Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[BNEFlyer]

To add to the confusion, when I flew in October last year I had my QR Gold on my bp but it printed with an Air NZ lounge invitation. I was told the QF lounge was closed, which was not true, but I was still granted access to the QF lounge (though IMO the NZ lounge at BNE is better).

 

[parlayman]

Thank you all for the information! Fingers-crossed, I can get the lounge pass.

 

[simmomelb]

Thank you all for the information! Fingers-crossed, I can get the lounge pass.

Yes, that's all that really matters, the check-in staff will no doubt give you details either way for Air NZ lounge access if you ask and show your status.
Love the community on here working together to help each other.

 

[Milefest]

Wish there was a primary source from VA or QR on the ANZ lounge being the official 3rd party lounge. I always have to argue with them, they seem to get confused about oneworld lounge arrangements which result in VA pax being denied. Sounds like people have had better luck than me

 

[MooTime]

Wish there was a primary source from VA or QR on the ANZ lounge being the official 3rd party lounge. I always have to argue with them, they seem to get confused about oneworld lounge arrangements which result in VA pax being denied. Sounds like people have had better luck than me

Yeah these half cough arrangements, whatever their officially called.
Like many have posted... Bring the paper documents, evidence, not that painful if thought of in advance.

Have to think of the positive that VA is partnered with QR and we can get J rewards. Lounge access in Y.

 

[henrus]

To add to the confusion, when I flew in October last year I had my QR Gold on my bp but it printed with an Air NZ lounge invitation. I was told the QF lounge was closed, which was not true, but I was still granted access to the QF lounge (though IMO the NZ lounge at BNE is better).

No confusion there at all. The default lounge is the Air NZ lounge so staff will point you in that direction. The staff were probably misinformed about the QF lounge being open but in this case oneworld rules applied instead.

For those departing from either SYD, MEL, BNE or ADL, if the Qantas lounge is open and you're in business/first or hold oneworld emerald/sapphire status then you can still access the Qantas lounge instead.

Wish there was a primary source from VA or QR on the ANZ lounge being the official 3rd party lounge. I always have to argue with them, they seem to get confused about oneworld lounge arrangements which result in VA pax being denied. Sounds like people have had better luck than me

It's mean to be the QR website on this page however for SYD/ADL it isn't correct.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-qa/lounges/worldwide.html

For VA status holders (or in fact anyone not travelling in F/J with status) you must present that at check in when flying with QR and it's here where they give you a lounge pass. If you don't do then expect to be denied at the 3rd party lounges.

Obviously it's different for oneworld status holders gaining access to oneworld lounges as access is verified at the lounge instead.

 

[Milefest]

It's mean to be the QR website on this page however for SYD/ADL it isn't correct.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-qa/lounges/worldwide.html

For VA status holders (or in fact anyone not travelling in F/J with status) you must present that at check in when flying with QR and it's here where they give you a lounge pass. If you don't do then expect to be denied at the 3rd party lounges.

Obviously it's different for oneworld status holders gaining access to oneworld lounges as access is verified at the lounge instead.

Yeah I'm aware, I use priority check in with my VA number linked on the booking. Then when I ask for the lounge invitation they tell me that only oneworld status pax or premium cabin pax get lounge access. When I tell them about the VA partnership they tell me that there is no QR operated lounge at SYD but I will have access in Doha.

I know this advice about SYD is incorrect but there's no formal primary source I can use to back myself up, random 3rd party websites don't usually convince grumpy checkin agents. I've flown numerous times now with QR it's generally good but SYD for me has been the worst for status recognition (maybe Cape Town too), it doesn't help that status isn't printed on the BP either. Maybe I've had an unlucky run.

 

[simmomelb]

I know this advice about SYD is incorrect but there's no formal primary source I can use to back myself up, random 3rd party websites don't usually convince grumpy checkin agents.

Yes, this is the main issue which still needs to be formally addressed on their respective websites.
Let's get that feedback in, I think the more of us that do this with Qatar and VA, the faster something might formally appear.

 

[RadioBusinessTraveller]

Yeah I'm aware, I use priority check in with my VA number linked on the booking. Then when I ask for the lounge invitation they tell me that only oneworld status pax or premium cabin pax get lounge access. When I tell them about the VA partnership they tell me that there is no QR operated lounge at SYD but I will have access in Doha.

I know this advice about SYD is incorrect but there's no formal primary source I can use to back myself up, random 3rd party websites don't usually convince grumpy checkin agents. I've flown numerous times now with QR it's generally good but SYD for me has been the worst for status recognition (maybe Cape Town too), it doesn't help that status isn't printed on the BP either. Maybe I've had an unlucky run.

This is exactly my experience with Qatar in Sydney. A bad experience that neither VA or Qatar want to take responsibility for.

 

[Digicola]

This is exactly my experience with Qatar in Sydney. A bad experience that neither VA or Qatar want to take responsibility for.

You’d think that they’d at least train staff in AUS ports for the partnership… It would be a bit more understandable if these issues were in ports in Asia where there are a lot less VA flyers.

I maintain the best part of this patchy partnership is the relatively good award availability to Europe. More options is always better. Plus we get a widebody option to AKL (albeit temporarily).

 

[Milefest]

You’d think that they’d at least train staff in AUS ports for the partnership… It would be a bit more understandable if these issues were in ports in Asia where there are a lot less VA flyers.

I maintain the best part of this patchy partnership is the relatively good award availability to Europe. More options is always better. Plus we get a widebody option to AKL (albeit temporarily).

