Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[N860CR]

Not sure if Qatar have any price sales, but be interested to see the Virgin SC earn rate on the A380 flights SYD-DOH or Europe.

We racked up Plat a few times in Biz on Etihad to Europe fights, especially when you could Route SYD-ADL-PER-AUH each way!

I recall that A380 flies onto SYD-AKL, but no idea what price point they pitch that at.

That was just emirates, wasn’t it?

 

[levelnine]

So there is the slight possibility that an Australian-based flyer could credit both VA & QF flights to QR, attain status on QR then enjoy those status benefits on both VA & QF flights?

 

[MH_fan]

OK...I did not see this coming! Interesting that this is happening and, at the same time, MH announce daily direct flights to DOH, which will most likely result in a partnership with QR covering lots of European destinations.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Not sure if Qatar have any price sales, but be interested to see the Virgin SC earn rate on the A380 flights SYD-DOH or Europe.

We racked up Plat a few times in Biz on Etihad to Europe fights, especially when you could Route SYD-ADL-PER-AUH each way!

I recall that A380 flies onto SYD-AKL, but no idea what price point they pitch that at.

QR currently fly DOH-ADL-AKL (but not with an A380). Was DOH-BNE-AKL for a time before that. This was introduced during the pandemic. Pre CV19 QR used to fly DOH-AKL non stop [one of the longest flights in the world] and DOH to SYD/MEL/PER but not BNE. (ADL?) . If QR restart DOH-AKL non stop would likely be a replacement for via AU to New Zealand.

Pre CV19 EK (QF codeshare) used to fly DXB-SYD-CHC with an A380. That stopped due to the pandemic. Have not seen any announcement of a restart. Was a flight with good timings and competitive pricing. Some of the NZ--->AU and AU--->NZ flights are at unsociable hours by other airlines.

 

[Mwenenzi]

So there is the slight possibility that an Australian-based flyer could credit both VA & QF flights to QR, attain status on QR then enjoy those status benefits on both VA & QF flights?

As post 39 above with QR status need qualifying flights or 20% of qpoints (~ff miles) on QR.
If a VA marketed/VA operated flights is eligible for QR status earning to be seem. I doubt it will be that way. IMHO will need to be QR marketed or QR operated.
It is however good for those earning avios. Will be able to earn avios on OF & VA. Earning avios ffp status will be different.

Velocity will looking at the rules with detail. They will not want to see a loss of ff members(=profit) to an avios ffp. Selling ff miles (to own airline pax, other airline pax, banks, etc) is very profitable.

 

[justinbrett]

As post 39 above with QR status need qualifying flights or 20% of qpoints (~ff miles) on QR.
If a VA marketed/VA operated flights is eligible for QR status earning to be seem. I doubt it will be that way. IMHO will need to be QR marketed or QR operated.
It is however good for those earning avios. Will be able to earn avois on OF & VA. Earning avios ffp status will be different.
Velocity will looking at rules with detail. They will not want to see a loss of ff members(=profit) to an avios ffp.

Completely agree. If you’re able to get status flying QR then you’re far better off joining QR instead of VA.

Which, IMO, is a bad deal for VA, as you‘d have no loyalty to VA. On the contrary, flying QF would help you gain/retain QR status.

I think this is a great deal for people who like to fly VA. I'm not convinced this is a great deal for VA itself.

 

[FishFood]

This is an interesting turn of events. I wait to see if a person could be a member of QR’s loyalty program and earn/burn on either QF or VA alternately, and in the process decimating the number of active members in either frequent flyer scheme.

If someone said I could effectively fly on either major carrier in Australia, earning status/points with a third carrier, and then benefit with both, I’d probably dump both Australian schemes.

There’s competition and then there’s taking the P…

This is the thing that intrigues me the most, if you could have a single program to credit both QF and VA it would be ideal

 

[Mwenenzi]

This is the thing that intrigues me the most, if you could have a single program to credit both QF and VA it would be ideal

Qatar QR avios will do that. But fine details to be seen.
Subject to t&c's avios (but not status) can be moved to/from QR-BA-IB-EI-VY freq flyer programs

 

[SheikYerbouti]

This is interesting. It looks like a good arrangement but I am very anti-Qatar due to the horrendous issues surrounding the upcoming world cup, in terms of corruption and human rights abuses, and very reluctant to support their state-owned flag carrier. I'm also concerned that there's more internaitonal concern about Qatar and this may affect partners.

 

[SYD]

This is the thing that intrigues me the most, if you could have a single program to credit both QF and VA it would be ideal

Air Berlin did that for a period but that ended in tears for a few here.

 

[jase05]

I think this is a great deal for people who like to fly VA. I'm not convinced this is a great deal for VA itself.

Unless it’s the first step towards QR buying a stake in them perhaps

 

[justinbrett]

Unless it’s the first step towards QR buying a stake in them perhaps

So it can run it into the ground like the previous airline owners?

