Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[jase05]

I was referring to the Platinum lounge.

Breakfast slop with champagne.

That sounds dire. I’d shudder to think what the Gold lounge is like then

 

[levelnine]

That sounds dire. I’d shudder to think what the Gold lounge is like then

My suggestion would be to read the reviews of people who have actually been there, such as here, here & here.

 

[justinbrett]

My suggestion would be to read the reviews of people who have actually been there, such as here, here & here.

I have been there.

 

[simmomelb]

I hope this hasn't already been posted, but has anyone seen the article in The Australian, with the headline "What Qatar Airways paid for Virgin Australia stake"?
The most interesting part I found was...
"Virgin Australia’s plan is to use Qatar Airway’s Boeing 777s or A350s on routes from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Doha from July 2025."

The ex VA 777's with the same interior?

Such as: https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b777-37940.htm

 

[tmdl]

I hope this hasn't already been posted, but has anyone seen the article in The Australian, with the headline "What Qatar Airways paid for Virgin Australia stake"?
The most interesting part I found was...
"Virgin Australia’s plan is to use Qatar Airway’s Boeing 777s or A350s on routes from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Doha from July 2025."

The ex VA 777's with the same interior?

Such as: https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b777-37940.htm

As long as there is rewards seats in J & F, im happy haha

 

[Harrison_133]

I hope this hasn't already been posted, but has anyone seen the article in The Australian, with the headline "What Qatar Airways paid for Virgin Australia stake"?
The most interesting part I found was...
"Virgin Australia’s plan is to use Qatar Airway’s Boeing 777s or A350s on routes from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Doha from July 2025."

The ex VA 777's with the same interior?

Such as: https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b777-37940.htm

Maybe, but they'll need more than the 3 ex VA 777s to cover the schedule for daily flights from all four ports.

I also suspect QR/VA will want a consistent product across the flights. V Suites anyone?

 

[justinbrett]

Should have gone to specsavers.

I don’t think I’m the only one to complain about the lounge, as a first class lounge. It really isn’t one. A good business lounge sure, but it doesn’t meet the threshold of a first class lounge.

That’s why QR has a separate actual first class lounge.

I have the same criticism with BA’s “F” galleries lounge in LHR.

 

[jase05]

I don’t think I’m the only one to complain about the lounge, as a first class lounge. It really isn’t one. A good business lounge sure, but it doesn’t meet the threshold of a first class lounge.

That’s why QR has a separate actual first class lounge.

I have the same criticism with BA’s “F” galleries lounge in LHR.

But is it meant to be a F lounge though?
If you are flying Y you probably shouldn’t expect anything too flash TBH
I don’t actually mind QR’s rules and regulations for lounges in that they look after Premium passengers and their own elites.

 

[justinbrett]

But is it meant to be a F lounge though?
If you are flying Y you probably shouldn’t expect anything too flash TBH
I don’t actually mind QR’s rules and regulations for lounges in that they look after Premium passengers and their own elites.

You’re 100% correct, QR never refer to it as a First Class lounge. Just many here do.

Other airlines like EK, CX, JL, QF etc admit platinums travelling in Y.

So yes QR makes its F lounges better by excluding FFs which is good for F pax but not for FFs in Y.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

QR Privilege Club will now be recognised on both of Australia's major carriers. Fantastic!

 

[Human]

QR Privilege Club will now be recognised on both of Australia's major carriers. Fantastic!

Has been the case since 2022.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/partners-codeshare/virgin-australia.html

 

[muppet]

QR Privilege Club will now be recognised on both of Australia's major carriers. Fantastic!

Is Privilege Club a viable program for earning status and points for Australian fliers? Compared to Velocity and QFF?

 

[jase05]

Is Privilege Club a viable program for earning status and points for Australian fliers? Compared to Velocity and QFF?

I’m not sure about VA domestic flights but you don’t earn anything on QF domestic flights unless part of International itinerary so would be a useless program for those that predominantly fly domestic in Australia

 

[Mr Bill]

Great news, particularly if/when VA wet lease QR aircraft for DOH in the short to medium term. NO way VA could match QR inflight service in their own right. I guess more likely that VA long distance will be to the US to marry up with QR flights.
Perhaps another opportunity for REX to be taken over by VA/QR to enhance feeder ops. Maybe the time to replace aging SAABs with, say some of the ERJ family ?

