Virgin Australia flights to Doha

[FlyingKangaroo]

I don’t understand what will happen when the wet lease period finishes, it will be Qatar’s hard product but virgin crew and service, will Qatar even want that or will the flights just stop entirely?

If they did convert to a dry lease, they'd almost certainly repaint in VA colours which would also lessen association with QR. Sure, the seats might be the same, but the average punter wouldn't have a clue.

 

[WLGFlyer]

What does lounge access look like for partner airline elites on these flights? QR uses the NZ lounge in Perth, will I have access as either SQ Gold (VA Partner) or QF Plat? I don't like my chances.

 

[jrfsp]

What does lounge access look like for partner airline elites on these flights? QR uses the NZ lounge in Perth, will I have access as either SQ Gold (VA Partner) or QF Plat? I don't like my chances.

Sorry dont think so, would need to have VA status or QF status on a QR prime flight

 

[I love to travel]

1st BNE flight left today - 7 weeks and I get to try it. Am I the first AFF'er to do so?

 

[k974]

Hi All,

I am VA Platinum, circa 1,2m points
on the VA flight to Doha is there anyway of getting an upgrade to J,
how does the VA/QR operate, i cant find a thing for points on VA website

 

[jase05]

Hi All,

I am VA Platinum, circa 1,2m points
on the VA flight to Doha is there anyway of getting an upgrade to J,
how does the VA/QR operate, i cant find a thing for points on VA website

Don’t think the upgrades kick in until July 1st.
You can only get an upgrade on the VA operated flights and for lower tier members Red and Silver your booking must be Economy Flex fare to upgrade. For Gold, Plats and higher you can upgrade from Economy Flex and Choice fares.
There must be award seat availability and you have to call up the membership centre.
If there is no availability you can ask to be waitlisted

 

[aaronm]

1st BNE flight left today - 7 weeks and I get to try it. Am I the first AFF'er to do so?

Just over 5 weeks to go for me. Hopeful I'll be able to score a J upgrade on at least one of the BNE-DOH legs.

 

[k974]

there are 2 flights from BNE, 3.10pm which looks to be the VA flight and the usual 10pm QR flight,
can you get a VA upgrade on both or just the VA?

thanks

 

[jase05]

there are 2 flights from BNE, 3.10pm which looks to be the VA flight and the usual 10pm QR flight,
can you get a VA upgrade on both or just the VA?

thanks

Only the VA flights

 

[JohnM]

Reading the article about VA1 SYD-DOH today in ET, David Flynn points out that it's not possible to use the QF lounges, even if a QF FF of status.

That makes sense if the flight is ticketed as a VA flight.

But it's also possible to book the flight operating VA1 as QR8400.

Just checking with the brains trust as to whether doing that would bring it under OneWorld protocols and override any restriction on QF lounge access? For a non-VA FF, it would seem to make sense to book these wet-lease flights as a QR flight.

The afternoon departure time of these flights has appeal over the late night departures of the straight-up QR flights.

 

[HS-TQE]

Reading the article about VA1 SYD-DOH today in ET, David Flynn points out that it's not possible to use the QF lounges, even if a QF FF of status.

That makes sense if the flight is ticketed as a VA flight.

But it's also possible to book the flight operating VA1 as QR8400.

Just checking with the brains trust as to whether doing that would bring it under OneWorld protocols and override any restriction on QF lounge access? For a non-VA FF, it would seem to make sense to book these wet-lease flights as a QR flight.

The afternoon departure time of these flights has appeal over the late night departures of the straight-up QR flights.

They are technically 'VA flights' so even if you book the QR codeshare Oneworld lounge benefits do not apply on QR coded non-OW flights. Points/FF only applies on Qatar Avios.

Same applies if booking the QR codeshare on the VA wet-lease through any other OW carrier, lounge benefits will be declined as it's technically a non-OW (VA Flight).

 

[RadioBusinessTraveller]

Interesting interview with Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson on the Australian site this afternoon. Talks about the IPO, his leadership style, and some of their potential plans going forward, including 'he indicated orders for widebody aircraft were a possibility, so the airline could operate long haul international routes in its own right'

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...s/news-story/ab8cf71763e06cd6b9458497678009ea

 

[elanshin]

But it's also possible to book the flight operating VA1 as QR8400.

Just checking with the brains trust as to whether doing that would bring it under OneWorld protocols and override any restriction on QF lounge access? For a non-VA FF, it would seem to make sense to book these wet-lease flights as a QR flight.

The afternoon departure time of these flights has appeal over the late night departures of the straight-up QR flights.

I do not believe so. Codeshare OW flights operated by non OW members (in this case VA) is not eligible for the greater OW benefits, just the operating carrier. (So if you flew JL codeshare operated by KE you'd also have no access to non JL lounges).

 

[justinbrett]

Reading the article about VA1 SYD-DOH today in ET, David Flynn points out that it's not possible to use the QF lounges, even if a QF FF of status.

That makes sense if the flight is ticketed as a VA flight.

But it's also possible to book the flight operating VA1 as QR8400.

Just checking with the brains trust as to whether doing that would bring it under OneWorld protocols and override any restriction on QF lounge access? For a non-VA FF, it would seem to make sense to book these wet-lease flights as a QR flight.

The afternoon departure time of these flights has appeal over the late night departures of the straight-up QR flights.

Oneworld rules go by the operating carrier, in this case it’s VA not QR. QR is the marketing carrier if you book the QR code.

So definitely not.

People confuse wet lease as “operated by QR” but VA is still the operating carrier.

As further clarification, there are no BA or other oneworld codeshares on these VA flights (they would not be permitted).

 

[Bagpuss]

Wondering if VA21 (Perth - Doha) is going to take off as planned on Thursday following the closed airspace and the subsequent disruptions taking they have been ferrying in the aircraft via KL for the Sydney and Brisbane inaugurals.

They could start with VA22 (Doha - Perth) on Friday.

(The fix would be to keep the A380 running and bump everyone onto the QR tagged flight).

Time will tell.

 

[MooTime]

I thought the air space was open from today over Qatar.

 

[HS-TQE]

Airspace is open over UAE/Qatar but it'll take a bit to recover, assuming it doesn't close again.

 

[Bagpuss]

I thought the air space was open from today over Qatar.

It is open. However, there are massive disruptions. Weeks of disruptions according to Qatar.

Also Perth - Doha is switching from an A380 to two double daily B777's which I would imagine they have to get the appropriate crew into Perth as well.
Today's QR900 (final A380 rotation service) is yet to depart Doha. Currently 7 hours late (and counting).

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts.html

Effective 22 June, 2025: To ensure connectivity and minimise disruption, Qatar Airways has rescheduled a number of flights over the coming weeks in order to preserve the integrity, reliability and resilience of the airline's global network. In some cases, departure times may be earlier than originally scheduled.

Ahead of travel, passengers are urged to verify their flight departure times via qatarairways.com or by using the Qatar Airways mobile app to ensure a seamless journey.

The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority and Qatar Airways fully complies with the international aviation regulations for safe aircraft routes.

 

[Must...Fly!]

'he indicated orders for widebody aircraft were a possibility, so the airline could operate long haul international routes in its own right'

That's no surprise to say, was it not one of the reasonings put forward for the approval of this deal with QR?

we all know the chances of it happening.