Chase Ultimate Rewards points can’t be transferred directly to Qatar Airways, but there’s a simple workaround. Because British Airways, Qatar Airways, and a few other airlines all use the same loyalty currency called Avios, you can send your Chase points to British Airways first, then move those Avios over to your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account. The whole process takes just a few minutes once your accounts are set up.
Why British Airways Is the Bridge
Qatar Airways Privilege Club isn’t on Chase’s list of direct transfer partners, but British Airways Executive Club is. Both programs use Avios as their points currency, and British Airways lets you transfer Avios freely between linked accounts at Qatar Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. So the path is: Chase points go to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio, then British Airways Avios move to Qatar Airways Privilege Club, also at 1:1. You don’t lose any value along the way.
Accounts You Need Before Starting
You’ll need three accounts ready to go:
- A Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards. Only certain Chase cards allow point transfers to airline and hotel partners. Cards like the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Business Preferred qualify. If you have a Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex, you can’t transfer directly, but you can move those points to an eligible Sapphire or Ink card first.
- A British Airways Executive Club account. Free to join at ba.com. This is where your Chase points land initially.
- A Qatar Airways Privilege Club account. Also free, available at qatarairways.com. This is the final destination for your Avios.
One critical detail: the name on your Chase account must match the name on your British Airways Executive Club account exactly. Even small variations, like a missing middle initial, can cause the transfer to fail.
Step 1: Transfer Chase Points to British Airways
Log in to your Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, either through the Chase app or chase.com. Navigate to the “Transfer Points” section under your rewards dashboard. Select British Airways Executive Club from the list of airline partners. Enter the number of points you want to move. Chase requires transfers in increments of 1,000 points, and the ratio is 1:1, so 10,000 Chase points becomes 10,000 Avios.
Transfers from Chase to British Airways are typically instant. Your Avios should appear in your British Airways account within minutes, though occasional delays can happen.
Step 2: Link Your British Airways and Qatar Airways Accounts
Before you can move Avios from British Airways to Qatar Airways, the two accounts need to be linked. Go to the British Airways website and look for the “Transfer your Avios” or “Combine Avios” page (found under the Avios section of your Executive Club account). You’ll be prompted to enter your Qatar Airways Privilege Club number and connect the accounts. This is a one-time setup, so you won’t need to repeat it for future transfers.
Step 3: Move Avios to Qatar Airways
Once your accounts are linked, the same British Airways transfer page lets you select which direction to send Avios. Choose to transfer from your British Airways account to your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account, enter the amount, and confirm. British Airways states that the Avios transfer to your chosen account immediately, so your Qatar Airways balance should update right away.
What to Know Before You Transfer
Chase point transfers to airline partners are one-way and irreversible. Once you send points to British Airways, you can’t pull them back into your Chase account. The same applies when you move Avios from British Airways to Qatar Airways. Make sure you have a specific redemption in mind before committing your points.
It’s worth checking award availability on Qatar Airways before transferring. Search for the flight you want through the Qatar Airways website or app using Avios pricing. Qatar Airways Privilege Club can offer strong value on premium cabin awards, particularly on Qatar’s own QSuites business class, which is one of the main reasons people route points this way. Once you’ve confirmed seats are available, start the transfer chain.
Also keep in mind that both British Airways and Qatar Airways may charge taxes and carrier surcharges on award tickets. These out-of-pocket costs vary by route and cabin, so factor them into your decision before moving a large balance.
The Full Transfer Timeline
From start to finish, you can realistically complete the entire process in under 30 minutes if your accounts are already created and linked. The Chase-to-British Airways transfer is near-instant, and the British Airways-to-Qatar Airways transfer is also immediate. The only step that takes a bit of patience is linking your two Avios accounts for the first time, which involves entering your membership details and verifying the connection. After that first setup, future transfers are fast and straightforward.