Key Points

• Qatar Airways doesn't issue US credit cards, but you can earn Avios through American Express, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt transfer partners.
• The best strategy combines flexible points cards with strategic transfers during bonus promotions for premium cabin awards.
• Business class awards to the Middle East, Asia, and Africa offer exceptional value at 70,000-100,000 Avios roundtrip.

Introduction

Qatar Airways operates one of the world's best business class products, but here's the catch: they don't offer a co-branded credit card in the United States. That doesn't mean you're stuck paying cash for flights, though. You can earn Qatar Airways Avios through credit card transfer partners, and with the right strategy, you'll rack up enough miles for premium cabin awards faster than you might think. Let me show you exactly how to do it.

Quick Answer: Best Cards for Qatar Airways Miles

The fastest way to earn Qatar Airways miles is through credit cards that transfer to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 ratio. American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Capital One miles, and Bilt Rewards all transfer instantly to Qatar Airways, making them your best options for booking award flights.

Why Qatar Airways Miles Matter

Before we dive into credit cards, let's talk about why you'd want Qatar Airways miles in the first place.

The Value Proposition

Qatar Airways Avios can deliver exceptional value for premium cabin travel. Business class awards to the Middle East, Asia, and Africa often price at 70,000-100,000 Avios roundtrip—significantly less than competitors. The airline's Qsuites business class product consistently ranks among the best in the sky, with private suites, closing doors, and double beds on select routes.

Award Availability

Qatar Airways releases competitive award availability, especially if you book 11-12 months out. Unlike some programs that hoard award seats, Qatar makes business class space available on most routes with advance planning.

Stopover Benefits

Here's a bonus: Qatar Airways allows a free stopover in Doha on award tickets. This means you can explore the Middle East on your way to Asia, Africa, or beyond without using extra miles.

Credit Cards That Transfer to Qatar Airways

Let's break down your options for earning transferable points that convert to Qatar Airways Avios.

American Express Membership Rewards Cards

American Express offers the most robust ecosystem for earning points that transfer to Qatar Airways.

The Platinum Card from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year). If you're booking paid Qatar Airways flights to supplement award travel, this multiplier adds up quickly.

Why it works for Qatar Airways:

• 5x points on airline purchases
• Points transfer instantly to Qatar Airways
• $200 airline fee credit can offset Qatar taxes
• Centurion Lounge access complements Qatar's premium experience

The annual fee is $695, but frequent travelers offset this through credits and benefits.

American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card delivers 4x points at restaurants worldwide and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x). For everyday spending, this card builds your Qatar Airways balance faster than premium cards with lower multipliers.

Why it works:

• 4x points on dining (your largest everyday category for most people)
• 4x points at supermarkets
• $250 annual fee is more accessible than premium cards
• Points pool with other Amex cards

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business Plus from American Express quietly earns 2x points on all purchases up to $50,000 per year, then 1x after. No annual fee makes this a foundational card in any strategy.

Strategy tip: Use this for all non-bonus category spending to build your balance without fees.

Citi ThankYou Points Cards

Citi's transferable currency provides another path to Qatar Airways miles.

Citi Strata Premier Card

The Citi Strata Premier Card earns 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels. This broad 3x earning makes it a strong everyday card.

Why it's valuable:

• 3x points across major travel and daily categories
• Points transfer to Qatar Airways at 1:1
• $95 annual fee is reasonable for the earning rate
• Combines well with Citi's other cards

Citi Premier or Citi Rewards+ Card

The Citi Rewards+ Card rounds up every purchase to the nearest 10 points and earns 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 per year). No annual fee makes this a no-brainer addition.

Strategic value: Those rounded-up points add up. If you make 100 small purchases monthly, you're earning an extra 500-900 points from rounding alone.

Capital One Miles Cards

Capital One miles transfer to Qatar Airways and several other partners, offering maximum flexibility.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X earns 2x miles on every purchase, with 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5x miles on flights through the portal.

Why this card works:

• Flat 2x miles on everything simplifies earning
• 10,000 anniversary bonus miles
• $300 annual travel credit effectively reduces the $395 fee
• Points transfer to Qatar Airways and 15+ other partners

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture offers a more accessible entry point at 2x miles on every purchase with a $95 annual fee.

Best for: People who want simplicity and aren't ready for premium card fees.

Bilt Rewards Mastercard

The Bilt Mastercard changed the game by letting you earn points on rent payments without transaction fees.

Earning structure:

• 1x point per dollar on rent (up to 100,000 points per year)
• 3x points on dining
• 2x points on travel
• 1x points on other purchases

Why this matters: If you pay $2,000 monthly in rent, that's 24,000 points annually toward Qatar Airways flights—from an expense you're paying anyway. No annual fee makes this a must-have card.

