Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[roby]

This is where I think it gets tricky... These will be Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar airways.
The requirement for lounge access is that a flight is "marketed and operated by a Oneworld Airline".... Which indeed these flights will be (if you book the QR flight number).

The "operated by" rule is just another way of saying that the flight carrying the native flight number must be by a oneworld carrier. In this case, it's VA so I don't think these flight will be counted as oneworld flights.

 

[justinbrett]

This is where I think it gets tricky... These will be Virgin Australia flights operated by Qatar airways.
The requirement for lounge access is that a flight is "marketed and operated by a Oneworld Airline".... Which indeed these flights will be (if you book the QR flight number).

They will definitely not get QF lounge access, even on QR codes, unless VA pays QF. Which almost certainly won’t happen.

These flights are operated by VA, or more technically QR for VA, which excludes them as being oneworld operated.

 

[aus_flyer]

They will definitely not get QF lounge access, even on QR codes, unless VA pays QF. Which almost certainly won’t happen.

Wouldn't it be QR (as the marketing carrier) that pays QF?

 

[justinbrett]

Wouldn't it be QR (as the marketing carrier) that pays QF?

It has to be both marketed and operated as oneworld.

 

[Bundy Bear]

What about a BA ticketed Gold customer flying the QR codeshare, that should get them Qantas First lounge.
Does QR have their own lounges in Australia.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

What about a BA ticketed Gold customer flying the QR codeshare, that should get them Qantas First lounge.
Does QR have their own lounges in Australia.

See above discussion. No seems most likely as same oneworld rules apply reagrdless of QF/BA etc... status.
QR have started recommending Air New Zealand lounges so this would be most likely.

 

[roby]

What about a BA ticketed Gold customer flying the QR codeshare, that should get them Qantas First lounge.
Does QR have their own lounges in Australia.

Most likely BA won't be able to ticket these flights as they are native VA flights.

 

[justinbrett]

What about a BA ticketed Gold customer flying the QR codeshare, that should get them Qantas First lounge.
Does QR have their own lounges in Australia.

BA won’t be allowed to codeshare on the VA flights.

 

[SYD]

What about a BA ticketed Gold customer flying the QR codeshare, that should get them Qantas First lounge.

Not if it’s “VA operated”

Does QR have their own lounges in Australia.

No

 

[roby]

I think QF lounge staff will have a fun time explaining to travellers why they are not allowed in on a daily basis.

 

[justinbrett]

I’d imagine BA will be cut free completely when their deal is up for renewal. Can’t see ACCC approving it.

 

[aus_flyer]

Ultimately depends on whether the native flight number determines the operator of the flight.
I'm still not convinced QR isn't the operator (because it is).

 

[Himeno]

I haven't followed this as closely as many here, but it was an application for a 5 year wet lease arrangement, wasn't it?

No, it's an application for a tie up, much like the QF/EK deal.
The wet lease is something they would do should the deal be allowed.

They need ACCC approval for the tie up, FIRB approval for the 25% buy in and IASC approval for the use of the AU carrier slots for AU-DOH flights.

 

[roby]

Ultimately depends on whether the native flight number determines the operator of the flight.
I'm still not convinced QR isn't the operator (because it is).

These flights would technically earn AC, SQ, UA etc miles. I don't think VA would release reward seats to their other partners but it would be funny if you could book a QSuite seat with SQ miles, for instance.

 

[justinbrett]

I'm still not convinced QR isn't the operator (because it is).

It isn’t.

That’s now how wet leases work. The VA flight number will be the primary flight number. Any QR number attached will be merely a codeshare.

The same goes with QF and AY, Qantas is the operator, Finnair codeshares on it.

Legally it will say something like operated by QR for VA, but it’s the “for VA” that matters here.

 

[jase05]

It isn’t.

That’s now how wet leases work. The VA flight number will be the primary flight number. Any QR number attached will be merely a codeshare.

The same goes with QF and AY, Qantas is the operator, Finnair codeshares on it.

Legally it will say something like operated by QR for VA, but it’s the “for VA” that matters here.

Spot on.
QR already has agreements in place with Air NZ for lounges in SYD, BNE and PER and the Marhaba in MEL so I’d imagine they would simply widen the deal to include these VA flights dependant on timings of course

 

[drron]

I think QF lounge staff will have a fun time explaining to travellers why they are not allowed in on a daily basis.

The real fun will be when you fly on a QR marketed and operated flight. These are still being sold and for example do have a BA codeshare except into SYD.
Under the OW rules you still should have access to QF lounges despite QR not wanting it an QF totally against it.

 

[henrus]

"We want customers to book these new services with confidence. That is why we have committed to ensuring that any customers who purchase tickets for the new services before final regulatory approvals will be fully protected.

Um… they’ve been legally forced to do that.

 

[twinaisle]

Um… they’ve been legally forced to do that.

I don't see anything wrong with it. More protection for the consumer.

 

[MooTime]

It isn’t.

That’s now how wet leases work. The VA flight number will be the primary flight number. Any QR number attached will be merely a codeshare.

The same goes with QF and AY, Qantas is the operator, Finnair codeshares on it.

Legally it will say something like operated by QR for VA, but it’s the “for VA” that matters here.

So AY elites don't get lounge access to QF lounges or they do as it's OW?

I too see QF lounge dragons refusing QR status pax being an issue. QR part of OW, what do you mean I can't enter a OW lounge.