Qatar Airways is bringing back its fifth-freedom Adelaide to Auckland flights as part of a wider relaunch of its Doha to Adelaide to Auckland route. Operating in lieu of a non-stop Doha-Auckland flight, the one-stop route comes as Qatar Airways steadily regrows its international network since the war in the Middle East
Flights will resume for three months, from mid-June to September 2026. Operated by the Boeing 777-300ER, you can experience Qatar Airways’ popular Qsuites on the four-hour hop to Auckland.
How to book this flight with points
There are two main ways for Australian-based readers to book this route with points. The easiest is with Virgin Australia’s Velocity Points. For greater savings, you could also consider Qatar Airways Privilege Club. You’ll find that most days have two reward seats available when you choose to fly Business Class.
That’s up to four hours of relaxation in an enclosed suite with food and drinks on demand – possibly with a loved one in the combined ‘double suite’.
For 17,500 Avios, you can fly Economy from Adelaide to Auckland. Otherwise, for 35,000 Avios points, you can fly in Business class to Auckland through Qatar Airways Qsuites. Fees and taxes are just over A$450, per person and each way.
If you’re a Virgin Velocity member, you can fly this route for 22,000 Velocity Points +A $244 in Economy, though a cash fare is looking like a better deal. Otherwise, if you choose to indulge in Business class, it’ll set you back 44,000 points + A$425 per person.
Summing Up
With Qatar and Virgin Australia scheduling limited flights to and from Doha, the Adelaide-Auckland route is a great way for frequent flyers to sample Qsuites on a route that’s close to home. Flights are scheduled between 16 June and 14 September 2026, with plenty of reward seats available.
American Express Velocity Platinum
Offer ends: 30 Apr 2026
- Bonus points
- Up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points¹
- Annual fee
- $440 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Velocity Points earned per $1 on all eligible spend except for government bodies⁵. 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on selected Virgin Australia purchases⁵. 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 on Government spend⁵
American Express Velocity Platinum
Offer ends: 30 Apr 2026
- Bonus Points
- Up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points¹
- Annual Fee
- $440 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Velocity Points earned per $1 on all eligible spend except for government bodies⁵. 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent on selected Virgin Australia purchases⁵. 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 on Government spend⁵
Earn up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points¹. That’s 70,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online by 30 April 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Velocity Platinum Card within the first 3 months. Plus, an additional 30,000 bonus Velocity Points when you spend a min of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card fee.
