Virgin Australia and Qatar Announce Strategic Partnership

[AustraliaPoochie]

Does it mean that they are leaving QF/QFF?
Just saw the email.

 

[HS-TQE]

Does it mean that they are leaving QF/QFF?
Just saw the email.

QR won't be leaving QFF as they are there as a Oneworld member.

There are no current codeshares between QF and QR.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earning-points/flights/qatar-airways.html

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Wonder if someone at QF saw this coming.
Edit: QF will probably treat QR as what they do with MH these days.
If this goes forward, then going ADL - AKL with QR could be a win win, for those who do/have to do the trip, one way earn with QFF and coming back earn with VFF.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Is it just me or does OneWorld in Asia/SE Asia including Australia and India just seem a bit tenuous?

 

[jakeseven7]

Does it mean that they are leaving QF/QFF?
Just saw the email.

Nope. It’s not that unusual really given past events and other hook ups across alliances like QF with NZ, KLM, Air France etc.

Hoping EY stay with VA2 even though their taxes are horrific.

 

[justinbrett]

Wonder if someone at QF saw this coming.
Edit: QF will probably treat QR as what they do with MH these days.
If this goes forward, then going ADL - AKL with QR could be a win win, for those who do/have to do the trip, one way earn with QFF and coming back earn with VFF.

I don't think it changes anything for QF - QR getting together with VA is really no different to QF getting together with EK.

We'll have to wait and see the full details, but I think if Australian residents can fly VA domestic and gain QR status, that will absolutely kill the Velocity program. I suspect though, whilst there will be status recognition, you probably won't be able to earn status unless booked on QR codes in conjunction with a QR international flight. (The same way QF don't get status flying on EK unless it's booked on QF codes).

The odd thing is QF is definitely not leaving oneworld and QR just said they're not either, so there is still a defacto partnership between QF and QR whether they like it or not. It seems to be a very good deal for QR members who basically can fly with either QF or VA. I'm not sure the deal is as good for VA members.

 

[Mattg]

Interesting to see VA referring to this as a new "codeshare" partnership.

VA stopped codesharing on other partner airlines like SQ, EY and HA during the pandemic and hasn't restarted AFAIK.

With this partnership, I wonder if you'll need to be booked on a VA coded flight to earn status credits and receive benefits? This was previously the case with the "codeshare partnership" with Hawaiian Airlines. (And since VA no longer codeshares on any HA flights, there are no longer any status benefits for Velocity members on Hawaiian.)

 

[jase05]

Nope. It’s not that unusual really given past events and other hook ups across alliances like QF with NZ, KLM, Air France etc.

Hoping EY stay with VA2 even though their taxes are horrific.

I can’t see anything changing between EY and VA. They seem to have a partnership that works for both ok

 

[AIRwin]

VA stopped codesharing on other partner airlines like SQ, EY and HA during the pandemic and hasn't restarted AFAIK.

I noticed a VA code on an EY flight out of SYD but not MEL...

 

[HS-TQE]

Nope. It’s not that unusual really given past events and other hook ups across alliances like QF with NZ, KLM, Air France etc.

Hoping EY stay with VA2 even though their taxes are horrific.

They'll be keeping their current arrangements with EY for the foreseeable future.

They just won't be a 'primary partner' as QR has the primary focus.

 

[justinbrett]

I can’t see anything changing between EY and VA. They seem to have a partnership that works for both ok

The thing about the gulf carriers (including EK) is there's really no loss for them for whatever partnerships they sign. Unless the other partner flies to their hub (which neither QF or VA do for any of the three) - they get the benefit of the pax for the entire long haul journey. QF/VA just get the domestic connections - if that. Plus a small cut if they're sold as codeshare flights.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Is it just me or does OneWorld in Asia/SE Asia including Australia and India just seem a bit tenuous?

OT: Only 5 OW around this part.
CX which has very limited or no flights here to Aust as of now.
QR as we see, but its a bit far to go up from Au - DOH, and then down to India, to get to cities that QF doesn't fly to.
AI and VA not in partnership.
BA starting soon.
MH very limited flights.
I think that MH would be one of the limited ways of people going from ADL to parts of India that the new QF flight does not go to.
And of course, QF, where you can use to get to SIN, then cheapo up to KUL to get MH to parts of India.
If CX picked up, and MH picked up, and if MH and QF mended their rifts, then it would be just totally nice and cosy.
((No mention of ANA in any of the blurbs from the VA email, partnership wise)).

