Virgin Australia’s upcoming long-haul flights to Doha are officially bookable using Aeroplan points.

These flights, set to launch in mid-2025, are part of Virgin’s new partnership with Qatar Airways and mark the airline’s return to international flying after a five-year pause.

But the real excitement?

A chance to experience Qatar Airways’s world-famous Qsuites, arguably one of the best business class cabins in the skies.

The Routes and Schedules

Starting June 2025, Virgin Australia will operate daily flights to Doha from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, with Melbourne joining the lineup in December 2025.

These flights are operated using Qatar Airways’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, providing passengers access to a well-connected hub in Doha and onward connections to over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Here’s a quick look at the flight schedules:

Sydney to Doha

• VA1: Departs Sydney at 2:50 PM, arriving in Doha at 10:50 PM
• VA2: Departs Doha at 9:15 AM, arriving in Sydney at 6:15 AM

Melbourne to Doha

• VA7:  Departs Melbourne at 5:20 PM, arriving in Doha at 11:30 PM
• VA8: Departs Doha at 1:40 AM, arriving in Melbourne at 11:05 PM

Brisbane to Doha

• VA15: Departs Brisbane at 3:10 PM, arriving in Doha at 11:00 PM
• VA16: Departs Doha at 1:40 AM, arriving in Brisbane at 10:45 PM

Perth to Doha

• VA21: Departs Perth at 3:20 PM, arriving in Doha at 9:50 PM
• VA22: Departs Doha at 7:50 PM, arriving in Perth at 11:55 AM

Booking on Aeroplan

Virgin Australia’s new flights are bookable on Aeroplan, making it possible to redeem Aeroplan points for seats. This includes both economy and business class.

Aeroplan redemption rates

• Business class: From Perth to Doha: 80,000 Aeroplan points, from Brisbane and Sydney to Doha: 110,000 Aeroplan points
• Economy class: From Perth to Doha: 50,000 Aeroplan points, from Brisbane and Sydney to Doha: 65,000 Aeroplan points

Example Availability

We’re seeing some availability for these routes in business class for September 22, 2025 and onwards with 4 available seats.

Keep an eye on this exciting opportunity to snag your preferred seats early.

Sydney to Doha covers a distance of 7,687 miles, placing it in the fourth distance band between the Pacific and Atlantic regions on the Aeroplan Reward Chart.

However, if you continue your journey to North America, you’ll enter the fourth distance band between the Pacific and North America. This means Canadians can return home for just an extra 5,000 Aeroplan points—provided you can find the route or call Aeroplan to piece these segments together.

Why the Hype? Flying Qsuites

The highlight of these new flights is the opportunity to fly Qatar Airways’s Qsuites, renowned as one of the best business class experiences in the world. Features include:

• Private Suites: Fully enclosed suites with sliding doors for maximum privacy.
• Lie-Flat Beds: Spacious and comfortable, perfect for long-haul flights.
• Exceptional Dining: Multi-course gourmet meals with fine wine pairings.

If you’re booking business class, checking the seat map is essential to ensure you’re flying in Qsuites. Look for a 1-2-1 layout to confirm the premium experience.

Unfortunately, we haven’t yet been able to figure out how to reliably determine the aircraft type during booking, but rest assured, we’ll update this article as soon as we crack the code.

In fact, we even made a booking to check if seat selection is possible directly through Virgin Australia, only to discover that it requires calling in to complete.

In the meantime, tools like AeroLOPA can help identify seating configurations. You can also join our membership channel to stay updated on the latest news and engage in discussions with like-minded miles and points enthusiasts.

Why This Matters

The addition of Virgin Australia’s Doha flights strengthens the Aeroplan program, providing more options for Canadian travelers looking to connect to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. With the potential for a luxurious Qsuites experience, these flights are a significant upgrade for Aeroplan members.

Moreover, this development challenges competitors like Qantas and Emirates by offering more flexible redemption opportunities and competitive rates. The partnership between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways marks a pivotal moment in expanding global connectivity for Aeroplan members.

If you haven’t already, this is yet another compelling reason to grab an Aeroplan credit card, as it unlocks endless premium redemption opportunities like this one.

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Apply Now Learn More

First-Year Value: $683

• Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points^† upon first purchase^†
• Plus, earn 15,000 Aeroplan points^† upon spending $7,500 in the first 180 days of account opening^†
• Plus, earn an additional 15,000 Aeroplan points^† on renewal when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of account opening^†
• Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points^† on eligible gas, groceries, and Air Canada^® purchases, including Air Canada Vacations^®†
• Preferred Aeroplan pricing and free checked bag on Air Canada^® flights^†
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $139 (rebated for the first year)
• Offer available for applications approved on or after January 7, 2025.

Conclusion

Virgin Australia’s new Doha routes are a game-changer, offering Aeroplan members access to Qatar Airways’s premium network and the chance to experience the best of business class with Qsuites.

Since Aeroplan only allows bookings 355 days in advance, mark your calendars if you’d like to redeem your points for these exciting new routes during Family Day or March Break 2026.

Also, don’t forget to join our community to be the first to hear these exciting updates in the future!