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 24, 2015, 12:06 pm
#196
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 346
How Does It Compare With Emirates F Lounge?
Thank you Gabrca for posting the pictures and how exciting! Glad to finally know what it actually looks like inside, after waiting for so long :-)
I'm very curious how the lounge compares with Emirates First Class Lounge at DXB. Food menu seems to have more variety at EK Lounge, but it doesn't offer any private room like QR does. I'm debating myself whether to try EK or QR F Lounge in coming days (and more inclined to be choosing on basis of meal quality!).
May be TK Business Lounge at IST still higher?
I'm very curious how the lounge compares with Emirates First Class Lounge at DXB. Food menu seems to have more variety at EK Lounge, but it doesn't offer any private room like QR does. I'm debating myself whether to try EK or QR F Lounge in coming days (and more inclined to be choosing on basis of meal quality!).
May be TK Business Lounge at IST still higher?
Oct 24, 2015, 12:11 pm
#197
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
Edit: Lol I thought your post linked to a post predicting that aceboy quits QR for some reason, sorry
Last edited by mpkz; Oct 24, 2015 at 3:48 pm
Oct 24, 2015, 12:13 pm
#198
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
(be sure to,check out his latest KU TR)
Oct 24, 2015, 12:45 pm
#199
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Flickr shows what camera was used, just by clicking a photo, e.g. https://www.flickr.com/photos/137259...7660259569791/ and then scroll down
Thanks for all the trip reports so far, guys. Very informative and I look forward to trying it out next year.
Thanks for all the trip reports so far, guys. Very informative and I look forward to trying it out next year.
Oct 24, 2015, 2:18 pm
#200
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: QR Plat
Posts: 2,435
I'm most dissappointed about the lack of unicorns, and no visible traces of fairy dust.
Now I'm off to see if I can twist one of my bookings to see if I can go unicorn spotting there, just in case the previous posters missed them.
Thanks for the pictures!
-A
Now I'm off to see if I can twist one of my bookings to see if I can go unicorn spotting there, just in case the previous posters missed them.
Thanks for the pictures!
-A
Oct 24, 2015, 3:27 pm
#201
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: BHX
Programs: LH Sen for life; QR Plat; FB Gold; Bonvoy Gold for life
Posts: 370
I think we have to remember that the Al Safwa is an airport lounge. Nothing more, nothing less.................
As members of FT, we are naturally more judgemental of an airline and its offering. Quite simply, we have an interest in the product, and thus we like to criticise. If people kept quiet, FT wouldn't be here! However, FTers are not the majority of flyers nor consumers. And, as such, we sometimes have to temper our opinions.
Looking at the photos already posted, I think the lounge looks very appealing. It offers freshly cooked food (so an improvement on the Al Mourjan), spaces to sleep properly (so an improvement on the Al Mourjan), and countless other areas which may be of benefit to travellers.
Should the walls and flooring be fully marbled? Should there be staff to pamper and preen you? Should the lounge be the best in the world? Well who knows. We can only judge the offering QR have provided, and as a regular (yes, not someone who travels once solely to take photos and winge about the food/drink/lounge etc) in QR F, I think it looks good.
As members of FT, we are naturally more judgemental of an airline and its offering. Quite simply, we have an interest in the product, and thus we like to criticise. If people kept quiet, FT wouldn't be here! However, FTers are not the majority of flyers nor consumers. And, as such, we sometimes have to temper our opinions.
Looking at the photos already posted, I think the lounge looks very appealing. It offers freshly cooked food (so an improvement on the Al Mourjan), spaces to sleep properly (so an improvement on the Al Mourjan), and countless other areas which may be of benefit to travellers.
Should the walls and flooring be fully marbled? Should there be staff to pamper and preen you? Should the lounge be the best in the world? Well who knows. We can only judge the offering QR have provided, and as a regular (yes, not someone who travels once solely to take photos and winge about the food/drink/lounge etc) in QR F, I think it looks good.
