Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[ols]

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

Lanson Black in Al Safwa on last visit.
$75 Dan Murphy's special.

 

[clifford]

Al Safwa is their best lounge but even though I love the ambience

You must like mausoleums then.

 

[justinbrett]

So after all this time of people talking up the Al Safwa lounge, the month before I go to visit suddenly it's not so great.

Back to EK/DXB then?

 

[jase05]

You must like mausoleums then.

I like being able to grab a table no issue and sit there in peace and quiet with a view out the apron whilst getting prompt, friendly service. I hate lounges that are zoos

 

[jase05]

So after all this time of people talking up the Al Safwa lounge, the month before I go to visit suddenly it's not so great.

Back to EK/DXB then?

I think it is absolutely fantastic.
The wine “enhancement” is probably the only disappointing thing personally.
Plenty of seating, food is fantastic and service is generally prompt and efficient.
Try and get a jacuzzi booking if you can, have been lucky enough to have a couple in the past on longer transits

 

[simmomelb]

I like being able to grab a table no issue and sit there in peace and quiet with a view out the apron whilst getting prompt, friendly service. I hate lounges that are zoos

That will be the beauty of the VA lounges from ~mid 2026, there will be very few patrons.

Will be easy to get in your zen space

 

[anat0l]

You must like mausoleums then.

That's a bit harsh. Museum, that's more in line.

So after all this time of people talking up the Al Safwa lounge, the month before I go to visit suddenly it's not so great.

Al Safwa is a fantastic lounge. The build and ambience sometimes embodies a Middle Eastern design motivation, i.e. big, wide, tall spaces equates to grandeur. (If you've seen the builds of mosques or other important buildings in Qatar or anywhere in the Middle East, you kind of get where I'm going here).

The lounge has its own exclusive entry after dedicated First Class check-in and security. You tend to find everything in the lounge is located in side rooms (like small exhibitions) or are located on the edges of a large open space. Some of the seating is a bit off the edges and walls, so that can feel a bit like you're out in the open. You can almost be guaranteed to find a space in the lounge that won't feel confined or too close to anyone, which is funny because chatting to the lounge staff, they do say that the lounge can get considerably busy at key transit timeslots. The only exception is the day rooms: they are difficult to get one of unless you allow a lot of time. There is a spa with services but they are not free of charge (except showers and - from what I've read but not tried - jacuzzi).

I've attached an Al Safwa dining room menu from Jan 2024.

There's plenty of reviews out there replete with photos (OMAAT, of course, has a review, maybe two).

The Al Safwa has been around for a while; naturally (pun intended) the newly built Business Lounge in the new terminal area has a different vibe, with more natural elements and openness (from what I hear - I haven't been), it's obviously going to appear less "sterile" than Al Safwa. I wonder how Al Safwa may have gone if QR had opted to press for more First Class services (who knows, maybe they will). That said, contrary to everyone thinking that it's only for First Class passengers (QR or oneworld), Qatar Privilege Club Platinum members flying QR Business Class can also access Al Safwa - this is only for QR PC Platinum, not any other oneworld Emeralds, and only QR Business Class, not any other oneworld Business, and I assume all Business Class fare types including awards are eligible (could be wrong, viz. the cheapest QR Business Class fare). The VA-QR tie up, I would think (at this moment anyway), does not permit Velocity Platinum (or Platinum Plus) members in Business Class (flying VA wet lease or QR services) to access Al Safwa in the same way, but hey - if I recall correctly, initially Velocity Platinum were also not allowed in EY First Class lounges until they changed the policy. I'm going to guess that QR PC Platinum members flying the VA wet lease services in Business Class won't be allowed to access the Al Safwa.

Ultimately, this is kind of moot for this thread. Not sure where all the Al Safwa hubbub came from connected to this new Velocity / VA-QR tie up, not even in the media. No Velocity elite has access to Al Safwa under the new agreements, because there are no First Class services on the wet lease flights. There are QR flights with First Class to/from Australia (with QR flight numbers), but that's not exclusive to Velocity members - anyone could purchase that fare and gain access. Similarly, anyone could book an onward flight from DOH in another First Class service, keeping in mind that QR's two class short and medium services from DOH are Economy and First Class flights, i.e. this is the "cheaper" way that savvy flyers get their way into the lounge. Once again, not exclusive to Velocity members.

 

[SYD]

That will be the beauty of the VA lounges from ~mid 2026, there will be very few patrons.

Will be easy to get in your zen space

Nope. Punters will just resort to paying for Lounge access. A hell of a lot cheaper than trying to chase SG/WP…..

 

[RooFlyer]

You tend to find everything in the lounge is located in side rooms (like small exhibitions) or are located on the edges of a large open space.

That’s the trick! I only found all the extras the second time I was there.

@justinbrett ask for a tour when you get there.

 

[SCM]

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

Yes, but what lounge? Their overcrowded platinum and gold lounges, with coughpy food, and a 3 hour queue for a shower in a 90 minute layover? Please...

 

[jase05]

Yes, but what lounge? Their overcrowded platinum and gold lounges, with coughpy food, and a 3 hour queue for a shower in a 90 minute layover? Please...

The better lounges are for First or Business class, QR’s own top status passengers don’t get access to these lounges on an Economy ticket so not sure why you think VA frequent flyers would.

 

[anat0l]

Yes, but what lounge? Their overcrowded platinum and gold lounges, with coughpy food, and a 3 hour queue for a shower in a 90 minute layover? Please...

