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
Apr 3, 2022, 7:52 pm
#2461
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,273
I know QR's programme is full of quirks, for example not being able to use Q credits to upgrade to J (from paid Y) when only the double points (Avios) redemption option available on the flight but is it possible to upgrade to F (from paid J), when using Avios, even when there's only the double points redemption option available on the flight?
Apr 3, 2022, 8:17 pm
#2462
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 377
sorry for the repetitive question but I can’t tell from reading back through the thread. I see multiple posts citing the ticketed airlines on the reservation playing a part in the access to Al Safwa, but Im not sure if that’s for all cases or only regarding paid access. I have an avios booking made through BA (125 ticket) going from IAD-DOH-KWI on U and Z fares. Do I have access? TIA.
Apr 3, 2022, 10:21 pm
#2463
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
I know QR's programme is full of quirks, for example not being able to use Q credits to upgrade to J (from paid Y) when only the double points (Avios) redemption option available on the flight but is it possible to upgrade to F (from paid J), when using Avios, even when there's only the double points redemption option available on the flight?
sorry for the repetitive question but I can’t tell from reading back through the thread. I see multiple posts citing the ticketed airlines on the reservation playing a part in the access to Al Safwa, but Im not sure if that’s for all cases or only regarding paid access. I have an avios booking made through BA (125 ticket) going from IAD-DOH-KWI on U and Z fares. Do I have access? TIA.
Apr 5, 2022, 8:59 pm
#2465
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Elite, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver
Posts: 967
Was able to book a quiet room during our visit last Sunday. Arrived around 2am and the lounge was very quiet. Was told maximum use of 6 hours. Our connecting flight was at 8:20am anyway so we woke up for breakfast around 6am. Did not try to have something from the a la carte menu when we came and went straight to bed so was not able to check out the offering. Breakfast offering was okay but nothing like what Emirates F class lounge in Dubai offers.
Apr 8, 2022, 9:33 am
#2467
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,493
Apr 9, 2022, 9:29 pm
#2471
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 35
I purchased a business class ticket on qatar (I class) both segments. On my ORD - NBO segment, I have the option to purchase al safwa access but my layover is only 1.5 hours. on the way back SEZ - ORD, my layover is over 7 hours but I don't have the option to purchase al safwa. Is this just a glitch?
Apr 9, 2022, 11:06 pm
#2472
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
I purchased a business class ticket on qatar (I class) both segments. On my ORD - NBO segment, I have the option to purchase al safwa access but my layover is only 1.5 hours. on the way back SEZ - ORD, my layover is over 7 hours but I don't have the option to purchase al safwa. Is this just a glitch?
Other than the time saving factor, there is no advantage of pre-purchasing lounge access.
Apr 9, 2022, 11:56 pm
#2473
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,590
I visited Al Safwa last week after the start of Ramadan. Alcohol was available, but not on display at the bar.
The section of the restaurant nearest the windows was closed for renovation. The remainder of the restaurant was full, with some people having to wait for tables. This was at the midnight peak. I've never seen the place so busy (relatively speaking) - but still an oasis of calm!
The section of the restaurant nearest the windows was closed for renovation. The remainder of the restaurant was full, with some people having to wait for tables. This was at the midnight peak. I've never seen the place so busy (relatively speaking) - but still an oasis of calm!
Apr 10, 2022, 1:29 pm
#2474
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LAX, SNA, LGB
Posts: 453
Apr 10, 2022, 1:38 pm
#2475
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 26
I purchased a business class ticket on qatar (I class) both segments. On my ORD - NBO segment, I have the option to purchase al safwa access but my layover is only 1.5 hours. on the way back SEZ - ORD, my layover is over 7 hours but I don't have the option to purchase al safwa. Is this just a glitch?