Building Your Qatar Airways Strategy

Now let's put these cards together into a cohesive earning strategy.

The Starter Strategy (1-2 Cards)

If you're new to points, start simple:

Foundation: Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Gold Card

While Chase doesn't transfer to Qatar Airways, starting with the Sapphire Preferred builds transferable currency and teaches you the fundamentals. Once you understand the system, add an Amex Gold for dining multipliers and Qatar transfers.

Why this works: You learn the basics without overwhelming yourself, then expand strategically.

The Intermediate Strategy (3-4 Cards)

Once you're comfortable, expand your earning:

1. American Express Gold Card for dining and groceries (4x points)
2. Blue Business Plus for all other spending (2x points, no fee)
3. Bilt Mastercard for rent payments (1x point per dollar)
4. Capital One Venture X for travel portal bookings (5-10x miles)

This combination covers every spending category with strong multipliers and gives you flexibility across transfer partners.

The Advanced Strategy (5+ Cards)

Serious points earners optimize every dollar:

1. American Express Platinum for airline purchases (5x points)
2. American Express Gold for dining and groceries (4x points)
3. Blue Business Plus for non-bonus spending (2x points)
4. Citi Strata Premier for backup 3x categories (3x points)
5. Capital One Venture X for portal bookings and flexibility (2-10x miles)
6. Bilt Mastercard for rent (1x point per dollar)

Annual earning potential: With $60,000 in annual spending strategically allocated, you're earning 120,000-150,000+ points—enough for multiple business class awards.

Maximizing Your Earning Rate

Here's how to squeeze every possible point from your spending.

Category Optimization

Match each purchase to your highest-earning card:

Dining: American Express Gold (4x) or Bilt (3x)Groceries: American Express Gold (4x up to $25,000/year)Flights: American Express Platinum (5x) or Capital One Venture X (5x through portal)Rent: Bilt Mastercard (1x without fees)Gas stations: Citi Strata Premier (3x)Everything else: Blue Business Plus (2x)

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses accelerate your timeline dramatically. Current offers include:

• American Express Gold: 90,000 points with $6,000 spending
• American Express Platinum: 125,000 points with $8,000 spending
• Citi Strata Premier: 75,000 points with $4,000 spending
• Capital One Venture X: 75,000 miles with $4,000 spending

Strategy tip: Space out applications to maximize bonuses. Target one card every 3-4 months to maintain approval odds.

Transfer Bonuses

Qatar Airways occasionally offers transfer bonuses from credit card partners. A 25-30% bonus means 100,000 transferred points become 125,000-130,000 Avios. Monitor transfer bonus announcements and time your transfers accordingly.

Authorized Users

Add authorized users to multiply your earning. The American Express Gold Card allows up to 99 authorized users at no additional cost. If your partner uses an authorized user card for their dining spending, you're earning 4x points on their purchases too.

Understanding Qatar Airways Award Charts

Let's talk about what your points can actually buy.

Business Class Sweet Spots

These routes offer exceptional value:

North America to Middle East:

• Economy: 40,000-50,000 Avios roundtrip
• Business: 70,000-85,000 Avios roundtrip

North America to Asia:

• Economy: 60,000-70,000 Avios roundtrip
• Business: 100,000-140,000 Avios roundtrip

Middle East to Asia:

• Economy: 35,000-45,000 Avios roundtrip
• Business: 70,000-90,000 Avios roundtrip

Premium Routes

Qatar's Qsuites business class flies on select routes including Doha to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Boston, and others. These private suites with closing doors make business class feel like first class.

Partner Awards

Qatar Airways partners with American Airlines, making it possible to book oneworld awards. This expands your routing options significantly, especially for complex itineraries.

Booking Qatar Airways Awards

Once you've earned the miles, here's how to use them effectively.

When to Book

Qatar Airways releases award space 360 days out. For popular routes and peak travel dates, book as soon as the calendar opens. Business class awards to the Middle East and Asia fill quickly during summer and holidays.

Search Strategies

Use Qatar Airways' website to search availability. The search engine shows accurate availability for Qatar-operated flights. For partner awards, call the Privilege Club directly—phone agents can see more options.

Stopover Rules

Qatar allows one free stopover in Doha on roundtrip awards. This lets you spend 2-3 days exploring Doha without additional miles. Just book your award ticket with a multi-day layover.

Taxes and Fees

Qatar Airways charges reasonable taxes and fees on award tickets. Expect $100-200 in taxes for business class awards to the Middle East or Asia—far less than British Airways' punishing fuel surcharges.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't let these errors derail your strategy:

Transferring Before Confirming Space

Always check award availability before transferring points. Points transfer instantly but moves are irreversible. Verify the exact dates and flights are bookable before clicking transfer.

