New Qatar Airways credit cards now open to applicants: Fast-track to Oneworld elite status for $499
We reported on April 17 that Qatar Airways was teaming up with card issuer Cardless to launch two new credit cards in the U.S. Interested applicants could join a waitlist to earn 5,000 to 10,000 bonus Avios, depending on which card they applied for.
Now, as of May 7, applications for both cards are officially open. (The waitlist has closed, though.)
Here are the cards' details, including how to get Oneworld Sapphire status for a year with complimentary access to American Airlines Admirals Clubs and Alaska Lounges.
$499 Visa Infinite card
Here are the details on the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, which comes with a $499 annual fee:
- A welcome offer of up to 50,000 Avios — 25,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 25,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints after spending $5,000 in the first 90 days — which is more than 40% lower than the current welcome bonuses on Chase's three Avios-earning credit cards
- 5 Avios per dollar spent on Qatar Airways purchases, 3 Avios per dollar spent on restaurant purchases and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 2 Qpoints for every $1,500 spent
- One year of complimentary Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold status (equivalent to Oneworld Sapphire), which includes benefits like priority boarding, preferred seating, lounge access and a 75% tier bonus on earning Avios with eligible flights
- Visa Infinite benefits like concierge services, access to the Luxury Hotel Collection and rental car privileges
It's worth noting that the automatic Gold status on this card is only valid for the first year unless you already have Gold status — in this case, you'll get an additional year of membership starting from the day you're accepted for the card.
The information for the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite and Signature Cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Given that Qatar Airways is one of the world's most premium airlines, elite status with the program is nothing to sneeze at. By getting this card, you can effectively buy Gold status with the program for $499 a year, and that's before factoring in its welcome bonus and earning rates.
With the 150 Qpoints in the welcome offer, you'll also be 25% of the way to Platinum status (equivalent to Oneworld Emerald), which requires 600 Qpoints in a 12-month period to qualify. Platinum status includes all Gold status benefits, plus an additional lounge guest pass and a 100% tier bonus instead of Gold's 75% bonus.
$99 Visa Signature card
The Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, meanwhile, has a $99 annual fee and comes with the following:
- A welcome offer of up to 40,000 Avios — 20,000 Avios after the first transaction and an additional 20,000 Avios after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days
- 4 Avios per dollar spent on Qatar Airways purchases, 2 Avios per dollar spent on restaurant purchases and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 2 Qpoints for every $2,000 spent
- Automatic Silver status with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, which offers benefits like priority boarding, lounge access and a 25% tier bonus on earning Avios with eligible flights
Bottom line
Both cards offer solid perks, so the question is whether you can justify the extra $400 in annual fees for the Qatar Airways Visa Infinite. The complimentary Gold status on the Visa Infinite version has a strong value proposition, so if you frequently fly with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Qatar Airways or their partners, this card might be worth picking up. The welcome bonuses are quite low compared to our top credit cards, though.
Related: Best travel credit cards