Nov 5, 2015, 11:11 am
Last edit by: CPH-Flyer
READ BEFORE COMMENTING IF YOU ARE NEW,
Hamad International Airport (HIA) offers passengers a number of different lounges.
This thread, is specifically for the Al Safwa First Class Lounge. Information on the other Lounge options at HIA, can be found here.
Does Al Safwa have a web page?
Yes: http://www.qatarairways.com/global/e...-al-safwa.page
Dining Menu
https://www.qatarairways.com/content...-dining-en.pdf
Where can I find Al Safwa Lounge?
The Lounge is located on Level 3 of the airport.
Can I use the Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge?
Access is based on your underlying fare bucket. This means that upgraded tickets, maybe except upgrades with QPoints (see post 2735), are not granted access.
Access is thus restricted to Qatar Airways First Class, and OneWorld First Class passengers :
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* for their next flight
- or holding a First Class boarding pass from their previous flight.
Additionally, Privilege Club platinum club travelling on any business-class fare are welcomed into the lounge. This is a facility introduced recently and one that could just as easily disappear.
- Guests are not permitted.
* Operational Upgrades to First do not give access. Upgrades with Qpoints may do give acces (see post 2735 - Sept 2022)
Arrival access on mid and long haul? (eg. coming from LHR in F)
YES
Ex. CAI-DOH-HEL
Arrival access regional F? (eg. coming from CAI in F)
Yes.
Caveat, if your underlying J fare is P, then the no lounge access for business light kicks in. And there is no access.
Privilege Club Platinum members are currently allowed in the lounge when travelling on any QR business-class fare: that could change. Other Oneworld Emerald members are directed to the Platinum lounge(s) when travelling in any class, and the Al Mourjan lounge when travelling on relevant business-class fares. Yup, it gets complicated.
What does the lounge look like?
Reports on the Lounge, can be found here and here. Photographs of the lounge, can be found here.
Is there a Spa?
Yes, there is a full Spa, but you will have to pay for treatments. A full list of treatments available can be found here
What about the sleeping rooms?
Stargold in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28199729-post1177.html suggests that access to sleeping rooms is as follows:
'* No reservations allowed - always first-come first-served
* Only available if the remaining time until the flight departure is more than 4 hours
* Passengers are allowed maximum six hours' usage - for any further usage, a fee of QAR 450 is payable for a second block of six hours.
* No F&B of any kind except bottled water in the sleeping rooms.'
What changes can I expect during Ramadan?
Ramadan affects QR and you in many ways so please look at ramadan to see how you are affected.
Updated: 19/11/2023
Hamad International Airport (HIA) offers passengers a number of different lounges.
This thread, is specifically for the Al Safwa First Class Lounge. Information on the other Lounge options at HIA, can be found here.
Does Al Safwa have a web page?
Yes: http://www.qatarairways.com/global/e...-al-safwa.page
Dining Menu
https://www.qatarairways.com/content...-dining-en.pdf
Where can I find Al Safwa Lounge?
The Lounge is located on Level 3 of the airport.
Can I use the Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge?
Access is based on your underlying fare bucket. This means that upgraded tickets, maybe except upgrades with QPoints (see post 2735), are not granted access.
Access is thus restricted to Qatar Airways First Class, and OneWorld First Class passengers :
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* for their next flight
- or holding a First Class boarding pass from their previous flight.
Additionally, Privilege Club platinum club travelling on any business-class fare are welcomed into the lounge. This is a facility introduced recently and one that could just as easily disappear.
- Guests are not permitted.
* Operational Upgrades to First do not give access. Upgrades with Qpoints may do give acces (see post 2735 - Sept 2022)
Arrival access on mid and long haul? (eg. coming from LHR in F)
YES
Ex. CAI-DOH-HEL
Arrival access regional F? (eg. coming from CAI in F)
Yes.
Caveat, if your underlying J fare is P, then the no lounge access for business light kicks in. And there is no access.
