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
Jan 7, 2022, 5:57 am
#2266
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: Skywards Plat, Qatar Gold
Posts: 40
No option to buy it for 600 either? I am QR Gold (through status match)
Jan 9, 2022, 6:50 pm
#2270
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 540
Jan 9, 2022, 11:21 pm
#2272
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: BAEC GGL
Posts: 36
@BavarianFlyer. Yes, if you are ticketed in first class on any oneworld airline, then you can visit Al-Safwa. This is based on prior experience where flying BA in F granted you access.
Jan 10, 2022, 10:10 am
#2273
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LONDON
Programs: CX DM, BA G4L, QR PLT, EK PLT, Hyatt CourtesyC, HH DM, SQ PPS, BonvoyTit, UK, VS, UA, DL, AA
Posts: 1,715
Jan 11, 2022, 5:35 am
#2274
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: QR Platinum, HH Diamond, FB Gold
Posts: 32
The rules for the lounge are crazy, can't wrap my head around it.
Do I get access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge as a Qatar Platinum flying on a Business class award ticket issued by BA on QR Metal?
According to the Qatar Platinum contact center, the ticket has to be marketed and operated by Qatar. Can someone clarify on this, help is much appreciated.
Do I get access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge as a Qatar Platinum flying on a Business class award ticket issued by BA on QR Metal?
According to the Qatar Platinum contact center, the ticket has to be marketed and operated by Qatar. Can someone clarify on this, help is much appreciated.
Jan 11, 2022, 8:21 am
#2275
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The rules for the lounge are crazy, can't wrap my head around it.
Do I get access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge as a Qatar Platinum flying on a Business class award ticket issued by BA on QR Metal?
According to the Qatar Platinum contact center, the ticket has to be marketed and operated by Qatar. Can someone clarify on this, help is much appreciated.
Do I get access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge as a Qatar Platinum flying on a Business class award ticket issued by BA on QR Metal?
According to the Qatar Platinum contact center, the ticket has to be marketed and operated by Qatar. Can someone clarify on this, help is much appreciated.
The rules are crazy-complicated. But this is Qatar Airways, and as a bonus the rules can switch on a pin.
What matters is the rules, and how they are interpreted on the day.
The interpretation of current rules by the folk servicing the needs of the airline's elite appear to be that it's a no go for you. Learned voices on the internet may disagree with that, but those opinions count for little at Al Safwa's reception desk: the agents there are probably used to tears, pleading, outrage and the waving of print-outs.
so probably it's best to steel yourself to the spartan pleasure of one of the world's nicest business lounges: maybe a tad over-crowded, but still fine. A diversion to al Safwa will then be a lovely surprise.
Jan 11, 2022, 8:26 am
#2276
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,493
The rules for the lounge are crazy, can't wrap my head around it.
Do I get access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge as a Qatar Platinum flying on a Business class award ticket issued by BA on QR Metal?
According to the Qatar Platinum contact center, the ticket has to be marketed and operated by Qatar. Can someone clarify on this, help is much appreciated.
Do I get access to the Al Safwa First Class lounge as a Qatar Platinum flying on a Business class award ticket issued by BA on QR Metal?
According to the Qatar Platinum contact center, the ticket has to be marketed and operated by Qatar. Can someone clarify on this, help is much appreciated.
Jan 11, 2022, 10:28 am
#2277
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: QR Platinum, HH Diamond, FB Gold
Posts: 32
The rules are crazy-complicated. But this is Qatar Airways, and as a bonus the rules can switch on a pin.
What matters is the rules, and how they are interpreted on the day.
The interpretation of current rules by the folk servicing the needs of the airline's elite appear to be that it's a no go for you. Learned voices on the internet may disagree with that, but those opinions count for little at Al Safwa's reception desk: the agents there are probably used to tears, pleading, outrage and the waving of print-outs.
so probably it's best to steel yourself to the spartan pleasure of one of the world's nicest business lounges: maybe a tad over-crowded, but still fine. A diversion to al Safwa will then be a lovely surprise.
What matters is the rules, and how they are interpreted on the day.
The interpretation of current rules by the folk servicing the needs of the airline's elite appear to be that it's a no go for you. Learned voices on the internet may disagree with that, but those opinions count for little at Al Safwa's reception desk: the agents there are probably used to tears, pleading, outrage and the waving of print-outs.
so probably it's best to steel yourself to the spartan pleasure of one of the world's nicest business lounges: maybe a tad over-crowded, but still fine. A diversion to al Safwa will then be a lovely surprise.
Thank you both for the clarification! Will then enjoy the business lounge, also not bad😁
Jan 11, 2022, 2:45 pm
#2278
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1,659
I see from the Wiki that sleeping rooms are only available for connections over 4 hours and I was just reading a review that states you have to pay to use the showers located in the spa. Is there any other shower facilities I’ll be able to use?
Jan 11, 2022, 3:07 pm
#2279
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
There are complimentary shower facilities at the Al Safwa Lounge so no need to pay.
