Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

ozstamps said:
Odd to you perhaps, but to the REAL world, seeing airline stock tanking, I'd hate to be those VA suits this week doing their national roadshow to potential investors trying to get them to invest money in this airline, in an IPO this year.

They are a Virgin partner as it happens, and a litmus test of the industry overall, and losing near 30% of their value year to date is NOT what savvy fund managers will be brightened up seeing. The other major US carriers stock prices have tanked as well in 2024 as you'd know if you have done ANY research. Seeing you clearly do not believe me, maybe the Wall Street Journal might be acceptable source?


I pray MY Super Fund dos not invest in Virgin.


'RooFlyer advises us on AFF, that you have NOTHING to worry about, and it is 'NOT A BAD TIME TO GO' is possibly their only plus they can put forward. I'm sure that will sway the real players.

They'll be as unwelcome as a Tesla car salesman knocking on their door right now. :cool:
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Not sure if you are aware of Rooflyers background, but he probably has more knowledge about markets and IPOs than most people.

He's not suggesting that as a whole the markets aren't negative. But the negativity isn't specific to VA. Its just a global upheaval.

In that sense as well - there is absolutely no telling when this is going to end so from that PoV they may need to push through despite the prevailing market situation. We have no idea if the light at the other end of the tunnel is in 3 months, 12 months, or until the end of this US administration or even further. Not sure if Bain can just keep waiting for an unknown future date in time.

This might not be the most ideal time to IPO, but its still a solid company with solid profitability right now. Bain may just not get as much as they hope they would've gotten before.

Also not sure if you're aware yourself. The best time to invest in safe blue chips is when the rest of the market decides to fire sale things. Especially blue chips that hasn't had much changes to their fundamentals.
 
ozstamps said:
They are a Virgin partner as it happens, and a litmus test of the industry overall, and losing near 30% of their value year to date is NOT what savvy fund managers will be brightened up seeing. The other major US carriers stock prices have tanked as well in 2024 as you'd know if you have done ANY research. Seeing you clearly do not believe me, maybe the Wall Street Journal might be acceptable source?
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As for the WSJ - no, not an acceptable source when we are talking about an Australian mostly domestic airline IPOing. Ludicrous concept. When the US housing market was tanking, did you perceive any reticence here in buying a house?

And since when was UA a 'litmus test for the industry overall' - other than they just expanded their footprint into Adelaide, and making VA award inventory immediately available ;). Why not ... let me see ...ummmm .. Qantas? 💡 The 'litmus test' for the value of VA in an IPO is mainly a combination of its earnings going forward, its potential growth, confidence in strategy and leadership and the strength of the local IPO market, which will be influenced by the global economy, flowing into the appetite for risk capital. Not some very large, random, US international airline.

EDIT. Oh, and some sizzle. Steak not nearly as attractive without some sizzle (old IBers saying).
 
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Think it's almost certain that Bain will yet again delay the partial IPO of VA 2.0 for 2025 (will be lucky to get in for mid/late Q4 2025 if at all) in light of the recent economic conditions & weakening IPO market.

This could potentially be a repeat of "2023" which back then two prominent posters that "worked for" and/or were linked to the VA 1.0 Voluntary Administration having their "source" claiming that "VA will be listed in 2023!" despite the IPO market conditions back then were also publicly known to be very weak
 
HS-TQE said:
Think it's almost certain that Bain will yet again delay the partial IPO of VA 2.0 for 2025 (will be lucky to get in for mid/late Q4 2025 if at all) in light of the recent economic conditions & weakening IPO market.
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You'd have to suspect this, although a couple of related things might see them still pull through.

Not being greedy. They have done bloody well so far, so don't need to have the IPO be a ---tearer .
Small float. If its a minimal float, then the difference between yes now and yes later may not be great. Although the after-market would be a risk, and their retained book value would drop.
 
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Will be interesting to see how easy it will be for people to get upgraded to business on points.

If they come through relatively easily, that will mark a big point of departure from Qantas, where even Platinums can sometimes struggle to get points upgrades on flights to Europe.
 
Imagine being a plat.

Etihad: Please visit our world renowned first class lounge.
Qatar: Here have $20 to buy some slop at the airport.

Add to that inexplicably overpriced comically limited code-share flights we now need to buy just to maintain status. At this point it will be cheaper to just fly Emirates.

No thanks VA, piss poor management.
 
SCM said:
Imagine being a plat.

Etihad: Please visit our world renowned first class lounge.
Qatar: Here have $20 to buy some slop at the airport.

Add to that inexplicably overpriced comically limited code-share flights we now need to buy just to maintain status. At this point it will be cheaper to just fly Emirates.

No thanks VA, piss poor management.
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The Etihad perk was quite unique and a great perk for Platinums but not sure what the food offerings by Qatar has got to do with it.
The $20 offer is for those flying Y with no status whatsoever and I think is not a bad gesture. If you are VA Gold or above you get lounge access in Doha but QR were never going to allow access to their Premium lounges as they are rightfully reserved for Premium customers
 
SCM said:
Imagine being a plat.

