Quantcast

Qatar Airways devalues short-distance American Airlines and Alaska awards without notice

Airline Stocks Led The Travel Industry's Record 2024 Rally. Here's What's Next.
It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel
Qatar Airways cleans up at the World Travel Awards
Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year
South Korea to safeguard competition after Korean Air, Asiana merger
China Southern returns to Adelaide
Global Airline Industry Revenues Forecast To Top $1 Trillion For First Time In 2025
EasyJet to launch six new routes from the UK next year with £24 flights
Here's Why Analysts Say It's a Good Time to Buy Airline Stocks
A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
EasyJet reveals plans for new flights from regional UK airport next summer
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Alaska Airlines tech issue briefly grounds planes in Seattle, disrupts bookings on Cyber Monday
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
United Sees Nearly 30% Surge in Travel to European Christmas Markets
Budget airline Israir to launch flights between Israel and NY, ending wartime monopoly by flagship carrier El Al
Asia's airlines blame supply chain woes for disrupted operations
Qantas and Qatar Airways: Planned partnership in the Australian aviation industry under the microscope
Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
Qatar Airways devalues short-distance American Airlines and Alaska awards without notice
Research
Webp p18pueyozwbyaegyt1fzg7i1qaau
View from the Wing | View from the Wing

Qatar Airways has historically offered favorable award pricing for short-distance travel on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, with points that are relatively easy to acquire. The airline has a U.S. credit card and is a transfer partner of American Express and Citibank. Additionally, points from British Airways, Aer Lingus, Finnair, and Iberia can be moved into Qatar's program, allowing for transfers from Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and Bilt through these intermediaries.

However, as highlighted by Dan’s Deals, Qatar Airways has recently devalued these redemptions without prior notice. American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have their own separate award chart distinct from other oneworld redemptions (and also separate from Qatar’s own flights and JetBlue). This chart is unpublished but the following changes have been noted:

- For distances of 1-650 miles: Coach class increased from 6,000 to 9,500 points; Business class increased from 12,500 to 20,000 points.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

- For distances of 651-1151 miles: Coach class increased from 9,000 to 13,000 points; Business class increased from 16,500 to 27,000 points.

- For distances of 1152-2000 miles: Coach class increased from 11,000 to 14,500 points; Business class increased from 22,000 to 34,000 points.

- For distances of 2001-3000 miles: Coach class increased from 13,000 to 16,000 points; Business class increased from 38,750 to 43,000 points.

Despite these increases in redemption rates making them less competitive than before compared to British Airways charges an arbitrage opportunity still exists. Nonetheless the value gap has narrowed.

Dan notes that booking American regional jet flights via Qatar hasn't been supported. However mainline bookings with regional segments can be changed by Qatar for a $25 fee.

"You might technically be able to book AA awards within the contiguous U.S. and Canada for just 11K Finnair Avios in economy or 30K in first class," Dan observes though he acknowledges that successfully booking these awards through Finnair has proven difficult.

The lack of notice for these unpublished changes is seen as disappointing by some frequent travelers.

### Breakline ###

Organizations Included in this History
More News

FedEx Express and UPS Airlines are two of the largest cargo carriers in the world, with both companies operating extensive fleets and moving significant volumes of freight globally.

Oct 25, 2025

The Dubai Airshow, the largest event of its kind in the region, is set to return in 2025 with more than 200 aircraft expected to be on display.

Oct 25, 2025

LOT Polish Airlines has announced a new route from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Almaty, Kazakhstan, set to begin on May 31 next year.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada has announced the launch of its fifth transatlantic route operated by the Airbus A321XLR, connecting Montreal to Porto.

Oct 25, 2025

London Heathrow Airport continues to be a central hub for global air travel in 2025, offering some of the world’s longest nonstop routes that connect the United Kingdom to destinations across every inhabited continent.

Oct 25, 2025

American Airlines has introduced a new high-premium configuration for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet.

Oct 25, 2025