Cardless Qatar Cards Now Available

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how you can get on the waitlist for the launch of the new Cardless Qatar co-branded cards. Yesterday, the cards went live. Let’s look at the details.

Qatar Privilege Club Credit Cards by Cardless

The Qatar Privilege Club Signature Visa (non-affiliate link) has a tiered bonus:

• Up to 45,000 Avios for welcome bonus
• Earn 20,000 Avios after first purchase
• Earn 20,000 Avios after spending $3000 in the first 90 days
• Get an extra 5000 Avios if you signed up on the waitlist
• 4X on Qatar Airways purchases
• 2X Avios on dining
• 1X Avios on all other purchases
• Earn 2 Qpoints for every 2000 Avios you earn with card (towards status)
• $99 annual fee
• Privilege Club Silver Status for first year (oneworld Ruby status)

The Qatar Privilege Club Infinite Visa (non-affiliate link) also has a tiered bonus:

• Up to 60,000 Avios for welcome bonus
• Earn 25,000 Avios after first purchase
• Earn 25,000 Avios plus 150 QPoints after spending $3000 in the first 90 days
• Get an extra 10,000 Avios if you signed up on the waitlist
• 5X on Qatar Airways purchases
• 3X Avios on dining
• 1X Avios on all other purchases
• Earn 2 Q points for every 1500 Avios you earn with card (towards status)
• $499 annual fee
• Privilege Club Gold Status for first year (oneworld Sapphire status, which gives access to AA Admirals Club lounges)

You don’t have to have plans to fly on Qatar Airlines to use these Avios (miles). You can transfer Avios to Aer Lingus, Iberia and British Airways and use these miles on partner airlines like American Airlines and Japan Airlines.

Keep in mind that if you already have a Cardless credit card (or if you have ever owned a Cardless credit card), you won’t be approved for this card per Cardless application rules (see this post).

My Thoughts on These Cards

Frankly, the welcome bonuses are weak. 45,000 miles for a new card launch? That’s a bit low, especially considering that Chase currently has a welcome offer of 85,000 Avios for the Aer Lingus, Iberia Plus and British Airways cards (affiliate links). Of course, not everyone can apply for those Chase cards because of Chase’s 5/24 rule.

Personally, I wouldn’t pay $499 for an annual fee card that doesn’t offset the fee with other benefits. It does give you access to AA lounges, but only for one year.

My recommendation: Wait to see what the upcoming Cardless Avianca LifeMiles cards offer. We should hear more about those cards in the next few weeks. Since you can only have one Cardless card, you may as well see all the offers to determine which one is best for you. Citi is also launching a new card on May 17. I’m betting the Citi offer will be better, so I’d wait on this Qatar card from Cardless.

Readers, what do you think?