Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[AIRwin]

Can I just say, it's really nice that the VA website lets you search for flights ex Doha. The Qantas website can't seem to manage this.

Don't-ha

 

[Mattg]

Has anyone booked a Qatar codeshare flight on a VA flight number and been able to select a seat?

 

[henrus]

Has anyone booked a Qatar codeshare flight on a VA flight number and been able to select a seat?

So the partnership isn't as seamless as UA.

With the VA/UA partnership, the VA booking ref works on the UA website where seat selection is possible.

With the VA/QR partnership, the VA booking ref does not work on the QR website although during ticketing you should get a partner booking reference on eticket. It seems that it still doesn't allow you to book seats with this reference.

 

[jrfsp]

Yep. That’s the article cross linked in the newer article (from yesterday) posted above.

I suspect QR are still directing non status J PAX to the NZ lounges etc because its probably cheaper for them. Even though anyone in the know is able to go the QF J lounge. In SYD, it’s probably a coin toss between QF and NZ. I’d head for the lounge closest to the gate (if I wasn’t getting into the F Lounge)…

Really, I’ve always thought NZ J lounges were much nicer than QF J lounges! F different story of course

 

[SYD]

Really, I’ve always thought NZ J lounges were much nicer than QF J lounges! F different story of course

That was my point! But I haven’t set foot in the SYD QF J lounge for a very long time.

 

[RooFlyer]

Has the QR Privilege Club earn on flying VA been announced? That will totally get me on VA Vs QF once I start revenue flights again (currently burning QFF points as fast as I can).

 

[jase05]

Has the QR Privilege Club earn on flying VA been announced? That will totally get me on VA Vs QF once I start revenue flights again (currently burning QFF points as fast as I can).

Not yet. I’m waiting for that too

 

[BNEFlyer]

Update on the seat selection… after changing the FF number to VA my seat selections disappeared and to get them back was going to cost over $600. Changed the FF back to QR and will change back to VA at check in.

 

[clarkkent]

Has the QR Privilege Club earn on flying VA been announced? That will totally get me on VA Vs QF once I start revenue flights again (currently burning QFF points as fast as I can).

Not sure, but there's a double Avios promotion: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/Virgin-Australia-Offer.html

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure, but there's a double Avios promotion: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/Virgin-Australia-Offer.html

Thanks - I got the e- mail overnight; looks like you need to go international, starting with VA (which, unfortunately, I am already booked to do in November!!), with double Avios only on the VA legs which are marketed by QR. This is what I get for purely domestic itineraries





Just out of curiosity, when you go to that promo page, is there an example flight a bit down the page, and if so where is it from/to?

T&Cs :

 

[Thibault]

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/our-partners.VA.html#poi-tab-BW0BV

Looks like you can only earn status on QR marketed / VA operated and not VA marketed AND VA operated for Privilege Club card holders.

Just like SQ.

 

[jase05]

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/our-partners.VA.html#poi-tab-BW0BV

Looks like you can only earn status on QR marketed / VA operated and not VA marketed AND VA operated for Privilege Club card holders.

Just like SQ.

That’s my take on it too unfortunately.
Looks like you can earn Avios but not QPoints

 

[aussiejohn]

This is looking like a disaster for me. Qatar is my preferred airline along with SIA. None of the others come anywhere close. I have QFF earning cards and now in a bind if I cannot use those points on Qatar for J flights. Being retired I cannot change my credit cards over to Velocity, and if I could, it would take too long to accumulate points again and sadly, my future travel options are limited due to declining health. As soon as this partnership was announced I knew damn well it was going to be bad news. My personal view is that though Virgin is running a sort of semi no frills airline, they've well and truly got QF in their gunsights, and now Akbar on board to help them. I am under no illusion that Jane is just as ruthless as Alan when push comes to shove. As I say, my personal views only, nothing more.

 

[HS-TQE]

My personal view is that though Virgin is running a sort of semi no frills airline, they've well and truly got QF in their gunsights, and now Akbar on board to help them. I am under no illusion that Jane is just as ruthless as Alan when push comes to shove. As I say, my personal views only, nothing more.

The last time VA (v1) took on QF head on after the 'takeover' of VB, it didn't end well despite the CEO of the time bringing on cashed up shareholders (Singapore, Etihad) during the Virgin Blue to Virgin Australia 'takeover'.

I'd agree that Jayne is as ruthless as Alan, considering her history at JQ and A2, plus the recent (tit for tat) ongoing bullying case at VA right now brought on by a former VA chief pilot.

 

[odysseus]

Thanks - I got the e- mail overnight; looks like you need to go international, starting with VA (which, unfortunately, I am already booked to do in November!!), with double Avios only on the VA legs which are marketed by QR. This is what I get for purely domestic itineraries

According to the terms the bonus Avios would apply on VA domestic flights.

You don't need to book through the Qatar engine.

 

[jase05]

According to the terms the bonus Avios would apply on VA domestic flights.

You don't need to book through the Qatar engine.

Yep. Unfortunately no QPoint earn on VA marketed flights which is a bit of a bummer

 

[RooFlyer]

You don't need to book through the Qatar engine.

OK, I'll confess to being a dweeb here if needs be - how do you book QR marketed flights if not via QR? I don't see QR codeshares in a dummy booking on VA.

Looks like you can earn Avios but not QPoints

T&Cs say you can earn QPoints on Virgin flights marketed by QR.

Oh dear. Just called the QR Guest Service Centre - maybe they use Mind Pearl in Cape Town! First call 'dropped out'. Second call, I quoted the promo code, as the T&Cs say to do if calling the GSC - no idea. Am on hold ...

 

[RooFlyer]

OK. After a lengthy call, with supervisors being consulted several times, I think I can shed some light.

What I was told, to take advantage of the 2 x Avios offer do this. I'm not convinced its all correct!!

Log into your Privilege Club account.
Click on your icon, then click on Dashboard
Click on the 'hamburger' (3 horiz lines) at the left
Click on 'My Offers'. Page opens



Click on Airlines on the right. You get



Click on Read More and you get a booking page (which looks suspiciously like the page that comes up when you click 'Book now' in their e-mail!)



Use the booking code in the T&Cs - mine ends in 041 - may be generic.

Like I said, I'm not convinced that this is all correct. I may call them again tomorrow to see if the story changes, I'd welcome any suggestions here too

 

[AIRwin]

Launch event in BNE:

Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia celebrate new strategic partnership at Brisbane Airport launch event

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

 

[Vic]

Are we talking the discount vouchers in this thread.
Black out dates got me real good.

I gotta NZ thing in Late November and Mumbai needing to depart 5 Feb....

Blackout Dates: Blackout travel periods apply to travel between 19 November 2022 – 7 February 2023

oh well Double status qantas to NZ I guess. Mumbai - VA Award FTW

a nice 25% discount to NZ might have just covered the positioning flights. lol