Qatar Airways Privilege Club

As JetBlue has a partnership with American Airlines, most people who fly with the airline probably credit their flights to either JetBlue's TrueBlue program or to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. For JetBlue's transatlantic flights, however, the AAdvantage program isn't an option and that's where another of the airline's partnerships can suddenly become useful.

Qatar Airways has launched a new promotion in which it's offering members of its Privilege Club (free to join) up to 20% off fares between various European countries and the airline's destinations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania.

Qatar Airways has been offering Privilege Club members a 30% bonus when they convert various banking and loyalty program currencies into Avios since the beginning of the month but with the bonus offer ending tomorrow, there isn't much time left for those whose Avios balance needs a boost.

An important change that took place in the miles and points world earlier this year had the knock-on effect of making Citi's ThankYou points a little more valuable and it's that knock-on effect that I'll discuss in this article.

Last month, Qatar Airways ran a promotion in which it was offering bonus Avios for transfers from various worldwide partner banks to its Privilege Club loyalty program, and for some, those bonus Avios should now have appeared in their Privilege Club accounts.

For the past month, Qatar Airways has been offering Privilege Club members around the world a bonus of up to 40% when they convert various banking currencies into Avios. That offer ends today and for readers with Citi ThankYou Points, this means that time is rapidly running out to top up an Avios balance with a very nice bonus added in.

As of yesterday, the Qatar Airways Privilege Club uses Avios as its currency of choice and also as of yesterday, Qatar Airways Privilege Club accounts and British Airways Executive Club accounts can be linked and Avios transferred back and forth between them. That's what makes the current new member sign-up bonus that Qatar Airways is offering so attractive.

Last month, Qatar Airways announced that its Privilege Club frequent flyer program would be replacing Qmiles with Avios as its currency and as of today, that transition appears to be complete. As importantly, not only do flights credited to the Privilege Club now earn Avios but flyers with British Airways Executive Club and Privilege Club accounts can now link those accounts and move Avios between them.

In an announcement that's nothing short of stunning, Qatar Airways has confirmed that it will be adopting Avios as the currency for its Privilege Club loyalty program from late next month. Qmiles are going to be history and going forward, Privilege Club program members will earn the same currency as members of the British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Aer Club.

Qatar Airways has launched a new Qmiles sale in which it's selling its currency at a 40% discount for today and tomorrow. After tomorrow, the discount drops to 30%. Historically, Qatar Airways mileage sales haven't been particularly interesting because award costs have been sky high, but now that some awards can be booked for almost half of what they once cost, sales like this one start to look attractive.