Privilege Club Platinum members are currently allowed in the lounge when travelling on any QR business-class fare: that could change. Other Oneworld Emerald members are directed to the Platinum lounge(s) when travelling in any class, and the Al Mourjan lounge when travelling on relevant business-class fares. Yup, it gets complicated.
What does the lounge look like?
Reports on the Lounge, can be found here and here. Photographs of the lounge, can be found here.
Is there a Spa?
Yes, there is a full Spa, but you will have to pay for treatments. A full list of treatments available can be found here
What about the sleeping rooms?
Stargold in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28199729-post1177.html suggests that access to sleeping rooms is as follows:
'* No reservations allowed - always first-come first-served
* Only available if the remaining time until the flight departure is more than 4 hours
* Passengers are allowed maximum six hours' usage - for any further usage, a fee of QAR 450 is payable for a second block of six hours.
* No F&B of any kind except bottled water in the sleeping rooms.'
What changes can I expect during Ramadan?
Ramadan affects QR and you in many ways so please look at ramadan to see how you are affected.
Updated: 19/11/2023
QR Al Safwa First Class Lounge
Oct 31, 2018, 5:12 pm
#1516
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,254
Allowing all OWEs in is a terrible idea, IMO - it’s not exactly difficult to obtain if you’re flying through DOH. It would change Al Safwa from a peaceful haven to something more like The Pier in Hong Kong, which whilst still beautiful I find has poor service and filthy gents loos these days as there are just so many people in the lounge constantly.
My guess would be allowing paid access upgrade from Al Mourjan to Al Safwa for an extortionate price, like on EK.
My guess would be allowing paid access upgrade from Al Mourjan to Al Safwa for an extortionate price, like on EK.
Oct 31, 2018, 10:40 pm
#1518
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,755
Nov 1, 2018, 1:49 am
#1519
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: QR Gold, BAEC, Marriott Rewards Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,142
Nov 1, 2018, 4:01 am
#1520
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 733
Allowing all OWEs in is a terrible idea, IMO - it’s not exactly difficult to obtain if you’re flying through DOH. It would change Al Safwa from a peaceful haven to something more like The Pier in Hong Kong, which whilst still beautiful I find has poor service and filthy gents loos these days as there are just so many people in the lounge constantly.
My guess would be allowing paid access upgrade from Al Mourjan to Al Safwa for an extortionate price, like on EK.
My guess would be allowing paid access upgrade from Al Mourjan to Al Safwa for an extortionate price, like on EK.
Nov 1, 2018, 4:42 am
#1521
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Frankfurt
Programs: QR Platinum
Posts: 256
Yes, I think the number of additional people should be manageable.
I all the time ask in my flights how many Platinum members are on board - I never got an number higher than 4 till now (eco and business together). On my last flights last week from MUC to DOH there were 2 and from DOH to BKK 4 (again, eco and business together)...
I all the time ask in my flights how many Platinum members are on board - I never got an number higher than 4 till now (eco and business together). On my last flights last week from MUC to DOH there were 2 and from DOH to BKK 4 (again, eco and business together)...
Nov 1, 2018, 5:00 am
#1522
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 733
Nov 1, 2018, 5:10 am
#1523
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,949
I had 2 Plats on my flight to LHR yesterday, and 2 VVIPs.
One was an HE (His Excellency) so understandable, but the other was the person sat next to me - who flies weekly DOH-LHR-DOH and DOH-India-DOH in F and J respectively. He has done so for the past 4 years, and told me he receives service above & beyond Plat.
M
One was an HE (His Excellency) so understandable, but the other was the person sat next to me - who flies weekly DOH-LHR-DOH and DOH-India-DOH in F and J respectively. He has done so for the past 4 years, and told me he receives service above & beyond Plat.
