Premier or Bust - DOH lounge access
Jan 7, 2019, 6:11 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,889
Premier or Bust - DOH lounge access
For some reason my status doesn't appear on my BP from the self-check machines at DOH.
Get to the lounge. Flash my (virtual) BA Gold card. "Your card is Sapphire, please use our business lounge".
There's not much difference between the business and first lounges, but this just annoyed me. Pulled up the BA site. The oneworld site. Showed the lovely green dot. Explained that sapphires are blue* and emeralds are green.
He was having none of it. "Can I see your black BA card, sir?"
I was having a serious attack of the "DYKWCMCI" (do you know what colour my card is). I know there are lounges that only let in Prems. But CCR the DOH lounge definitely ain't. Ho hum.
* I know, mostly blue.
Get to the lounge. Flash my (virtual) BA Gold card. "Your card is Sapphire, please use our business lounge".
There's not much difference between the business and first lounges, but this just annoyed me. Pulled up the BA site. The oneworld site. Showed the lovely green dot. Explained that sapphires are blue* and emeralds are green.
He was having none of it. "Can I see your black BA card, sir?"
I was having a serious attack of the "DYKWCMCI" (do you know what colour my card is). I know there are lounges that only let in Prems. But CCR the DOH lounge definitely ain't. Ho hum.
* I know, mostly blue.
Jan 7, 2019, 6:25 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
@typical - setting aside the matter of pretty colours / tiers, and any confusion regarding these on the part of the lounge agent, I think the refusal itself was correct - assuming, that it is, you were seeking access to the Al Safwa lounge ?
Al Safwa has always been restricted to departing passengers flying in F class only, with Qatar (there are some complex rules pertaining to arriving QR flights too and transit periods)
QR has stressed in the past that they do NOT regard their Al Safwa lounge as a OW facility.
Al Safwa has always been restricted to departing passengers flying in F class only, with Qatar (there are some complex rules pertaining to arriving QR flights too and transit periods)
QR has stressed in the past that they do NOT regard their Al Safwa lounge as a OW facility.
Jan 7, 2019, 6:34 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,242
For some reason my status doesn't appear on my BP from the self-check machines at DOH.
Get to the lounge. Flash my (virtual) BA Gold card. "Your card is Sapphire, please use our business lounge".
There's not much difference between the business and first lounges, but this just annoyed me. Pulled up the BA site. The oneworld site. Showed the lovely green dot. Explained that sapphires are blue* and emeralds are green.
He was having none of it. "Can I see your black BA card, sir?"
I was having a serious attack of the "DYKWCMCI" (do you know what colour my card is). I know there are lounges that only let in Prems. But CCR the DOH lounge definitely ain't. Ho hum.
* I know, mostly blue.
Get to the lounge. Flash my (virtual) BA Gold card. "Your card is Sapphire, please use our business lounge".
There's not much difference between the business and first lounges, but this just annoyed me. Pulled up the BA site. The oneworld site. Showed the lovely green dot. Explained that sapphires are blue* and emeralds are green.
He was having none of it. "Can I see your black BA card, sir?"
I was having a serious attack of the "DYKWCMCI" (do you know what colour my card is). I know there are lounges that only let in Prems. But CCR the DOH lounge definitely ain't. Ho hum.
* I know, mostly blue.
If you went to the Qatar Airways First Class Lounge and the agent denied access the agent was wrong and next time you should politely ask for a supervisor.
I can see that some other Oneworld highest tier level FFP member card are black and in other system Gold is just a Sapphire equivalent. Still you should able to go to the Qatar Airways First Class Lounge without any problem. BA has a black card (Premier) but this is not a Tier Oneworld point of view it's the same as Gold.
Jan 7, 2019, 6:35 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
I wonder when lounge access will go to self-service terminals, less likely to make such mistakes.
Might have been worth pointing out the Emerald symbol on your gold card.
Might have been worth pointing out the Emerald symbol on your gold card.
Last edited by navylad; Jan 7, 2019 at 6:45 am
Jan 7, 2019, 6:36 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
There's also the Oryx First Lounge and Oryx Business lounges which are for status passengers flying QR/BA Economy. Al Mourjan and Al Safwa are as pointed out exclusively for J/F passengers flying BA/QR. I suspect this is what the OP meant.
When you go up the escalator to The Oryx lounges you turn left for Business and right for First. There are a team of boarding pass checkers directing people where to go. I suspect this is where the OP was having issues.
