What happened
Qatar Airways Privilege Club no longer requires a credited flight or co-brand card transaction before members can redeem Avios for other people, One Mile at a Time reports. Recipients still must be added to My List or Friends & Family.
The extra tests arrived in July 2026. Adding a person had required a credited flight on Qatar or a partner, or an eligible co-brand card transaction. The flight and card requirements are gone. The website now states only a 30-day minimum age for the Privilege Club account. People who failed the old tests appear able to add others again.
The original rules were unusually strict versus other programs. They were likely meant to curb award brokers and to push flight credits and co-brand spend. The reversal was made on Qatar's site rather than through a public announcement. Members who mainly transfer points into Privilege Club can again book Avios awards for companions without first flying Qatar or using a co-brand card.
If adding someone to Friends & Family failed under the old tests, try again as long as the Privilege Club account is more than 30 days old.
- Numbers
- 30 days: minimum Privilege Club account age to add someone to My List or Friends & Family
- Who qualifies
- Privilege Club members whose accounts are at least 30 days old can add people to My List or Friends & Family for award redemptions.
- Takeaway
- If you were blocked from adding someone to Friends & Family, try again as long as your Privilege Club account is more than 30 days old.