Etihad: Please visit our world renowned first class lounge.
Qatar: Here have $20 to buy some slop at the airport.
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Huh? Gold, Plat and J will have access to the lounges in DOH. This is really for everyone else.
ie, most pax using this will be red or silver, despite it being available to everyone. It doesn't replace the lounges for those who have access (this is in addition to lounge access).
It sounds like you are annoyed about an issue that doesn't exist, and they've given everyone an extra, which was unexpected, which is better than what Etihad offers (your comparison).
They have made it very clear Plat, Gold and Business Class will have lounge access, as per the page below.

Qatar Airways lounge

www.virginaustralia.com www.virginaustralia.com
 
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simmomelb said:
Huh? Gold, Plat and J will have access to the lounges in DOH. This is really for everyone else.
ie, most pax using this will be red or silver, despite it being available to everyone. It doesn't replace the lounges for those who have access (this is in addition to lounge access).
It sounds like you are annoyed about an issue that doesn't exist, and they've given everyone an extra, which was unexpected, which is better than what Etihad offers (your comparison).
They have made it very clear Plat, Gold and Business Class will have lounge access, as per the page below.

Qatar Airways lounge

www.virginaustralia.com www.virginaustralia.com
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Although no pax on the VA flight will be accessing the Al Safwa First Class lounge, unless they are a PC member (or a connecting F flight). On Etihad, VA WPs could access their First Class lounge, just as QF WPs can access EK's.
 
justinbrett said:
Although no pax on the VA flight will be accessing the Al Safwa First Class lounge, unless they are a PC member. On Etihad, VA WPs could access their First Class lounge.
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Yep, other than that, which has been clear from the get-go (since the formal announcement, as per the link above).
In other words, nothing has changed since they announced the food vouchers, which are really aimed at Red and Silver.

I mean, look at eligibility for Al Safwa First Class lounge...
*Access to Al Safwa First lounge is exclusive to First Class passengers, Privilege Club Platinum members travelling Business Class with Qatar Airways and oneworld First Class passengers.

None of the VA wet leased services offer First Class for starters, so it's almost moot.
 
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justinbrett said:
Although no pax on the VA flight will be accessing the Al Safwa First Class lounge, unless they are a PC member (or a connecting F flight). On Etihad, VA WPs could access their First Class lounge, just as QF WPs can access EK's.
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And only if you are a PC Platinum and travelling in J.
QR doesn’t allow it’s own top tier holders or OWE’s to enter the Al Mourjan or Al Safwa on Y tickets so not sure why people thought that they would allow VA status holders entry.
 
jase05 said:
And only if you are a PC Platinum and travelling in J.
QR doesn’t allow it’s own top tier holders or OWE’s to enter the Al Mourjan or Al Safwa on Y tickets so not sure why people thought that they would allow VA status holders entry.
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I think the point is that EK and EY offers/offered access to their first class lounge.

Now you could easily argue QR’s Al Safwa lounge is better than EK & EYs, but you could also easily argue that EK & EYs are better than QR’s WP lounge.
 
justinbrett said:
I think the point is that EK and EY offers/offered access to their first class lounge.

Now you could easily argue QR’s Al Safwa lounge is better than EK & EYs, but you could also easily argue that EK & EYs are better than QR’s WP lounge.
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I agree there and QR’s WP lounge doesn’t look good at all but the initial posts seemed to have pointed blame on VA for the lounge access where I was simply pointing out that QR have far stricter rules and the simple fact is that if you fly Y apart from a couple of scenarios the best lounge you will have access to in DOH is the WP regardless of status.
It’s probably an unpopular opinion but I much prefer “Class of travel” lounge access rules than status base access rules.
 
jase05 said:
It’s probably an unpopular opinion but I much prefer “Class of travel” lounge access rules than status base access rules.
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It’s usually just an excuse for the airline to cut costs. Certainly in the case of AA and BA, their F only offerings are really no better than their peers that extend to OWE (CX, JL and QF). It will be interesting to see how the IAG lounges go following the mass exodus of the BA and IB programs.

I’ve been to QRs WP lounge and if I was being generous I’d rate it slightly below a AA Flagship lounge without Flagship dining. I’m yet to experience Al Sawfa but will be there next month, I’m sure it’s better.
 
justinbrett said:
I’ve been to QRs WP lounge and if I was being generous I’d rate it slightly below a AA Flagship lounge without Flagship dining.
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The QR WP lounge is in effect a third string lounge though so it is what it is I guess.
The Al Mourjan lounges are the J lounges and are decent but obviously Al Safwa is their best lounge but even though I love the ambience and always get great meals there I reckon their alcohol quality has dipped significantly
 
jase05 said:
The QR WP lounge is in effect a third string lounge though so it is what it is I guess.
The Al Mourjan lounges are the J lounges and are decent but obviously Al Safwa is their best lounge but even though I love the ambience and always get great meals there I reckon their alcohol quality has dipped significantly
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One upon a time you could get Krug at the Al Mourjan J lounge (this was prior to the F lounge opening though).
 

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