FWIW having been in both, there really is hardly any difference between them. I think the F lounge side has bubbly (not champagne) on request. Neither are a patch on the QR lounges and are often busy and overcrowded. You really aren't missing out on much if you were mis-directed to the wrong part.
When you go up the escalator to The Oryx lounges you turn left for Business and right for First. There are a team of boarding pass checkers directing people where to go. I suspect this is where the OP was having issues.
FWIW having been in both, there really is hardly any difference between them. I think the F lounge side has bubbly (not champagne) on request. Neither are a patch on the QR lounges and are often busy and overcrowded. You really aren't missing out on much if you were mis-directed to the wrong part.
Last edited by 1Aturnleft; Jan 7, 2019 at 6:46 am
Jan 7, 2019, 6:41 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Jan 7, 2019, 6:42 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,889
Yep indeed - I'm not sure they have that branding any more, just marked "Lounges" by the overhead signs, and "Business / First Class Lounge" behind the desks at the top of the escalator.
There's little real difference indeed (and I've taken myself into the J lounge before to sleep when the high-backed couches and 2 recliners in the F lounge were taken), but the First lounge was quiet today while the J lounge looked rather busier.
I am more baffled about why he wanted the Prem card. Apparently there was already a BA Prem in there!
(Also just on QR Y today, as it's work travel. Only get up front for personal travel...)
There's little real difference indeed (and I've taken myself into the J lounge before to sleep when the high-backed couches and 2 recliners in the F lounge were taken), but the First lounge was quiet today while the J lounge looked rather busier.
I am more baffled about why he wanted the Prem card. Apparently there was already a BA Prem in there!
(Also just on QR Y today, as it's work travel. Only get up front for personal travel...)
Jan 7, 2019, 6:54 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,242
Yep indeed - I'm not sure they have that branding any more, just marked "Lounges" by the overhead signs, and "Business / First Class Lounge" behind the desks at the top of the escalator.
There's little real difference indeed (and I've taken myself into the J lounge before to sleep when the high-backed couches and 2 recliners in the F lounge were taken), but the First lounge was quiet today while the J lounge looked rather busier.
I am more baffled about why he wanted the Prem card. Apparently there was already a BA Prem in there!
(Also just on QR Y today, as it's work travel. Only get up front for personal travel...)
There's little real difference indeed (and I've taken myself into the J lounge before to sleep when the high-backed couches and 2 recliners in the F lounge were taken), but the First lounge was quiet today while the J lounge looked rather busier.
I am more baffled about why he wanted the Prem card. Apparently there was already a BA Prem in there!
(Also just on QR Y today, as it's work travel. Only get up front for personal travel...)
Jan 7, 2019, 7:19 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,889
Jan 7, 2019, 7:27 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,432
The ground staff at DOH are notoriously unreliable when it comes to understanding the rules. I've had to challenge them several times at the Oneworld Business/First lounges when they have tried to point me towards the Business lounge. First time it happened the guy was digging his heels in until his colleague next to him pointed out that I should be using the First lounge. The first guy definitely did not have his happy face on when I thanked his colleague 
Jan 7, 2019, 9:30 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
When I have tried to access the OW Emerald/F lounge, the checkers have always said that I am welcome to use it but that the Al Mourjan is better by some distance. And they were correct.
Jan 7, 2019, 10:50 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Oxford
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 378
The rules are very confusing in Doha, and yes there are different rules for different lounges.
You can only use Al Mourjan/Al Safwa is you are travelling on a QR or OW operated and ticketed flight in J/F irespective of status. You can pay for access to both.
The Oryx lounge shouldn’t be confused with the QR First/Business complex at the top of the escalators. This is accessed by lifts opposite the Al Maha lounge.
The QR First/Business lounges are often referred to as the Oneworld lounges, and status applies here as per usual Oneworld rules.
You can only use Al Mourjan/Al Safwa is you are travelling on a QR or OW operated and ticketed flight in J/F irespective of status. You can pay for access to both.
The Oryx lounge shouldn’t be confused with the QR First/Business complex at the top of the escalators. This is accessed by lifts opposite the Al Maha lounge.
The QR First/Business lounges are often referred to as the Oneworld lounges, and status applies here as per usual Oneworld rules.
Jan 7, 2019, 11:00 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,184
I wonder if some of this confusion was caused by the colours/tiers QR use and the agent misunderstood the OneWorld colours.
The QR Platinum (Emerald) card is black and QR Gold is only Sapphire.
It doesn't excuse being denied access, but it's all I can think of.
The QR Platinum (Emerald) card is black and QR Gold is only Sapphire.
It doesn't excuse being denied access, but it's all I can think of.
