Qatar booking - Avios, Qantas or Virgin FF

[Rich]

I read an article recently about being careful when choosing which program to earn points with on Qatar - Qantas or Virgin, due to different rules around booking class.
Looking for some elderly relatives who are flying soon for about 20000 miles, booked through an agent, economy class fare type O.
Qantas appears to earn exactly 0% of the miles for type O.
The Virgin website indicates 25% of miles. However the Virgin site also says points are earned if "booked directly with Virgin". Have I interpreted this correctly that Virgin will also earn them nothing? Do other airlines have such annoying rules?
That would leave them to join Avios for 25% which would at least get them about 5000 points each and enough to get one domestic award flight between them. Annoying as they don't want to join another program.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Virgin website indicates 25% of miles. However the Virgin site also says points are earned if "booked directly with Virgin".

How was it booked? if, for instance, it was via a travel agent, that would still be booking directly with Virgin.

 

[jase05]

The Virgin website indicates 25% of miles. However the Virgin site also says points are earned if "booked directly with Virgin". Have I interpreted this correctly that Virgin will also earn them nothing?

On a QR flight number you will earn 0.25 per mile in O class by simply adding your VA FF number.
If however it was booked on a VA flight number then you get the 0.25 per mile plus any tier bonuses.
So basically in O class you will earn points with VA but not QF

 

[Rich]

How was it booked? if, for instance, it was via a travel agent, that would still be booking directly with Virgin.

Thanks for the reply. It is with a travel agent (part of a cruise deal), but flights are all on Qatar. So I assumed they wouldn't be booking "directly" with Virgin. It is odd wording on the website.