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
Dec 3, 2021, 3:47 am
#2221
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South Africa
Programs: QR PC Platinum
Posts: 412
Dec 3, 2021, 8:48 am
#2223
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1,659
Have tried to read everything here in order to answer my question, but am struggling.
Am flying into Doha in on an A class ticket - connecting onto a J class fare, which lounge will I have access to.
I am then flying from Doha on an A class ticket on return, from a J class flight, same question.
Help appreciated.
Am flying into Doha in on an A class ticket - connecting onto a J class fare, which lounge will I have access to.
I am then flying from Doha on an A class ticket on return, from a J class flight, same question.
Help appreciated.
Dec 3, 2021, 4:51 pm
#2224
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,132
Have tried to read everything here in order to answer my question, but am struggling.
Am flying into Doha in on an A class ticket - connecting onto a J class fare, which lounge will I have access to.
I am then flying from Doha on an A class ticket on return, from a J class flight, same question.
Help appreciated.
Am flying into Doha in on an A class ticket - connecting onto a J class fare, which lounge will I have access to.
I am then flying from Doha on an A class ticket on return, from a J class flight, same question.
Help appreciated.
The only exception being if you are on a P-fare, seems the P-fare’s lack of lounge access overrides the A leg’s normal access to AS.
We have been denied admittance to the Al Safwa lounge saying that our fare does not qualify nor does our OneWorld Emerald status allow us to access it. We were taken to the Al Mourjan lounge.
Details:
We have an outbound ticket that is an P fare with an A class on to our final destination. I had checked and understood that A class was entitled to the lounge. However, I was told that the underlying fare is P, thus it is irrelevant that we are flying First onward.
Details:
We have an outbound ticket that is an P fare with an A class on to our final destination. I had checked and understood that A class was entitled to the lounge. However, I was told that the underlying fare is P, thus it is irrelevant that we are flying First onward.
[EDIT]One caveat to note: just saw this post suggests that the situation is temporary, but it could have been said to placate the flyer and again, nothing published, so…
…
Lounge manager said that the inward flight access (F connecting to J) is a temporary arrangement. My read is because of the overcrowding in the business lounge and some of the lounges remaining closed, they put this into place and the policy will revert to whatever it was.
…
Lounge manager said that the inward flight access (F connecting to J) is a temporary arrangement. My read is because of the overcrowding in the business lounge and some of the lounges remaining closed, they put this into place and the policy will revert to whatever it was.
…
Last edited by crackjack; Feb 8, 2022 at 8:19 am
Dec 3, 2021, 4:59 pm
#2225
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,132
That doesn’t necessarily mean such older R fares were also made eligible for buying access to AS post 1 Oct, but might as well try your luck. Do report back!
Last edited by crackjack; Dec 3, 2021 at 5:22 pm Reason: Found the retroactive lounge access policy was effected 1 Oct.
Dec 4, 2021, 6:59 pm
#2228
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 502
The post I quoted above was written in September - R fares were only given access to the Al Mourjan lounge retroactively from 1 Oct (https://www.qatarairways.com/tradepo...eFamilies.html: “Will I get complimentary access if I booked Business Classic (RBD R) prior to 4 September 2021, but am travelling post 1 October 2021? Yes, we will give customers access to the more generous and updated Business Classic attributes and will provide complimentary lounge access.”)
That doesn’t necessarily mean such older R fares were also made eligible for buying access to AS post 1 Oct, but might as well try your luck. Do report back!
That doesn’t necessarily mean such older R fares were also made eligible for buying access to AS post 1 Oct, but might as well try your luck. Do report back!
Dec 6, 2021, 10:27 am
#2229
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 109
I see that F to J connections are now allowed to utilize AS. Great! My question is, how do annual QR guest passes for the lounge work? I have an upcoming flight and was planning to guest a friend into the lounge. Does that mean I can only use AM then? Or can I guest her into AS since I'll have access coming off of my F flight? I'm only QR Silver if that makes a difference. Thanks!
