Qatar has added some new restrictions when making award bookings for friends and family. There are now two separate groups you can book awards for: ‘My List‘ (F.A.Q. here) and ‘Family & Friends Pool‘ (F.A.Q. here)
- You can add up to four people to your list
- You can add up to six people to your family and friends pool (up to 9 if previously added)
- These members cannot have an existing Qatar Airways Privilege Club account
- Miles acqured by family and friends go towards the main member
- You can only book award flights for people on your list or family & friends pool
- You need to meet the activation condition (credit a flight to Qatar Airways Privilege Club or earn points on a cobranded card. Account must also be active for 30 days) to add people to your My List or friends & family pool
These changes seem to be targeting points brokers that purchase award miles and then book tickets with miles (normally in business or first). While I’m sympathetic to trying to shut these brokers down to free up award space I don’t think it should be at the expense of harming real users and these changes are definitely too harsh and poorly thought out. Looks like there might still be some work arounds.
I’m also really against anything that makes miles already earned so much more difficult to use. For example the activation condition seems needlessly extreme. Just a good reminder that the best miles are redeemed miles.
