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 6, 2016, 12:56 am
#706
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South Africa
Programs: QR PC Platinum
Posts: 412
I can't beleive that you were refused entry if you had a F BP. Were you refused entry because travelling with him or because you insisted that your colleague be allowed join you in Al Safwa and they refused him entry?
May 6, 2016, 1:30 am
#707
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: who knows!
Programs: FB PFL, TK Gold, PC Platinum
Posts: 442
Sorry to bump to this thread.. new to QR.. But have a simple question: If im flying Doha-Cairo on First (since there is no business class in that route", would I have access to Al Safwa ?
May 6, 2016, 1:39 am
#708
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 493
I think that has always been the case.
If, however, you were Op-Up'd at LHR to F, and flying onto BKK in J, you would only have access to the Al Mourjan (despite LHR-DOH being in F, and being over 5 hours).
As a total aside, great to meet giantreesemar the other evening. Hope he survived his 24 hours in the Al Safwa!
If, however, you were Op-Up'd at LHR to F, and flying onto BKK in J, you would only have access to the Al Mourjan (despite LHR-DOH being in F, and being over 5 hours).
As a total aside, great to meet giantreesemar the other evening. Hope he survived his 24 hours in the Al Safwa!
May 6, 2016, 3:47 am
#710
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
toastedcafe since you have a First Class boarding pass you have access to Al Safwa. Regional First is also First Class.
THe Wiki at the start of this thread says
"Can I use the Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge?
Access is restricted to Qatar Airways first class passengers :
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* for their next flight
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* from their previous flight, provided the flight time was over 5 hours (specifically, flights from BKK, CDG or LHR)
*Operational Upgrades to First do not give access."
THe Wiki at the start of this thread says
"Can I use the Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge?
Access is restricted to Qatar Airways first class passengers :
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* for their next flight
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* from their previous flight, provided the flight time was over 5 hours (specifically, flights from BKK, CDG or LHR)
*Operational Upgrades to First do not give access."
May 6, 2016, 3:54 am
#711
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Jeff_ I think giantreesemar gave the best answer in post 696 of this thread "alcohol is restocked on Wednesdays, so visitors toward the end of the cycle (Mon-Wed) may face shortages". When it runs out varies from week to week so no definite answer can be given.
May 7, 2016, 8:35 am
#712
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 247
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* from their previous flight, provided the flight time was over 5 hours (specifically, flights from BKK, CDG or LHR)
A380 is starting to operate CAN service, does that mean on routing CAN-DOH (F), DOH-HEL (C) I will be allowed access?
A380 is starting to operate CAN service, does that mean on routing CAN-DOH (F), DOH-HEL (C) I will be allowed access?
May 7, 2016, 8:57 am
#713
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,949
- either holding a First Class boarding pass* from their previous flight, provided the flight time was over 5 hours (specifically, flights from BKK, CDG or LHR)
A380 is starting to operate CAN service, does that mean on routing CAN-DOH (F), DOH-HEL (C) I will be allowed access?
A380 is starting to operate CAN service, does that mean on routing CAN-DOH (F), DOH-HEL (C) I will be allowed access?
May 7, 2016, 12:53 pm
#715
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt Dia, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Spire,HH Dia, MGM NOIR,Hertz PC
Posts: 10,571
Using up my last QR ticket... 9h layover MON night going to CAI TUE morning. Al Safwa time! 
May 7, 2016, 3:34 pm
#717
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Magic Kingdom
Programs: AA Exp, Radisson VIP, Expedia OneKey Platinum, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amex Plati
Posts: 441
In the lounge now. No Krug, sorry. I'm drinking this this Comtes de Champagne Taittinger. It's ok I guess. I'm not really a champagne expert.
I had no trouble getting a sleeping room at 5 pm, as expected for that time. It was a welcome retreat after the Miami flight and looking to an 8 hour layover. I was given a voucher for STPC, but I didn't think I would have enough time to make it worthwhile. I tried to ask for the Terminal Hotel instead but they wouldn't let me.
The ventilation problems from the past seem to be solved. At least I felt comfortable and I'm a sweaty kind of guy.
Service at the restaurant leaves a bit to be desired. I sat there for some time and was ignored by about 10 or so passing staff. They seemed to be preoccupied with how precise the table settings were. For a while I decided to see how long they would ignore me. But after about 15 minutes I gave up and called one over.
I ordered a steak. It was just ok. They didn't even ask me how I wanted it cooked. It seemed to be medium well. I'm a meat and potatoes Midwest guy from Kansas City so I'm hard to please about beef. At least it didn't kill me.
The bar staff are always excellent in my experience. They seem to know their wines and champagnes.
I had no trouble getting a sleeping room at 5 pm, as expected for that time. It was a welcome retreat after the Miami flight and looking to an 8 hour layover. I was given a voucher for STPC, but I didn't think I would have enough time to make it worthwhile. I tried to ask for the Terminal Hotel instead but they wouldn't let me.
The ventilation problems from the past seem to be solved. At least I felt comfortable and I'm a sweaty kind of guy.
Service at the restaurant leaves a bit to be desired. I sat there for some time and was ignored by about 10 or so passing staff. They seemed to be preoccupied with how precise the table settings were. For a while I decided to see how long they would ignore me. But after about 15 minutes I gave up and called one over.
I ordered a steak. It was just ok. They didn't even ask me how I wanted it cooked. It seemed to be medium well. I'm a meat and potatoes Midwest guy from Kansas City so I'm hard to please about beef. At least it didn't kill me.
The bar staff are always excellent in my experience. They seem to know their wines and champagnes.
May 22, 2016, 4:22 am
#720
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,949
Compare the Al Safwa at 1am, to the Al Mourjan at the same time - the difference is clear.