Qatar Airways Privilege Club members now have new options when it comes to redeeming miles. Members can search for award tickets a month at a time and redeem miles online for flight awards. The online award booking engine also allows members to combine cabin classes and fly coach one way and first class on the return ticket. Once the flight has been booked, you can print out an e-ticket. There is no fee to book awards online and the $25 close-in ticketing fee will be waived for members booking awards within 24 hours of the flight date. A $50 fee will be charged for awards booked on the same day of travel.

If you are short a few miles, you can use the new Qmiles plus Cash feature to book your award ticket. This option allows you to combine 50 percent of the normal mileage required plus a set fee based on the itinerary.

For example, a roundtrip coach award ticket between Doha and Dubai can be redeemed for 3,000 miles plus $98. The same award in business class is 6,000 miles plus $148 and 9,000 miles plus $248 in first class. The Qmiles plus Cash feature can be used on roundtrip and one-way award flights on Qatar Airways only.

Bottom line: The Qmiles plus Cash feature can be helpful if you don’t have enough miles, but be sure to check and see how much you are paying for the miles. For example, on the Doha to Dubai roundtrip award flight that normally requires 6,000 miles, you would end up paying just over $.03 per mile with the Qmiles plus Cash feature, which isn’t the best value.