 

[justinbrett]

OT: Only 5 OW around this part.
CX which has very limited or no flights here to Aust as of now.
QR as we see, but its a bit far to go up from Au - DOH, and then down to India, to get to cities that QF doesn't fly to.
AI and VA not in partnership.
BA starting soon.
MH very limited flights.
I think that MH would be one of the limited ways of people going from ADL to parts of India that the new QF flight does not go to.
And of course, QF, where you can use to get to SIN, then cheapo up to KUL to get MH to parts of India.
If CX picked up, and MH picked up, and if MH and QF mended their rifts, then it would be just totally nice and cosy.
((No mention of ANA in any of the blurbs from the VA email, partnership wise)).

Don’t forget Japan and Sri Lanka

Oneworld is the smallest alliance, but it is the tightest (eg universal emerald recognition).

But that’s why we have these side deals. QF gets all that, plus Emirates, NZ domestic, China Airlnes, China Eastern, KLM, Air France, Finnair…

I think VA would do well in star alliance (especially now it’s UA instead of DL) and would effectively become a reborn Ansett. Not being in a formal alliance is a deal breaker for me.

 

[jase05]

Don’t forget Japan and Sri Lanka

Oneworld is the smallest alliance, but it is the tightest (eg universal emerald recognition).

But that’s why we have these side deals. QF gets all that, plus Emirates, NZ domestic, China Airlnes, China Eastern, KLM, Air France, Finnair…

I think VA would do well in star alliance (especially now it’s UA instead of DL) and would effectively become a reborn Ansett. Not being in a formal alliance is a deal breaker for me.

Is there a chance that big alliances may eventually go the way of the dodo one day? Reckon we are going to see more and more of these smaller partnerships take place in the coming years

 

[jase05]

A sly little drive by

Qatar Airways, voted the ‘World’s Best Airline’ at the 2021 Skytrax industry awards, and Australia’s most loved carrier, Virgin Australia have today unveiled a new strategic partnership that will significantly expand both airlines’ networks, lounges and loyalty programmes.

 

[justinbrett]

Is there a chance that big alliances may eventually go the way of the dodo one day? Reckon we are going to see more and more of these smaller partnerships take place in the coming years

Curious why you deleted this post?

 

[jase05]

Curious why you deleted this post?

By accident. It linked two posts together and I tried to edit it but obviously deleted by mistake.

 

[SCM]

This is just incredible news.

I already made the call this year to switch my main program earn from QFF to VF, and I'm over the moon with this announcement! Qatar is obviously the best airline in terms of premium product, so this is just incredible.

Opens up a whole new world of opportunities - for example, flying to Europe in QR J from Asia is much cheaper than Australia, and I like to do that anyway, so this is just fantastic news.

With Qantas seemingly refusing to allow people redemptions on QR and always pushing weird 4 times connecting flights instead and stupidly expensive Emirates flights with sky-high taxes (higher than SQ full-priced ticket for economy), this is very good news. I just love the prospect of flying QR and have really been disappointed at Qantas for sidelining them in QFF classic reward flights.

Qantas seems to be sinking in a funnel of cough while Virgin is making all the right decisions.

 

[ozstamps]

Not sure if Qatar have any price sales, but be interested to see the Virgin SC earn rate on the A380 flights SYD-DOH or Europe.

We racked up Plat a few times in Biz on Etihad to Europe fights, especially when you could Route SYD-ADL-PER-AUH each way!

I recall that A380 flies onto SYD-AKL, but no idea what price point they pitch that at.

 

[Mattg]

Not sure if Qatar have any price sales, but be interested to see the Virgin SC earn rate on the A380 flights SYD-DOH or Europe.

Presumably QR flights will earn status credits at the same rates as all other VA partner airlines.

I can imagine that crediting QR flights to VA will be considerably more rewarding than crediting to QF going forward.