Oct 24, 2015, 4:12 pm
#202
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Paris
Posts: 51
I just arrived from CDG in QR F at 23:30 with a friend, we are connecting to KTM at 8:00 am in J and the lady who welcomed us at the arrival gate told us we were not entitled Al Safwa lounge access 
We did not check with the lounge agents because we are granted a free hotel room in Doha, but I must say we are really disappointed !
We did not check with the lounge agents because we are granted a free hotel room in Doha, but I must say we are really disappointed !
Oct 24, 2015, 4:45 pm
#203
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,257
I just arrived from CDG in QR F at 23:30 with a friend, we are connecting to KTM at 8:00 am in J and the lady who welcomed us at the arrival gate told us we were not entitled Al Safwa lounge access We did not check with the lounge agents because we are granted a free hotel room in Doha, but I must say we are really disappointed !
We did not check with the lounge agents because we are granted a free hotel room in Doha, but I must say we are really disappointed !
Oct 24, 2015, 5:06 pm
#204
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Katzz I am afraid that QR are correct. You are not qualified to access Al Safwa.
Your flight is 08.00 not 06.00.
The following link explains it. https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access
"First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa)." Edited to show the clause in bold.
Your flight is 08.00 not 06.00.
The following link explains it. https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access
"First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa)." Edited to show the clause in bold.
Oct 24, 2015, 5:24 pm
#205
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
As one member of this forum has experienced there is a further restriction upon First and Business Class arrivals.
If your scheduled arrival is before 00.00 (Midnight) then your connection must depart before 06.00 the next day. Arrivals at or after midnight may remain in the lounge for a connection before 06.00 the next day. Thus they are effectively are 'not affected' by this rule.
If your scheduled arrival is before 00.00 (Midnight) then your connection must depart before 06.00 the next day. Arrivals at or after midnight may remain in the lounge for a connection before 06.00 the next day. Thus they are effectively are 'not affected' by this rule.
Oct 24, 2015, 5:26 pm
#206
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Looking just at the pictures:
- the design is pretty amazing, but is this place welcoming, friendly & warm? Rather not...
I am flying with QR to MEL in 2 weeks - it would be interesting to see if Al-Safwa opening affected Al-Mourjan.
- the design is pretty amazing, but is this place welcoming, friendly & warm? Rather not...
I am flying with QR to MEL in 2 weeks - it would be interesting to see if Al-Safwa opening affected Al-Mourjan.
Last edited by TPJ; Oct 24, 2015 at 5:34 pm Reason: lounge name corrected
Oct 24, 2015, 6:59 pm
#207
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: QFF, Krisflyer
Posts: 472
Al-Safwa- The Quite Rooms with Beds and Showers looks like a great differentiator from other lounges (especially if you have a long lay over waiting for your next flight). I would like to know though what are the rules for those rooms.
1) How many rooms do they have?
2) If there are 10 rooms and 50 people that want to use them how does that work?
3) How long do you have the room for in hours? Especially if there are a whole lot of people in the lounge that want to use them
4) Hopefully the sheets and showers are cleaned after each use
1) How many rooms do they have?
2) If there are 10 rooms and 50 people that want to use them how does that work?
3) How long do you have the room for in hours? Especially if there are a whole lot of people in the lounge that want to use them
4) Hopefully the sheets and showers are cleaned after each use
Oct 24, 2015, 9:48 pm
#208
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Paris
Posts: 51
An update from the Al Safwa lounge : after a few hours of sleep in our hotel room in Doha, we came back to the airport and went to the Al Safwa lounge entrance, and we were allowed in without questions. Apparently three years was not enough for QR to train their staff and teach them the lounge access rules.
Oct 25, 2015, 12:10 am
#209
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: OZ, Perth
Programs: QF QR Silver, DJ,TG,MH
Posts: 509
Katzz I am afraid that QR are correct. You are not qualified to access Al Safwa.
Your flight is 08.00 not 06.00.
The following link explains it. https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access
"First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa)." Edited to show the clause in bold.
Your flight is 08.00 not 06.00.
The following link explains it. https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access
"First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa)." Edited to show the clause in bold.
Al Safwa is not a Oneworld Lounge. QR make the rules for this lounge.
Oct 25, 2015, 12:56 am
#210
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: QFF, Krisflyer
Posts: 472