Qatar Is New Oneworld Airline Partner

The oneworld global airline alliance has a new member: Doha-based Qatar Airways.

Other oneworld members include airberlin, American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, and S7 Airlines.

Among other alliance-related benefits, Qatar’s participation means that members of other oneworld airlines’ frequent-flyer programs may now earn and redeem miles for flights on Qatar. And, reciprocally, members of Qatar’s Privilege Club may earn and redeem miles for flights on any oneworld airline.

Independent of the oneworld tie-up, Qatar already had a frequent-flyer program relationship with American. So the ability to earn AAdvantage miles for Qatar flights isn’t new. What is new, however, is the double-mile promotion for Qatar flights.

Between November 15, 2013, and January 31, 2014, members of the AAdvantage program (and other oneworld airline programs) can earn double miles for qualifying Qatar flights. The promotion period excludes December 20, 2013, through January 5, 2014. Beware, though, of Qatar’s earning rates. As noted elsewhere, discount economy fares—the fares purchased by the great majority of non-business travelers—only earn between 25 and 75 percent of the actual flown miles, depending on the booking code.

Qatar is a nice addition to the oneworld lineup. It would be a more meaningful addition if the earning rates for economy tickets were more generous.

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.