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
Jan 3, 2024, 5:31 am
#4006
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South Africa
Programs: QR PC Platinum
Posts: 412
We mostly arrive at that time, and from experience we probably had to wait 6 out of 10 times. Wait times ranged from 30 mins to 3 hours.
Jan 3, 2024, 7:04 am
#4007
Ambassador: Emirates
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: UK/AU
Programs: QF P1 + LTS, EK Gold, BAEC Gold, QR Gold, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 1,150
Jan 3, 2024, 7:16 am
#4008
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,265
With 9 hours and access to premium security/immigration, you should also consider leaving the airport, assuming your passport allows it. A 20 minute drive takes you to a large number of five star hotels which are much cheaper than the airport hotel and much better. I once left on a six hour layover and still managed four hours in bed!
Jan 3, 2024, 7:21 am
#4009
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,846
With 9 hours and access to premium security/immigration, you should also consider leaving the airport, assuming your passport allows it. A 20 minute drive takes you to a large number of five star hotels which are much cheaper than the airport hotel and much better. I once left on a six hour layover and still managed four hours in bed!
Jan 3, 2024, 10:48 am
#4010
Ambassador: Emirates
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: UK/AU
Programs: QF P1 + LTS, EK Gold, BAEC Gold, QR Gold, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 1,150
I'm used to EK connect os it could be worth it however I'm coming back from a 5 day work trip and will probably be shattered so path of least resistance. I didnt realise you could book the transit hotel on booking.com for 25% less (if you've got their genius L3 thing)
Jan 3, 2024, 2:24 pm
#4011
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 59
All the people saying the food was terrible got me so worked up lol. I just got here tonight and I gotta say that dinner was great! The Pistachio Lamb was really tender and a few other dishes were mostly good.
Wouldn't say it's a gastronomic experience but well worth a quick bite. Only complaint I had was that the bread wasn't as good as the bread on the flight. How is that possible?
Wouldn't say it's a gastronomic experience but well worth a quick bite. Only complaint I had was that the bread wasn't as good as the bread on the flight. How is that possible?
Jan 4, 2024, 3:42 am
#4012
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 734
All the people saying the food was terrible got me so worked up lol. I just got here tonight and I gotta say that dinner was great! The Pistachio Lamb was really tender and a few other dishes were mostly good.
Wouldn't say it's a gastronomic experience but well worth a quick bite. Only complaint I had was that the bread wasn't as good as the bread on the flight. How is that possible?
Wouldn't say it's a gastronomic experience but well worth a quick bite. Only complaint I had was that the bread wasn't as good as the bread on the flight. How is that possible?
I do find the breakfast offerings to be poor, but there again I am not a fan of eggs.
Jan 4, 2024, 6:26 am
#4013
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
I like the dining room too, but by far the best item on the menu at the moment is the 2017 Valbuena 5. Three glasses in, I was almost moved to tears it was that good. Helped that it had been open a few hours in advance, admittedly.
Jan 4, 2024, 4:39 pm
#4014
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SJC/MRY
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, KrisFlyer Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Chase Private Client
Posts: 280
Firstly, I appreciate all the DPs thus far. I am considering "splurging" for a 21k Avios redemption for regional F so I can access AS.
Reading up on those arriving in regional F and departing in mid-haul J, it seems I would have access? The below would give me just under six hours to enjoy the lounge, which I think would be worth it for a first timer.
MED-DOH in F (Avios redemption) arriving 14:30
DOH-SGN in J (R fare, not biz lite) departing 20:50
Reading up on those arriving in regional F and departing in mid-haul J, it seems I would have access? The below would give me just under six hours to enjoy the lounge, which I think would be worth it for a first timer.
MED-DOH in F (Avios redemption) arriving 14:30
DOH-SGN in J (R fare, not biz lite) departing 20:50
Jan 4, 2024, 7:24 pm
#4015
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 1
First Time
First time to the lounge in a week or so. I arrive at 17:15 before the main night rush, so I assume getting a quiet room rather quickly is a reasonable expectation?
Also, is the jacuzzi in the spa area free and available anytime?
Also, is the jacuzzi in the spa area free and available anytime?
Jan 4, 2024, 8:14 pm
#4016
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: BA Gold; AS MVP
Posts: 292
I’ll be there about the same time, arriving on a QSuites long haul from Seattle at 1735. I plan to check out the dinner menu at AS and then go to my room at the Oryx for bed. The regional F A350 to JED leaves at an early 0710, so I’ll probably skip breakfast and just go to the gate.
Jan 5, 2024, 2:36 am
#4017
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 734
Yes to both. However, they take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to prepare the jacuzzi
Jan 7, 2024, 6:58 am
#4018
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 910
An odd question and apologies if it’s been asked before but does First class on a regional flight from the UAE connecting to Economy on a long haul Qatar flight to Australia provide access to Al Safwa or is it off to the platinum lounge for me?
Jan 7, 2024, 7:09 am
#4019
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,325
I would never spend 6 hours in AS (it's not that good to me), but you could do AS and check out AM Gardens too (which I enjoy more at the moment).
Jan 9, 2024, 12:23 am
#4020
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Hi, were you able to get into the Al Safwa lounge successfully? I just noticed that our flight QR1148 from DOH-MCT in First is showing Oman Air on the Qatar website. I did not notice this before.