keitherson

Look, I get it. Qatar wants a premium lounge, for premium passengers. They want something special for their top-tier customers or Al Baker himself, like BA has the Concorde Room. That's what Al Safwa is for.

But WHY is Al Mourjan still only reserved for business class passengers, and not even their own Privilege Club elite members, let alone oneworld? Even the BA Galleries First has a Champagne bar, a-la-carte dining, and spa services, all for economy Gold fliers and business class passengers. The oneworld lounges at HIA are a complete joke in comparison.

Emirates lets their Platinums (and partners) into their First Class lounge, Etihad lets their Platinums (and partners) into their First Class lounge, regardless of flown class of service.

Why does Qatar continue to do this?

remdk

keitherson QR are very protective of their premium classes. Their attitude appears to be that if someone pays for a J or F seat then they should be treated correspondingly. They do not appear to want to allow J to degenerate into a 'Frequent Flyer Y extension' as several, especially US, airlines appear to be doing.
This is QRs decision whether we like or not.
Why should QR do exactly the same as EK and EY? It is these differences that give variety of choice for the passenger.
Will QR change this policy? I am extremely doubtful if QR have even considered doing so.
Will a discussion here change anything? I think the chances of that are almost non-existent.
I know that many members of the forum hold strong views so please discuss this matter but PLEASE keep a civil tone to the discussion.

ashsong

I believe there is a business class lounge that ECONOMY class passengers with elite status could freely visit.

And I believe there goes the benefit of having elite status, having access to a business class lounge.

I don't really see the problem here.

msm2000uk

The QR Lounge model, is based on ticket cost.

If you pay for a J or F ticket, you have access to a better lounge than someone who buys in Y.

I appreciate there are times when a Y ticket can be more expensive than J, but ticket sales of Fully Flexible Y fares, are low.

Now, personally, I feel QRPC Platinum cardholders should be permitted access to the Al Mourjan. Should OWE? No. However, due to the OneWorld reciprocation terms, QR would have to open the doors to OWE, hence they haven't done this.

There are new lounges coming to HIA, and I am led to believe that QRPC Platinum cardholders will be the biggest winners - and deservedly so.

Once that lounge opens, it will free the HIA First Class Lounge, and that may well be upgraded. The HIA Business Class Lounge will also likely see an improvement.

QR offer their J and F passengers better Lounges and services. Nothing wrong with that in my eyes I'm afraid.

Should be gulf between the HIA First Class Lounge and the Al Mourjan be slightly slimmer, yes.

M

theox

ashsong

As msm2000uk mentions above - there is a 'Business' and 'First' Lounge that elite frequent fliers can use - dependant on status. Unfortunately the difference between these lounges and the 'true' Business (Al M) and First (Al S) is considerable in size/facilities/menus/drinks etc. Hence a lot of unhappy Frequent fliers! But as remdk mentions - this policy shows no sign of change, until the new lounges open perhaps. But... on the plus side - there is champagne on request in the FF First lounge!

tmac100

I am totally in agreement. Civility is important even when emotions may be running high

QR has the right to conduct business as they wish. Similarly, when they charge a LOT more than other airlines charge for round trip flights between A and B, then I also have the right to fly with another airline - but that is a different topic.

The beauty is that a paying customer can choose who they fly with - remembering, of course, that nothing is free

Mr_Ed

Perhaps the question really should be why are the HIA gold and platinum lounges so bad? I suspect the issues around al safwa and al mourjan access would be substantially reduced if the OWE lounges were anything more than the overcrowded, cramped seating sections which they currently are.

capin

Probably going to make myself unpopular here but I support QR in keeping Al Mourjan for business (and first) pax. I only fly J on Qatar so it keeps the lounges nice and quiet.

Phil the Flyer

+1 ^

mr_botak

Absolutely spot on.

justforfun

We have a winner!

FlyingScientist

I have to disagree on this statement, given that I have paid more for the DOH-LHR sector in economy on a return trip to DOH than for the same flight in business on a trip that went further to HKT.

msm2000uk

I do mention in my post, that I appreciate certain Y fares can be more than J - but these are usually for fully flex fares.

M

FlyingScientist

Sorry for jumping at the first statement without reading further...

purple1addict

This ^^^

If the QR FF lounges were actually Business & First class service levels then noone would be complaining about keeping the Al Mourjan and Al Safwa exclusive. Everyone seems perfectly happy with BA Galleries First, which is a good compromise by BA in my opinion. I am looking forward to hearing more about the new lounges (and selfishly I do hope QR Plats will come out as winners!).