Virgin Australia flights to Doha

[FlyingKangaroo]

BA have been charging non-status PAX for J seat selection since about 2009!

Why did you login to QR if you have status with VA? If you don’t have status with QR, it’ll probably read that first since you’re logged in and ignore any (if any) benefits of VA Gold.

Did you try opening the booking without logging in and making sure your VA# is still attached and whether you can select seats?

I assume it’s a QR coded flight, since you used points?

I’ve never had an issue selecting seats on QR coded/operated flights with my QFF# (OWE) attached. Codeshares are another thing entirely with QR.

Yes --- I missed that the @Zinger has VA status, in which case you shouldn't have to pay:

 

[PERLHR]

BA have been charging non-status PAX for J seat selection since about 2009!

Quite right to...one of the few actual benefits of having BA status for loyalty!

 

[Lucass]

Does anyone know when VA intends to operate the flights to Doha themselves? And with what aircraft?

 

[jase05]

Does anyone know when VA intends to operate the flights to Doha themselves? And with what aircraft?

They aren’t and they won’t

 

[SYD]

Quite right to...one of the few actual benefits of having BA status for loyalty!

or any OW airline status of OWS and up. QF works just fine.

From memory OWR is only free 24 hrs out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

or any OW airline status of OWS and up. QF works just fine.

From memory OWR is only free 24 hrs out.

OWR is 7 days in advance. Which is usually far enough to have a really good selection of seats available (including thr bulkheads for the yimg-yang seats).

 

[SYD]

OWR is 7 days in advance. Which is usually far enough to have a really good selection of seats available (including thr bulkheads for the yimg-yang seats).

That’s what I thought but AI suggested otherwise…

Still, a handy perk if flying BA (and not just J, but all cabins).

 

[Zinger]

Thanks for the replies above offering advice on QR's charge to VA gold status members

I decided to take the advice to let it ride for a day or two until the system sorted itself out.

24 hours later it did.

Decided on 3A.

Next question. Which lounge at DOH?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the replies above offering advice on QR's charge to VA gold status members

I decided to take the advice to let it ride for a day or two until the system sorted itself out.

24 hours later it did.

Decided on 3A.

Next question. Which lounge at DOH?
View attachment 510195

The Al Mourjan business class lounge, either the main one or the Garden. Architecturally the main lounge is impressive. I didn’t rate the soft product or amenities highly. The à la carte restaurant is a bit of fun to pass the time.

 

[SYD]

The Al Mourjan business class lounge, either the main one or the Garden. Architecturally the main lounge is impressive. I didn’t rate the soft product or amenities highly. The à la carte restaurant is a bit of fun to pass the time.

Depending on how much time you have, just go to the closest AM Lounge to your onward departure gate.

 

[larrymull]

Has there been any official word from Virgin about their VA7/VA8 flights post the 28 April, 2026 note on the website?

 

[Harrison_133]

Has there been any official word from Virgin about their VA7/VA8 flights post the 28 April, 2026 note on the website?

DOH-MEL and DOH-SYD both resume today. First VA8 is currently in the air.

 

[larrymull]

DOH-MEL and DOH-SYD both resume today. First VA8 is currently in the air.

That's good, couldn't see their flights on flight radar. Will be good to have them back.

 

[simmomelb]

Next question. Which lounge at DOH?

Al Mourjan Business Lounge or Gold Lounge if you have Velocity Gold (take the business lounge!)

*Sorry, realised this has already been answered after posting.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Perhaps someone here might know - but as we have discovered: You need to pay to select your seats on a Reward J booking on Qatar metal.
If I do not select (and pay) for a seat ahead of time, can I select a seat for free at check-in?
If so, I assume this will be done on the VA website/app?

Background: Have selected a seat on SYD>DOH, but Qatar want ~$150 to select a seat on the onward DOH>LHR.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Perhaps someone here might know - but as we have discovered: You need to pay to select your seats on a Reward J booking on Qatar metal.
If I do not select (and pay) for a seat ahead of time, can I select a seat for free at check-in?
If so, I assume this will be done on the VA website/app?

Background: Have selected a seat on SYD>DOH, but Qatar want ~$150 to select a seat on the onward DOH>LHR.

You can select from what's still available at check-in, yes. You will do so via Qatar's website as they operate the flight (assuming this isn't the pretend 'VA' -metal flights).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can select from what's still available at check-in, yes.

i think is 48 hours prior?

I would select seats on the QR website.

I never choose seats via a partner airline website, only on the prime operating carrier’s site.

 

[Rayesfeg]

I would select seats on the QR website.

I never choose seats via a partner airline website, only on the prime operating carrier’s site.

I think I have to choose seats on VA website because I am checking in with them, no?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I think I have to choose seats on VA website because I am checking in with them, no?

You check in with the airline that operates the first flight of your journey.

If that's SYD-DOH, and it's QR 909 and not VA 1, you check in with Qatar at their website and then their ticket counters/bag drop at the airport, regardless of whether you booked the ticket with VA.

If it is VA 1, then yes, you go to Virgin Australia for check-in.

If you have a domestic VA flight first, you will also check in with VA. Note that VA doesn't support check-in for international flights, so I suspect you wouldn't be able to do anything yourself. In this scenario, they may be able to assist with seat selection on the QR-leg at the airport, and you might have luck choosing a seat for free once you are within Qatar's standard check-in window on their website, but that doesn't always work. Some airlines just open the seat map for free selection within the ordinary "manage my booking" function once the window opens, while others still restrict it to the actual online check-in feature, which you would be unlikely to access if your first flight is operated by, e.g., VA.

 

[Rayesfeg]

You check in with the airline that operates the first flight of your journey.

If that's SYD-DOH, and it's QR 909 and not VA 1, you check in with Qatar at their website and then their ticket counters/bag drop at the airport, regardless of whether you booked the ticket with VA.

If it is VA 1, then yes, you go to Virgin Australia for check-in.

If you have a domestic VA flight first, you will also check in with VA.

Note that VA does not currently support online check-in for international flights, so I suspect you wouldn't be able to do anything yourself. In this scenario, they may be able to assist with seat selection on the QR-leg at the airport, and you might have luck choosing a seat for free once you are within Qatar's standard check-in window on their website, but that doesn't always work. Some airlines just open the seat map for free selection within the ordinary "manage my booking" function once the window opens, while others still restrict it to the actual online check-in feature, which you would be unlikely to access if your first flight is operated by, e.g., VA.

Thanks for the explanation: It is VA1 so I will check in with VA but I wasn't aware that VA don't support online check-in for international flights. This seems like a really basic thing for them to lack?

Well anyway, I'll try for myself if this is possible to do when Qatar's check-in window opens (though, something tells me this probably won't work) and as a last resort, will monitor the seatmap closer to the time and ask at the check-in counter at the airport if they can put me in a decent seat.