Dec 6, 2021, 10:31 am
#2230
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,493
I see that F to J connections are now allowed to utilize AS. Great! My question is, how do annual QR guest passes for the lounge work? I have an upcoming flight and was planning to guest a friend into the lounge. Does that mean I can only use AM then? Or can I guest her into AS since I'll have access coming off of my F flight? I'm only QR Silver if that makes a difference. Thanks!
Dec 6, 2021, 12:09 pm
#2231
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South Africa
Programs: QR PC Platinum
Posts: 412
Silver guest passes will under normal circumstances allow your guest access to the Business Class Lounge (not AM) when accompanied by you. Given that this lounge is currently closed you and your guest should be allowed into AM.
Dec 7, 2021, 2:20 am
#2232
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Just thought I'd add a data point here. I flew DMM - DOH in F (under an hour flight) and then DOH - FRA in J (6 hr flight) and had AS access with no issues at all. I just handed both my boarding passes and was allowed in.
Dec 7, 2021, 5:06 am
#2233
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 109
Even if I'm in flying in J? That's kind if a bummer (for future uses when all lounges are open). I always fly in J, so I guess that means that if I ever want to use one if my guest passes, I have to "downgrade" myself to the QR Business Class Lounge? Boo!
Dec 9, 2021, 6:16 pm
#2234
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,750
We were not allowed to use Al Safwa on our outbound flight despite our F class seat from Doha to Muscat. We were allowed to use it on the return. Our outbound fare was P. Our return fare was R.
We had a 19 hour layover in Doha. We had initially intended to spend it in Doha but cancelled when the entry requirements just seemed to onerous. Instead, we headed straight to Al Safwa and its bedrooms on arrival. Of the 12 rooms, 4 are doubles leaving 8 as singles. We were fortunate as a double was being cleaned as we arrived. On signing the document for our 6 free hours, we learned we could pay for 6 additional hours at just 450 Qatari riyals or $125 US. We found the room very comfortable with 2 single beds, a desk, two chairs, a TV, and a restroom with toilet, sink, and shower. We decided to pay the money for the additional time and thought this money well spent.
One the room was secured, we were able to come and go, leaving our luggage in the room. We left the room for lunch in Al Safwa. There is a sitdown restaurant with menu. We found the quality somewhat disappointing. Several hours later, we headed to Al Mourjan for their buffet dinner. It offered a number of well prepared Inidian dishes in addition to western dishes. It also had sushi made to order.
We then returned to Al Safwa. We each found a chair with footstool in an individual cubby. Either you sat in an upright position or the chair slammed back into near prone. There was no ability to stop it at intermediate points. The air conditioning was so high that we then moved to a family room. We were able to persuade the attendant to turn the AC down a bit. This was a comfortable place to wait out the rest of our time to boarding.
We found Wifi very weak. The lounge uses the free airport Wifi. We did not stay connected and had to repeatedly log back on.
We had a 19 hour layover in Doha. We had initially intended to spend it in Doha but cancelled when the entry requirements just seemed to onerous. Instead, we headed straight to Al Safwa and its bedrooms on arrival. Of the 12 rooms, 4 are doubles leaving 8 as singles. We were fortunate as a double was being cleaned as we arrived. On signing the document for our 6 free hours, we learned we could pay for 6 additional hours at just 450 Qatari riyals or $125 US. We found the room very comfortable with 2 single beds, a desk, two chairs, a TV, and a restroom with toilet, sink, and shower. We decided to pay the money for the additional time and thought this money well spent.
One the room was secured, we were able to come and go, leaving our luggage in the room. We left the room for lunch in Al Safwa. There is a sitdown restaurant with menu. We found the quality somewhat disappointing. Several hours later, we headed to Al Mourjan for their buffet dinner. It offered a number of well prepared Inidian dishes in addition to western dishes. It also had sushi made to order.
We then returned to Al Safwa. We each found a chair with footstool in an individual cubby. Either you sat in an upright position or the chair slammed back into near prone. There was no ability to stop it at intermediate points. The air conditioning was so high that we then moved to a family room. We were able to persuade the attendant to turn the AC down a bit. This was a comfortable place to wait out the rest of our time to boarding.
We found Wifi very weak. The lounge uses the free airport Wifi. We did not stay connected and had to repeatedly log back on.