Flying Qsuite: Qatar Airways vs Virgin Australia – what’s the difference?

Virgin Australia’s flights to Doha from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are now up and running, with Melbourne-Doha services launching later in the year. This makes it possible to fly Qatar Airways’ widely renowned Qsuite on a Virgin Australia flight.

But there’s a bit of confusion among travellers. While these flights are badged as Virgin Australia services, they’re ‘wet lease’ sectors operated by Qatar Airways. In essence, Virgin Australia sells them like its own flights – but outsources the actual flying to Qatar Airways. And yet, this is still different to a codeshare… but we won’t get into that!

So, if it’s a Qatar Airways Qsuite on a Qatar Airways plane, with Qatar Airways cabin crew and Qatar Airways pilots, and the flights run to and from Qatar, is there any real difference between these new Virgin Australia wet lease flights and a regular Qatar Airways service?

To find out, I hopped aboard VA1 from Sydney to Doha: one of those new wet lease flights. On the way home, I’ve booked QR988 – a ‘regular’ Qatar Airways service from Doha home to Melbourne. Both flights are on the same type of plane, the Boeing 777-300ER, and I’m in Qsuite Business Class both ways. What’s the difference between the two? Let’s find out.

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Check-in, lounge access and boarding

Prior to VA1 from Sydney Airport, the screens direct me towards row F for check-in. Normally, Virgin Australia uses row K for its own flights, while Qatar resides in row E for Qsuite and other passengers. Here in row F, the marketing screens take on a hybrid design, showing the logos of both Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways. In essence, this already feels different to a normal Qatar Airways flight, and equally, it’s different from a typical Virgin Australia international flight as well. So far so good.

Having said that, Virgin Australia’s usual reservations system doesn’t quite sync up with what’s used at the airport. I’ve added my Velocity number to the booking through Virgin Australia’s website before travel day. But it’s not visible to airport staff, who have to manually re-add the number. This is going to get frustrating for frequent flyers, and fast.

Lounge access in Sydney

As for lounge access, this is the biggest point of difference between a typical Qatar Airways flight and a Virgin Australia wet lease – both in Qsuite, and for status flyers in Economy. Here’s the difference when departing Sydney Airport.

• Virgin Australia wet lease (VA1): Passengers may only use the Air New Zealand lounge. This is available to Business Class ticket holders. It’s also accessible to those with Gold or Platinum status with Velocity and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
• Qatar Airways prime flight (QR909): These same travellers can again access the Air New Zealand lounge. But as this is a oneworld Alliance flight, not a Virgin Australia flight, the oneworld lounge privileges also apply. This means Business Class passengers can choose to enter the Qantas International Business Lounge in Sydney, if they so wish. The same is true of Privilege Club Gold members flying Economy, along with other oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers such as Qantas Gold. In fact, those with Privilege Club Platinum status – and other oneworld Emerald members, including Qantas Platinum – could even visit the Qantas International First Lounge. This isn’t possible when travelling on the Virgin Australia wet lease services, even if booked on a QR codeshare.

Lounge access in Doha

In Doha, Qatar Airways’ lounge access rules are already a little complicated. But at least, for the most part, the Virgin Australia wet lease flights don’t change things too much for Qatar Qsuite flyers and status holders. Rather than listing the complex rules for each lounge, which we’ve done previously, here’s an outline of what’s different:

• Qatar Airways prime flight (e.g. QR988): Lounge access is available using oneworld partner status. For instance, Qantas Gold or Platinum membership.
• Virgin Australia wet lease (e.g. VA2): Like QR flight numbers, travellers can access lounges via Velocity or Privilege Club status, or when flying Business Class. But lounge access isn’t available using other oneworld status. Also, access to Qatar Airways’ full arrivals lounge is not permitted after landing in Doha on a wet lease flight. Business Class guests can still use the premium immigration room with light refreshments, but not the full arrivals lounge with showers and dining (located after immigration).

In short, if you’re flying Business Class from Doha, you’ll have access to the Al Mourjan lounges. This applies whether you’re booked on a Virgin Australia wet lease or a regular Qatar Airways Qsuite flight (on eligible fares).

