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 23, 2015, 4:38 pm
#151
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Oct 23, 2015, 4:59 pm
#155
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
The bedrooms look like they are out of a motel. The shower rooms are identical to Al-Mourjan. You have to pay for using the Spa...
But sorry, I didn't know we weren't allowed to have views on this forum. As you can see in my post, I said it doesn't SEEM that great. I didn't say IT ISN'T that great. From the photos it doesn't SEEM to be that great.
Last edited by HB7; Oct 23, 2015 at 5:03 pm Reason: Accidentally spelt a word incorrectly.
Oct 23, 2015, 5:01 pm
#156
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Oct 23, 2015, 5:11 pm
#157
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Oct 23, 2015, 5:42 pm
#158
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
Definition of seem in English:
verb
1. Give the impression of being something or having a particular quality.
From my understanding of English one can have an impression of something from being there in person, I just assumed that a frequent traveller will be more savvy than making judgements from a few low resolution cell phone photos so thought you might have passed through. Anyways, just my humble views which I will not bore FT with.
Now if we may, lets get back on topic ^
Oct 23, 2015, 6:18 pm
#159
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Thank you for the advice. The definition of 'seem' from the Oxford English dictionary:
Definition of seem in English:
verb
1. Give the impression of being something or having a particular quality.
From my understanding of English one can have an impression of something from being there in person
Definition of seem in English:
verb
1. Give the impression of being something or having a particular quality.
From my understanding of English one can have an impression of something from being there in person
Further, by the definition that you have provided - "Give the impression" - this is clearly not a definitive opinion - it is a first opinion based on the photos provided. I don't recall anywhere where I have stated that it is definitely not of high quality.
As I'm sure you have seen on this thread, many here were anticipating photos to form some sort of opinion on the lounge. If anyone's opinion is not valid unless they actually visit the lounge in person - what is the point of anyone posting any photos or statements about the lounge, its quality, facilities or amenities?
I for one completely agree that you can't form a full, well informed, definitive opinion on the lounge unless you visit. However people can give their initial thoughts purely on photos - IMO - without having smart-a$$ comments to deal with.
So I'm not sure if you like to throw sarcastic unneccessary comments around or you need a better grasp of the English language.
Oct 23, 2015, 6:29 pm
#161
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
The airport, as stated by the QR chief in early 2012 was supposed to open in December 2012. So this lounge, is basically 7 weeks short of being open 3 years later than it was scheduled to.
Do you work for QR?
Oct 23, 2015, 6:34 pm
#162
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 842
I guess you will classify me in this category from a previous thread of yours.
Mods please feel free to delete at will, my posts have gone off topic.
Last edited by N1Rotate; Oct 23, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Oct 23, 2015, 7:21 pm
#163
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: El Gouna , Hurghada (HRG)
Programs: BAEC:Silver ,IHG:Spire Amb ,QR:Silver,HH:Diamond
Posts: 374
Your alliances show your loyalty .I think you've waited for years for this response ...with no experience of the new lounge .As most QR customers have not as yet had the pleasure either you respectfully have no comment to make ...
Last edited by crombiestone; Oct 23, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Oct 23, 2015, 8:17 pm
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,093
Based on the pictures and some of the comments so far such as Spa possibly being a paid only service, at first glance, this lounge seems underwhelming. In particular, I will note that the lunch menu is o.k. but does not appear to be much better than what Concorde room offers. I guess my expectation was a little inflated. The lounge certainly looks nice though, I am just not wow by it. I will reserve my final judgement when I actually visit very shortly.