Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[dapianoman]

This is the lounges QR uses in AU according to the QR site:

SYD - QF/NZ
BNE - NZ
MEL - Marhaba Business
PER - NZ
ADL - VA

But they don't actually operate their own which means VA can't just use these for their own international flights once the deal goes through. Either QR or VA would need to open some for that to happen. So I wonder which lounges will be used for the VA wet leased lounges to Doha then? Or will they be like all other VA international flights and be loungeless (which doesn't make them a very attractive option for business class pax)

 

[ben95]

as they are not oneworld operated.

It’s operated by Qatar Airways for Virgin Australia International for Virgin Australia.

 

[SYD]

But am I correct to think since QR are oneworld they could also use any oneworld lounge including QF?

I mean technically speaking any QFi lounge is available to QR with the OW network. They just don't advertise it. (Mainly SYD, MEL, BNE)

Only for QR F/J and OW status PAX flying on a OW code / OW metal.

So PAX on a QR operated, VA wet lease service won’t have automatic access to OW lounges.

 

[simmomelb]

But they don't actually operate their own which means VA can't just use these for their own international flights once the deal goes through. Either QR or VA would need to open some for that to happen. So I wonder which lounges will be used for the VA wet leased lounges to Doha then? Or will they be like all other VA international flights and be loungeless (which doesn't make them a very attractive option for business class pax)

There is no way they will operate these Doha wet-leased flights without a lounge, that would be a true failure in understanding this market and would be a nail in the coffin for this wet-leased route lasting. They will have a solution for these flights having lounge access under a new arrangement with lounge operators, I'd put my money on it.
Imagine that, lounge access is available at the Doha end directly from QR but not at this end. Crazy.

 

[dapianoman]

There is no way they will operate these Doha wet-leased flights without a lounge, that would be a true failure in understanding this market and would be a nail in the coffin for this wet-leased route lasting. They will have a solution for these flights having lounge access under a new arrangement with lounge operators, I'd put my money on it.
Imagine that, lounge access is available at the Doha end directly from QR but not at this end. Crazy.

I agree, it would be a sure fire way to kill the route before it's even started.
It'll be interesting to see what arrangements they come up with then as there doesn't seem to be a current obvious answer to the lounge question with neither QR or VA having international lounges here.

 

[drron]

For me no lounge access isn't an absolute killer. Flew VA BNE-DPS in J. No lounge access but it was considerably cheaper than any other J cabin at the time. about $500 cheaper than JQ. The other 6 in the J cabin obviously were OK with it as well.
I have also purchased the EK cheap J deals with savings of $5000 for the 2 of us SIN-FRA.

 

[jrfsp]

There is no way they will operate these Doha wet-leased flights without a lounge, that would be a true failure in understanding this market and would be a nail in the coffin for this wet-leased route lasting. They will have a solution for these flights having lounge access under a new arrangement with lounge operators, I'd put my money on it.
Imagine that, lounge access is available at the Doha end directly from QR but not at this end. Crazy.

I’d wager money on it being the NZ lounges (same as the QR metal flights)

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

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

Didn't realise that they excluded all QF domestic flights. Scandalous!

 

[dapianoman]

I’d wager money on it being the NZ lounges (same as the QR metal flights)

As VA are rebuilding a relationship with NZ and QR already have one, that's definitely a possibility

 

[Doctore1003]

As VA are rebuilding a relationship with NZ and QR already have one, that's definitely a possibility

The pay to enter lounges are another possibility.

 

[HS-TQE]

The House/Aspire on the East Coast Airports are also alternatives if the NZ lounges are full (I' d assume the NZ lounges apart from handling NZ are currently handling QR and soon handling the handful of VA Codeshare J pax from the Tasman services).

 

[justinbrett]

So PAX on a QR operated, VA wet lease service won’t have automatic access to OW lounges.

Well they won’t have any access, automatic or otherwise. VA would have to sign a contract and I can guarantee it won’t be with QF!