Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[BNEFlyer]

So as a QR WP, and QF SG, and VA WP, i could access the QF ( open at 10pm ) and ANZ lounges in BNE ?

QF is open 4:30pm-10:30pm. And yes you can access both. I'm QR and VA Gold, might go to QF as I think that's the better of the two.

Post automatically merged: Oct 17, 2022

Looks like the 'old' Borghetti era of Haphazard lounge access for international flyers has returned for the foreseeable future. Bain not very willing to spend the CapEx on * Alliance membership in the short term is one factor, but at the same time not going the predecessor's (Scurrah) approach of using a common contract lounge (VA used the old No. 1/ now Aspire lounges) in the East Coast Capitals' international terminals doesn't help either.

Not really as the flights are operated by QR not VA, so it's QR's lounge agreements with the partnership that's been haphazard.

 

[GlennT]

Another wrinkle in the Qatar lounges issue (unrelated to Virgin) is that in SYD their F passengers have no F lounge to go to and get directed to the NZ Business Lounge, which in itself is not awfully busy with just a few flight departures including the 2100hrs Doha one.
The NZ lounge is a pretty solid Biz lounge, but nothing approaching F I can assure you, with the catering winding down mid-evening.
Apparently the QF F lounge closes around 2000hrs most days, and is in any event a very long distance from the QR departure Gate 61.
So no joy on the horizon for QR premium SYD pax it seems.
No point getting to SYD extra early to enjoy a truly F experience unless you can wangle a trip to QF F (if you have requisite status) and are prepared to walk half a km+ to the QR departure gate!

 

[dairyfloss]

Another wrinkle in the Qatar lounges issue (unrelated to Virgin) is that in SYD their F passengers have no F lounge to go to and get directed to the NZ Business Lounge, which in itself is not awfully busy with just a few flight departures including the 2100hrs Doha one.
The NZ lounge is a pretty solid Biz lounge, but nothing approaching F I can assure you, with the catering winding down mid-evening.
Apparently the QF F lounge closes around 2000hrs most days, and is in any event a very long distance from the QR departure Gate 61.
So no joy on the horizon for QR premium SYD pax it seems.
No point getting to SYD extra early to enjoy a truly F experience unless you can wangle a trip to QF F (if you have requisite status) and are prepared to walk half a km+ to the QR departure gate!

F pax flying QR can access the QF F lounge under oneworld rules, regardless of status (I assume there's no VA codeshare for F?! That would potentially present an issue)

 

[SYD]

F pax flying QR can access the QF F lounge under oneworld rules, regardless of status (I assume there's no VA codeshare for F?! That would potentially present an issue)

Yes, regardless of what FF # you have in the system, a OW F BP will get you into the QF F Lounge and very much worth getting there early for. It isn’t really that far from the QR gates (just allow a little extra time).

The QF F lounge is getting back to more normal operating hours, especially on nights that QF25 is operating (scheduled dep 21:55).

 

[PERLHR]

I find it very odd given the existing OW network in Australia that they have access to is bigger than VAs... but perhaps they will get a greater share of the revenue/profit share with VA, and so push VA over QF on certain connections and codeshares

I think that QR are not overly impressed with QF love for EK. This relationship with VA may just be a feather ruffling exercise but but a nice one .

 

[JohnPhelan]

I find it very odd given the existing OW network in Australia that they have access to is bigger than VAs... but perhaps they will get a greater share of the revenue/profit share with VA, and so push VA over QF on certain connections and codeshares

I suspect it's being driven by QR's feeling that it was missing out on business from QF because of the QF/EK partnership.

 

[SYD]

I suspect it's being driven by QR's feeling that it was missing out on business from QF because of the QF/EK partnership.

Yep. QR are on record as saying they wanted an arrangement with QF but couldn’t get one. They probably demanded QF dump EK as part of the deal….?

 

[HS-TQE]

Yep. QR are on record as saying they wanted an arrangement with QF but couldn’t get one. They probably demanded QF dump EK as part of the deal….?

I do recall the QR CEO was on record saying that VA was Plan B after they weren't able to get a deal with QF going a long while back.

Though I suspect as others said, they weren't pleased with the QF/EK deal.

Al and Alan also don't get along from memory, which was similar to the old John Borghetti/James Hogan vs Chris Luxon battle back during the declining (now-defunct) old NZ/VA joint-venture 4 years ago.