 

[jase05]

So it can run it into the ground like the previous airline owners?

Hence the emoji
I don’t think it’s any secret though that Bain will look to flog off a considerable stake next year I guess it’s a matter of whether another PE firm/s buy in or perhaps another airline?

 

[Jack_OC]

Completely agree. If you’re able to get status flying QR then you’re far better off joining QR instead of VA.

Which, IMO, is a bad deal for VA, as you‘d have no loyalty to VA. On the contrary, flying QF would help you gain/retain QR status.

I think this is a great deal for people who like to fly VA. I'm not convinced this is a great deal for VA itself.

I agree with your comment - but the caveat "if you're able to" is a very big one. Even if we assume that all VA flights will count for QR status (and that's very unlikely IMHO), the requirement for 4 QR-operated sectors (or 20% of QPoints on QR) would surely make it non viable for the vast majority of Velocity members? Even for people who travel overseas a lot, it would not necessarily be easy to guarantee 4 QR flights per year. Especially for people who mostly travel for work - I don’t think many businesses these days offer complete freedom to choose a preferred airline.

Also consider the risk of crediting a load of flights to QR on the assumption that the 4 eligible sectors are coming, but then that doesn’t work out for some reason. That would be quite the sickener!

 

[HS-TQE]

Hence the emoji
I don’t think it’s any secret though that Bain will look to flog off a considerable stake next year I guess it’s a matter of whether another PE firm/s buy in or perhaps another airline?

Some of the contributors at ET are predicting that QR/UA and SQ (again) will be the big 3 owners next year when Bain starts to gradually divest/float next year.

Can't see SQ getting involved again equity wise after their 3 failures through their indirect involvement in Ansett (via their NZ stake), Tiger Airways (through SIA's majority ownership in Tiger Airways Holdings) and their direct involvement in Virgin Australia.

 

[BNEFlyer]

It would be disappointing if the lounge access was only restricted to QR lounges given they're only in SIN, BKK, DOH, CDG and LHR. But SQ have the same rule and it's probably unlikely that QR could get VA pax access to other OW airline lounges.

 

[justinbrett]

Hence the emoji
I don’t think it’s any secret though that Bain will look to flog off a considerable stake next year I guess it’s a matter of whether another PE firm/s buy in or perhaps another airline?

The other thing, it's my understanding they need government approval to codeshare on international flights - and I didn't see anything about that already being granted or a disclaimer that this is all subject to that.

It's quite possible that they exclude trans tasman from the agreement, as the ACCC has been very sensitive about that market.

To answer your earlier question - I don't think the big alliances are at risk of dying. These arrangements are good but only last at the pleasure of both airlines - there really isn't any security on a long term basis (eg Delta). I think the fact that QF and QR continue to have a partnership despite wanting nothing to do with each other is a good example of how much more secure those arrangements are. Sure, they can be enhanced with earning rates etc but there will always be a partnership unless one of them leaves the alliance.

There's not a chance in hell QF will leave and QR just said the same.

I really thought VA was going for Star Alliance but this has thrown a curve ball in that plan.

It would be disappointing if the lounge access was only restricted to QR lounges given they're only in SIN, BKK, DOH, CDG and LHR. But SQ have the same rule and it's probably unlikely that QR could get VA pax access to other OW airline lounges.

Pretty unlikely QF will be granting entry to their lounges based on VA status!

 

[andye]

I agree with your comment - but the caveat "if you're able to" is a very big one. Even if we assume that all VA flights will count for QR status (and that's very unlikely IMHO), the requirement for 4 QR-operated sectors (or 20% of QPoints on QR) would surely make it non viable for the vast majority of Velocity members? Even for people who travel overseas a lot, it would not necessarily be easy to guarantee 4 QR flights per year. Especially for people who mostly travel for work - I don’t think many businesses these days offer complete freedom to choose a preferred airline.

Also consider the risk of crediting a load of flights to QR on the assumption that the 4 eligible sectors are coming, but then that doesn’t work out for some reason. That would be quite the sickener!

4 QR is one return trip to Europe. I'm not a very frequent flyer but not hard.
Having said that, I would be surprised if VA flights will earn QR status

 

[Tiki]

Very strange considering QR can already access all those Aussie destinations via OW QF partnership. VA is already partnering with UA and SQ, I think TK would have been a better choice. Also would like to see NZ back on board for Pacific Island redemptions. It's impossible to get *A awards on NZ for islands like RAR.

 

[HS-TQE]

Very strange considering QR can already access all those Aussie destinations via OW QF partnership. VA is already partnering with UA and SQ, I think TK would have been a better choice. Also would like to see NZ back on board for Pacific Island redemptions. It's impossible to get *A awards on NZ for islands like RAR.

Not that strange. Airlines partner outside their Global Alliance all the time now and are not really an exception.