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
May 10, 2022, 4:53 am
#2581
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,155
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
May 10, 2022, 10:19 am
#2582
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, TK M&S elite, UA silver, ITA Voltaire Executive (lol), Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,171
I'm in AS now, and in the name of scientific research have just had the fillet steak. It may not be what you might get in a specialist steak house or a Michelin starred restaurant, but I would say it has definitely improved since before covid.
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
May 10, 2022, 11:22 am
#2583
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,079
I'm in AS now, and in the name of scientific research have just had the fillet steak. It may not be what you might get in a specialist steak house or a Michelin starred restaurant, but I would say it has definitely improved since before covid.
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
May 10, 2022, 3:15 pm
#2584
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2,155
May 10, 2022, 4:10 pm
#2585
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South Africa
Programs: QR PC Platinum
Posts: 412
Well yes, that was my previous experience too. But today I was asked how I would like it cooked "medium rare, medium well?" I replied that I thought they only came well done but usually I would order rare, and he went off saying he'd ask for medium rare. And a juicy pink thing returned some time later. Strange things are happening
May 10, 2022, 9:07 pm
#2586
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Qantas Plat
Posts: 133
Is Qatar First Class Lounge the same as Al Safwa? I can't seem to purchase AS online with a J booking but states the Qatar First Class Lounge is included. Only Qantas Platinum. I'm presuming it isn't but then wondering why I can't purchase access to AS.
Last edited by pushka; May 10, 2022 at 9:14 pm
May 10, 2022, 9:13 pm
#2587
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: QR Plat
Posts: 2,439
May 11, 2022, 1:57 pm
#2589
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, SPG Plat
Posts: 266
I’m having the same issue on my outbound. On my return however I can purchase Al Safwa access. Why can’t I on the outbound?
May 11, 2022, 2:41 pm
#2590
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 798
I'm in AS now, and in the name of scientific research have just had the fillet steak. It may not be what you might get in a specialist steak house or a Michelin starred restaurant, but I would say it has definitely improved since before covid.
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
Previously it was a thin cut (sliced through again the long way) and always cooked well done. But the one I just had was a thick cut and we had a long discussion about how I wanted it cooked and it came out definitely pink. The veg were all crisp and tasty too and a peppercorn sauce was served.
Some may prefer more seasoning of course but I was pleasantly surprised after reading some of the recent comments here. Perhaps it helps that I am here at a quiet time?
May 11, 2022, 3:58 pm
#2591
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Qantas Plat
Posts: 133
I can't purchase AS on any leg. On the way back to OZ it says the only lounge I have access to is to pay for Oryx. Not even AM. Nup. Lucky it's not a long transit. Fare classes are R and C.
May 12, 2022, 5:56 am
#2592
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
In the interest of fairness, i have to report that i was back in AS lounge on monday night, and the steak was excellent (medium), definitely cooked to order unlike previous times. The VC Le Grand Dame was flowing, and a lovely glass of red wine also. Staff were excellent. So, despite my first visit being unimpressive, i have to say i liked it second time around.
May 13, 2022, 11:39 am
#2594
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
I'm flying DXB-DOH-JFK soon, and my DXB-DOH flight is coded as first class while my DOH-JFK flight says business class.
In this case, can I use the AS lounge during my layover in DOH as I'm coming from a fist class flight connecting to business class?
In this case, can I use the AS lounge during my layover in DOH as I'm coming from a fist class flight connecting to business class?
