Virgin Australia's Qatar Airways Partnership: A Game-Changer for Avios Collectors

The recent announcement of Virgin Australia's partnership with Qatar Airways is particularly exciting news for those of us collecting Avios in the UK. Starting June 2025, Virgin Australia will operate direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to Doha using Qatar Airways' Boeing 777s equipped with their renowned Qsuites - with Melbourne joining later in the year.

This development is significant for several reasons that matter to points collectors:

For those of us who try to book Australia flights using Avios through BA, we know all too well the frustration of seeing award seats vanish within minutes of release. These new routes operated by Virgin Australia, bookable through Qatar Airways, will significantly increase the available award inventory to Australia - one of the most challenging destinations to secure using points.

While searching for Australia award flights can be time-consuming, our Smart Redemptions tool can help you quickly identify routes and pricing options. The addition of these Virgin Australia flights will add valuable new options to consider alongside existing Qantas and British Airways routes.

The use of Qatar's 777s with Qsuites is particularly noteworthy. Having experienced Qsuites myself on several occasions, I can attest that it's one of the finest business class products in the sky. The privacy and comfort they offer make them ideal for these ultra-long-haul routes to Australia. They should even be equipped with Starlink!

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Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how award availability plays out on these new routes. While Virgin Australia isn't part of oneworld, their partnership with Qatar Airways should make these seats bookable using Avios through the QR codeshare.

For anyone planning trips to Australia in 2025 and beyond, I'd recommend:

• Make note of which routes have the most flights so you can plan your journey

• Building your Avios balance now to be ready when seats are released

This partnership represents a significant expansion of options for UK-based travellers, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops. Have you been struggling to find award seats to Australia? Let me know your thoughts on these new routes in the comments below.

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