M
Nov 1, 2018, 11:29 am
#1524
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,755
Nov 1, 2018, 11:32 am
#1525
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: qr
Posts: 262
I had 2 Plats on my flight to LHR yesterday, and 2 VVIPs.
One was an HE (His Excellency) so understandable, but the other was the person sat next to me - who flies weekly DOH-LHR-DOH and DOH-India-DOH in F and J respectively. He has done so for the past 4 years, and told me he receives service above & beyond Plat.
M
One was an HE (His Excellency) so understandable, but the other was the person sat next to me - who flies weekly DOH-LHR-DOH and DOH-India-DOH in F and J respectively. He has done so for the past 4 years, and told me he receives service above & beyond Plat.
M
Would be interesting to know the person who flies weekly what enhancements he gets above Plat?
Nov 1, 2018, 1:03 pm
#1526
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,949
M first read of your post I thought you meant the “Chief” was on board then realised you meant a member of the royal family. Would have been an interesting conversation had it been the man - you could have off loaded all our feedback re the PC on him.
Would be interesting to know the person who flies weekly what enhancements he gets above Plat?
The guy I was speaking to, said he is regularly met at the aircraft door by staff and taken into the terminal by car (when on remote stand). At DOH he said he is usually escorted by electric buggy. He told me that he is upgraded to the highest available cabin, but as he usually books it anyway. He has a dedicated QR Manager to communicate with, and that person usually meets him at DOH when he departs.
The crew didnt treat him any better or worse than the rest of us, and he was quite a normal guy.
M
Nov 1, 2018, 4:20 pm
#1527
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,254
Nov 1, 2018, 4:36 pm
#1528
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: qr
Posts: 262
Haha! I presume AAB has something far and above VVIP...albeit it would be unlike him to want to come across as important
The guy I was speaking to, said he is regularly met at the aircraft door by staff and taken into the terminal by car (when on remote stand). At DOH he said he is usually escorted by electric buggy. He told me that he is upgraded to the highest available cabin, but as he usually books it anyway. He has a dedicated QR Manager to communicate with, and that person usually meets him at DOH when he departs.
The crew didnt treat him any better or worse than the rest of us, and he was quite a normal guy.
thats interesting perhaps enhancements to QR ground service is available to a few , and even perhaps access to al Safwa lounge as a plat even if he is only in j class.
Spoken to a few crew who have had the pleasure of flying with AAB - he is a seat 1a VVIP , has hs head in his laptop most of the time and keeps himself to himself , apart from when he is on launch flights then centre of attention as is his will
M
The guy I was speaking to, said he is regularly met at the aircraft door by staff and taken into the terminal by car (when on remote stand). At DOH he said he is usually escorted by electric buggy. He told me that he is upgraded to the highest available cabin, but as he usually books it anyway. He has a dedicated QR Manager to communicate with, and that person usually meets him at DOH when he departs.
The crew didnt treat him any better or worse than the rest of us, and he was quite a normal guy.
thats interesting perhaps enhancements to QR ground service is available to a few , and even perhaps access to al Safwa lounge as a plat even if he is only in j class.
Spoken to a few crew who have had the pleasure of flying with AAB - he is a seat 1a VVIP , has hs head in his laptop most of the time and keeps himself to himself , apart from when he is on launch flights then centre of attention as is his will
M
Nov 1, 2018, 8:51 pm
#1529
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764
Nov 1, 2018, 8:55 pm
#1530
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764
I had 2 Plats on my flight to LHR yesterday, and 2 VVIPs.
One was an HE (His Excellency) so understandable, but the other was the person sat next to me - who flies weekly DOH-LHR-DOH and DOH-India-DOH in F and J respectively. He has done so for the past 4 years, and told me he receives service above & beyond Plat.
M
One was an HE (His Excellency) so understandable, but the other was the person sat next to me - who flies weekly DOH-LHR-DOH and DOH-India-DOH in F and J respectively. He has done so for the past 4 years, and told me he receives service above & beyond Plat.
M