 

[SYD]

QR discount code FLYQRVA

$500 J / $150 whY for travel between 25 October 2022 and 31 March 2023. Offer valid until 12 November 2022.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/cug/virgin-australia-partnership.html

 

[Gianni S]

I know Virgin has carrier charges for Qatar flight redeptions, but didnt think they were supposed to be this high?
LHR >DOH>MEL 139,000 points + $1215.58 in carrier charges and taxes does that sounds correct? The charts show much lower fees. $230US for each segment, works to be to be approx $715AUS

Have attached screenshot

 

[BriarFlyer]

Ex-UK is always more expensive due to the Air Passenger Duty (departure tax.)

 

[bernardblack]

I know Virgin has carrier charges for Qatar flight redeptions, but didnt think they were supposed to be this high?
LHR >DOH>MEL 139,000 points + $1215.58 in carrier charges and taxes does that sounds correct? The charts show much lower fees. $230US for each segment, works to be to be approx $715AUS

Have attached screenshot

There are huge taxes departing the UK if your flight is not in economy. $500 for taxes plus the known sector surcharges is probably about right. Departing CDG/FRA would be a couple hundred cheaper and other cities cheaper still.

 

[ozstamps]

Try departing DUB or IST.

 

[PERLHR]

There are huge taxes departing the UK if your flight is not in economy. $500 for taxes plus the known sector surcharges is probably about right. Departing CDG/FRA would be a couple hundred cheaper and other cities cheaper still.

Often cheaper doing from Oslo or Stockholm with Qatar.

 

[Milefest]

Virgin Australia tells us that lounge access arrangements at the Australian ports have now been finalised for Velocity Gold & Platinum members flying on Qatar Airways.

Eligible passengers in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth should have access to the Air New Zealand lounge by showing their Velocity membership card and collecting a lounge invitation at checkin. In Adelaide the Virgin Australia Lounge is used and in Melbourne it's the Marhaba Lounge.

Virgin, Qatar Partnership Teething Issues

It's just over a month since Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways launched a new strategic partnership. As well as earning and redeeming points on each

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Is there official PR from VA about this? I've just been denied access to the air NZ lounge in SYD as a VA gold flying on a Qatar ticket with my VA number linked. The lounge staff said there's no contract and that they wish they'd stop sending pax to this lounge

 

[phryx8]

So this Saturday past I flew Qatar from AKL-ADL. At checkin I was asked to show the Velocity Gold card after I had asked which lounge I should go to. After about 15minutes of them trying to sort out what to do they reprinted my boarding pass with Strata Lounge access at the bottom. At the lounge the attendant seemed annoyed saying they shouldn't be sending pax their way. At least I was in boarding zone 2.
Tuesday, on the way back, they had me in boarding zone 3 and Virgin Lounge printed at the bottom. At the lounge the attendant was a bit amused.
Seems like their operations are a bit all over the shop. Woudn't mind if its a roulette of lounges. I'll get to experience them all.

 

[ozstamps]

Strata Lounge access at the bottom. At the lounge the attendant seemed annoyed saying they shouldn't be sending pax their way.

Seeing Strata Bill Virgin $US25 or so per guest, why on earth would staff be annoyed these pax are paying their wages!

 

[Milefest]

Definately still heaps of teething issues with this partnership. Here are my latest updates on my travels:

Denied priority boarding in SYD as there was nothing on the boarding pass that signalled I had that entitlement, it just shows my velocity number but no status. I had to insist I was entitled and show them my physical gold card, before they let me through.

Then arrived in Doha and went to use the gold/platinum lounge in the south wing. Upon lounge check-in virgin Australia was not listed as an eligible airline. I told them it was a new partnership and that I am entitled to access and it was escalated to a supervisor where the supervisor refered to a HANDWRITTEN notebook noting my eligibility...

My advice with anyone flying in Y on Qatar with status is that you should bring your physical membership card and have the eligibility entitlements webpage already open on your phone. Even then prepare to be disappointed as its up to the discretion of staff.

 

[AIRwin]

https://competitions.virginaustralia.com/competition/Qatar-FIFA-Competition/

 

[Gianni S]

There are huge taxes departing the UK if your flight is not in economy. $500 for taxes plus the known sector surcharges is probably about right. Departing CDG/FRA would be a couple hundred cheaper and other cities cheaper still.

That makes alot of sense, will have to keep in mind if going down that path. We are flying back from London with Singapore, but as we will actually be coming from Athens was tempted to see if it was worth switching if availability comes up with QR