Qatar status match delivers Platinum, Gold to Virgin Australia flyers
Qatar Airways is now bestowing the fruits of its recent status match promo onto Virgin Australia frequent flyers.
By David Flynn, June 8 2020
It's been a good weekend for many Virgin Australia frequent flyers who applied for last month's status match with Qatar Airways, with emails bestowing Platinum or Gold status in the airline's Privilege Club now hitting inboxes.
Many Executive Traveller readers are reporting a successful match against their own Virgin Australia Velocity status, despite the offer seemingly being withdrawn a day ahead of its publicised May 21 timeframe.
That Qatar Airways Privilege Club status may well come in handy for domestic Qantas flights as of July, when the airline begins to reopen its Qantas Club and Qantas Business lounges – which will admit QRPC Gold and Platinum members due to Qatar and Qantas both being members of the Oneworld alliance.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club status unlocks access to domestic Qantas Clubs and Qantas Business lounges.
The rare chance to obtain Qatar Airways status was also extended to a handful of the Gulf carrier's heavy-hitting global competitors – Emirates, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines – and Executive Traveller understands the promotion proved popular beyond all expectation.
Here's how the Qatar Airways Privilege Club status match tiers lined up against their equivalents for Virgin Australia Velocity, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.
| QRPC Silver | QRPC Gold | QPRC Platinum | |
| Virgin Australia | Velocity Silver | Velocity Gold | Velocity Platinum |
| Emirates | Skywards Silver | Skywards Gold | Skywards Platinum |
| Etihad Airways | Guest Silver | Guest Gold | Guest Platinum |
| Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer Elite Silver | KrisFlyer Elite Gold | PPS Club |
| Turkish Airlines | Miles&Smiles Classic Plus | Miles&Smiles Elite | Miles&Smiles Elite Plus |
How to keep your Qatar & Oneworld status for the next two years
Most newly-minted Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinums and Golds will find their status lasts through to the middle of 2021, by which time international flying in some form is expected to be back on the menu.
And keeping that shiny card through to the middle of 2022 will be made much easier than usual, too.
Status match recipients need to earn only half as many Qpoints – the airline's 'status currency' – during the 12 months of their complimentary gratis status period to retain their Privilege Club tier status for the next 12 months:
- To retain Qatar Airways Privilege Club Silver – earn 68 Qpoints (usually 135)
- To retain Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold – 135 Qpoints (usually 270)
- To retain Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum – earn 270 Qpoints (usually 540)
In general, the more you spend on your ticket, the more Qpoints you’ll earn. This applies to both the class of travel you book and the distance you fly.
As a yardstick, a return Sydney-London business class booking will net you between 170 Qpoints and 272 Qpoints depending on the type of fare selected (from Business Saver to Business Flexi) – so that one trip will lock in another year of Gold all on its own, and could get you within easy reach of Platinum.
However, only 20% of the Qpoints target needs to be earned on Qatar Airways flights – the remainder can be collected when travelling with other Oneworld member airlines, including Qantas, although domestic Qantas flights only count for Qpoints if they're part of an international Qantas or Qatar Airways flight on the same ticket.
Alternatively, you could take "four sectors" on Qatar Airways flights, but that's do-able with a return flight between Australia and any other Qatar Airways destination apart from its Doha hub: for example, that Sydney-London return trip counts as four sectors, as Sydney-Doha and Doha-London are individual sectors.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 171
Now I have my OW Emerald card I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to plan my travel. In general I do one or two business class flights to Europe per year. But I also do a lot of domestic and international short haul flight with the familly, the VA lounges have been a god send to have us and the 3 kids in.
09 Aug 2015
Total posts 106
As the article states you HAVE to do four QR sectors, so in terms of 'how to plan your travel' that's got to be Step 1 if you want to keep your QR Platinum OW Emerald status for another year. And also as the article shows even one of those flights will get you 150 Qpoints on the cheapest fare which is more than halfway to retaining Platinum. So two trips will lock down your Platinum Emerald status even at the cheapest fare.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Jul 2018
Total posts 19
Got the confirmation email last night that I'm now Oneworld Emerald. Happy days!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
08 Jun 2020
Total posts 1
It's worth noting domestic QF sectors that don't connect to an international flight aren't eligible for Qmiles/Qpoints, as per https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/our-partners.QANTAS.html#undefined
Accrual on Qantas domestic flights are only eligible when they are in conjunction with an international flight marketed by either Qantas or Qatar Airways on the same ticket.
10 Sep 2019
Total posts 3
Correct. This is the bit that I don't understand about alliances. Qantas punishes you with less points/status credits for flying on a non QF ticket (but still within OW), Qatar goes one further here.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2017
Total posts 25
I'm not sure Qantas is punishing you for flying on a non-QF ticket, but rather incentivising you to fly with them.
