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 27, 2021, 10:31 am
#2176
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: United States
Programs: QR,VS
Posts: 45
I'm wondering if anyone can provide clarity on recent experiences because a conversation with QR contact center didn't help very much....
About a year ago I traveled JFK-DOH-JNB on paid J class and was allowed to pay to enter Al Safwa. Is this policy still in effect? With the exception of upgrades with QCredits or points, can any revenue business class pax pay to get into Al Safwa, subject to capacity?
If anyone has a recent account from the last couple of weeks that would be much appreciated! Thanks
About a year ago I traveled JFK-DOH-JNB on paid J class and was allowed to pay to enter Al Safwa. Is this policy still in effect? With the exception of upgrades with QCredits or points, can any revenue business class pax pay to get into Al Safwa, subject to capacity?
If anyone has a recent account from the last couple of weeks that would be much appreciated! Thanks
Oct 27, 2021, 10:35 pm
#2177
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,132
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33590051-post2132.html
All but P-fares now are eligible.
Oct 28, 2021, 7:53 am
#2178
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: United States
Programs: QR,VS
Posts: 45
Read this same thread up above… people have already noted they paid the QAR600 and gotten in for the allowed ~6 hours.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33590051-post2132.html
All but P-fares now are eligible.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33590051-post2132.html
All but P-fares now are eligible.
Oct 28, 2021, 9:08 am
#2179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,821
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qata...-bookings.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33578428-post1128.html
Oct 28, 2021, 12:03 pm
#2180
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: United States
Programs: QR,VS
Posts: 45
No, P class is the new Business Lite that has replaced the business classic R fares as the no frills business class.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qata...-bookings.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33578428-post1128.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qata...-bookings.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33578428-post1128.html
Nov 3, 2021, 10:58 am
#2182
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
24 hours before departure is the earliest that you could check in at Doha Hamad Airport.
Nov 3, 2021, 11:24 am
#2183
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 138
Thanks. Just seen this is a duplicate question from further up. I wish search was a lot better as I spent a while keying in specific search terms into Google without much useful info!
Nov 5, 2021, 12:52 am
#2184
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Programs: OneWorld Emerald/GHA Discovery Black
Posts: 552
I have searched but can't seem to find an answer (and a circular Twitter DM convesation with QR Support leaves me frustrated and none the wiser). As a Platinum Privilege Club member travelling on a Business Class "COMFORT" (I class fare bucket) ticket, will I get access to the Al Safwa lounge during my transit of DOH? And if so, will I be able to take a guest (also travelling on a Business "COMFORT" fare but a BA GGL (not PC Platinum)? Thanks in advance for any help.
Nov 5, 2021, 2:03 am
#2185
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,493
I have searched but can't seem to find an answer (and a circular Twitter DM convesation with QR Support leaves me frustrated and none the wiser). As a Platinum Privilege Club member travelling on a Business Class "COMFORT" (I class fare bucket) ticket, will I get access to the Al Safwa lounge during my transit of DOH? And if so, will I be able to take a guest (also travelling on a Business "COMFORT" fare but a BA GGL (not PC Platinum)? Thanks in advance for any help.
Nov 5, 2021, 5:05 pm
#2186
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: GRU-CGH
Programs: TP Gold; IB Oro; G3 Diamond; AD Diamond; LA Plat.; HH Diamond; IHG Diam Amb; Marriott Plat.
Posts: 104
Wi-fi speed
[rant on] I am at the AS right now. Trying to work, but internet is pretty slow. Speed was below 500Kb at times. Now it is between 1 and 2 Mb. Still not good. You have to use the free airport wi-fi. Quite disappointing. They checked with IT, and IT apparently said that everything is fine, as it is supposed to be, that speed can vary depending on where you are in the lounge and on how crowded the airport is(!). Not the lounge (which is quite empty), but the airport. I have just flown from DXB, where the wi-fi was at least 10X faster. This is really disappointing. I wish I could just be at the bar drinking the La Grande Dame and relaxing, but I actually need to work and QR does not think that AS needs to have its own wi-fi. [rant off]
Update: they eventually brought over a portable modem. I logged in and was able to use fast internet to finish my work. Then on to a great dinner.
AS is such an amazing, incredible lounge. Huge investment has been made, evidently. So I hope they enhance the wifi situation, which is something basic, and should not require a relevant investment, in the grand context.
Update: they eventually brought over a portable modem. I logged in and was able to use fast internet to finish my work. Then on to a great dinner.
AS is such an amazing, incredible lounge. Huge investment has been made, evidently. So I hope they enhance the wifi situation, which is something basic, and should not require a relevant investment, in the grand context.
Last edited by Blackheath; Nov 6, 2021 at 7:24 pm
Nov 7, 2021, 2:47 am
#2188
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,258
The WiFi has been like this throughout the entire airport basically since it opened, I wouldn't count on it changing any time soon.
Nov 7, 2021, 7:55 am
#2189
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belgrade
Programs: Privilege Club - Platinum
Posts: 162
Here is the current Al Safwa dining menu for anyone interested.
https://pdfhost.io/v/WAjutLHgB_alsafwadiningen
https://pdfhost.io/v/WAjutLHgB_alsafwadiningen
