Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[p--and--t]

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

Interesting discussion.

Technically they are VA flights, so VA should be responsible for organising lounge access.

There's a slight hitch that they don't have any in Int so will have to be organised with another operator. Through QR contract connections seems logical given QR to own 25% of airline, and they are operating the wet lease flights.

Post automatically merged: Today at 2:36 PM

what do you mean I can't enter a OW lounge.

"show me your OW member airline ticket with today's date"

 

[simmomelb]

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

They've gone above what the legal requirement is from what I can see, which is simply a refund and nothing more.

 

[twinaisle]

What's the obsession with trying to access a OW lounge when it's Cleary a VA flight WITH A VA BOARDING PASS that Will be issued that's just operated by QR?

 

[WilsonM]

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.

If the flight isn't operated (key word) by a oneworld carrier, oneworld status doesn't matter. Qatar elites get access to OW lounges thanks to the Oneworld membership.

QF will rightly refuse QR status pax if they're on the VA-operated-but-wet-leased flights. If QR elites are on the QR operated and marketed flights (not the wet leases), then they can use the QF lounge as QR is a Oneworld carrier.

AY elites get access to QF lounges if they're flying a OW carrier, same as any eligible OW status. A better example is if you're flying JQ - QF status pax on JQ get lounge access into QF lounges only, but not OW lounges. OW elites don't get lounge access either on JQ flights, even if they're on the QF codeshare.

 

[stm1sydney]

I just want to know if I'll get lounge access as a regular VA customer in J (or in Y with status)! Currently nothing for VA int customers.

 

[simmomelb]

What's the obsession with trying to access a OW lounge when it's Cleary a VA flight that's just operated by QR?

Exactly. There is absolutely no way you'll get QF lounge access via OW when flying on a VA flight, which is what this is (wet lease or not).

 

[Doctore1003]

Crazy that Amex and Virgin have just removed Centurion lounge access in Syd and Melb from the Velocity Platinum Card

 

[twinaisle]

Exactly. There is absolutely no way you'll get QF lounge access via OW when flying on a VA flight, which is what this is (wet lease or not).

I wouldn't even blink twice if there was no lounge access for the Doha flights like the ish flight VA currently operate

 

[justinbrett]

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.

Well both are ow airlines.

The VA/QR issues is no different to BA booking on an emirates flight marketed by Qantas.

 

[simmomelb]

I wouldn't even blink twice if there was no lounge access for the Doha flights like the ish flight VA currently operate

The thing is, I don't think VA could get away with not offering a lounge to status holders/business to a destination such as DOH and beyond.
It would be an expectation on a route like this, it's not the same as flying to Bali, where they've managed to get away with it for this long.

 

[p--and--t]

The thing is, I don't think VA could get away with not offering a lounge to status holders/business to a destination such as DOH and beyond.
It would be an expectation on a route like this, it's not the same as flying to Bali

IIRC they didn't offer lounge access for TYO flights on the Max8 so they set a precedent for mid range int flights

(Remember they are a "value carrier - not full service)

 

[simmomelb]

IIRC they didn't offer lounge access for TYO flights on the Max8 so they set a precedent for mid range int flights

It's a 737 from Cairns, which has only just opened a single lounge for 1 airline (international), expectations are low from the get-go.

 

[p--and--t]

It's a 737 from Cairns, which has 1 lounge for 1 airline (international), expectations are low from the get-go.

Expect everyone will find out when the flights go on sale. A good rule of thumb under Bain is to set expectations low and be pleasantly surprised.

 

[simmomelb]

Expect everyone will find out when the flights go on sale. A good rule of thumb under Bain is to set expectations low and be pleasantly surprised.

As an example, when I am looking at flights to Europe, which I will be within the next month, I will be looking at Qatar (directly), VA and Singapore, I sure as hell know I wouldn't be touching VA without access to a lounge in Australia unless the pricing is so low that I'd be happy to go without, but we know this won't be the case using QR wet lease.
In other words, it'll be priced as a full-service airline for this route, without a doubt.

 

[odysseus]

They've gone above what the legal requirement is from what I can see, which is simply a refund and nothing more.

They've been required to, to get this authorisation.

If they didn't, no sales while they waited for approval. Which would impact their planned booking schedule and revenue potential.

 

[twinaisle]

Expect everyone will find out when the flights go on sale. A good rule of thumb under Bain is to set expectations low and be pleasantly surprised.

I don't know how much lower expectations can go

 

[odysseus]

I just want to know if I'll get lounge access as a regular VA customer in J (or in Y with status)! Currently nothing for VA int customers.

While they haven't announced that detail yet, I can't see them not including it. Since we're talking about much longer distances and the market space (and partner) they're operating in.

Can't see Qatar permitting customers booking these flights to not have lounge access, whereas if they book the genuine QR flight, or any other EME competitor to have it.

 

[jase05]

Expect everyone will find out when the flights go on sale. A good rule of thumb under Bain is to set expectations low and be pleasantly surprised.

And to be fair QR themselves won’t stump up for the PP lounge at ADL so even after shelling out for a J fare you are sent to the VA DOM lounge

 

[twinaisle]

As an example, when I am looking at flights to Europe, which I will be within the next month, I will be looking at Qatar (directly), VA and Singapore, I sure as hell know I wouldn't be touching VA without access to a lounge in Australia unless the pricing is so low that I'd be happy to go without, but we know this won't be the case using QR wet lease.
In other words, it'll be priced as a full-service airline for this route, without a doubt.

It will be interesting to see if VA adopt the QR catering as what it is right now or implement the VA catering aspect.

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:16 PM

While they haven't announced that detail yet, I can't see them not including it. Since we're talking about much longer distances and the market space (and partner) they're operating in.

Can't see Qatar permitting customers booking these flights to not have lounge access, whereas if they book the genuine QR flight, or any other EME competitor to have it.

Unless QR r cell, the business class band that doesn't include lounge access

 

[p--and--t]

It will be interesting to see if VA adopt the QR catering as what it is right now or implement the VA catering aspect.

There's wide gulf in soft product there. Regular QR travellers will have high expectations. Remains to be seen if they will be disappointed.