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
#2761
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,958
#2762
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 999
The agent just didn't really seem to know and therefore referred me to Al Mourjan because when she scanned my boarding pass, computer said no. They supervisor had to apply an override in the system. Either my agent didn't know to do that (because they didn't know the entry rules) or, only a supervisor can apply the override.
#2763
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: TK Elite Plus, SAS EBG, QR Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,297
Another little data point from me,
Flew ZRH-DOH in F (QR reward booking), connecting the next day DOH-SIN in J (QR reward booking, through ticket, same PNR). Was initially told no access after a scan of my onward boarding pass (I had handed them both my inbound and onward passes). I politely made the point that I was F inbound. Lounge supervisor had to apply an override in the system at the reception desk.
Flew ZRH-DOH in F (QR reward booking), connecting the next day DOH-SIN in J (QR reward booking, through ticket, same PNR). Was initially told no access after a scan of my onward boarding pass (I had handed them both my inbound and onward passes). I politely made the point that I was F inbound. Lounge supervisor had to apply an override in the system at the reception desk.
#2764
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Germany
Programs: QR Gold, Skyteam Silver, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 144
Access with 2 separate reward tickets?
Apologies for asking these questions so late in the thread..somewhere there must be the answers..i just didnt find my case. I will fly FRA-DOH-BKK on two separate reward tickets. FRA-DOH in C, DOH-BKK in F (both class U). I would arrive 18:30h in DOH to continue 8 am next morning in F to BKK. My first question: would i get at check in in FRA already my boarding pass for the separate ticket DOH-BKK? And could i then arrive with this separate ticket around 19h at Al Safwa and get in and stay till say 6am next moring? I also believe that if i want to stay till 6 am i would need to request a room between 23h and midnight to observe the 6 hours rule? But would this be realistic to request a room between 23h and midnight? And if i dont get a room: are there still these big open family rooms with the couches? And would they wake me up there?
#2765
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 999
the next calendar day but within 24hrs of my arrival. Arrived 2250 and departed the following morning.
#2766
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: in your favourite lounge, clearing the whole buffet
Programs: LH Maximizer of the year, BA Blue Label killer
Posts: 1,001
As a data point: Inbound F, outbound J, both on a Business Lite fare won't give you access to the Flounge.
Outbound F though access was possible.
Outbound F though access was possible.
#2767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,966
Apologies for asking these questions so late in the thread..somewhere there must be the answers..i just didnt find my case. I will fly FRA-DOH-BKK on two separate reward tickets. FRA-DOH in C, DOH-BKK in F (both class U). I would arrive 18:30h in DOH to continue 8 am next morning in F to BKK. My first question: would i get at check in in FRA already my boarding pass for the separate ticket DOH-BKK? And could i then arrive with this separate ticket around 19h at Al Safwa and get in and stay till say 6am next moring? I also believe that if i want to stay till 6 am i would need to request a room between 23h and midnight to observe the 6 hours rule? But would this be realistic to request a room between 23h and midnight? And if i dont get a room: are there still these big open family rooms with the couches? And would they wake me up there?
The awareness that Safwa can offer not only bed & a very substantial breakfast, but also dinner and fine wines, all at a price considerably below that of the airport hotel, has led cash entrants to try their luck in bagging a bed.
The family rooms are intended to allow groups which include women to relax in semi-private conditions, without concerns about protecting modesty: something of a cultural phenomenon in the region. Their allocation to a singleton male is probably predicated on existing and expected "family" occupation of the facilities. It's worth remembering that they are not intended as bedrooms, or even quiet rooms, come equipped with TVs, and families often include over-excited kids - so the experience will not always be restful
#2768
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: YEG/KWI
Programs: EK Gold, QR Gold, WY Gold, Delta Silver Medallion
Posts: 426
Apologies for asking these questions so late in the thread..somewhere there must be the answers..i just didnt find my case. I will fly FRA-DOH-BKK on two separate reward tickets. FRA-DOH in C, DOH-BKK in F (both class U). I would arrive 18:30h in DOH to continue 8 am next morning in F to BKK. My first question: would i get at check in in FRA already my boarding pass for the separate ticket DOH-BKK? And could i then arrive with this separate ticket around 19h at Al Safwa and get in and stay till say 6am next moring? I also believe that if i want to stay till 6 am i would need to request a room between 23h and midnight to observe the 6 hours rule? But would this be realistic to request a room between 23h and midnight? And if i dont get a room: are there still these big open family rooms with the couches? And would they wake me up there?