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite on Virgin Australia’s flights

By now, you’re probably thinking that the Qsuite experience for Virgin’s wet lease passengers is quite different from what happens on a typical Qatar Airways flight. But once you’re past the few technicalities on check-in and lounge access, everything else is much the same.

The plane at the gate is painted ‘Qatar Airways’. The cabin, as you board, is branded ‘Qatar’. The seat… is exactly what you’ll get on any Qatar Airways Qsuite flight. While this may be a Virgin Australia wet lease, on board, there is physically no difference.

I chuckle at one of the announcements during boarding. “Welcome aboard this Virgin Australia flight, operated by Qatar Airways: a member of the oneworld Alliance.” Of course, these Virgin Australia wet lease services aren’t actual oneworld flights. This means you can’t earn rewards with most oneworld frequent flyer programs, either. While it’s technically a true statement, perhaps, this part of the welcome message could be tweaked for Virgin Australia’s benefit.

Inflight service on Virgin Australia’s Qsuite flights

With the Qsuite identical between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways flights, perhaps, the inflight service might be different? The answer … kind of, but not really.

There’s a point of difference at the start, where the inflight menu has the Virgin Australia logo alongside Qatar’s logo. But, that’s it. The actual menu options, wine list and service flow are an exact mirror of the usual Qatar Airways flights to and from Australia. There isn’t a special dish, there isn’t a custom cocktail or mocktail… this is a Qatar Airways service, through and through. Even the napkins with the nuts and cocktails are solely Qatar-branded.

This has some upsides, though. Travellers wouldn’t usually associate caviar with Virgin Australia’s usual positioning as a value carrier. But on flights from Doha to Sydney – and into Melbourne, from later this year – caviar is on the menu. This is available on the VA2 service into Sydney, as well as all of Qatar’s own flights into Sydney and Melbourne.

To celebrate the launch of the flights, there are a few new dishes on the menus from Australia by *** of Woodcut. But these are served across both the Virgin Australia wet lease and Qatar Airways prime flights.

As for the rest of the experience, the pyjamas are solely Qatar Airways-branded. The inflight entertainment screen also bears only the Qatar Airways logo, along with the oneworld orb. By comparison, on Qantas’ wet lease flights operated by Finnair, the inflight entertainment screen shows Qantas content, the pyjamas are the kangaroo kind, and the bedding is also supplied by Qantas. Virgin Australia’s wet lease flights, on the other hand, bear no practical difference to the usual Qatar Airways service on the same route.

Summing up

Virgin Australia’s new wet lease services bring additional options when travelling to Doha and connecting beyond. But there’s little that makes these true ‘Virgin Australia’ flights. Beyond the frequent flyer technicalities and the Virgin Australia logo popping up at check-in and on the menu, the experience is just like a Qatar Airways flight.

For passengers in Business Class, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Qatar’s Qsuite experience is highly regarded. Being able to fly Qsuite as a Virgin Australia passenger makes the proposition highly competitive. When the offering is already strong, why mess with a good thing? Well, for a couple of reasons.

On board, the feeling is that you’re just flying Qatar Airways. But with a little more complication around the setup. Sure, there’s a Virgin logo on the menu. But a Virgin Australia pair of pyjamas would add just a little bit of Virgin flair. Ditto, a Virgin Australia amenity kit, rather than the usual (and frankly, boring black) Qatar Airways bags.

As for use of Qatar’s arrivals lounge in Doha? To be honest, I’m not fussed. The Virgin Australia flight from Sydney gets into Doha just before midnight. After a 14-hour journey from Australia, a lounge is the last thing I’m interested in. At that time, get me to my hotel and to bed, quick smart!

At least, the automated passport gates at Hamad International Airport work for Virgin Australia passengers, and did from day one. You can be sure I checked! (Aussie passport holders can use the e-Gates if they’ve visited Qatar previously on the same passport). When you’re trying to get to sleep and adjust to a different time zone, it’s pleasing when things like that just work.

Also read

• Review: Virgin Australia wet lease Qsuite Business Class (Sydney – Doha)
• Virgin Australia takes off to Doha with Qatar Airways wet lease
• On board Qantas’ Finnair wet lease flights: the shell seat that “doesn’t recline”

Featured image courtesy of Qatar Airways. Chris Chamberlin travelled as a guest of Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways.

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