 

[ozstamps]

VA Plats do still get access to the EY F lounge in AUH.

That was my point.

A quiet and discreet Lounge, with white linen tablecloth waited upon dining etc. Last used it 2 months back. All times we have visited it over many years, it was near empty.

All I was noting was that whomever at Virgin is setting up the nuts and bolts and final framework for this new deal, can hopefully point out to Qatar that benefit is a LONG STANDING existing arrangement with Etihad, and 'can we continue that please'?

They can only say no. Often curious things do get agreed to in new 'Marriages' etc. The number of VA Platinums in Doha at any given time will be truly minimal.

Have no idea what other airline elites get auto access to the Etihad FIRST lounge, but give the zoo that is their Business Lounge, it cannot be many.

Virgin do read message boards.

 

[drron]

That was my point.

A quiet and discreet Lounge, with white linen tablecloth waited upon dining etc. Last used it 2 months back. All times we have visited it over many years, it was near empty.

All I was noting was that whomever at Virgin is setting up the nuts and bolts and final framework for this new deal, can hopefully point out to Qatar that benefit is a LONG STANDING existing arrangement with Etihad, and 'can we continue that please'?

They can only say no. Often curious things do get agreed to in new 'Marriages' etc. The number of VA Platinums in Doha at any given time will be truly minimal.

Have no idea what other airline elites get auto access to the Etihad FIRST lounge, but give the zoo that is their Business Lounge, it cannot be many.

Virgin do read message boards.

The only other airline elites who get access to the QR Al safwa lounge are those that fly QR F. Nothing stopping VA plats from flying F.

I would hope part of the tie up could entail leasing a couple of wide bodies even the old QR 330s and put them on the PER flights. Or even to some of their pacific destinations like Samoa. Nothing to do with the fact we are planning Christmas 2025 with the family in Samoa.
And I hope in the next couple of years to get to WA for the wild flowers.

 

[Saab34]

I wonder if EK will pre empt this and go to 3 Daily from Melbourne.

 

[HS-TQE]

Safe to say that VA joining 'any' Alliance is off the table for the foreseeable, should this get cleared by the FIRB.

Probably likely see VA partnering with any "non-Qantas" partner across the major Alliances, considering some of QR's equity airlines also partner with QF (BA, CX, etc) with some potential restrictions (i.e SQ restricted to the Asian regions). The unilateral domestic codeshare for EY FFs & Velocity redemptions with EY will likely be terminated though.

 

[dapianoman]

It was briefly mentioned earlier in this thread, but I think the addition of QR lounge access for VA international flights would be a huge improvement for VA.

Barely a week goes by where somebody isn't asking about it on a certain VFF FB group (with many a complaint about it lacking on the CNS-HND route) so I believe it's definitely important enough of an issue for many frequent flyers that it should at least be considered.

It would certainly help VA compete better against both QF and JQ where applicable flyers get lounge access and if VA are serious about improving their international offering, then this really is an integral part of that.

With QR about to be part owner, I would think this would be an easy step to make...

 

[downtheback]

The VAi structure using Australian based aircraft and Australian based crews is one thing, but this is a whole other animal. They may as well just award QR double the capacity and save everybody from this charade.

The VAi structure has always been dubious, given VA itself (being allowed to have more than 50% foreign ownership) could run it by proxy. There's no way this QR wet least gets approved until an agreement is put in place for the service to be run genuinely from Australia over a period of time.

Well if only the Labor government wasn't bribed by QF....

Australia doesn't owe Qatar (the country) any flight rights above O+D demand. Those rights are just one aspect of the entire trade between the two countries. QF may have advocated in their best interest, but ultimately Qatar (the country) only has itself to blame (the mistreatment of the australian woman at the airport just being the most prominent for us back home).

If they (Qatar - the government) were genuine about improving the relationship rather than just wanting to use it, maybe the Aus gov would have been more open to increasing flight rights.