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Abysmal state of Doha lounges for oneworld elites

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Abysmal state of Doha lounges for oneworld elites

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Old Jan 9, 2014 | 11:21 am
  #16  
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Originally Posted by skunker
I didn't say it made sense, just throwing out my thoughts. QR seems to have taken the approach of BA's Concorde Room: Fly first (aka FIRST) on our metal and we will let you in.
I understand your point about Concorde Room, but don't forget that BA has an F lounge (very good, btw) accessible to all OW Emerald, even if they're flying Y.

Apart from the Concorde Room and the F lounge, BA also offers Galleries for C pax and OW Sapphire in T5. So, in fact, BA has 3 lounges for 3 different premium pax. To me, it makes perfect sense.

Oryx is light years behind Galleries, imho.
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Old Jan 9, 2014 | 11:24 am
  #17  
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Originally Posted by skunker
I believe Star Alliance use the Oryx Lounge as well, which probably adds to the crowds.
Star Alliance + SkyTeam + EY in one embarassment of a lounge in DOH.
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Old Jan 11, 2014 | 5:37 am
  #18  
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QR joined OW well after the new DOH airport was due to be opened. Hardly seems sensible investing in massive new lounges in an airport that is due to be closed in the next few months.

As others have pointed out, the business side of the premium terminal is packed during the evening peak, literally, there are no seats. Hardly seems like a good idea to let QR Y pax in and other OW airlines F & J pax.

Regarding alcohol on request, remember this is a Muslim country where not everyone wants to be looking at free flowing booze. DOH is far from the only place where this happens though. VCE does this for example.

Best advice is to put up with it and/or wait for the new airport.
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Old Jan 11, 2014 | 7:26 am
  #19  
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Yup. For the the time being , QR emerald y packs should be disallowed all f lounges in oneworld network. that make sense too. It is only reciprocal.
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Old Jan 11, 2014 | 10:01 pm
  #20  
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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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Old Jan 11, 2014 | 10:11 pm
  #21  
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Originally Posted by mecabq

Qatar Airways seems to have a clear strategy to favor premium-class passengers over elite members, to a greater extent than other carriers.
They probably know they've got a huge opportunity to steal high fare paying premium passengers from AA/BA/CX/QF etc and the other alliances going East and they're not going to ruin it by packing their premium lounges to the rafters with status passengers in Y. Sensible imo as the Premium Terminal is a big draw over other carriers.
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Old Jan 15, 2014 | 5:34 pm
  #22  
 
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Originally Posted by mecabq
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.
Lots of interesting points, and having flown them recently as Emerald I've experience the QR treatment first hand. As for the lounge it's not the worst I've been in but compared to the rest of the airport it was a sanctuary.

The boarding is extremely frustrating - although I did manage to cut the queue and get through to the bus waiting area first it was more or less pointless as you all get on the same bus.

Personally I won't fly QR in Y as Emerald again until they have opened the new airport and I know that things have improved.
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