#2769
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,288
I had a paid F-to-J connection tonight. The checker at the bottom of the escalator scanned my BP and tried to direct me to AM. I politely said that I would check in upstairs.
At the check in desk, the agent scanned my outbound J BP (I also gave her my inbound F BP). She didn't say anything and then typed several things into her terminal. After a long minute, she reached for the BP stamp and I knew that I was in.
At the check in desk, the agent scanned my outbound J BP (I also gave her my inbound F BP). She didn't say anything and then typed several things into her terminal. After a long minute, she reached for the BP stamp and I knew that I was in.
#2770
Join Date: Sep 2022
Posts: 1
Since I will be arriving LHR to DOH in First Class. My onward ticket to Male is in Economy Y class (4:55 flight, before 6am the next day). Wondering if I am eligible to access AS lounge too.
#2771
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,288
@aids_canard0e Welcome to FlyerTalk.
#2772
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 200
We (2 of us) will be transiting through Doha next week. First flight lands shortly before midnight, second flight departs about 8 hours later.
As seemingly others before us, we are wondering if we should attempt to get a room with 2 beds at the Al Safwa (wed need to pay the $165 x 2), or instead go straight to the Oryx hotel (cheapest selling room as of now at ~350). We couldnt stay at the hotel at the hotel more than 6 hours anyway given the schedule; seems like the lounge option would in theory make more sense for us.
How are the odds looking these days to get a room with two beds at the lounge?
As seemingly others before us, we are wondering if we should attempt to get a room with 2 beds at the Al Safwa (wed need to pay the $165 x 2), or instead go straight to the Oryx hotel (cheapest selling room as of now at ~350). We couldnt stay at the hotel at the hotel more than 6 hours anyway given the schedule; seems like the lounge option would in theory make more sense for us.
How are the odds looking these days to get a room with two beds at the lounge?
#2773
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,074
We (2 of us) will be transiting through Doha next week. First flight lands shortly before midnight, second flight departs about 8 hours later.
As seemingly others before us, we are wondering if we should attempt to get a room with 2 beds at the Al Safwa (wed need to pay the $165 x 2), or instead go straight to the Oryx hotel (cheapest selling room as of now at ~350). We couldnt stay at the hotel at the hotel more than 6 hours anyway given the schedule; seems like the lounge option would in theory make more sense for us.
How are the odds looking these days to get a room with two beds at the lounge?
As seemingly others before us, we are wondering if we should attempt to get a room with 2 beds at the Al Safwa (wed need to pay the $165 x 2), or instead go straight to the Oryx hotel (cheapest selling room as of now at ~350). We couldnt stay at the hotel at the hotel more than 6 hours anyway given the schedule; seems like the lounge option would in theory make more sense for us.
How are the odds looking these days to get a room with two beds at the lounge?
#2774
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 999
We (2 of us) will be transiting through Doha next week. First flight lands shortly before midnight, second flight departs about 8 hours later.
As seemingly others before us, we are wondering if we should attempt to get a room with 2 beds at the Al Safwa (wed need to pay the $165 x 2), or instead go straight to the Oryx hotel (cheapest selling room as of now at ~350). We couldnt stay at the hotel at the hotel more than 6 hours anyway given the schedule; seems like the lounge option would in theory make more sense for us.
How are the odds looking these days to get a room with two beds at the lounge?
As seemingly others before us, we are wondering if we should attempt to get a room with 2 beds at the Al Safwa (wed need to pay the $165 x 2), or instead go straight to the Oryx hotel (cheapest selling room as of now at ~350). We couldnt stay at the hotel at the hotel more than 6 hours anyway given the schedule; seems like the lounge option would in theory make more sense for us.
How are the odds looking these days to get a room with two beds at the lounge?
#2775
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,644
I've just booked an award flight with BA in First class BKK-DOH-CAI. I was sitting back dreaming about my long connection in the lounge before I remembered someone saying that award tickets don't include lounge access.
Is that correct? I have a OW Sapphire card. Can I get into the QR Premium lounge in BKK?
Thanks so much!
Is that correct? I have a OW Sapphire card. Can I get into the QR Premium lounge in BKK?
Thanks so much!