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 13, 2022, 9:14 am
#2491
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: QR Plat
Posts: 2,439
I showed up in my "covid corporate", i.e. shorts and tshirt. Noone has ever batted an eyelid. That's a good thing.
Yes, it's utterly overhyped. With one singlular exception: it is the only area in the airport where you can find quiet. All other areas tend to be overcrowded.
-A
-A
Apr 13, 2022, 10:22 am
#2492
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,265
I showed up in my "covid corporate", i.e. shorts and tshirt. Noone has ever batted an eyelid. That's a good thing.
Yes, it's utterly overhyped. With one singlular exception: it is the only area in the airport where you can find quiet. All other areas tend to be overcrowded.
-A
Yes, it's utterly overhyped. With one singlular exception: it is the only area in the airport where you can find quiet. All other areas tend to be overcrowded.
-A
Apr 13, 2022, 10:24 am
#2493
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: QR Plat
Posts: 2,439
But then, the way my current luggage issues with QR is going on this trip, I'm not likely to book QR for much anymore.
-A
Apr 13, 2022, 12:07 pm
#2494
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: TK EL+, QR Platinum, HH Diamond, Accor Platinum
Posts: 127
Fair enough. But given your concern for less well off families in Nepal, I wonder if you have considered boosting your donations to charities that benefit Nepalis in need of assistance. That seems to me preferable to boosting the income of a fortunate Nepali who has sought, and landed, employment in Qatar.
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.
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.
"...in the long term that cash might be better directed to good causes." Now if that isn't preposterous...
In any case thanks for the suggestion - I have evaluated charities professionally in the past and know how to chose one. By the way, I like generous minds - so much more pleasurable to be around. Live and let live.
Apr 13, 2022, 3:48 pm
#2497
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 798
yes, I agree it’s silly but this is exactly what FT is about, getting giddy with excitement at the thought of flying a CX 77W on a QR flight. The outside world wouldn’t understand it, here we have an environment where one can share this interest/excitement/enthusiasm with like-minded people…?
Apr 13, 2022, 4:53 pm
#2498
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
I don't think I would return on paid access unless I had the same scenario. I can understand though how it can be very exciting for people. I mean, it is impressive.
Apr 14, 2022, 5:33 pm
#2499
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: TK EL+, QR Platinum, HH Diamond, Accor Platinum
Posts: 127
Apr 15, 2022, 4:55 am
#2500
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Apr 18, 2022, 10:33 am
#2501
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
Changing the subject from tips (but please don't tip- it's inflationary!!)....
I guess going forward Al Safwa will be used mainly as a lounge for QR platinum members in business, and perhaps others (OWE etc.). I think first class on QR only still exists on a relatively small number of A380, and AFAIK even they're on the exit route. After A380 have gone, there will be no first class at all AFAIK- it seems unlikely to be on 77x despite the announcements- so who will Al Safwa be for? Unless they want to make it a purely paying lounge or something...
I guess going forward Al Safwa will be used mainly as a lounge for QR platinum members in business, and perhaps others (OWE etc.). I think first class on QR only still exists on a relatively small number of A380, and AFAIK even they're on the exit route. After A380 have gone, there will be no first class at all AFAIK- it seems unlikely to be on 77x despite the announcements- so who will Al Safwa be for? Unless they want to make it a purely paying lounge or something...
Last edited by FlyerLX; Apr 18, 2022 at 10:43 am
Apr 18, 2022, 10:46 am
#2502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,562
Another excellent experience in al Safwa this past Friday. Arrived from OTP at 9:45 pm, connecting to DFW the next morning at 7:50 am, so I roughly had a 10 hour layover. I paid for two 6 hour blocks of time and a nap room was reserved for me. I was given the opportunity to purchase an additional 6 hour block in the nap room, but I didn't need that. So, I had a lite dinner, looked around the main level retail area for a World Cup store (none yet, shockingly) and then retired to my nap room. I was in there from roughly 11 to 5 and then had a nice breakfast and went to board my flight.
My only issue - and I had this the last time too - is I could not get the lights in the nap room to shut off. There appears to be a control panel by the bed, but it either was not working or was not intuitive (or I'm a moron). All equally possible.
I'd certainly do it again.
My only issue - and I had this the last time too - is I could not get the lights in the nap room to shut off. There appears to be a control panel by the bed, but it either was not working or was not intuitive (or I'm a moron). All equally possible.
I'd certainly do it again.
Apr 18, 2022, 11:49 am
#2503
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Changing the subject from tips (but please don't tip- it's inflationary!!)....
I guess going forward Al Safwa will be used mainly as a lounge for QR platinum members in business, and perhaps others (OWE etc.). I think first class on QR only still exists on a relatively small number of A380, and AFAIK even they're on the exit route. After A380 have gone, there will be no first class at all AFAIK- it seems unlikely to be on 77x despite the announcements- so who will Al Safwa be for? Unless they want to make it a purely paying lounge or something...
I guess going forward Al Safwa will be used mainly as a lounge for QR platinum members in business, and perhaps others (OWE etc.). I think first class on QR only still exists on a relatively small number of A380, and AFAIK even they're on the exit route. After A380 have gone, there will be no first class at all AFAIK- it seems unlikely to be on 77x despite the announcements- so who will Al Safwa be for? Unless they want to make it a purely paying lounge or something...
They have also relaxed the connecting passengers rule for Al Safwa access, so now a simple DXB-DOH (1hr flight) arrival in First is sufficient to grant Al Safwa access before a much longer continuing flight in Business. The previous rule used to be that the arriving flight in First had to be over 5 hours, which only covered a fraction of the people that the new rule benefits.
As such, they are not in any danger of running out of First passengers to serve there. If anything, you'll see that some people are saying the lounge might be getting too crowded at peak times.
Unless you are departing or have arrived in First, then you have to be QR Platinum. Oneworld Emerald does not have access to Al Safwa.
Apr 18, 2022, 12:51 pm
#2504
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
More transparency from QR would be welcome.