Qatar Airways offers two branded credit cards for U.S. consumers. Launched by the airline in May 2024 in partnership with financial technology company Cardless and issued by First Electronic Bank, the cards offer sign-up bonuses, rewards on purchases and an accelerated path to status in Qatar Airways Privilege Club (the airline's frequent flyer program) and the Oneworld alliance (of which the airline is a member).
One card is more feature-rich than the other, and the difference is evident in an annual fee that rivals what you'd pay for the best premium travel rewards credit cards. For that price, other cards may have more to offer, especially if you’d prefer more flexibility with your rewards.
Here are five things to know about the Qatar Airways credit cards.
1. There are two Qatar Airways credit cards
You can choose between the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, with a $99 annual fee, and the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, with a $499 annual fee.
Here's how the cards compare:
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card | Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $499. | $99. |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn up to 50,000 Avios, including 25,000 Avios after the first transaction and 25,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. Terms apply. | Earn up to 40,000 Avios, including 20,000 Avios after the first transaction and 40,000 Avios after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. Terms apply. |
| Earnings rates |
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| Other perks |
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2. The cards earn Avios
The cards earn rewards in the form of "Avios," which you can use to book award travel on Qatar Airways. Avios are also the rewards currency for several other airlines, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Finnair; you can transfer Avios among those airlines' frequent flyer programs, although the value you get per point will differ.
Because Qatar Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance, you can also redeem Avios toward flights on partner airlines such as American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Qantas and more.
3. You get an accelerated path to status
With the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, you automatically get Silver status in Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club for the first year you have the card. This grants you a 25% bonus on rewards earnings for eligible flights; priority standby, check-in and boarding; a 20% discount on the cost of seat selection; an allowance for extra baggage; and lounge access. You’ll also get Ruby status in the Oneworld alliance, which gets you business class priority check-in, preferred seating and priority on waitlists and standby.
The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card grants you Privilege Club Gold status for the first year, which comes with a 75% bonus on rewards earnings for eligible flights; priority standby, check-in and boarding; preferred seats; an allowance for even heavier extra baggage; lounge access; credits you can redeem for upgrades; a “meet and assist” service; and a discount on online redemptions. You’ll also get Sapphire status on Oneworld, which provides the benefits of Ruby plus access to business class lounges, priority boarding, a free extra checked bag and priority baggage handling.
Note that the automatic elite status lasts for only the first year. To keep (or increase) your status, you need to earn "Qpoints," which you can do by flying Qatar Airways or any Oneworld member airline. Using the Qatar Airways credit cards can also earn Qpoints — you get 2 Qpoints for every 1,500 to 2,000 Avios you earn with credit card spending, depending on the card.
» MORE: What is First Electronic Bank?
4. One card’s annual fee is extra pricey
The "Infinite" version charges a sky-high $499 annual fee, which is certainly something to take into consideration when considering these two cards.
For the extra cost, you get a larger sign-up bonus, higher ongoing rewards rates, a higher rate at which you earn Qpoints, a higher status tier and Visa Infinite benefits.
5. Other travel cards may be a better option
If you’re considering the more expensive Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, note that other travel cards allow you to transfer points to airline partners, including some of the Avios-centric airlines mentioned above.
For example, with the Citi Strata Premier® Card, which has a $95 annual fee, you can transfer points to multiple carriers — including Qatar Airlines — at a 1:1 ratio. The card earns 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel site; 3 points per $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases; 3 points per $1 spent at supermarkets; 3 points per $1 spent at gas stations and EV charging stations; 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants; and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Plus, you get a $100 annual hotel savings benefit. Terms apply.
Full list of Citi transfer partners
Transfer ratios will vary depending on which card you have.
Airlines
- Aeromexico (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- American Airlines (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Air France/KLM (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Asia Miles (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Avianca (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Emirates (1:0.8 or 1:0.56 ratio).
- Etihad (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Eva Air (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- JetBlue (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Qantas (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Qatar Airways (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Singapore Airlines (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Thai Airways (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Turkish Airlines (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
- Virgin Atlantic (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
Hotels
- Accor Live Limitless (2:1 or 2:0.7 ratio).
- Choice Hotels (1:1.5 or 1:1.05 ratio).
- The Leading Hotels of the World (5:1 or 5:0.7 ratio).
- Preferred Hotels & Resorts (1:2 or 1:1.4 ratio).
- Wyndham (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
Events
- Virgin Red (1:1 or 1:0.7 ratio).
Alternately, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card includes both British Airways and Finnair among its transfer partners.
The $395 annual fee can be effectively wiped out by the card’s many perks.
Included among those perks are a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel; a statement credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry; airport lounge access; and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus. It also earns 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Unlike the $499-annual-fee Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, these cards come with better perks and more redemption flexibility.
Full list of Capital One transfer partners
Airlines
- Aeromexico (1:1 ratio).
- Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
- Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).
- Avianca (1:1 ratio).
- British Airways (1:1 ratio).
- Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio).
- Emirates (1:1 ratio).
- Etihad (1:1 ratio).
- EVA (2:1.5 ratio).
- Finnair (1:1 ratio).
- Japan Airlines (2:1.5 ratio).
- JetBlue (5:3 ratio).
- Qantas (1:1 ratio).
- Qatar Airways (1:1 ratio).
- Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).
- TAP Air Portugal (1:1 ratio).
- Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio).
- Virgin Red (1:1 ratio).
Hotels
- Accor (2:1 ratio).
- Choice Privileges Hotels (1:1 ratio).
- I Prefer Hotel Rewards (1:2 ratio).
- Wyndham Rewards (1:1 ratio).
