcredits that can be redeemed for upgrades, extra baggage allowance on Qatar Airways flights, Guest Lounge Access, and payment of award fees. The Qcredits earned are valid for 24 months.
Complimentary Seat Selection
As a Gold Member, you will get a complimentary preferred seat selection. This complimentary offer is available for all passengers on your booking.
Talking about availability, Preferred Seat selection is available in the front section of the economy cabin, and can be selected 72 hours prior to the flight departure. The Preferred Seats are subject to availability and vary depending on aircraft configuration.
Qatar Airways Gold Member Baggage Allowance
Qatar Airways Gold members can carry complimentary checked baggage in accordance with the Privilege Club’s extra baggage allowance policy (either in kg or piece). The weight limitation is 20 kgs while it is 1 Piece for Piece concept. Furthermore, they can carry an additional 20 kg or 1 Piece of baggage free of cost on flights marketed and operated by Qatar Airways.
If your flight is primarily operated by Qatar Airways, and connected by Oneworld Airline partner, the Privilege Club extra baggage allowance is applicable. On the other hand, Oneworld Standard Baggage Allowance comes into action for flights operated primarily by Oneworld airline partners.
Priority Travel Services
Gold members are offered priority travel services including Priority Check-in, Priority Boarding, Priority Seat, Priority Baggage Handling, and Priority Standby Waitlist.
All Gold members receive Priority Boarding services, and Priority Baggage Handling wherever available. Priority Check-in service is available at Hamad International Airport and other airports. At Hamad, you will find Priority Check-in at Al Safwa Check-in Counters for First Class Travel, Al Mourjan Check-in Counters for Business Class, and Dedicated Counters in Row 3 for Economy Class passengers.
Likewise, at other airports, you can find Qatar Airways Priority Check-in Services at Business Class counters, irrespective of cabin of travel.
Priority seat is also available for Gold members. If your preferred flight on Qatar Airways is full, you will be kept on the standby waitlist, and given priority when a seat becomes available.
Qatar Airways Gold Lounge Access
As a Gold member, you will get access to Qatar Airways Lounge at select airports around the world. Besides, you will also receive access to Business Class lounges at select airports regardless of your class of travel.
Likewise, Gold members also get complimentary ‘one visit’ guest lounge passes. It allows members to receive 4 guest passes each year. With that, they can invite friends, and family to join them in the lounge at Hamad International Airport.
Lounge Access is only applicable to those passengers traveling on flights marketed, and operated by Qatar Airways. For Premium Lounges, passengers must hold a Premium ticket.
Complimentary Al Maha Gold Service
Gold members are offered meet-and-greet service when they arrive, depart, or transfer via Hamad International Airport. Besides, they can also choose a guest traveling with them to receive this benefit.
Al Maha Gold service includes assistance with immigration formalities, escorting, immigration clearance, and assistance through the security-screening.
Members are required to contact Al Maha Services at least 24 hours prior to departure to book this complimentary service.
Travel Co-ordinator
Passengers with Gold membership can nominate up to 2 coordinators to manage their account, and liaise with Qatar Airways on their behalf. This service makes the travel experience easier.
5% Off on Holiday Packages
Gold members enjoy a 5% discount on every holiday package purchased via the Qatar Airways Holidays website, or offices in Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. To claim the discount, you need to use ‘QRGOLD’ promo code in the Vouchers field, and click on ‘Add Voucher’ to get the discount.
Flexi Awards
Gold members receive an award seat on Qatar Airways during high-demand periods in exchange for double Avios when the flight is booked online.
Preferential Rate to Shop and Pay with Avios
Members can earn and spend Avios for purchases made at Qatar Duty-Free, located at the departure, and arrival halls of Hamad International Airport, and at Oryx Galleria, Doha.
You can become a gold member of Qatar Airways, and enjoy additional benefits listed below.
- 10% Special Discount when booking Al Maha Services
- 5% Discount for online redemptions
- Better Availability for Award Seat Redemptions
- Award-fee waivers for changing or canceling bookings at no cost
- Guaranteed seat in Economy Class for Revenue tickets
- Personalized Membership Card
- Speedy Assistance with Privilege Club-related, and Qatar Airways inquiries
Conclusion on ‘How to become a gold member of Qatar Airways?’
As we come to the end of this article, we learned the process to become a Gold Member of Qatar Airways by exploring the requirements. We also discussed all the benefits of Qatar Airways Gold membership.
Among four membership tiers, Gold is the second highest level after Platinum which offers exclusive benefits. Passengers need to join Qatar Airways Privilege Club and earn 300 Qpoints within any 12-month period to upgrade from Silver to Gold level.
Let’s conclude our discussion on ‘how to become a gold member of Qatar Airways’ with the major benefits of the Gold level.
- 100% Bonus Mileage with Qatar Airways
- 100% Bonus Mileage through non-airline partners
- Complimentary seat selection
- Complimentary Checked Baggage
- Priority Travel Services including Priority Check-in, Priority Baggage Handling, Priority Seat, and Priority Boarding
- Lounge Access
- Complimentary Al Maha Gold Services
- Flexi Awards
- Shop and Pay with Avios
- Personalized Membership Card
