Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[twiningb]

I think we were generally expecting them to skew more like the UA level than the EY level of partnership, right? But this seems to be more or less equal to EY's current treatment? (QR award surcharges slightly lower for shorter distances; QR status bonus higher; EY earn rates maybe better for First and some Business fares.)

Can anyone find the details of lounge access? It's hyperlinked in the above, but there seems to be no Qatar entry on the lounge info page.

 

[jase05]

Very happy with this, hopefully can pick up some great availability ex Asia

Just saw some J and F availability ex BKK to DOH
J 53k plus $327
F 78k plus $459

 

[Notyourbag]

Do we know what the lounge arrangements are for Gold and Platinums?

 

[SYD]

Do we know what the lounge arrangements are for Gold and Platinums?

The link earlier is currently silent. No doubt someone will report when it changes.

 

[twiningb]

Do we know what the lounge arrangements are for Gold and Platinums?

The lounges page on the Velocity website is linked from the Qatar partner page, but Qatar isn't listed there yet.

 

[henrus]

It's a bit disappointing that extra baggage and priority baggage is not included in the Gold/Plat benefits.

It remains to be seen what the lounge access provides but after the limited number of benefits I wouldn't be surprised if lounge access is just limited to Doha!

 

[odysseus]

There's some weirdness in their offerings. They seem to be showing cash equivalent points for routes - note the names are choice and flex instead of e.g. Economy Reward and the prices are ridiculous.

 

[Thibault]

There's some weirdness in their offerings. They seem to be showing cash equivalent points for routes - note the names are choice and flex instead of e.g. Economy Reward and the prices are ridiculous.

View attachment 291693

Yes - because VA allows you to use your points for cash - which is a terrible use of points. On this case, no rewards seats are available. Try to look an other date to find a Y/J/F reward seat.

 

[henrus]

There's some weirdness in their offerings. They seem to be showing cash equivalent points for routes - note the names are choice and flex instead of e.g. Economy Reward and the prices are ridiculous.

Not weird at all, they are any seat awards. You can see the same thing on the UA routes and they existed before covid with other partners.

 

[Brizz]

Did you book those seats? I'm having a look now and the J/F options are no longer there.

No - they are flights that I want - but not until October.

It will be interesting to see how availability pans out then....

 

[AIRwin]

View attachment 291689

Even the Economy Reward seat for this flight option (with a duration of 21 hour 20 minute) is now sold out...

 

[odysseus]

Yes - because VA allows you to use your points for cash - which is a terrible use of points. On this case, no rewards seats are available. Try to look an other date to find a Y/J/F reward seat.

More that it only comes up for Qatar, but not for any of the other airline partners on Euro routes i.e. Singapore, Etihad or even United at times. Whereas it's coming up many days solely for Qatar.

 

[twiningb]

There's now an entry on the lounge page, although it's not clear on the specific lounges for passengers with status, including on Qatar's page to which there's a link. (In this respect, it's like the Etihad situation; I can't find specific confirmation of the Etihad First Lounge AUH access which is available to Velocity Platinums, on either airline's website.)

Post automatically merged: Sep 6, 2022

International lounge access | Virgin Australia

www.virginaustralia.com

 

[Mattg]

There's now an entry on the lounge page, although it's not clear on the specific lounges for passengers with status, including on Qatar's page to which there's a link. (In this respect, it's like the Etihad situation; I can't find specific confirmation of the Etihad First Lounge AUH access which is available to Velocity Platinums, on either airline's website.)

Post automatically merged: Sep 6, 2022

International lounge access | Virgin Australia

www.virginaustralia.com

The "Important Information" below the table looks like good news.

Important information

• Business Class, Velocity Platinum and Gold members will also have access to 3rd party partner lounges when travelling on Qatar Airways operated flights. For destinations with lounge locations, visit the Qatar Airways website.
• Some QR worldwide and 3rd party lounges may still be closed. For more information, visit the Qatar Airways website.
• *For QR operated lounges in DOH only, eligible members are permitted 1 guest + children (aged 2-11 years)

 

[henrus]

The "Important Information" below the table looks like good news.

Yay that's amazing and matches the Etihad agreement.

I wonder if this potentially means a VA plat would get access to the QF first lounge?

 

[jase05]

Yay that's amazing and matches the Etihad agreement.

I wonder if this potentially means a VA plat would get access to the QF first lounge?

I didn’t think that VA status pax had access to third party lounges when flying with EY

 

[henrus]

I didn’t think that VA status pax had access to third party lounges when flying with EY

Yeh they do, EYs been the odd one out plus now Qatar.

 

[dairyfloss]

Yay that's amazing and matches the Etihad agreement.

I wonder if this potentially means a VA plat would get access to the QF first lounge?

Doesn't seem to stipulate, but I suspect they would limit that access to those travelling in QR F

 

[muppet]

Yay that's amazing and matches the Etihad agreement.

Not really that amazing though, if it excluded 3rd party lounges that would exclude all lounges as Qatar doesn't permit status based access to its lounges

 

[andye]

Doesn't seem to stipulate, but I suspect they would limit that access to those travelling in QR F

Currently the very impressive Al Safwa is F or QR Plat flying QR J or above.
I'm almost certain access will be to the separate First Class and Business Class lounges