Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[stm1sydney]

I've just updated a current QR booking with my VA FF number. I'm QR and VA Gold and reserved preferred Y seating when I booked as a QR Gold.

After updating the FF number to VA I'm unable to select or change seats, the seat selection option is gone completely from the Manage Booking page. However my preferred seat selection has remained (and hopefully will remain in place).

This is a really old post but I was hoping @BNEFlyer or anyone else could confirm that, if I change my QR Gold number at booking to my VA number later, then my preferred seat selection will remain and will remain in place (stick) for the flights.

Preferred seat selection is very expensive on QR for basic Y tickets, so the free option through QR Gold is great. But of course I would like to credit the points and status credits to my VA a/c.

Thanks in advance.

 

[aidan059]

Just confirming, I flew QR last week on VA reward ticket with QFF Gold on booking. Was able to access Air NZ Lounge in Sydney no issue, same with QR Platinum & Gold North lounge in Doha no issue either. Despite QR manage booking saying VA FF number, boarding pass printing off with QF FF number (the desk lady said both numbers were on the booking).

 

[flyingmachine]

This is a really old post but I was hoping @BNEFlyer or anyone else could confirm that, if I change my QR Gold number at booking to my VA number later, then my preferred seat selection will remain and will remain in place (stick) for the flights.

Preferred seat selection is very expensive on QR for basic Y tickets, so the free option through QR Gold is great. But of course I would like to credit the points and status credits to my VA a/c.

Thanks in advance.

No when I tried this last year with an economy ticket - the seat selection were gone and I got booted off those seats.

Had to put QR gold back in to select the seats and points ended up going to QR instead of VA. Just have to be careful with the points because QR credit the points at some time after checkin and even before the flight has taken off.

 

[BNEFlyer]

I had the same experience as flyingmachine. You can change your number to VA after you’ve checked in though. I changed mine when I got onboard. Though I should’ve kept it as QR.

 

[Scarlett]

I’d love to see QR aircraft flying around Australia and beyond on ‘wet lease’ to VA. (domestic tag followed by an international flight)
If QF had any form of whinge, the hypocrisy of their NJS, Alliance and Network subsidiaries should prove illuminating.

 

[stm1sydney]

No when I tried this last year with an economy ticket - the seat selection were gone and I got booted off those seats.

Had to put QR gold back in to select the seats and points ended up going to QR instead of VA. Just have to be careful with the points because QR credit the points at some time after checkin and even before the flight has taken off.

OK thanks. Looks like I should keep my QR number in. Next question: what happens to my seat selection if I am downgraded from QR gold (free preferred seats) to silver (not free) in the period between when I book and seat select and when I fly?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BNEFlyer]

OK thanks. Looks like I should keep my QR number in. Next question: what happens to my seat selection if I am downgraded from QR gold (free preferred seats) to silver (not free) in the period between when I book and seat select and when I fly?

Thanks in advance.

Good question. I reckon the seats might be released, because at the time of flying you'll be Silver. But I'm not 100% sure.

 

[stm1sydney]

Good question. I reckon the seats might be released, because at the time of flying you'll be Silver. But I'm not 100% sure.

Confirmed by this flyertalk thread:

Seat selection removed after tier downgrade - FlyerTalk Forums

Qatar Airways | Privilege Club - Seat selection removed after tier downgrade - Hi, Booked as Gold, selected seats upon booking (in eco), lost the status, seat selection has been removed. The agent I talked to says it's the policy, if I want them back I need to pay. It's the first time I'm in...

www.flyertalk.com

Aaargh.

 

[TMP]

Interesting experience flying Qatar last night using VA partnership benefits. My partner and I flew Y (paid) and she is WP and myself SG.

We flew AMM-DOH and then DOH-MAN. Check in at AMM was interminably long. Almost 40 mins in the online check in queue when only 4th in line.

Per the partnership, no additional baggage benefits. Interestingly (frustratingly), QR are the only airline out of 8 across 15 flights on our world trip so far over the last 5 months to not allow us to carry on our two bags each (1 x carry on backpack and 1 x small backpack). Forced to check in the bigger of the two each. At check in the supervisor came over and he knew about the VA partnership in order to get us the lounge access, but it was funny when he said VA might soon be part of the Oneworld alliance

Lounge in AMM (Royal Jordanian) was fine. The North Platinum and Gold lounge in Doha definitely felt like a transit lounge - very open, pretty basic. Definitely felt like QR were jibbing their Y passengers and partner airline passengers. Much prefer EY's lounges in AUH.

