Virgin Australia now has ‘the world’s best business class’ (sort of)

Business-class suites with sliding privacy doors, flatbeds, on-demand dining and French designer amenities. Those are just a few of the features Virgin Australia customers can expect as its international business class gets an upgrade, with the launch of new routes with partner airline Qatar Airways.

Virgin business class passengers will have access to Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, named the world’s best business class at this year’s World Airline Awards.

Under the new partnership, which has seen Qatar acquire a 25 per cent stake in Virgin, the Australian carrier will expand its international footprint with 28 new weekly long-haul services to Europe, the Middle East and Africa via Doha.

The new routes begin with a staggered roll-out from June 12 using wet-leased Boeing 777 aircraft from Qatar Airways (“wet lease” means Qatar provides both the aircraft and the crew to Virgin for the flights. A “dry lease” is when only the aircraft is provided). The planes will feature Qatar’s Qsuite business class, named the world’s best at last year’s World Airline Awards.

Virgin and Qatar will commence new international routes from June 12.

Virgin will launch the Qsuite-equipped Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on routes from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in June, with Melbourne following in December.

The Qsuite features lie-flat seats with 79 inches (200 centimetres) of legroom, noise-cancelling headphones, ample storage and power ports, privacy doors and amenities from Diptique.

The new routes will roll out from June 12 using wet-leased Boeing 777 aircraft from Qatar Airways.

Qatar’s service is renowned, and Virgin customers can expect a bespoke style of service, from welcome drinks to by-request meals, snacks and turn-down service.

Screens are enormous at 21.5 inches (55 centimetres) with plenty of new-release movies and shows, and aircraft are equipped with Elon Musk’s satellite-powered Starlink Wi-Fi, soon to be free to Velocity members.

Qsuite converts to a lie-flat bed, with options for couples to remove centre-seat privacy screens.

Menu items can be ordered at any time and meals are multi-course affairs with a choice of Arabic favourites and items like lobster Thermidor and Baeri caviar blinis.

Business passengers after some shut-eye are well catered to with the spacious 55-centimetre-wide flatbeds – which staff dress with padded mattress covers and blankets. Pyjamas are also provided.

Virgin has announced several perks for Velocity members on the new routes, which launch in Sydney on June 12, Brisbane on June 19, Perth on June 26, and Melbourne on December 3. Among them, a $US20 “Dine on Us” voucher for Hamad International Airport venues, available when you add your membership number to flight bookings, free Wi-Fi, free or discounted rates on seat selection, and a family pooling option that lets family in the same household combine points and status credits to fast-track rewards.

Velocity members can request point upgrades from economy flex fares; gold and platinum members from both flex and choice fares.

In the lead-up to the launch, Virgin has tripled the number of reward seats available on flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne to Doha, for travel until February 2026.

What can you get for your points? One-way Perth to Doha Qsuite reward seats start from 89,500, and economy from 42,000 (excluding fees, taxes and carrier charges), according to Virgin Australia. An upgrade from economy to business class might set you back 69,000 points for flex fares, or 99,000 for choice fares.

The writer flew as a guest of Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways. See virginaustralia.com.au