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 11, 2022, 1:33 am
#2477
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,265
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 12, 2022, 9:45 am
#2478
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,982
Just wanted to confirm: short haul QR First awards do qualify for Al Safwa access? there is no business class DOH-DXB for example; but the first class award would grant me access on the way to Dubai, but on the return flight out of DOH in business class I would be able to pay for access?
Last edited by LilZeppelin; Apr 12, 2022 at 11:40 am
Apr 12, 2022, 12:00 pm
#2479
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Just wanted to confirm: short haul QR First awards do qualify for Al Safwa access? there is no business class DOH-DXB for example; but the first class award would grant me access on the way to Dubai, but on the return flight out of DOH in business class I would be able to pay for access?
DOH-DXB always had access since F is F even for a 1hr flight
and currently, they are allowing F->J connection (with first sector a short flight within GCC) into Al Safwa based on incoming flight in F.
Apr 12, 2022, 12:12 pm
#2480
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 941
Assuming that your ticket is a paid fare other than P, or a full redemption ticket and not an upgrade, then you should have access to Al Safwa both ways.
DOH-DXB always had access since F is F even for a 1hr flight and currently, they are allowing F->J connection (with first sector a short flight within GCC) into Al Safwa based on incoming flight in F.
DOH-DXB always had access since F is F even for a 1hr flight
and currently, they are allowing F->J connection (with first sector a short flight within GCC) into Al Safwa based on incoming flight in F.
Apr 12, 2022, 1:31 pm
#2481
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
F over 5 hours used to be the arrival rule pre-Covid, but since the re-opening of AS, they now seem to let anyone with an incoming F BP (subject to the usual fare/ticket restrictions) into AS, even short-haul F. It doesn't make any difference how long your onward flight in J is.
Apr 12, 2022, 1:46 pm
#2482
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: TK EL+, QR Platinum, HH Diamond, Accor Platinum
Posts: 127
While it is not customary to tip as it is in the US keep in mind these people in the lounges are all " Guest workers". I know most countries they are coming from. They support their families back home.I tipped the restroom attendant, she was from Nepal, and my waiter at the restaurant at Al Safwa. I can tell you, it was very much appreciated. A lot of people travel in luxury and spare no thought about staff in the service industry. And you find this attitude particularly in the Middle East.
Apr 13, 2022, 3:55 am
#2484
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Elite, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver
Posts: 967
F over 5 hours used to be the arrival rule pre-Covid, but since the re-opening of AS, they now seem to let anyone with an incoming F BP (subject to the usual fare/ticket restrictions) into AS, even short-haul F. It doesn't make any difference how long your onward flight in J is.
Apr 13, 2022, 4:20 am
#2485
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
While it is not customary to tip as it is in the US keep in mind these people in the lounges are all " Guest workers". I know most countries they are coming from. They support their families back home.I tipped the restroom attendant, she was from Nepal, and my waiter at the restaurant at Al Safwa. I can tell you, it was very much appreciated. A lot of people travel in luxury and spare no thought about staff in the service industry. And you find this attitude particularly in the Middle East.
It won't create the same buzz as giving cash to appreciative individuals, but in the long term that cash might be better directed to good causes.
For example Chance for Nepal (https://www.chancefornepal.org) is a charity focussed on the needs of Nepal's children, and the importance of their well-being and education to economic development.
Apr 13, 2022, 4:40 am
#2486
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Shouldn't one be free to tip who they want to, without being told that they should donate money to a charity instead? It's frankly a somewhat exhausting and paralysing line of thought which ironically most likely results in people doing nothing, rather than doing the thing that you're trying to promote (assuming that was the intent of the comment, rather than a passive chiding of the OP for the act of tipping itself).
Besides, he may well already donate to the causes that he sees fit.
Besides, he may well already donate to the causes that he sees fit.
Apr 13, 2022, 7:00 am
#2487
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,723
Yes, suit and tie at a minimum…
Is it just me or has the obsession with Al Safwa gone completely off the rails?
Apr 13, 2022, 7:09 am
#2488
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
There are so many flaws to my own character that I would never presume to tell others what to do. I merely suggest for consideration another form of financial aid, less direct than one outlined by the OP, but perhaps more effective and leaving the donor's generosity of spirit less open to abuse.
Donations via charitable organisations and tipping are not binary choices.
It's frankly a somewhat exhausting and paralysing line of thought which ironically most likely results in people doing nothing, rather than doing the thing that you're trying to promote (assuming that was the intent of the comment, rather than a passive chiding of the OP for the act of tipping itself).
If you read my post with a little more care, you might see I embrace the notion that the OP already supports charities.
Apr 13, 2022, 7:36 am
#2490
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,265
QR is gradually letting more and more people in, so I guess it’s not surprising that there is more interest in the lounge now. Also perhaps it’s partly down to the sad deterioration of the experience in Al Mourjan at peak transfer times - I already hated it enough pre-COVID to completely avoid it and sounds like if anything it’s even worse now.