Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[Muppet501st]

Not that there was any doubt but I can confirm VA reward tickets flying QR, with QF FF in the booking, extend the normal oneworld status benefits.

I flew QR for the first time today, SIN-DOH in Y, received lounge access to SATS and received a personal welcome on board by the cabin manager. Didn’t seem like many other emeralds on the flight because I didn’t see her welcoming anyone else (I was in second row of Y).

They also took my meal order before take off (a different FA), again this wasn’t done for anyone else in my area.

Overall I thought the flight was pretty good (noting Y is Y) and I’d happily fly them again, as opposed to SQ who I also flew for the first time - they were dreadful in Y and I don’t want to ever fly with them again. I’m sure they’re great in J.

Haven’t flown QR Y only J, but had 3 sectors in SQ Y ( paid upgrade at gate to J on the 4th sector ) and was extremely disappointed. This was in April and had flown them before Covid and they were a lot better.
Will be my last choice if needed in the future.

 

[RAM]

Haven’t flown QR Y only J, but had 3 sectors in SQ Y ( paid upgrade at gate to J on the 4th sector ) and was extremely disappointed. This was in April and had flown them before Covid and they were a lot better.
Will be my last choice if needed in the future.

Oddly enough I had the reverse experience which was extremely disconcerting.

Flew Y rtn to Europe in Jan/Feb 2023 and had impeccable service (in Y!!), constant FAs throughout all 4 flights walking the aisles with water & snacks. Slept on all 4 flights well. FWIW the snacks in Y on SIA are far superior to those in J on Hawaiian, but the ancient J flat seats on their A330 are the most comfortable I've come across.

Then flew J to Europe in May/June 2023 and service from MUC to SIN to SYD was plain bad on both flights and I barely slept (which is perhaps why I noticed how poor the service was). Nobody seen for > 2 hours at a time but could hear them talking away merrily. As usual my better half & I go for windows on opposite sides - as we both like that in J & can see each other if need to communicate. The FAs on her side were just as bad, forgetting to bring her requested drinks 2x on 2nd flight and 1x on first.

Yes, this is unusual for SIA but I was disappointed that my Y trip was far pleasanter than the J one. Especially as one of our two redemptions was at full rate.

Has made me think twice about transferring Citi points before transfer rate goes from 2:1 to 3:1 on October 4th (in case anybody has forgotten).

Decided to give SIA the benefit of the 'exception proves the rule'.

 

[mel-world]

I'm wondering if the 350 and 787 crew are not as experienced as those on the 777 and 380s? SQ has had to find crew in a hurry and, maybe the 777 and 380 crew are pre-pandemic re-hires with a better attitude and better training than all those needed for the new jets introduced in a rush as travel has exploded these last 18 months. I don't fly enough to form a definite opinion but just a thought.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I'm wondering if the 350 and 787 crew are not as experienced as those on the 777 and 380s? SQ has had to find crew in a hurry and, maybe the 777 and 380 crew are pre-pandemic re-hires with a better attitude and better training than all those needed for the new jets introduced in a rush as travel has exploded these last 18 months. I don't fly enough to form a definite opinion but just a thought.

Interesting theory. I've flown SQ and QR in J this year to South Africa. On SQ, 1x A380, 1x777, 2xA350. A350 flights by far noticeably better than the others, though the others were "good." I chalked it up to the smaller cabins and perhaps the route as the South Africa tag gives them a bit more of an interesting layover as they fly SIN-JNB, stay a day, then JNB-CPT-JNB, stay a day, and then back home. The SYD-SIN-SYD flights were jammed and I figured they were just flat out with so many passengers and a shorter flight time.

I really enjoyed QR, if nothing else because I've been fortunate enough to fly SQ in J enough that I know the script by heart and it was fun to have a change, but I was disappointed by QR's aircraft changes teasing me with and then taking away Q-Suite several times, and while the food was excellent, the service just wasn't polished and not as personalised as I'd hoped it might be given reviews of them particularly vis-a-vis SQ.

As far as VA's partnerships go, however, I won't be touching Etihad again until those 777s are retired. I've not been flying J long enough to be a snob, but that seat was truly uncomfortably worn.

 

[ols]

Hi forum gurus,
I have a Y reward codeshare with Virgin for Perth to Doha for two people.
I noticed through a dummy booking as single fare that there is a !st class reward available.
I have checked on Qatar website and there are 7 seats still available in 1st class.
If I changed reward flight for this one seat will they 24 hours later have another 1st class rewards seat appear?

 

[henrus]

If I changed reward flight for this one seat will they 24 hours later have another 1st class rewards seat appear?

