This week, Cardless sort of announced that it was dropping its draconian “one card per lifetime” rule and joining the 21st-century, where many (if not most) US consumers have multiple credit cards.
Turns out, they did it just in time, as there’s a best-ever welcome offer available on both Qatar Privilege Club cards: 70,000 Avios for the less-expensive Signature card and 100,000 for the pricier Elite card – which also gets you a year’s worth of domestic American and Alaska lounge access.
In addition to the increased offers, both cards are doubling their earning on dining until mid-June, up to 4x for the Signature card and 6x for the Elite. It’s worth remembering that Avios can be freely transferred across the various programs that use them, so this bonus can be used towards flights booked with British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus and Loganair as well.
The Offers and Key Card Details
| Annual Fee Ongoing | 1st Year Value Sortable | CARD NAME | welcome bonus min spend or expected spend | Bank | Consumer or Business Card | Base | Card Offer and Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $99 | 9990601 | Qatar Airways Privilege Club Signature Card | $3,500 | Other | Consumer | Base: 1X (1.1%) |  ⓘ $601 1st Yr Value EstimateClick to learn about first year value estimates Up to 70K Avios Non-AffiliateThis is NOT an affiliate offer. We always present the best offer even when it means less revenue for Frequent Miler 20K Avios after first transaction, then an additional 50K after $3,500 spend within the first 90 days (Offer Expires 6/16/2025)$99 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: None, this is the best that we've seen FM Mini Review: The reward fee rebate can make this card worth keeping if you'll be booking award flights with Qatar Avios Earning rate: 4x Qatar purchases ✦ 2x dining ✦ 1x everywhere else Card Info: Visa Signature issued by FEB. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Receive 2 Qpoints for every 2,000 Avios earned ✦ Reward fee rebates when award booking taxes & fees paid with card (you must spend $15K in the first card year and $25k in subsequent years to unlock this benefit) Noteworthy perks: Complimentary Qatar Silver/oneworld Ruby status for one year |
| Annual Fee Ongoing | 1st Year Value Sortable | CARD NAME | welcome bonus min spend or expected spend | Bank | Consumer or Business Card | Base | Card Offer and Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $499 | 9990481 | Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite Card | $6,000 | Other | Consumer | Base: 1X (1.1%) |  ⓘ $481 1st Yr Value EstimateClick to learn about first year value estimates Up to 100K Avios + 150 Qpoints Non-AffiliateThis is NOT an affiliate offer. We always present the best offer even when it means less revenue for Frequent Miler 25K Avios after first transaction, then an additional 75K and 150 Qpoints after $6,000 spend within the first 90 days (Offer Expires 6/16/2025)$499 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. Recent better offer: None, this is the best that we've seen FM Mini Review: Getting complimentary oneworld Sapphire for one year could be appealing for folks who value the Admiral's Club access. Beyond that, the card's steep annual fee will probably make this most appealing for those who actually fly Qatar regularly, especially now that there's the reward fee rebate Earning rate: 5x Qatar purchases ✦ 3x dining ✦ 1x everywhere else Card Info: Visa Infinite issued by FEB. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Receive 2 Qpoints for every 1,500 Avios earned ✦ Reward fee rebates when award booking taxes & fees paid with card (you must spend $15K in the first card year and $25k in subsequent years to unlock this benefit) Noteworthy perks: Complimentary Qatar Gold/oneworld Sapphire status for one year (includes access to domestic AA Admirals Clubs and Alaska Lounges) ✦ Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit ✦ Travel accident insurance ✦ Trip cancellation reimbursement ✦ Trip delay reimbursement |
Quick Thoughts
Of these two cards, the higher-priced Infinite card is easily the more intriguing. Not only is the welcome bonus bigger, but you also get Privilege Club Gold/oneworld Sapphire status for one year as part of the welcome bonus, with the ability to renew that status via spend in subsequent years.
For those who fly Qatar a lot, Privilege Club Gold could be very useful, but most US consumers are going to be more interested in the foreign airline oneworld Sapphire status that comes with it, because that gets you into Alaska and American lounges, even on domestic itineraries (oneworld Sapphire members whose status is through American/Alaska don’t get lounge access when traveling within the United States).
If you’re like me and fly Alaska (or AA) a lot, that Alaska lounge access is very appealing. However, it’s worth noting the following terms:
If you’ve earned Emerald or Sapphire through an airline other than American or Alaska, you are not required to have an international itinerary. However, all guests must include their eligible frequent flyer number on their reservation prior to check-in to access the lounge. oneworld® frequent flyer membership cards do not grant access to the lounge and the frequent flyer number on the reservation will determine whether a member is eligible for access.
That means that you’d have to have your Qatar frequent flyer number on your boarding pass (and thus your reservation) in order to get into US lounges. If you wanted your flights to credit to Alaska or AA, you’d have to check-in and enter the lounge with your Qatar number, then change it back once you’ve gotten in but before you fly (either at the front desk, if they’d do it, over the phone or at the gate). That’s a little too much tomfoolery for me.
Admiral’s Clubs allow you to present your Privilege Club card, so there’s no chicanery needed.
For those that are willing to monkey with it, use only AA lounges, or who don’t need to credit flights to AA or Alaska, this could be great deal. You’re effectively getting 100,000 Avios, one year of domestic lounge access and 5-6 weeks of 6x earning on dining for $499 – less than a lounge membership to either airline. .
You’re also paying $499 for a card with no Priority Pass, and whose other benefits are effectively the same as any other Visa Infinite card. So, for folks who don’t care about the lounge access and are JUST looking for Avios, the Signature card might be more tempting…although it’s worth noting that you can get 100K Ultimate Rewards for the same annual fee with the Chase Sapphire Preferred and then convert them to Avios.
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Great coverage Tim. Was surprised to not see this reported elsewhere today, besides Matt’s always excellent milesearnandburn dot com .
I haven’t seen the T&C requirement on lounge access reported elsewhere (and Gary at VFTW had suggested he’d had no problems eliding this in the past). What’s the cite for that, please–the Cardless account T&C?
That’s copied and pasted directly from the Alaska Lounge access rules.
Gary’s probably using Admiral’s Clubs, which allow you to present your program card if the number isn’t on the reservation.
Thanks for clarifying Tim.
That makes sense. AS has long seemed more particular about entrance standards than AA.