04 Aug 2018
Total posts 6
Has anyone else still not received yet?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
25 Jul 2013
Total posts 70
+1
(me also)
Qantas
31 Oct 2013
Total posts 12
Have not received a confirmation yet, after receiving their acknowledgement of receiving application.
I am VA Platinum and have done a Qantas US business class trip (Plus first internal) and a VA Premium Economy to China in the last 6 months.
Hope this gets me over the line!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jun 2020
Total posts 1
I only received confirmation that it had been received and was being processed on Monday (8th June), even though I submitted it back when it was open, demand may have exceeded their resourcing levels!
09 Aug 2015
Total posts 106
I got mine, Velocity Platinum matched to QR Platinum and Oneworld Emerald.
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 224
Woke up to email this morning, matched my SQ Gold to QR Gold. Will definitely be booking QR for a European trip next year instead of the usual SQ, as this gives me a chance to try Qsuites business class and also keep QR Gold to 2022.
Aegean Airlines - Miles & Bonus
15 Jun 2016
Total posts 21
I could not find a Velocity activity statement that also displayed my membership number and status. Is screenshotting the statement sufficient, or is there another place I can look for the statements with those other details visible?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 758
Yanni, I've just sent you a Private Message (or 'PM') through this web site's internal email system between registered readers. Hopefully it helps?
09 Jun 2020
Total posts 1
Boeing-Tragic, I have the same problem as Yanni - can you please help?
Thanks
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jun 2016
Total posts 16
As do I. Any pointers as screenshots only show my initials and status??
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 758
OK, only because a few ppl have now asked, here's what worked, successfully for me (sent May 20th, acknowledged on June 4th, granted on June 8th). I too couldn't get a decent/thorough screen print, and I didn't want to wait weeks/months for a statement.
Objective: Give the decision maker as much information in a concise way to make their job easier = positive outcome.
1) Get a good quality pic of both your VFF membership card and drivers licence next to each other; and
2) Get a screen print of your last six (6) months travel record showing all airfares and other 'channels' used to accumulate Status Credits; and
3) Highlight those flights made with purchased airfares that you also have saved a PDF copy of the tax invoice showing your name, VFF number, VFF Status, etc. (which can be matched to drivers licence and VFF card to verify it was you); and
4) attach 3-4 tax invoices for those purchased flights made on which you earned the highest SC in that 6 month period (IMPORTANT: offer to send more tax invoices for any other flights they select and ask for in writing); then
5) Go to the Qatar website and register as a regular QMiles member of the Privilege Club to get the basic, Burgundy membership card (they send it to you within minutes as a ".png" file attachment; and
5) Assuming you have some basic skills with Adobe/Nitro Pro, etc., assemble all of the above into a single PDF file and email your polite request to [email protected], quoting your Burgundy QMiles membership number and your VFF membership number, requesting a status match upgrade*; and
6) remember when closing to invite the reader to call or email you if they need any further information to help grant your request; AND
6) MOST IMPORTANTLY, start your email *message by mentioning that you learnt of QATAR's Status Match offer on David's website (Executive Traveller) and include a hyperlink to that original article (https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/status-match-gives-qantas-perks-to-virgin-australia-frequent-flyers).
This may seem like 'over kill', that's because it is. It's intended to give the reader (or his/her supervisor) all of the information so as to make their decision EASY.
It worked for me, hope it does for you also.
Cheers !!
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 325
I received mine today and am looking forward to flying them to US at the end of the year.
15 Mar 2011
Total posts 19
Does anyone know if matched platinum will be a soft landing to Gold?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 758
VFF Platinum is being matched by Qatar Privilege Club with Platinum.
26 Mar 2020
Total posts 5
Thanks for publishing this offer - my email came through last night, VA Platinum matched to Qatar Platinum/OneWorld Emerald. I had to cancel a work trip to Europe in the Qsuites back in January so will be re-booking it for 2021 to try it out and hopefully keep Emerald until 2022.
08 Jun 2020
Total posts 2
I got matched to Plat from VA Plat. My question is about the retention for next year. My account says I need 540 to retain but above it says we only need half.
Can someone else check to see what their account says?
Thanks
FF
26 Mar 2020
Total posts 5
Mine is the same - 540.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 758
Mine also says 540.
08 Jun 2020
Total posts 2
I guess we wait until next year to see if it is really only 300.
Thanks for checking
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1002
Mine says 540 as well to retain, I was hoping the 540 refers to P1? But I was Wrong
10 Jun 2020
Total posts 1
Mine shows 540 as well. Not 300. Possible to clarify?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Sep 2018
Total posts 153
Velocity Gold succesfully matched with Qatar Gold! Wasn't expecting it but nice!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 758
Hi David, just got confirmation late this afternoon that my VFF status was matched by Qatar Miles Privilege Club. Quite a nice surprise, and thanks for 'going in to bat for us' (ET readers) following the early close.
