Qatar Airways Avios Now Redeemable on Philippine Airlines: The Business Class Sweet Spots Worth Booking Before Award Space Dries Up

Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can now spend Avios on Philippine Airlines flights. The partnership, announced today, lets you redeem for PAL-operated routes across the US, Southeast Asia, Australasia, and intra-Philippines sectors, effective from the June 1 codeshare expansion.

This isn't another overhyped alliance. It's a timely backdoor into decent business class to Manila that sidesteps the Qsuite lottery and its eye-watering rates. New partner redemptions are almost always loosest right after launch, before revenue management wakes up and starts treating award space like a rare vintage.

Transpacific sweet spots look particularly tasty. LAX-MNL or SFO-MNL clocks in around 7,000 miles. Using Qatar's partner distance-based chart, that's 70,000-77,250 Avios one-way in business class on most bands. (Exact pricing will appear in the Qatar booking engine soon; early indications align with the 4,001-5,500 and 5,501-7,000 mile brackets.)

Compare that to alternatives. AAdvantage charges 70,000 miles one-way to Asia 2 for partners like PAL or JAL, but availability is patchy and fuel surcharges can sting. Aeroplan often runs 75,000-90,000+ points for similar transpacific business redemptions with less predictable space. Avios wins on raw math and the ability to book 355 days out via the Qatar site.

Intra-Asia segments are the real steal. Manila to Tokyo, Singapore, or Bangkok falls into lower bands — think 22,000-43,000 Avios in business depending on exact distance. Connect LAX to MNL on PAL, then onward cheaply. Or position in Manila for a cheap intra-Asia award binge before heading home.

Now, the product itself. Philippine Airlines business class is no Qsuite, but it's no slouch either. On the new Airbus A350-1000s (now entering transpacific and long-haul routes), you get 1-2-1 Collins Aerospace suites with doors. They're private enough, the lie-flat is solid, and the crew's legendary Filipino hospitality makes the long haul feel less brutal. Older 777-300ERs and A330s are more variable — refreshed Recaro angled-flat seats in some, tired product in others. Always check the aircraft.

It's not trying to be Emirates. The food is tasty (think adobo done right at 35,000 feet), the IFE is improving, and you won't disembark feeling like you overpaid. For the points cost, it's a strong value play — especially when Qsuite redemptions to the region routinely demand 100,000+ Avios with poor availability.

Avios earned on British Airways or Qatar co-branded cards pool seamlessly. Link your Privilege Club and BA Executive Club accounts for instant transfers at 1:1. Top up via Amex, Chase, Capital One, or Bilt transfers to either program. No household pooling tricks needed — just link and move.

The clock is ticking. History shows these shiny new partner charts get calibrated fast. Airlines rarely leave generous award space sitting there once the bloggers and churners descend. Book the LAX/SFO-MNL runs on the A350 if you can find them, or stack intra-Asia legs for a Manila hub-and-spoke adventure.

Don't overthink it. Log into qatarairways.com Privilege Club, search PAL flights starting in early June, and lock in dates before the algorithm gets wise. Your next Southeast Asia trip just got cheaper in the front cabin.