Qatar Airways is entering the lucrative United States travel credit card market by introducing two co-branded cards in partnership with Cardless.
These cards would allow people to earn Avios points that can be redeemed on Qatar Airways and their partners along with fast-track offers to elite status with Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite
The first card being launched is their premium card, the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite card with an annual fee of $499. This card will have an all-metal design and will be the first international airline loyalty program card to be a Visa Infinite credit card. The card will come with many of the Visa Infinite standard benefits such as concierge services and access to the Luxury Hotel Collection.
The card features a sign-up bonus of 50,000 Avios. 25,000 Avios will be awarded after the first transaction is made on the card and an additional 25,000 Avios will be awarded after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days. Infinite cardholders will also get an additional bonus of 150 QPoints after meeting the required sign-up bonus spend. These QPoints will provide members a boost on their way to elite status with the airline.
For every $1 charged to the card, cardholders can earn five Avios on spend directly with Qatar Airways, three Avios on restaurant spend, and one Avios on all other spend. There are also QPoint spend bonuses to help earn elite status. For every $1,500 spent on the card, one can earn two QPoints.
Cardholders will also enjoy a fast track to Gold status for one year on the airline which comes with a variety of benefits such as a 75 percent tier bonus on eligible flights, priority services, extra baggage allowances, lounge access with four guest passes, free preferred seat selection, complimentary meet and assist services from Al Maha services at Hamad International Airport in Doha, and oneworld Sapphire status.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature
The other card being introduced is the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature at an annual fee of $99. This card is similar to the Infinite card but has a different sign-up bonus and Avios earning structure. The sign-up bonus is 40,000 Avios; 20,000 Avios are awarded after the first transaction is made and the other 20,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.
This card has the same bonus categories as the Infinite card but Avios are earned at a lower rate. Four Avios for every dollar spent on Qatar Airways, two Avios on restaurant spend, and one Avios on all other spend. Cardholders can earn QPoints on this card as well, two QPoints for every $2,000 spent.
Much like the Infinite card, Signature cardholders will also receive a fast track to elite status with the airline for one year. Cardholders will get a year of Silver tier with the airline which includes a 25 percent tier bonus on eligible flights, priority services below the Gold tier, lounge access with two guest passes, and discounts on seat selection. Those with Silver tier at Qatar Airways have oneworld Ruby status.
It’s no secret that the United States credit market is extremely lucrative for airlines that profit handsomely from co-brands with card issuers. We’re seeing more foreign airlines partner with U.S. banks to issue co-brand cards to capitalize on such a lucrative market.
