Qatar Airways & Virgin Australia Launch Partnership

One thing that makes this all a bit stranger is that Virgin Australia already has a reciprocal earn and burn relationship with Etihad. So both VA and QR already have redundant partners offering the same connectivity

I’d love to see Qatar help Virgin Australia eventually bring back their A330s or even their 777s, will miss the competition they put up against Qantas to LAX in particular

It’s all very strange - now Qatar and Virgin - VA clawing to be relevant

It's only official once His Excellency proclaims the purpose of the exercise is to rub salt into the wound of Qantas.

@Ben, you might want to change Virgin Atlantic in the 'In this Post' box and in the first header to Virgin Australia.

Isn't Qantas still sleeping with the enemy?

Partnership with Emirates.....

The most intriguing thing about all this is that I’ll be able to earn Avios on Virgin Australia, and then use those Avios on Qantas award flights!

This puts us Australians in a potentially interesting position re frequent flyer schemes.

Most Australians will be members of Qantas Frequent Flyer and/or Virgin Australia Velocity.

However, it seems that by being an elite member of Qatar's Privilege Club, we could potentially get access to lounges and other elite benefits for both Virgin and Qantas out of a single loyalty programme.

Time will tell whether this is actually feasible, but certainly food for thought.....

First step towards a QR stake in VA?
Very happy with this move regardless

Exactly! Which is why I’m surprised so many are saying this is a confusing/surprising move! Isn’t it obvious that QR have long been unhappy about the QF and EK relationship when QF could have done the same with QR instead? Plus, QR have also long complained about access to the Australian market. Don’t forget QR have stakes in IAG/BA and we know BA and QF fell out just before the QF/EK partnership!

Both Qantas and Virgin are linked to the 2 major retail chains in Australia through loyalty schemes. Typically I get $10 worth of points for $50 grocery or wine purchase. Using their almost daily promotions. More if I use a linked credit card. I can transfer those points to the relevant airline or buy tickets on any airline through their travel store. The Virgin Velocity scheme allows you to transfer points to a range of airlines. But never as good as the supermarket option.

@ Lucky

To note - elsewhere it is being claimed that there will also be facility to redeem on the other airline (not just earn).

In support of that expectation, here is a quote from the email I received yesterday from the CEO of Virgin Australia:

"Reward Seat availability is another fantastic benefit of this new partnership, and you’ll be able to use your Velocity Points to book Economy, Business and First Class seats, including Qatar’s renowned Q-Suite (available on select flights), throughout their expansive international network."

This is a huge game changer for Australian frequent flyers.

VA points can be earned a lot faster than QF points on groceries, flights, etc. These are spend will accrue much higher points totals on everyday spend. Bonus points transfers are sometimes also better (e.g. from Citibank during promotions).

QF has the edge with some earn opportunity, such as wine purchases.

IME Qatar offers far more premium reward seats to partners than Emirates to Qantas. That will Gove VA the edge.

Emirates has added prohibitive carrier charges to premium rewards, destroying the value of arguably the most attractive benefit of QF FF, the ability to redeem for EK premium.

VA is already offering better business class availability on Singapore Airlines than some other Star Alliance partners (but not as good as KrisFlyer itself).

Short haul Avios rewards on domestic business class in Australia can be half the cost levied by QF on QF metal (check out MEL-PER for example).

I am not a fan of the VA EO, but this one made me sit up and take notice.

Now add the next step of integrating ANA and QF have some very serious competition for the attention of the erudite frequent flyer.

Meanwhile business class fares on VA are a fraction of the price of QF (albeit for arguably a lessor product with fewer lounges).

Very interesting...

Very interesting news but this is good news for us Australian consumers

Weird how Qantas partners with both Qatar and Emirates at the same time, and how between them, the alliance partner is their weaker partner. Why and how did they get so close to Emirates in the first place?

Etihad continues to slash their network, and are a shell of their former self. Qatar is far larger in breath of destinations and services than EY at this (and really) any point.

This was only one of two possible options for QR, given the recently extended cooperation of Qantas with Emirates. The other one would have been Rex.

So the question should rather be, why did Qantas select Emirates and not QR as their partner in the Middle East?

Because Emirates practically invaded Australia with seats before the partnership was launched. Back then they had

1. DXB-BKK-SYD-CHC
2. DXB-SIN-MEL
3. DXB-KUL-MEL
4. DXB-MEL-AKL
5. DXB-SYD-AKL
6. DXB-BNE-AKL

Qantas likely thought “if you can’t beat them, join them”

If this is one way of getting the annoying Irishman out of Australia, I'm more for it.

Would it be possible to transfer CapOne points to Virgin Red in order to redeem for Qatar flights?
Not clear about transfer options between Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red.

Perhaps you could also reach out to Cathay - another OW member - for comments on QF vs. VA 😉

No - this article is about Virgin Australia, which is an entirely separate airline from Virgin Atlantic, and whose Velocity scheme has no connection to Virgin Red.

“There definitely seems to be a bit of shade in all of this, as Qatar Airways refers to Virgin Australia as “Australia’s most loved carrier”

I would argue this maybe true currently. Qantas is in a world of pain here in Australia, with bad PR stemming from firing workers in covid, blaming constant delays on ‘passengers not being match fit’, losing luggage or sending planes off without luggage loaded, and now an ‘ABC Four Corners’ exposé on how they are cutting corners with safety and how their staff is completely overwhelmed. Not to mention very, very expensive compared to any other airline flying their routes both domestically and internationally.

VA on the other hand, while they have had their problems, are perceived as a much happier, stable airline after the changes implemented to stave off administration.

Hi Platy.
Not arguing (it is obvious you know what you are talking about) but in what way are Velocity points easier to accrue than QFF points? Am I doing anything wrong?

I wouldn't say Velocity points are easier to accrue than QFF.

However, one major difference is that QFF only has direct-earn credit cards (with one exception - Amex Platinum), whole Velocity allows points transfers from the credit cards rewards points programme of every major Australian bank.

Thanks Rich. That makes sense. I thought there was some magical US-style earning card I wasn't aware of...

Qantas and Qatar are basically "Oneworld" partners by default. They have to provide access to each other's lounges and interline systems by default as part of the Oneworld membership

Not to mention Qatar’s links to the BA Avios program - very flexible for Aus consumers