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Twice now in the past month I've been forced into the Oryx lounge at Doha. First was on my DONE3 ticket that was downgraded to Y for the short haul segment, the second time on BA in J.
Both times this lounge is absolutely terrible. Alcohol by request only. Rubbish selection. Crowded to the gills - I had to wait 10 mins for any pair of seats to open up. All the while the counter staff are terribly rude and yet keen to sell access via day passes to all comers.

This is one of the worst lounge scenarios in a developed-world long haul market. It is extremely irritating that oneworld hasn't forced QR to allow access to their own lounges for oneworld elites. I certainly will avoid QR in economy unless there are no other options due to this.

How is this different to the majority of the AA clubs in the USA? And did they need a tip to serve the booze?

Sounds like the rudeness factor that the OP mentioned might be a difference vis-à-vis AA. Normally, AAngels are quite polite and helpful.

That said, I avoided QR on a recent trip to the UAE as the experience provided by EY was superior.

I believe Star Alliance use the Oryx Lounge as well, which probably adds to the crowds.

Problem is the Premium Terminal doesn't have the capacity to entertain Y travelling elites during the late night/early morning rush hours. They wont be changing anything until the new airport opens.

Shouldn't we all feedback to oneworld??

Is there any channel to feedback to OW in a constructive way? I'm not sure who to contact w/ issues like this.

I don't think it will help much, unfortunately. The lounge access benefits specifically exclude the premium terminal in DOH and the QR premium terminal in LHR to elite access.

I have a feeling QR negotiated this when they joined oneworld. Maybe part of an effort to protect their five-star rating by keeping the "riff-raff" out. Who knows?

I will say you did get screwed though since you would now get first class on those Middle East legs on a DONEx.

CX keeps its 5 star rating by allowing all these "riff-raff" in and keep expanding their lounges and continue to build new ones at HKG- and CX lounge services at its hub is superior to any OW airline at their hub. so much HIGH quality choice.

other OW airlines like QF also have superior individual lounges QF first arguably the best on earth. ( and almost all OW airlines have superior lounges to their domestic/regional competitors)

all accessible to QR

I wonder how these negotiations went- BA must have wanted something..

also if QR wants its 5 star rating maintained they have more than enough money from their government to pay Skytrax.....

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 just noticed that QR will let you use their LHR lounge if you fly J or F on other airlines, not just QR. Has anyone tried to get in? Wait, it is in T4 but most the other OW carriers are in T3. I'm guessing you couldn't just pop in for a visit, right?

There aren't any other OW carriers in T4 though are there?

MH fly out of T4.

That's interesting. Is there an MH lounge at T4 also? Something to keep in mind if I fly either airline out of T4.

Yes, MH has a lounge in T4. Go right is F and left is business. Once inside, it is essentially the same lounge with some partition separating Biz from F (e.g. share same bar). Food and facilities are mediocre. I'd spend time in T3 or T5 (wherever you are transferring from) before going over to T4 to catch MH flight.

Yes, according to oneworld.com MH and QR lounges are next to eachother.

http://www.oneworld.com/documents/10...hrow3_1024.gif