As for the planes, nice to be on 789 widebodies. Flights were fine. Food ok. Amenities felt a bit cheap compared with EY a few days prior. Most weird was the keeping on of cabin lights and allowing passengers to control the windows in the middle of the night on the 0130-0700 service to MAN. Thankfully we'd both popped a tablet to assist with sleeping and had our own eye masks.

Many announcements in flight referring to them as the World's #1 airline, but I'm not personally convinced

 

[Thibault]

Got emailed my Privilege Statement to what looks like a new VA/QR landing page to redeem Avios.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/where-your-avios-can-take-you.html?cid=EMAU141610

Below highlighted statement seems however incorrect.

 

[aus_flyer]

Got emailed my Privilege Statement to what looks like a new VA/QR landing page to redeem Avios.

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/where-your-avios-can-take-you.html?cid=EMAU141610

Below highlighted statement seems however incorrect.

View attachment 408967

Does seem incorrect. Velocity website says otherwise.

 

[Rebus]

Does seem incorrect. Velocity website says otherwise.

It is incorrect. I flew DUB-DOH-MEL a few months back on QR coded flights which were booked on the QR website. I earned Velocity points and SC for both legs.

 

[seritonin]

With the long awaited announcement of QR taking a 25% stake in VA now public, what does this mean for Velocity? Full on Avios adoption or a transfer option?
I would prefer a transfer option which will make Velocity the best frequent flyer currency in the world. The ability to:
Access Star Alliance partners via KF transfer
Access One World partners via QR transfer
Access Sky Team partners via VS transfer (wishful thinking)

 

[andye]

My gut feeling is that Velocity is so integral to the value of the brand, that Bain would be loathe to switch to Avios.

On the other hand QR might view a change as a way to undermine the perceived value of QFF points and programme in general.

 

[justinbrett]

With the long awaited announcement of QR taking a 25% stake in VA now public, what does this mean for Velocity? Full on Avios adoption or a transfer option?

It would be fantastic, but I’m sceptical.

Would mean you could transfer Flybuys / Velocity to BA and use for oneworld, including QF.

Not so sure VA would like that.

 

[seritonin]

It would be fantastic, but I’m sceptical.

Would mean you could transfer Flybuys / Velocity to BA and use for oneworld, including QF.

Not so sure VA would like that.

If the Avios transfer is activated, then yes potentially you can book QF flights with Velocity. It would increase the value of the program. Probably not going to be 1:1 transfer rate.
If I was Bain, I would do everything to increase the value of the airline as much as I can before the IPO

 

[justinbrett]

If the Avios transfer is activated, then yes potentially you can book QF flights with Velocity. It would increase the value of the program. Probably not going to be 1:1 transfer rate.
If I was Bain, I would do everything to increase the value of the airline as much as I can before the IPO

You will never be able to book QF or most of oneworld directly with Velocity. They would have to be VA partners.

This would require an intermediate step (probably 2 for QF), likely QR and then into BA (as I doubt VA to BA would be an option, unless VA cuts ties with VS). Very convoluted but not impossible.

I still doubt Avios will be an option, but perhaps VA to QR transfer with a penalty rate (like VA to SQ now) making it possible but not necessarily good value.

 

[PERLHR]

You will never be able to book QF or most of oneworld directly with Velocity. They would have to be VA partners.

This would require an intermediate step (probably 2 for QF), likely QR and then into BA (as I doubt VA to BA would be an option, unless VA cuts ties with VS). Very convoluted but not impossible.

I still doubt Avios will be an option, but perhaps VA to QR transfer with a penalty rate (like VA to SQ now) making it possible but not necessarily good value.

Lets be honest here...you don't always get a good choice or return for booking other one world operators through QF points. And if you do it's not often in premium cabins at least through my experiences. So, I would.be happy to say "VA..welcome to the best FF currency called AVIOS (,with caveat ...unless you wanna book through Qantas!!).

 

[justinbrett]

Lets be honest here...you don't always get a good choice or return for booking other one world operators through QF points. And if you do it's not often in premium cabins at least through my experiences. So, I would.be happy to say "VA..welcome to the best FF currency called AVIOS (,with caveat ...unless you wanna book through Qantas!!).

If we’re going for a currency, Amex Rewards is better than Avios. You can swap them for Avios plus a huge number of other programs, including QFF.

But there’s pros and cons to every program, and the Avios programs have attracted a lot attention with enhancements and carrier charges. I’ve found quite nice rewards with BA and AA using QF, and it’s obviously the best program for QF metal, which is good for someone living here.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I’ll honestly be surprised if this deal passes ACCC scrutiny. Surely having a major airline like Qantas gobble up the competition is a no-no?