Booking Qatar or Virgin

[oz61]

Looking to book a multi-city flight to Europe. I am Velocity Platinum. The Qatar site is so much easier to use for multi-city bookings.
If you are on the wet lease Virgin flight, does it matter if you book through Virgin or Qatar to qualify the status towards the 50% requirement?
If you book the entire journey through Virgin, does the entire journey, including the Doha to Europe leg (and return) count for the 50%?
Is it better to book through one airline or the other?
I read something about differences in seat selection (not sure what).
Any answers or advice would be really appreciated.

 

[serfty]

Other than what is presented as available to book, it does not matter how booked.

VA operated or VA marketed counts toward the 50%.

If QR metal, you need a VA (codeshare) flight number.

I believe the wet lease services are notionally VA operated.

 

[JoMcA]

I have just had an unsatisfactory run in with VA about this issue. We booked direct with Qatar, had QR flight numbers on our itinerary and gave OneWorld (QF) FF numbers. Upon arrival at PER check in, we were told it was a VA flight (VA21), not codeshare with QR and not eligible for OneWorld points. We asked the ticket be changed to reflect our VAFF numbers, which was greeted with a "no problem", and VA FF numbers were then printed on our boarding passes (PER-DOH and DOH-JRO).

Only the DOH-JRO flight was credited to the account.

Boarding passes issued in DAR for return leg had QF FF numbers on them, but no one at the airport could change to VA FF number (no QR staff at check in and third party lounge) for DOH-PER leg on VA22. Contacted VA customer support from DOH to advise QF FF number added but VA flight, and was advised to contact guest contact centre after landing as they could "assist to link the Virgin membership to the booking".

DAR - DOH has been credited by QF.

2 frustrating, lengthy calls to customer call centre later we have had PER-DOH-JRO credited, finally. These boarding passes clearly had our VA FF number on them, but I was constantly told by 4 different call centre staff that they were showing as QF FF so had to escalate for over and hour and a half. Have received acknowledgement that VA staff at Perth were advised to update whole booking, but appear to have only done it for that flight check in, but that "the booking is locked" and they now cannot do anything about it . Also advised that VA21 and VA22 are "codeshare" flights, not wet lease, so cannot be credited as eligible sectors for status.

I am not sure if any of the above is right, but it is what has happened so just be aware that even if you book one or the other it can be changed on the day, and at this stage at least, cannot be sorted out once you get back.

The whole process has been a great advertisement for QF.

 

[VPS]

I have just had an unsatisfactory run in with VA about this issue. We booked direct with Qatar, had QR flight numbers on our itinerary and gave OneWorld (QF) FF numbers. Upon arrival at PER check in, we were told it was a VA flight (VA21), not codeshare with QR and not eligible for OneWorld points. We asked the ticket be changed to reflect our VAFF numbers, which was greeted with a "no problem", and VA FF numbers were then printed on our boarding passes (PER-DOH and DOH-JRO).

Only the DOH-JRO flight was credited to the account.

Boarding passes issued in DAR for return leg had QF FF numbers on them, but no one at the airport could change to VA FF number (no QR staff at check in and third party lounge) for DOH-PER leg on VA22. Contacted VA customer support from DOH to advise QF FF number added but VA flight, and was advised to contact guest contact centre after landing as they could "assist to link the Virgin membership to the booking".

DAR - DOH has been credited by QF.

2 frustrating, lengthy calls to customer call centre later we have had PER-DOH-JRO credited, finally. These boarding passes clearly had our VA FF number on them, but I was constantly told by 4 different call centre staff that they were showing as QF FF so had to escalate for over and hour and a half. Have received acknowledgement that VA staff at Perth were advised to update whole booking, but appear to have only done it for that flight check in, but that "the booking is locked" and they now cannot do anything about it . Also advised that VA21 and VA22 are "codeshare" flights, not wet lease, so cannot be credited as eligible sectors for status.

I am not sure if any of the above is right, but it is what has happened so just be aware that even if you book one or the other it can be changed on the day, and at this stage at least, cannot be sorted out once you get back.

The whole process has been a great advertisement for QF.

Welcome to posting on AFF - it took you a while.

I'm having a stoush with VA about my QR flights - one credited and the other didn't

 

[JoMcA]

Welcome to posting on AFF - it took you a while.

I'm having a stoush with VA about my QR flights - one credited and the other didn't

Thanks for the warm welcome VPS. It takes me a while to get used to my surrounds!

That is my issue. Outbound credited, after a fight, but a no go on the inbound. Whilst I understand the inbound had QF FF number on the tickets, they have accepted that was a VA error. And only credited the outbound, which had VA FF numbers linked and printed on the boarding card, after telling me repeatedly that they couldn't be credited as the QF number was linked. So either it was "unlinked" or they were not being truthful. It just seems like VAwant to promote the "new" alliance, but not actually provide any services with it. I feel a stern letter may be needed as a next step. Keep me posted how you get on.