No Qatar airways doesn’t work like virgin. There is a possibility but chances are probably not.

 

[ols]

No Qatar airways doesn’t work like virgin. There is a possibility but chances are probably not.

Thanks for your reply.
Other three Qatar flights on this trip are business so we have plenty to look forward to.

 

[henrus]

Thanks for your reply.
Other three Qatar flights on this trip are business so we have plenty to look forward to.

Controversial but if you’ve got the points why not book one first and other economy then switch mid flight (with crew permission first) or rock paper scissors on boarding.

 

[ols]

Controversial but if you’ve got the points why not book one first and other economy then switch mid flight (with crew permission first) or rock paper scissors on boarding.

Must be one in, all in.
You haven't met my wife

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Must be one in, all in.
You haven't met my wife

Sounds like Mrs Hawk as well....

 

[Rebus]

Regarding lounge access in Doha for VA Gold and Platinum traveling in Y, the Velocity website states as follows:

Lounge eligibility​

Velocity Frequent Flyer guests who are eligible to enter Qatar lounges & Qatar third party lounges will need to collect an invitation to enter the lounge from Qatar check-in staff at the international departure port prior to clearing immigration.

Link

Does anyone have any practical experience of this? I will be flying DUB-DOH-MEL in a few months as VA Gold. Are the check-in staff at DUB really going to be across this? Or can I just rock up to the Doha Gold Lounge North/South and present my boarding pass etc?

 

[BNEFlyer]

Regarding lounge access in Doha for VA Gold and Platinum traveling in Y, the Velocity website states as follows:

Lounge eligibility​

Velocity Frequent Flyer guests who are eligible to enter Qatar lounges & Qatar third party lounges will need to collect an invitation to enter the lounge from Qatar check-in staff at the international departure port prior to clearing immigration.

Link

Does anyone have any practical experience of this? I will be flying DUB-DOH-MEL in a few months as VA Gold. Are the check-in staff at DUB really going to be across this? Or can I just rock up to the Doha Gold Lounge North/South and present my boarding pass etc?

You can just enter the QR Gold Lounge (go to the new South one). You should get access to a third party lounge in DUB too.

 

[Rebus]

You can just enter the QR Gold Lounge (go to the new South one). You should get access to a third party lounge in DUB too.

Thanks @BNEFlyer . Do QR print the VA status on the boarding card?

 

[BNEFlyer]

Thanks @BNEFlyer . Do QR print the VA status on the boarding card?

Yes status is printed on the boarding pass, and staff should know about the partnership (there's plenty around in DOH so someone should know!)

 

[EuroKick]

Hey folks, quick question - I'm flying from Tivat to Doha via Belgrade on a QR ticket. The fist leg is operated by Air Serbia. As a VA platinum, how do I get access to the lounge in Belgrade? Obviously this is a contract lounge and I won't be conversing with any QR staff on check in to obtain any lounge passes etc. Replies appreciated

 

[bcworld]

Hey folks, quick question - I'm flying from Tivat to Doha via Belgrade on a QR ticket. The fist leg is operated by Air Serbia. As a VA platinum, how do I get access to the lounge in Belgrade? Obviously this is a contract lounge and I won't be conversing with any QR staff on check in to obtain any lounge passes etc. Replies appreciated

Your only option is to turn up at the front desk and state your case. If you're lucky they'll have some quick reference they can look up for QR lounge access.

 

[EuroKick]

Your only option is to turn up at the front desk and state your case. If you're lucky they'll have some quick reference they can look up for QR lounge access.

Thanks so much! Sounds risky.

 

[AIRwin]

The fist leg is operated by Air Serbia. As a VA platinum, how do I get access to the lounge in Belgrade?

I think lounge access is available only when travelling on a Qatar Airways operated flight.

 

[bcworld]

I think lounge access is available only when travelling on a Qatar Airways operated flight.

They are from BEG-DOH.

 

[Obzerva]

Hey folks, quick question - I'm flying from Tivat to Doha via Belgrade on a QR ticket. The fist leg is operated by Air Serbia. As a VA platinum, how do I get access to the lounge in Belgrade? Obviously this is a contract lounge and I won't be conversing with any QR staff on check in to obtain any lounge passes etc. Replies appreciated

I think you'll probably be ok, that lounge used to have the VA logo on the door as part of when VA were partners with EY, so they would have had VA passengers for a while.

They do sometimes limit access to the BEG lounge though to stop priority pass members etc, from what I've seen that's usually around the times when it's busy, especially prior to the BEG-JFK flight departure