Qatar Airways & Accor Hotels add reciprocal loyalty benefits

Qatar Airways and Accor Hotels have announced a new strategic partnership that adds reciprocal points earning and status matching.

Effective immediately, Qatar Privilege Club members can earn Avios on Accor stays, while Accor Live Limitless (ALL) members can earn ALL Rewards points on Qatar Airways flights. 

Elite members of Qatar Privilege Club and ALL will also enjoy a fast track to elite status with the other programme, which is particularly great news for ALL Diamonds as they can obtain Qatar Privilege Club Platinum status with just a single flight. This confers oneworld Emerald benefits, including First Class lounge access whenever they fly with oneworld in any cabin.

Reciprocal points earning

After linking their membership accounts, Privilege Club and ALL members will earn points as follows:

• Qatar Privilege Club members will earn 10 Avios per €10 spent at participating Accor brands, on top of the usual ALL points
  • Stays at ibis, ibis Styles and Mama Shelter will earn 5 Avios per €10 spent
  • Stays at Adagio will earn 4 Avios per €10 spent
  • Stays at Adagio Access will earn 2 Avios per €10 spent
• ALL members will earn 1 ALL Reward point per US$2 spent on eligible Qatar Airways flights, on top of the usual Qatar Airways Avios

ALL Reward points and Qatar Avios will be credited within six weeks of the stay or flight.

While the value of 1 Avios is variable, 1 ALL Reward point has a fixed value of €0.02. ALL members are effectively earning a 0.95% rebate on Qatar flights- not earth-shattering by any means, but free after all. 

Reciprocal status

From ALL to Qatar Privilege Club

ALL members with Gold status and higher will be eligible for an instant upgrade to Qatar Privilege Club elite status upon linking their accounts and taking one eligible Qatar Airways flight. 

An eligible flight means a Qatar Airways operated flight, and can either be an award booking or a cash ticket.

Status granted under the fast track is valid for one year, and subsequent requalification will be based on the regular requirements. 

It should also be noted that Qatar Airways is putting a cap on the maximum number of fast track memberships granted under this scheme.

From Qatar Privilege Club to ALL

Qatar Privilege club members with Gold status and higher will be eligible for an instant upgrade to ALL elite status upon linking their accounts and making one eligible stay. 

An eligible stay is a stay made at an ALL-participating hotel of at least one night, booked through an Accor eligible channel at an eligible rate. If the stay is redeemed in full using ALL points, it is not eligible.

Status granted under the fast track is valid for the remainder of the calendar year and the next calendar year, and subsequent requalification will be based on the regular requirements. 

It should also be noted that ALL is putting a cap on the maximum number of fast track memberships granted under this scheme.

Conclusion

Qatar Airways and Accor are partnering up to offer reciprocal points earning and status matches, and it’s a particularly fantastic opportunity for ALL Diamonds to enjoy the perks of oneworld Emerald status for 12 months. Even if you’re an ALL Platinum, oneworld Sapphire status is enough for perks like lounge access, priority check-in and baggage handling, and extra baggage allowance.

The partnership is arguably weaker in the opposite direction since it maxes out at ALL Gold, however. Gold members do not enjoy perks like lounge access, free breakfast or suite upgrades, and the most you can expect is a slight room upgrade and perhaps late check-out. 

Still, it’s a great tie-up, and given the cap on matches I’d get my accounts linked sooner rather than later.