FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Abysmal state of Doha lounges for oneworld elites
Old Jan 11, 2014 | 10:01 pm
  #20  
mecabq
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
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Originally Posted by BobbySteel
. . .developed-world. . .
Here's one premise that I think you have incorrect.

The Oryx lounge is poor, for sure. (Though it's the same treatment that QR elites in Y have always gotten.) Though it has alcohol, showers, and semi-enclosed cubicles for sleeping -- but I don't think that I have ever seen one available. Horrible food, low-end alcohol selection, and no reading materials besides the local newspaper. The airport wi-fi rarely works and there isn't a separate one for the lounge. And, as you mentioned, the entry is slow (the process seems to be laughably inefficient; they scan your boarding pass, but then also write something on a clipboard and type something into the computer).

Another annoying thing is that they don't really have preferred boarding for elites. They have separate stanchions with oneworld signage, but I have never seen them used. Not that it would matter much anyway given the bus boarding -- but wouldn't it be nice if they had a dedicated bus for elite passengers traveling Y that left first. (I have been left without overhead space many times flying QR narrowbody Y.)

In QR's defense, they expected the new airport to be open by the time they joined oneworld. It will be interesting to see the offerings there; I wouldn't be surprised if they have separate (inferior) lounges for their own and oneworld elites flying Y (and non-elites flying other oneworld (BA/RJ) J) versus dedicated lounges for QR premium-class passengers.

Qatar Airways seems to have a clear strategy to favor premium-class passengers over elite members, to a greater extent than other carriers.
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