Virgin Australia flights to Doha

[Saab34]

I note you can’t select seats on Virgin’s site, has this always been the case on these flights?

 

[PERLHR]

I note you can’t select seats on Virgin’s site, has this always been the case on these flights?

I believe so yes.

 

[aaronm]

I note you can’t select seats on Virgin’s site, has this always been the case on these flights?

I was able to select seats on either site for the wet lease flights, but I only did it via the VA site. Worked fine. Call center can also sort it out if the website doesn’t work (this happened to me after I opted in to the upgrade waitlist which had the weird side effect of removing my seat preference)

 

[PERLHR]

I was able to select seats on either site for the wet lease flights, but I only did it via the VA site. Worked fine. Call center can also sort it out if the website doesn’t work (this happened to me after I opted in to the upgrade waitlist which had the weird side effect of removing my seat preference)

If however you are going onwards from DOH (using it as most pee do as transit) to another destination on QR metal ...can you choose seats if booked through VA?

 

[aaronm]

If however you are going onwards from DOH (using it as most pee do as transit) to another destination on QR metal ...can you choose seats if booked through VA?

Yes, I had an onward connection to Frankfurt and was able to select seats in the QR app. VA website had the partner booking reference I needed to access the QR reservation.

 

[PERLHR]

Yes, I had an onward connection to Frankfurt and was able to select seats in the QR app. VA website had the partner booking reference I needed to access the QR reservation.

Excellent.

 

[k974]

Hi All

I am VA Platinum , probably platinum plus in a month or so.
i have want to go to Dublin (or anywhere in Europe , i can pick up Ryanair from there ) for 5 or so days.

I managed to find a random BNE to DUB business reward on velocity on the Qatar flights for November, , so i have grabbed that. A return 4-6 days later is not available however,

i am only really keen to go if its business both ways as straight back to work when i land back, what are the chances if i book a VA economy one way from Dublin, i would get an upgrade being VA Platinum (likely PP), how far in advance would i likely get this? Just the DOH BNE leg is fine, economy in the Dublin leg is fine

otherwise i would cancel what i have and keep looking for dates where both directions are available

thanks

 

[ben95]

what are the chances if i book a VA economy one way from Dublin, i would get an upgrade being VA Platinum (likely PP), how far in advance would i likely get this? Just the DOH BNE leg is fine, economy in the Dublin leg is fin

Overall I think the chance is low even for PP.

1. VA doesn’t have POS in Ireland so you cannot book a one way originating there from VA. You’d need to book the VA flight as QR codeshare that means you loses the ability to waitlist for the upgrade with points on the VA leg from Doha as well.

2. Even if you are on the VA ticket stock Doha technically is an outstation for VA staffed by QR agents. How much they value or recognize your PP status is unclear. Regardless though I doubt VA would dish out complimentary upgrades to even PP willynilly unless there’s an operational reason to do so (say Y overbooked). I’m pretty sure that level of service only happens to Beyond.

 

[k974]

Overall I think the chance is low even for PP.

1. VA doesn’t have POS in Ireland so you cannot book a one way originating there from VA. You’d need to book the VA flight as QR codeshare that means you loses the ability to waitlist for the upgrade with points on the VA leg from Doha as well.

2. Even if you are on the VA ticket stock Doha technically is an outstation for VA staffed by QR agents. How much they value or recognize your PP status is unclear. Regardless though I doubt VA would dish out complimentary upgrades to even PP willynilly unless there’s an operational reason to do so (say Y overbooked). I’m pretty sure that level of service only happens to Beyond.

Thanks thats great, how about if i booked DUB - Doha and DOH to BNE on VA, would that allow me upgrade in advance, at that point with 2 separate tickets its hardly worth it i suppose.

 

[Hayley.campbell24]

I wouldn’t recommend leaving your trip to the last minute! Flights to Europe are over $2800 return what’s the best way to find a deal? ChatGPT?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wouldn’t recommend leaving your trip to the last minute! Flights to Europe are over $2800 return what’s the best way to find a deal? ChatGPT?

Googleflights.

That should be your starting point… put in your destination, select class of travel, and then open the calendar. Prices for all dates will be displayed.

 

[ben95]

Thanks thats great, how about if i booked DUB - Doha and DOH to BNE on VA, would that allow me upgrade in advance, at that point with 2 separate tickets its hardly worth it i suppo

Regardless of cost, that potentially causes nightmare when you transfer at Doha. QR may or may not agree to tag you bag through to your next flight on a separate ticket, they most certainly won’t take care of recovery if there’s any disruption to one of your flight causing you to miss connection or delayed baggage. I’d advise against splitting the ticket.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I booked the following on the VA website - SYD-DOH (award in J) and DOH-MLA (award in J) as separate tickets as SYD-DOH-MLA did not show up on VA as a through ticket even though the connection is < 24 hours. I suppose I could have rung VA and asked them to book over the phone but I am travelling overseas and this would've been a real hassle. When I return to SYD I plan to ring VA and ask them to "link" the two tickets (if possible) otherwise I hope they will check my bags through. Note the reason I booked it like this (other than not showing up as a through itinerary) is that it only add 5000 points to the total required when most other European destinations would have added 39,000 (MLA is one of those destinations which the VA website does not recognise so I had to use the alter the URL work-around)