How to book a Virgin partner to Russia? Any info on WHEN Qatar partnership commences?

[ozstamps]

Virgin Australia Group Announces Partnership with Qatar Airways

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

As far as I can see the official Velocity wording above from 3 months back is 'later in 2022' - has anyone seen or heard anything more specific?

Have a friend who is Velocity Gold who is flying to Russia (LED) latter September he hopes, for a few weeks. And particularly keen to use either Etihad or Qatar to get lounge access, and extra checked bag, which to Europe costs $800 or so each way.

He asked me today where to book lowest economy fare, and it is harder than it looks.

Virgin website offers no options.

Tried Kayak and Webjet and they offer nothing at all - Russia sanctions most likely?

Tried Etihad website, and they do not show any flights to LED, although he flew LED-AUH a couple months back.

And Qatar website does not seem to offer anything in September, and even Oct is SYD-MEL on Qantas with bad connections, so Velocity benefits not possible ex SYD.

I guess he can go to a travel agent, but not sure if they too need to ban selling tickets to Russia?

Any suggestions welcome!

 

[RooFlyer]

This is the map of routes currently servicing LED, from Flight Connections web site. I can check specific Airlines or alliances if that helps ( have subscription)

 

[ozstamps]

​

Roo Flyer - what a handy site.

I'd started to look at logical workaround alternatives like SYD-IST or SYD-ATH, which appear about $1500 cheaper than Moscow (SVO) which is all Etihad can offer right now. The final direct leg to LED booked separately are generally a few $100.

Any carrier from here to Russia seems about $A4,000 economy late Sept return late Oct. To IST or ATH are under half that. Your list might have others he can consider?

He simply wants travel to Europe to be on Etihad for the lounge access, and extra bag etc.

Be nice if QATAR option starts working in the next 6 weeks but it seems to be dragging its feet.

I assume Russian carriers can be booked from within Russia for IST-LED-IST etc, but not sure how that is working with sanctions? No searches I made showed it possible to do from here. He has both Russian and Oz passports.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Probably SQ to LHR and something cheapish from there, for now.
Till VA gets out more info on their QR relationship, or maybe more partners.
Personally, I would splurge on SQ with their premY, $$$ I know, but on that long haul, maybe its worth it.
J will be a financial killer, who knows though, VA SG might give lounge access, am not sure.
And also, the traveller will earn SQ miles/or VFF points, depending on which alliance he wants to put points flow to, and also, with SQ KF miles, it can be transferred to VFF.
EY might be better, closer, but then, there is no points transfer between their FF program and VFF.
They might do a DL like, split up, but SQ might too, though more unlikely, as they have their SQ KF and VFF points transfer tie in, so their relationship might be a bit stronger than EY, who might not be too pleased that QR are taking a bit of their revenue share from them to QR.
Ok, warbling off now.

 

[ozstamps]

My friend is looking for the least cost option and wants to utilise his Virgin Gold card for lounge access etc, and flying to London is little use as far as I know as Britain has banned flights to Russia?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Its hard, because of the current airline situation, he could go basic Y with SQ to LHR, and then basic Y from there, LHR to LED with FinnAir.
The flight might stop in HEL, so its not a direct LHR - LED flight.
OT: fares are very high now, nearly Aud$7k or more to get to Japan this Dec, that is in my case of checking.OT
Looks like airlines are price gouging now, to get back as much revenue as they can to cover their losses during the pandemic.
Other than that, it would be a road/rail trans Europe trip.
My main idea is to try to get him to get up to Europe the fastest way, and SQ is that.
Just giving options, if it does not fit, there might be other options.
Edit: and yes, I do know AY is not a VFF partner.
@ 2nd edit: after playing around with the AY website, re: dates on the LHR - LED route, yep, also comes up with no flights available.
Even flybuys travel has no flights available.

 

[ozstamps]

Not sure if you are up on the serious travel chokes to Russia this year.

Even the train from Helsinki to Russia is stopped now I heard.

He just wants the most direct route possible at the best price. SC not of interest to him but best price and least flight changes is.

I'll take a look at Singapore Airlines as you suggest, as he gets access to their lounges too correct? Does Virgin Gold have any weight re better seat selection with SQ does anyone know?

A decent price connection from IST or ATH seemed the lowest cost option when I looked and he was on Etihad near all the way.

Be good to see Qatar get hooked up as they have a direct to LED it seems.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If all he just wants to get to LED, no matter what, then that QR would be the one to go for.
Just buy the ticket, and go, with the right visas to enter Russia.
If he is is a good friend, you can explain to him its not easy to fly out of Aust, and in the current climate up there in Europe, its not easy.
SQ flights are still not very regular, considering ADL used to be daily, but now is 3 times per week.
And the fact that the conflict, in Ukraine, will also make it hard, as a lot of European countries might set up boycotts/sanctions, re travel through their countries to LED/Moscow re overland travels.

 

[ozstamps]

Thanks - yes he flew from Russia to SYD on EH a few months back and fully realises it is not easy. then EH had LED-AUH directs, which seem to have gone now

Just checked the SQ website and big note saying all Russia flights are cancelled. SQ fares even to IST are showing around $4000 RT. Yikes.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Even the train (RussianRail) from HEL to LED, isn't running either.
The excuse on the webiste, is due to covid, probably true, but also maybe due to the Ukraine situation.
Wonder if there is a covert way by private car from HEL, or somewhere close by, to get the border and to get across to LED.
Edit: maybe something to check out, once the situation up there improves:
Not cheap, but possibality.

Transfers from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg

Kiwitaxi Transfers are the fastest and the most comfortable way for a tourist to get from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg or to any other destination.

kiwitaxi.com

 

[jrfsp]

I’d be flying to turkey or Egypt and connecting from there

Flying to Europe is asking for trouble if trying to go to Russia

 

[DC3]

Any suggestions welcome!

Yes. Don’t mention the War.

 

[jase05]

Possibly might save a bit booking seperate tickets ie AU-SIN return on SQ for around $1200 and then SIN-AUH-IST on EY for similar and then make his way from IST?

 

[SCM]

You can just book it directly from Etihad and Qatar, both are selling tickets through to Russia (as is Emirates and Turkish - but they are not VA partners), your status should work normally.

It's unfortunate that SQ still does not fly there, but I suspect that will change soon.