Virgin Australia flights to Doha

[PERLHR]

Hi all,

First post here so apologies if this has been asked before/shouldn’t be here.

I’m planning to go from Sydney to Lisbon, and would rather go with the VA1 flight for higher SCs and QSuite. However, I don’t believe VA codeshare with QR from DOH to LIS, so just wondering if I might be able to book SYD - DOH and DOH - LIS separately, and ask them to interline at check in, or if I should just book with QR direct?

Thanks everyone.

I should imagine separate bookings as you suggest would be very very expensive? QR directly for booking option of course but not really getting the same mileage and SC. Don't know why one can't book on VA the full flight. Limited choices only? How about to London or Paris then a separate booking with different airline? While you may not get VA points what you do get to London or Paris might be more worthy? Dunno....

 

[I love to travel]

Has anyone who booked through Aeroplan been able to access their booking on either the VA or QR website? Neither will recognise when I put in the PNR into manage my booking.

 

[Snouter]

Question. Since the VA redeem rates are much higher on QR than using the direct privilege club avios rates (119k points vs 35k) is there a way to transfer into VA from AMEX and then convert them to Privilege club Avios?

I am trying to use some of my westpac altitude points to fly with QR but the main points source I will use is from AMEX

 

[bernardblack]

Question. Since the VA redeem rates are much higher on QR than using the direct privilege club avios rates (119k points vs 35k) is there a way to transfer into VA from AMEX and then convert them to Privilege club Avios?

I am trying to use some of my westpac altitude points to fly with QR but the main points source I will use is from AMEX

If you have Australian Amex you can transfer those direct to Qatar Privilege Club.

But I'm not sure where the 35k vs 119k comes from? If SYD/MEL/BNE<>DOH, I think that's the Y Avios vs J Velocity rates?

 

[MooTime]

If you have Australian Amex you can transfer those direct to Qatar Privilege Club.

But I'm not sure where the 35k vs 119k comes from? If SYD/MEL/BNE<>DOH, I think that's the Y Avios vs J Velocity rates?

Avios east coast AUS to most euro is 45k in y & 90k in J.

 

[Snouter]

If you have Australian Amex you can transfer those direct to Qatar Privilege Club.

But I'm not sure where the 35k vs 119k comes from? If SYD/MEL/BNE<>DOH, I think that's the Y Avios vs J Velocity rates?

Yes that was the Y vs J. Better but still more expensive.

I still need to get Westpac points to QR.

 

[ben95]

so just wondering if I might be able to book SYD - DOH and DOH - LIS separately, and ask them to interline at check in, or if I should just book with QR direct?

VA won't through-check baggages at Australian transfer airports with separate tickets from it's own domestic -> international short-haul flights. I‘d say the chance of them doing it for the QR operate flight at DOH is slim.

 

[AIRwin]

Counting down!

 

[I love to travel]

Counting down!
View attachment 449809

That came about quickly. Assume usual suspects will come out with a review next week.

 

[Bagpuss]

I wondered how Qatar were going to position the aircraft for VA1 today

Aircraft : A7-BET
Routing : DOH - KUL - SYD

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[AIRwin]

I wondered how VA1 were going to position the aircraft for VA1 today

Aircraft : A7-BET
Routing : DOH - KUL - SYD

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

And A7-BEH tomorrow also positioning from DOH?

 

[Bagpuss]

And A7-BEH tomorrow also positioning from DOH?

Seems that way.

A7-BEI the first VA2 (DOH-SYD) on 13 June.

 

[Warks]

Just got this email:

"From today, Virgin Australia’s daily services between Australia and Doha operated by Qatar Airways (VA1-29) commence from Sydney. Flights departing Brisbane and Perth will begin later in June 2025, with flights from Melbourne to begin from December 2025.

To celebrate this exciting milestone, we're giving Velocity members the chance to earn 50% bonus Status Credits on eligible Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha (VA1-29).* Simply book between 12 June and 30 June 2025 and travel between 1 October 2025 and 27 May 2026.*"

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone booked on the maiden flights?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

To celebrate this exciting milestone, we're giving Velocity members the chance to earn 50% bonus Status Credits on eligible Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha (VA1-29).* Simply book between 12 June and 30 June 2025 and travel between 1 October 2025 and 27 May 2026.*"

And yet, still a fraction of what they would have been before the SC earning rates were decimated.

I really don't think VA understands how disengaged so many rusted-on loyal flyers have suddenly become re: earning status. I assumed they must have known but didn't care, but why bother with such promos then? Curious also that it's SCs, not points, unlike promos on some other partners in recent memory.

Additionally: running this while simultaneously excluding their own Doha flights from the current DSC campaign? It'd be like QF excluding QF 1 and 2 from theirs -- except worse, because DOH is VA's only long-haul route.

Just brain fart after brain fart, imho.

 

[MooTime]

And yet, still a fraction of what they would have been before the SC earning rates were decimated.

I really don't think VA understands how disengaged so many rusted-on loyal flyers have suddenly become re: earning status. I assumed they must have known but didn't care, but why bother with such promos then? Curious also that it's SCs, not points, unlike promos on some other partners in recent memory.

Additionally: running this while simultaneously excluding their own Doha flights from the current DSC campaign? It'd be like QF excluding QF 1 and 2 from theirs -- except worse, because DOH is VA's only long-haul route.

Just brain fart after brain fart, imho.

They'll realise when the promo is over the much lower increase in total sales over the DSC window. I say increase cos it'll still be some sorta increase.

My guess they'll bury their head in the sand, blame external factors Yada Yada, but hey their goal was as stated in numerous interviews to reward their most loyal customers & reduce number of high status holders to free up lounge space. So maybe VA management loving the lower sales as it has to mean lower high status holders in the future.

Who wants revenue & sales when you can achieve other goals.

 

[moa999]

SydSquad streaming live for the takeoff (scheduled 2.50pm)

 

[aamslfc]

Additionally: running this while simultaneously excluding their own Doha flights from the current DSC campaign?

Just brain fart after brain fart, imho.

Yeah, I got the email and had to double-check, because I figured a DSC plus an extra 50% didn't quite sound right.

But of course they specifically excluded their one proper international route (which, incidentally, still falls under an SC table rather than $ spend) from the DSC promo.

Only to then backflip and put a different SC promo onto said international route a week later.

Make it make sense.

 

[AIRwin]

VA1 from Sydney to Doha Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

 

[MooTime]

VA1 from Sydney to Doha Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

What's the onboard load like?