The “BUT” was essentially more to point out the irony and idiocy of the whole situation really. Also it is to help set expectations for anybody that might be wishing to do this flight thinking “they’ll be ok with the transit as MEL is great for lounges”!
I’m sure QR would love to sell tickets on the MEL-ADL-MEL shuttle. But I suspect it’s Australian rules that prevent them from doing so. They’re permitted to sell tickets on their ADL-AKL-ADL shuttle.
Also I suspect Qantas would throw their toys out of the pram big time too. It is clear that QF’s influence (and broad monopoly of the Australian market) have contributed to the tight bilateral Air Services Agreement between Australia and Qatar in the first place. Their double standards is funny as they have no problem at all with another state-bankrolled Middle Eastern airline in the form of Emirates which shares all the same “ethical” values as any autocratic monarchy in that region! Hopefully, like AA did, one can hope QF will about turn on their views about QR and would veer towards them more, instead of EK, in the future given they’re in the same alliance also.
