Buy Qatar Avios With a 50% Bonus - Is It Worth It?

Qatar Airways Privilege Club is offering a 50% bonus on purchased Avios through 16 February 2026. That brings the effective cost down to 1.53¢ per Avios (roughly 1.2p per point), which sounds decent on paper but requires a closer look.

Here's what you need to know:

At 1.2p per point, this isn't terrible, but it's not brilliant either. For context, British Airways often runs promotions where you can buy Avios at 1p per point or less with a decent bonus. IHG regularly offers 100% bonuses that bring the cost down to around 0.35p per point.

More importantly, there are often better ways to acquire Qatar Avios without buying them at all. Transfers from Amex Membership Rewards, Virgin Money, or Barclays Avios at a 1:1 ratio mean you're effectively 'buying' them at whatever value you assign to those points - usually much better than 1.2p each if you're earning them through spending or sign-up bonuses.

Here's the maths: you need to get at least 1.2p per Avios in value from your redemptions to break even. Qatar Airways is known for excellent Business and First Class products, so let's look at some real examples.

London to Doha in Business Class: 50,000 Avios plus around £90 in taxes. If you're booking a peak-season ticket that would cost £2,000, you're getting roughly 3.8p per Avios in value. That's a strong redemption that would make buying at 1.2p worthwhile.

London to Maldives in Business Class: 75,000 Avios plus £150-200 in taxes. Cash prices often sit around £3,000-4,000, giving you roughly 3.8-5.1p per Avios. Again, well above the 1.2p you'd pay.

The verdict: This deal makes sense if you have a specific redemption in mind and you're genuinely short on points. But it's not a 'stock up' offer. If you're just speculating or don't have immediate travel plans, you're better off waiting for a better bonus or earning Qatar Avios through credit card transfers.

The sweet spot: Buying enough to top up for a specific Business Class redemption where you'd otherwise miss out. Not worth it for Economy redemptions, where the value per point rarely exceeds 1p.

This is a decent but not spectacular offer. At 1.2p per Avios, it makes sense if you're topping up for a high-value Business or First Class redemption and you can't wait for a better promotion. But if you're just looking to accumulate points speculatively, skip it. You'll likely see better buy bonuses later in the year, and you can earn Qatar Avios more cost-effectively through UK credit card transfers from Amex, Virgin Money, or Barclays. Only pull the trigger if you have a specific award booking in mind that justifies the cost.

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