24 Feb 2012
Total posts 58
Mine came through this afternoon! You beauty!
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
09 Dec 2015
Total posts 8
My SQ PPS only matched me to QR Gold no platinum
08 May 2020
Total posts 84
yes it is great news getting the QR Platinum, I need to find out now what happens with Singapore Airline / Virgin Aust. 2 Relationship as I may have to cancel my existing booking with the SIA Flight in August getting delayed due to the Corona , if I don't get the Velocity benefits anymore with SIA and rebook with Qatar.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
04 Apr 2018
Total posts 11
I received a request from Qatar to provide a statement with full contact details on it, but Virgin doesn't seem to do that. They obviously didn't accept my screengrabs. How did other VA FF's provide flight history to Qatar?
08 Dec 2019
Total posts 4
My wife and I both VA Plat, matched us both to Plat. I got the email advising match, my wife didn't. Logged into her account it showed plat, worth checking if you don't get the email response.
15 Dec 2017
Total posts 10
Hi, I got matched to my velocity gold. So when travelling on Qantas domestic, do I quote my Qatar membership number instead of Qantas FF number to get the benefits?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 169
Now that I am newly minted OW Emerald courtesy of this, I will need to have my Qatar Airways FF # on any Qantas domestic bookings I have to access the domestic business lounge while traveling economy. Could I then change the FF# on my booking to my Qantas # after accessing the lounge to earn Qantas points? Will QF even allow this?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Jul 2018
Total posts 19
Maybe a good article from ET now woud be titled: "So yo got your Qatar status match. Now what?"
03 May 2013
Total posts 679
Good for velocity members to be able to experience a 'real' lounge now.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 May 2017
Total posts 10
I sent the docs on the 18 May, have not received any response and have since followed up with email twice and have hear absolutely nothing from them.
Is anyone else in the same boat?
09 Jun 2020
Total posts 1
Im the same as you - sent docs in but havnt had any response at all, not even a confirmation of my email.
I've emailed in 4 times following up, and submitted requests to contact centre but nothing.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
30 Oct 2015
Total posts 61
Nother here either....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 171
I got my OWE but wife, VA gold, still waiting
Qantas
31 Oct 2013
Total posts 12
Just got confirmation email of my VA Platinum has been matched to Qatar Platinum and Oneworld Emerald.
Was getting worried but just think they are getting swamped by the requests.
Thanks ET for making us all aware of this offer.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Mar 2020
Total posts 24
my plat came through this evening and junior CorporateFlyer70 got gold, even though her VA gold was largely as a result of generous family gifting...
03 Mar 2019
Total posts 4
My platinum match came through today. Plan is to switch flighting to QF. This this should sort me out untill I can build up the QF status level. Now what's the best way to do this?
A new guide on how to maximize the new OneWorld status.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 171
I hope the ET team are putting together a guide on switching to QF too
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 May 2018
Total posts 3
Also received QR platinum this week as I am VA platinum. No issues or questions back at all for paper statement etc, though I had sent a nicely written email anyways as someone suggested above
I read on Flyertalk from QR representative that the opportunity of this status match apparently was hugely popular so that can explain long waiting times.
Now the only thing remaining is the mysterious 540 qpoints instead advertised 300. 540 is a bit too much and that would make Qatar lose all their matched members again I believe, as probably realistically Ozzies can't fly much internationally this year ...
21 Jun 2020
Total posts 3
Hi all, can confirm it's 300 even though your profile says 540. I wrote to them and ensured I got it in writing back. David, your article says 270, where is this figure from? 270 would mean 2x Business returns SYD-DOH-LHR (netting 272 points), which I could see as achievable. But at 300, with needing to accumulate an extra 28 during covid times, I don't think I can be bothered!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 May 2019
Total posts 4
Better late than never, received my Qatar Platinum status match last night, happy days. Would be nice if Qantas would also match VA
08 May 2020
Total posts 84
it is all a Gimmi if the Australian Borders remain closed for another 6 months. I have received the Qatar Platinum some time ago but it is impossible to even guess a date to book e/g a trip to Europe let alone ,making a decision to fly with Singapore Air with whom i have several thousand $ in credit and getting status points for Virgin or I fly with Qatar with trying to keep the Platinum colour. I know at this stage it will be impossible to get enough Status points for both.
16 Dec 2016
Total posts 19
Dear All,
I am confused. The article says you need 50% of the points to retain. Qatar says the same. Yet, the article says that it equals 270 points and Qatar says 300 points.
30 Qpoints is a big difference! I'll make 270, but not 300. If it's a 50% off deal, shouldn't it be 270 points noting that on Qatar's website, it states you normally need 540 to retain?
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