To quote a former executive at Lufthansa during a Q&A... "What you can do immediately [in this situation] is to try and upgrade with miles [points], or purchase a ticket in Business Class"

 

[simmomelb]

Yes, but what lounge? Their overcrowded platinum and gold lounges, with coughpy food, and a 3 hour queue for a shower in a 90 minute layover? Please...

Not once have I thought the Platinum or Business lounges in DOH are "coughpy", on the contrary.
I survived very comfortably and was very happy with the food and look forward to my next experience
I definitely wouldn't expect entry to the First Class lounge with QR, particularly given how darn easy it is to be a Plat member on Velocity (has been), this lounge would be flooded (yes, I am aware what Etihad offered).
I respect that QR is leaving this to the appropriate type of pax and suspect those who use it enjoy it that way (genuine high-value First Class and Privilege Club members).

 

[Stealthflyer]

Not once have I thought the Platinum or Business lounges in DOH are "coughpy", on the contrary.
I survived very comfortably and was very happy with the food and look forward to my next experience
I definitely wouldn't expect entry to the First Class lounge with QR, particularly given how darn easy it is to be a Plat member on Velocity (has been), this lounge would be flooded (yes, I am aware what Etihad offered).
I respect that QR is leaving this to the appropriate type of pax and suspect those who use it enjoy it that way (genuine high-value First Class and Privilege Club members).

I agree. Both the Platinum and business lounges are very comfortable. I enjoy being able to order a coffee to my seat. The dates are always a treat too.

I prefer the food in Singapore’s Silver and Gold Kris lounges, but that’s more my personal taste than the quality of offerings.

 

[SCM]

Not once have I thought the Platinum or Business lounges in DOH are "coughpy", on the contrary.
I survived very comfortably and was very happy with the food and look forward to my next experience
I definitely wouldn't expect entry to the First Class lounge with QR, particularly given how darn easy it is to be a Plat member on Velocity (has been), this lounge would be flooded (yes, I am aware what Etihad offered).
I respect that QR is leaving this to the appropriate type of pax and suspect those who use it enjoy it that way (genuine high-value First Class and Privilege Club members).

I am suggesting the business lounge, and I would be happy if they had it even just for plat (or plat plus?).

 

[jase05]

I am suggesting the business lounge, and I would be happy if they had it even just for plat (or plat plus?

QR don’t offer that to their own elites so they certainly won’t be offering that to VA. Their business class lounges are a “class of service” lounge and they have been pretty adamant that is how it will stay

 

[Human]

QR don’t offer that to their own elites so they certainly won’t be offering that to VA. Their business class lounges are a “class of service” lounge and they have been pretty adamant that is how it will stay

Agreed.

I'm noticing in the above discussion the argument that because Etihad has offered a superior Lounge experience, the Qatar Lounge offering is a downgrade (and therefore a cause of much righteous indignation).

Just remember, though: Etihad has only been flying from Melbourne and Sydney, and in addition they've been making far fewer award flights available than Qatar has been doing.

In other words, the Etihad experience has been better for the small minority of privileged Sydneysiders and Melburnians who've had access to it. Far, far more people, from other parts of Australia as well as Sydney and Melbourne, have had and will have much easier access to Doha and the Qatar lounges. If greater access means a slightly inferior Lounge experience, that's perfectly reasonable price and a price I'm willing to pay.

Don't get me wrong: I'm sad that I'll never be able to experience the wonderful Etihad First Lounge in Abu Dhabi. But I'll get over it.

 

[jase05]

Agreed.

I'm noticing in the above discussion the argument that because Etihad has offered a superior Lounge experience, the Qatar Lounge offering is a downgrade (and therefore a cause of much righteous indignation).

Just remember, though: Etihad has only been flying from Melbourne and Sydney, and in addition they've been making far fewer award flights available than Qatar has been doing.

In other words, the Etihad experience has been better for the small minority of privileged Sydneysiders and Melburnians who've had access to it. Far, far more people, from other parts of Australia as well as Sydney and Melbourne, have had and will have much easier access to Doha and the Qatar lounges. If greater access means a slightly inferior Lounge experience, that's perfectly reasonable price and a price I'm willing to pay.

Don't get me wrong: I'm sad that I'll never be able to experience the wonderful Etihad First Lounge in Abu Dhabi. But I'll get over it.

Also EY and EK both offer J or F lounge access to their high tier status frequent flyers even if in Y.
QR operates differently and has their own model. Some like it, some don’t but I could imagine the outrage amongst their own PC members if VA suddenly got access to something they don’t

 

[SCM]

Just remember, though: Etihad has only been flying from Melbourne and Sydney, and in addition they've been making far fewer award flights available than Qatar has been doing.

Agree to disagree. Qatar had a lot of awards just before they bought the stake, and somehow almost none after.

 

[Human]

Qatar had a lot of awards just before they bought the stake, and somehow almost none after.

The interesting thing that I'm seeing is that, for awards 11-12 months out (and not including Qatar's "Flex" awards which are in plentiful supply), Velocity actually seems to have greater award availability than Privilege Club at the moment. I might be wrong (I haven't spent hours trawling through award availability), but Virgin's wetleased Qatar flights seem to be available to Velocity members only.

One example: searching for MEL-IST on March 5 next year brings up this using Velocity points:


But on Qatar's website using Avios, that same flight isn't available and the only options are the more expensive "Flex" awards:



So if you're right about Qatar [Privilege Club] having almost no awards, I'm not sure you could say the same thing about Velocity.