Virgin Australia flights to Doha

[I love to travel]

I wonder if VA are perhaps thinking of dumping the deal? I’d imagine the decline in share price is party due to the exposure, even though I don’t believe VA carries any financial risk with this transaction.

Now if things get back to normal later on, I still think this is a wake up call for VA not wanting to ever run these flights with their own metal in house, the financial risk is considerable. Tensions in this region won’t suddenly disappear for the coming decades, will always be flare ups.

I think there is one clear takeaway - VA don't care once the ticket is sold and you are on your own. I would never book under this arrangement.

 

[Milemuncher]

I think there is one clear takeaway - VA don't care once the ticket is sold and you are on your own. I would never book under this arrangement.

Not sure I take the same impression.

In light of the a war, I’ve got an option of re-routing on QR flight, change of date, credit or refund. I’m not sure what else I could possibly expect?

Sure it’s annoying a can’t transit DOH, but VA are being pretty reasonable.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I wonder if VA are perhaps thinking of dumping the deal? I’d imagine the decline in share price is party due to the exposure, even though I don’t believe VA carries any financial risk with this transaction.

Now if things get back to normal later on, I still think this is a wake up call for VA not wanting to ever run these flights with their own metal in house, the financial risk is considerable. Tensions in this region won’t suddenly disappear for the coming decades, will always be flare ups.

Virgin will do as they are instructed. Qatar own 25% of VA.
All are aware this is a really a sham arrangement to get more QR flights from Australia.

Virgin Australia - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In October 2024, Qatar Airways agreed terms to purchase a 25% stake in Virgin Australia. After receiving clearance by the ACCC and Foreign Investment Review Board, the deal was approved by the Treasurer of Australia in February 2025.

 

[MrJetset]

I assume those on VA Awards will simply be refunded and left to their own arrangements?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-flights-to-doha-cancelled-as-qatar-airways-halts-flights-amid-mideast-conflict/news-story/3c9279560ba67154982668d82bec623a

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I assume those on VA Awards will simply be refunded and left to their own arrangements?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-flights-to-doha-cancelled-as-qatar-airways-halts-flights-amid-mideast-conflict/news-story/3c9279560ba67154982668d82bec623a

The contract of carriage and fare rules govern cancellations. There is no difference between a paid seat for cash, and a paid seat with points.

If you can get an alternative flight from VA, go for it!

 

[Simon Overall]

I assume those on VA Awards will simply be refunded and left to their own arrangements?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-flights-to-doha-cancelled-as-qatar-airways-halts-flights-amid-mideast-conflict/news-story/3c9279560ba67154982668d82bec623a

Should be the case.

 

[rurounimaikeru]

Planning trip Mel To Athens May 2027.

2 x ppl In J.

Was thinking 2 x J on QR/VA via Doha Into Athens. VA 150k points + taxes
Then 2 x J on SQ Istanbul to Mel. 187k VA points (via KF) plus less taxes plus local

Return leg better availability return on SQ and ok outbound.

Given ongoing issues in mideast. Wondering if just go SQ there and back? Would be more points and extra stop over in Istanbul but perhaps less risky?

Need to book in may/June this year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Planning trip Mel To Athens May 2027.

2 x ppl In J.

Was thinking 2 x J on QR/VA via Doha Into Athens. VA 150k points + taxes
Then 2 x J on SQ Istanbul to Mel. 187k VA points (via KF) plus less taxes plus local

Return leg better availability return on SQ and ok outbound.

Given ongoing issues in mideast. Wondering if just go SQ there and back? Would be more points and extra stop over in Istanbul but perhaps less risky?

Need to book in may/June this year.

If the current situation is not fixed by May next year, we’ll have bigger things to worry about than holidays!

I’d book the VA via DOH.

QR isn’t anything amazing, but wins over SQ in that the beds are straight.

 

[FF98]

I have a reward redemption virgin operated VA7 flight to DOH from MEL, and after 2 nights a QR operated flight to LHR. Both in J for mid October 2026. Would you wait further to see how the situation unfold or pivot to SQ redemption MEL-SIN in PE, SIN-LGW in J?

 

[jase05]

Planning trip Mel To Athens May 2027.

2 x ppl In J.

Was thinking 2 x J on QR/VA via Doha Into Athens. VA 150k points + taxes
Then 2 x J on SQ Istanbul to Mel. 187k VA points (via KF) plus less taxes plus local

Return leg better availability return on SQ and ok outbound.

Given ongoing issues in mideast. Wondering if just go SQ there and back? Would be more points and extra stop over in Istanbul but perhaps less risky?

Need to book in may/June this year.

I’d take QR every day of the week over SQ.
Personally I think the seating is better, the catering is better and I just prefer Doha as a transit stop over Singapore.
Others would go SQ and it’s all subjective

 

[jasrulz63]

I assume those on VA Awards will simply be refunded and left to their own arrangements?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-flights-to-doha-cancelled-as-qatar-airways-halts-flights-amid-mideast-conflict/news-story/3c9279560ba67154982668d82bec623a

This is the email I got about my June awards flight.