Ignoring Transfer Partners

Don't put all your points in one program. Maintaining balances across American Express, Citi, and Capital One gives you flexibility. If Qatar devalues their program, you can pivot to other airlines.

Overlooking Short-Haul Awards

Qatar Airways prices short-haul business class awards at 30,000-40,000 Avios roundtrip. Doha to Dubai, for example, costs just 15,000 Avios one-way in business class—excellent value for experiencing Qsuites on a budget.

Missing Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses deliver 40-60% of your annual earning in 3-4 months. If you're not strategically applying for cards, you're leaving massive value on the table. Check out our guide on best credit card bonuses for current offers.

Alternative Routes to Qatar Airways Miles

Credit cards are the fastest path, but consider these supplementary strategies:

American Airlines Partnership

Qatar Airways and American Airlines are both in the oneworld alliance. You can book Qatar Airways flights using American Airlines miles earned through Citi AAdvantage cards.

British Airways Avios

British Airways and Qatar Airways both use Avios, but separate programs. If you have British Airways Avios from Chase's British Airways card, you can't transfer them directly to Qatar. However, you can book Qatar flights using British Airways Avios (though often at higher rates).

Status Bonuses

Qatar Airways Privilege Club offers elite status bonuses on award bookings. Silver members earn 25% bonus Avios, Gold earns 50%, and Platinum earns 75%. If you fly Qatar regularly for work, status amplifies your earning.

Sample Earning Timeline

Let's look at realistic timelines for earning a business class award to the Middle East (70,000 Avios needed).

Aggressive Strategy (6 months)

Cards: American Express Gold + American Express Platinum + Blue Business Plus + Bilt

Welcome bonuses: 215,000 pointsMonthly spending ($5,000): 30,000 pointsTotal after 6 months: 245,000 points

Result: Enough for 3+ business class awards with points to spare

Moderate Strategy (12 months)

Cards: American Express Gold + Capital One Venture X + Bilt

Welcome bonuses: 165,000 pointsMonthly spending ($3,500): 21,000 pointsTotal after 12 months: 252,000 points

Result: Multiple business class awards or premium economy for the whole family

Casual Strategy (18 months)

Cards: American Express Gold + Citi Strata Premier

Welcome bonuses: 165,000 pointsMonthly spending ($2,500): 15,000 pointsTotal after 18 months: 165,000 points

Result: 2 business class awards roundtrip

FAQ

Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Qatar Airways?

No, Chase Ultimate Rewards don't transfer to Qatar Airways. However, you can book Qatar flights through Chase's transfer partners like British Airways (using Avios) or through United Airlines. For direct Qatar Airways awards, you'll need American Express, Citi, Capital One, or Bilt points.

How long do points transfers take?

Transfers from American Express, Citi, and Capital One to Qatar Airways are instant. Bilt transfers typically process within 24-48 hours. Always verify award space exists before transferring.

Do Qatar Airways miles expire?

Qatar Airways Avios expire after 36 months of account inactivity. Keep your account active by earning or redeeming miles at least once every three years. Even a small points purchase or transfer resets the clock.

What's the best credit card for earning Qatar Airways miles?

The American Express Gold Card offers the best combination of earning rate (4x on dining and groceries) and accessibility ($250 annual fee). Pair it with the no-fee Blue Business Plus for 2x on all other spending.

Can I book Qatar Airways flights for someone else?

Yes, Qatar Airways allows you to book award tickets for anyone. You don't need to be traveling yourself. This makes it easy to book awards for family members or friends using your miles.

Are there blackout dates on Qatar Airways awards?

Qatar Airways doesn't have blackout dates, but award availability varies by route and season. Popular routes to Asia and Africa fill up quickly during peak travel periods, so book early for best selection.

How do Qatar Airways miles compare to other programs?

Qatar Airways offers competitive award rates, especially for business class to the Middle East and Asia. The ability to book Qsuites business class at reasonable rates (70,000-100,000 Avios roundtrip) makes the program particularly valuable for premium cabin travel.

Conclusion

Earning Qatar Airways miles without a co-branded credit card is absolutely possible—and often faster than you'd expect. By strategically using American Express, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt cards to earn transferable points, you'll build balances quickly enough for business class awards to incredible destinations. Start with one or two cards from our recommendations above, focus on welcome bonuses, and optimize your spending categories. Within 6-12 months, you'll be booking Qatar's renowned Qsuites business class and experiencing one of the world's best airlines.

This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.