You'd think so but even some check in supervisors don't seem to be aware of the 3rd party lounge agreements for VA status pax flying QR. So escalating doesn't usually help (and may make the situation worse by sending them into the defensive).

 

[tdpali]

Flew from Melbourne to Frankfurt late March on Qatar metal with VA flight numbers with Gold Velocity in economy. Melbourne and Doha were great and both locations new the partnership and privileges.

Not a good experience on the return flight at Frankfurt. Qatar check-in looked at my Velocity Gold card for a few minutes and said, no good. "We dont work with Virgin Australia. You have no privileges, no lounge, no priority". Word for word. Would not even tell me where lounge was to check for myself. Asked them to check again as I was accepted in MEL and DOH, but no.

No problem in DOH with lounge access on return.

Very disappointing and embarrassing. Can't believe not all Qatar staff know of the partnership, and the stubbornness by check-in staff not to go and double check.

Hope others have a better experience in Frankfurt in the future

 

[MooTime]

Flew from Melbourne to Frankfurt late March on Qatar metal with VA flight numbers with Gold Velocity in economy. Melbourne and Doha were great and both locations new the partnership and privileges.

Not a good experience on the return flight at Frankfurt. Qatar check-in looked at my Velocity Gold card for a few minutes and said, no good. "We dont work with Virgin Australia. You have no privileges, no lounge, no priority". Word for word. Would not even tell me where lounge was to check for myself. Asked them to check again as I was accepted in MEL and DOH, but no.

No problem in DOH with lounge access on return.

Very disappointing and embarrassing. Can't believe not all Qatar staff know of the partnership, and the stubbornness by check-in staff not to go and double check.

Hope others have a better experience in Frankfurt in the future

Thanks for the update... Interesting these updates.

Australia really is at the a&$e end of the world to some.
Some staff just don't read the company update emails..... Assuming this info is sent.

Need the printed evidence of velocity/Virgin on o/s jaunts it seems.

 

[parlayman]

Hello all! So, travelled 13/4 SYD-DOH-CDG. In Sydney check-in, I asked if I can have a lounge pass, the lady said Velocity is not allowed. I then told her there should be eligibility and luckily enough she asked another staff who knows what's happening. The issue is, it's not in their system and the staff will need to manually put some comments in their system so that it will print the 'lounge pass' in your boarding pass. Once that's OK, no issues entering Air NZ lounge, with my wife and child.

In DOH, there is a separate gold lounge and they are aware of the eligibility with Gold being allowed +1 adult.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

AFF article, no more QR direct ADL - AKL 5th freedom flights after Sept this year.
The VA and QR partnership, was good as a way to get to AKL, direct, with a J cabin, and earn VFF points and SC.

 

[phryx8]

Checking in at AKL airport flying Qatar to ADL. I've flown this route a number of times so know the song and dance re lounge access but got a new curve ball today. The lady at check in said they had run out of lounge passes and instructed me to go the Qantas lounge and they'll ring through for access. I told them to ring through to Strata as this is where they usually send us. After back and forth and their assurance that I'll get into the Qantas lounge I completed check in. At the Qantas lounge I get told a definitive 'No Access'. Should've known better. I'm wondering if the Qantas network is any better or even worth switching...

 

[RooFlyer]

The lady at check in said they had run out of lounge passes and instructed me to go the Qantas lounge and they'll ring through for access.

What was the access to the lounge? Cabin class or Privilege club status?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The direct QR AKL - ADL flight is stopping in Sept, from Sept onwards, the QR flight will go back to flying direct AKL - DOH.
Then its back to AirNZ for the direct, without a J cabin.
First world problems, personally, I would take it as a learning experience.
Let it be, worst is that if you argue, they might call airport security on you.
When it comes to airports, even if I have been wronged, I don't say a word.
Eg: a long time ago, my JQ MEL - ADL flight got cancelled, I just went to QF desk sales and bought a flexY tix back to ADL, in the end, got SC from the JQ flight, even though it was cancelled on me (!!!), and also the flexY from the QF flight I actually flew.
+++
If your BP showed VA VFF #, of course the QF person would say no.

 

[simmomelb]

The lady at check in said they had run out of lounge passes and instructed me to go the Qantas lounge and they'll ring through for access. I told them to ring through to Strata as this is where they usually send us. After back and forth and their assurance that I'll get into the Qantas lounge I completed check in. At the Qantas lounge I get told a definitive 'No Access'. Should've known better.

Did you challenge them on this and explain that Qatar was calling them as they didn't have any passes left?
I think the next time I fly with Qatar I will be recording the conversation at check-in.

 

[jase05]

Checking in at AKL airport flying Qatar to ADL. I've flown this route a number of times so know the song and dance re lounge access but got a new curve ball today. The lady at check in said they had run out of lounge passes and instructed me to go the Qantas lounge and they'll ring through for access. I told them to ring through to Strata as this is where they usually send us. After back and forth and their assurance that I'll get into the Qantas lounge I completed check in. At the Qantas lounge I get told a definitive 'No Access'. Should've known better. I'm wondering if the Qantas network is any better or even worth switching...

Interesting as on our last visit there the Manager of the Strata lounge said that they managed the contract of QF lounge also and when the QF lounge is full they have an agreement to allow the overflow of passengers into the Strata lounge.
We had the Strata boarding pass but went to the QF lounge first and the staff initially said no but after requesting a higher level of staff she accepted our OW status and allowed entry.