Who knows if this actually leads to anything.

 

[Tiki]

Planning trip Mel To Athens May 2027.

2 x ppl In J.

Was thinking 2 x J on QR/VA via Doha Into Athens. VA 150k points + taxes
Then 2 x J on SQ Istanbul to Mel. 187k VA points (via KF) plus less taxes plus local

Return leg better availability return on SQ and ok outbound.

Given ongoing issues in mideast. Wondering if just go SQ there and back? Would be more points and extra stop over in Istanbul but perhaps less risky?

Need to book in may/June this year.

Depends on how many points you have and how important it is to not be delayed, also if Qatar is still on Do Not Travel list. Travel insurance going invalid is my deal breaker. I would go SQ for the outbound and QR for return unless you have to be home for work or something at a specific day.

 

[jase05]

if Qatar is still on Do Not Travel list.

If they are still on the do not travel list in May 2027 a holiday will be the least of peoples problems

 

[rurounimaikeru]

Thanks all.

Will aim for QR outbound and SQ return (limited avail on QR and gives us excuse for a few nights in IST.)

Yet to fly QR bur always had good experience SQ and don't find the footwells a problem.

 

[Stealthflyer]

Thanks all.

Will aim for QR outbound and SQ return (limited avail on QR and gives us excuse for a few nights in IST.)

Yet to fly QR bur always had good experience SQ and don't find the footwells a problem.

Last year, I flew outbound J with QR and back with SQ with a stopover in SIN. I enjoyed comparing the two. I had different planes/seats each leg, so it was a good test. Ultimately I concluded the best seat was the Q-suite, but the SQ catering and service was much better.

 

[renatts]

This is the email I got about my June awards flight.

View attachment 502790

Who knows if this actually leads to anything.

I had 2xJ awards booked mid May and mid June VA15/16. I saw VA15/16 were cancelled by an announcement and called straight away to ask for a reroute or be re-accommodated onto QR899/898 which QR had just announced they were restarting in May.

I didn't end up having to ask. The virgin rep offered same dates of travel on QR Flight numbers, still in J, nothing to be done on my end. New e-tickets received while on the phone.

Reroute via Singapore was not an option and she stated she could only offer Qatar/Refund/Date change.

I got the same generic email as you about 10 minutes after hanging up, but I'm glad I called and sorted it out.

We may not go given the circumstances, but I'm glad that choice is still ours and we can decide at the last minute.

 

[justinbrett]

I wonder if VA are perhaps thinking of dumping the deal? I’d imagine the decline in share price is party due to the exposure, even though I don’t believe VA carries any financial risk with this transaction.

Now if things get back to normal later on, I still think this is a wake up call for VA not wanting to ever run these flights with their own metal in house, the financial risk is considerable. Tensions in this region won’t suddenly disappear for the coming decades, will always be flare ups.

Remember, its a glorified codeshare. There’s really no more input or risk from VA on these flights vs actual codeshare flights on QR.

I think it will just continue on as is. If there’s no widebody VA flights for 6 months, so be it.

However, I think this might have killed off any hope of VA taking up a dry lease. If this situation had happened with a dry lease, VA would be losing money hand over fist. It’s probably not sensible to operate 100% of your long haul fleet to a single market relying on a single carrier.

 

[tinkybelle]

I beg to differ. I had a client just had their flight cancelled ADLSYD due to weather.when I called the res agent told me that as it was a FF J seat it was treated differently to a paid J seat.
I advised her this should not be so, she advised me that it was what it was a frequent flyer seat so treated differently!
like talking to a brick wall.

 

[jasrulz63]

I had 2xJ awards booked mid May and mid June VA15/16. I saw VA15/16 were cancelled by an announcement and called straight away to ask for a reroute or be re-accommodated onto QR899/898 which QR had just announced they were restarting in May.

I didn't end up having to ask. The virgin rep offered same dates of travel on QR Flight numbers, still in J, nothing to be done on my end. New e-tickets received while on the phone.

Reroute via Singapore was not an option and she stated she could only offer Qatar/Refund/Date change.

I got the same generic email as you about 10 minutes after hanging up, but I'm glad I called and sorted it out.

We may not go given the circumstances, but I'm glad that choice is still ours and we can decide at the last minute.

I was similar except by the time I called, there was no J reward flight availability left to move me to.

We've got back up flights via SQ on a mix of J and PE which we'll probably end up using to avoid the Middle East, so we're not too fussed what happens with the VA/QR flights.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I beg to differ. I had a client just had their flight cancelled ADLSYD due to weather.when I called the res agent told me that as it was a FF J seat it was treated differently to a paid J seat.
I advised her this should not be so, she advised me that it was what it was a frequent flyer seat so treated differently!
like talking to a brick wall.

I dunno why this persists

Hopefully another agent will be more helpful.

Next time, ask them to point to the policy for you