Qatar Airways status match to Virgin Australia

[travel_bug]

Will this affect my status with Virgin, assuming they are able to get it together and start flying again?

I can't see how. VA/Velocity likely wouldn't receive any information from Qatar that you've used your status with them as leverage for a status match.

Status matches and challenges are pretty standard practice across the airline industry as a way to tempt high spending frequent flyers to sample a competitor and maybe jump ship.

 

[a330j]

I just fired them an email with a PDF file of my activity statement as well as a copy of my velocity card. Fingers crossed.

 

[Danger]

Qantas Frequent Flyer must be thrilled with this Qatar initiative!

It's nice to see VA flyers getting something right now. Qatar's frequent flyer program doesn't rate very highly so if I was getting the match I'd still be crediting flights to another program (even QF).

 

[Alexandraadventuretime]

I have just taken some screenshots and fired off an email with a photo of my card. Velocity Gold so fingers crossed here.

 

[motef]

Qantas Frequent Flyer must be thrilled with this Qatar initiative!

It's nice to see VA flyers getting something right now. Qatar's frequent flyer program doesn't rate very highly so if I was getting the match I'd still be crediting flights to another program (even QF).

It makes me wonder what goes on in Oneworld HQ when this stuff happens.

 

[clarkkent]

Does QF allow you to draw status benefits from another program while accruing points+SCs with QFF? e.g., could someone wanting to gain QF status use the QR match to immediately gain lounge access, better seat selections, etc.?

 

[VPS]

I've put my hat in the ring as well. Fingers crossed

 

[Rebus]

It's nice to see VA flyers getting something right now. Qatar's frequent flyer program doesn't rate very highly so if I was getting the match I'd still be crediting flights to another program (even QF).

That was something which I was pondering - can you credit points to one OW program whilst using membership of another OW program? e.g on a QF operated flight can you earn QF points but flash your QR card to gain lounge access etc?

 

[freebo]

I applied this morning as did my wife, she's gold and I'm plat so fingers crossed. Not sure why they need to see a statement though, I've done no flying recently.

 

[frequentflyer91]

I haven't received my new velocity card yet (Review date was two weeks ago) so hopefully a screenshot of the velocity website that shows I am still platinum and a PDF of the review email is enough

 

[Danger]

Does QF allow you to draw status benefits from another program while accruing points+SCs with QFF? e.g., could someone wanting to gain QF status use the QR match to immediately gain lounge access, better seat selections, etc.?

That was something which I was pondering - can you credit points to one OW program whilst using membership of another OW program? e.g on a QF operated flight can you earn QF points but flash your QR card to gain lounge access etc?

It's a grey area. American expressly prohibits it. Qantas? It depends on the agent but I don't believe there's anything in the rules preventing it. The idea is to put your QR number against your booking, avail yourself of all the associated tier benefits, then change to your QF number at the last moment. You can do this with a lounge, gate or phone agent, although human intervention is best avoided. Once upon a time, the FInnair and Royal Jordanian websites allowed you to change the FF of other programs, provided the airlines involved used the same GDS (Amadeus, I think). I think that's hit and miss these days. Maybe Qatar's website allows you to do the same.

 

[travel_bug]

Does QF allow you to draw status benefits from another program while accruing points+SCs with QFF? e.g., could someone wanting to gain QF status use the QR match to immediately gain lounge access, better seat selections, etc.?

I can see QF being a pain over this, but I wonder if it comes down to how closely the QF lounge rep looks at the boarding pass/what they're looking for.

If you're wanting to use the QR status but actually credit QF, I'd imagine the best way forward would be to not align your ticket at the time of flying with any program, show up to the lounge with your ticket and QR card for them to view, and then after flying submit a missing points claim with QF. With this plan however you'd miss out on any DSC offers, and would have to come up with a good reason to the lounge rep for you not wanting them to add your QR number to your booking.

The issue of seems to be something QF are on top of, this link says for QF flyers that they need to have their QFF number in their booking to access OW lounges; I imagine they'd ask the same for those using QR perks

And just under that in the exception section of their OW status lounge page it says:
"
6. Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold members, regardless of their oneworld tier status, cannot access Qantas Domestic Business Lounges."

oneworld alliance | Qantas AU

The oneworld alliance, is a global partnership of the world's leading airlines for travellers, flying to more than 1,000 destinations.

www.qantas.com

It seems pretty rough that even if you're a OW Emerald, if QF catch wind that you're only a Gold with them that you can't enter the Business lounge.

 

[Kandy]

I've only been changed from Gold to Platinum and haven't received my physical platinum card yet.
Took a photo of my gold card and screen capture of the digital platinum card with an explanation.
Hopefully they match platinum.

Hopefully we can fly again in the next 12 months!

 

[morfergus]

Have submitted my request also with PDF of activity page and photo of membership card. Would be interested to hear of success or otherwise from those here.

 

[freebo]

Have submitted my request also with PDF of activity page and photo of membership card. Would be interested to hear of success or otherwise from those here.

My Plat review date passed a couple of weeks ago (and I easily re-qualifed) but I don't have a new physical card yet so I sent a screenshot of my digital card which now expires well into 2021. Hopefully they take this.

 

[andye]

I'm not sure how upset QF will be.
If I get status in OW I'm much more likely to buy a paid domestic flight with QF

 

[freebo]

Just reading a post above.

If granted Platinum on Qatar would this allow one entry to QF lounges domestically? I'm VA plat but QF red...

 

[glasszon]

And just under that in the exception section of their OW status lounge page it says:
"
6. Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold members, regardless of their oneworld tier status, cannot access Qantas Domestic Business Lounges."

oneworld alliance | Qantas AU

The oneworld alliance, is a global partnership of the world's leading airlines for travellers, flying to more than 1,000 destinations.

www.qantas.com

It seems pretty rough that even if you're a OW Emerald, if QF catch wind that you're only a Gold with them that you can't enter the Business lounge.

That is worded very poorly as well. As it stands you cannot use the Dom J lounge if and only if you are a QF Gold member? ie. you can enter it via OW Emerald if you are QF Silver and Bronze member, just not Gold?

 

[travel_bug]

That is worded very poorly as well. As it stands you cannot use the Dom J lounge if and only if you are a QF Gold member? ie. you can enter it via OW Emerald if you are QF Silver and Bronze member, just not Gold?

That's how it reads to me as well.
I assume it has to do with QF running dual domestic lounges instead of the usual sole J lounge (which I think is pretty rare outside of the J and F lounges you get for OS travel), coupled with QF Gold = OW Sapphire which would usually give access to J lounges. But why cut OW Emeralds out completely when they could have earned that status with another OW airline fair and square and are otherwise entitled?

 

[glasszon]

That's how it reads to me as well.
I assume it has to do with QF running dual domestic lounges instead of the usual sole J lounge (which I think is pretty rare outside of the J and F lounges you get for OS travel), coupled with QF Gold = OW Sapphire which would usually give access to J lounges. But why cut OW Emeralds out completely when they could have earned that status with another OW airline fair and square and are otherwise entitled?

I can see their logic, but it doesn't make sense: if someone travels enough to earn OWE and QF Gold, he's a high spender and surely you want him to get the best experience, not to cheap out and downgrade them to the QC lounge.