Got qatar’d - Virgin reward flight

[moxrox]

QR914 DOH to ADL 12 Jan purchased through Velocity points has been changed from Q suite to non q suite. I am fuming to say the least.

Ive been checking the app regularly since booking over 6 months ago as I’ve had an issue in the past with Qatar flight changing and reward booking via partner (Qantas a few years back) not emailing me about the change and the reticketing not occurring therefore losing our seats.

Now overseas with my wife enjoying a holiday, I have just checked the app to see it no longer says Q suite. I have not received an email from virgin or Qatar about the change which I understand should be procedure.

I called Qatar and they said they cannot do anything as it was booked through Virgin. What are my options? Can Virgin change my flight to a q suite flight route the following day?

Has this happened to anyone before who has redeemed a reward flight through Velocity?

 

[SYD]

What aircraft type is it now?

They have QSuites lite (angled seats with doors) which are just as good.

The onboard experience (F&B) is the same. Just no door to annoy you as they come and go.

As far as booking via VA, you are constrained by whatever - if any - alternate flights are available as award bookings.

 

[Human]

It is indeed, disappointing that you won't get to fly in a Q-Suite. Not sure it'd leave me "fuming". Aircraft changes happen all the time. Sometimes it means the hard product is better, sometimes worse, and when it's worse you need to take the good with the bad.

I assume you'll still be on an A350, just not with Q-Suites? The soft product is exactly the same. The seats are, if anything, a tiny bit wider, although obviously with a lot less privacy and a little less storage space.

My best ever Qatar cabin crew experience was on a non-Q-Suite A350. I get that your'e disappointed and I would be too -- frustrated, even (because I think Qatar would give you the option to change flights if you'd booked through them). But sometimes airlines swap planes before the flight, for any number of reasons.

In all probability, it will still be a highly enjoyable flight -- the worst outcome now would be to let your anger detract from the enjoyment.

 

[drron]

Changing a plane type is not a reason for re ticketing. I had 2 changes of aircraft during October and neither were re ticketed and I still flew on those flights. They were Aadvanage rewards and neither AA or QR notified me of the change. but I knew when I checked the bookings as I regularly do.. I had 2 other flights on QR where the departure time was changed by ~ 20 minutes and they were re ticketed..

I see you have found the post on ADL flights losing Q suites. That was started in October.

 

[MELso]

Changing a plane type is not a reason for re ticketing.

This is ordinarily true, but Qatar offers a guarantee for Q Suites. It's only if you're on ticket on Qatar 157 stock (i.e. not VA stock), allowing for free rebooking up to 21 days either side. Hence, the OP is not entitled to a rebooking as a consequence of the aircraft change.

QSuites are nice, but I'd still be happy in QR's ordinary J on the A350 (the J on the 787 is squishy though).