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
Aug 13, 2016, 6:53 am
#841
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: 8,950
Aug 13, 2016, 7:06 am
#842
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
NoY access to Al Safwa is regulated by ONE rule and ONE exception.
Rule: you must be departing DOH in F since Al Safwa is a departure lounge.
Exception: Arriving in longhaul F (5+ hours flying time) you have access no matter what your onward cabin class is.
Rule: you must be departing DOH in F since Al Safwa is a departure lounge.
Exception: Arriving in longhaul F (5+ hours flying time) you have access no matter what your onward cabin class is.
Aug 13, 2016, 12:10 pm
#844
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 109
Hi, I feel like this question has been asked before (sorry!), but I have been looking through threads and searching various key words and can't find what I'm looking for. Basically, I'm wondering if a first class (Z) award ticket gives access to Al Safwa when departing from DOH? I know that normally award tickets DO include lounge access, but I vaguely remember reading a thread that discussed this scenario as an exception. I can't find that discussion now....and I sure hope I'm wrong! :-)
Aug 13, 2016, 10:37 pm
#847
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Houston
Posts: 282
The whole atmosphere was just odd for me. yes its nice... a lot of luxury, they have one internal duty free shop which has high end luxury items like Rolex Watches, or bulgari jewellery and stuff like that, but again I rather buy in the other shops.
I asked for any complimentary service, 20 minute massage or something like that and nothing...
I think I prefer Al Mourjan... does that make me less F class?
One good thing is that you get transportation to the plane from that specific lounge so you dont have to worry where is your gate, just pass the control area they have inside and they will take you to the plane (Perhaps for few flights without gate like Intra gulf ones).
Aug 14, 2016, 4:06 am
#848
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,273
I was there 3 days ago around 3:00 / 4:00am and it was quite dead, some of the food stations were closed, coffee machine was not working (Service or cleaning)
The whole atmosphere was just odd for me. yes its nice... a lot of luxury, they have one internal duty free shop which has high end luxury items like Rolex Watches, or bulgari jewellery and stuff like that, but again I rather buy in the other shops.
I asked for any complimentary service, 20 minute massage or something like that and nothing...
I think I prefer Al Mourjan... does that make me less F class?
One good thing is that you get transportation to the plane from that specific lounge so you dont have to worry where is your gate, just pass the control area they have inside and they will take you to the plane (Perhaps for few flights without gate like Intra gulf ones).
The whole atmosphere was just odd for me. yes its nice... a lot of luxury, they have one internal duty free shop which has high end luxury items like Rolex Watches, or bulgari jewellery and stuff like that, but again I rather buy in the other shops.
I asked for any complimentary service, 20 minute massage or something like that and nothing...
I think I prefer Al Mourjan... does that make me less F class?
One good thing is that you get transportation to the plane from that specific lounge so you dont have to worry where is your gate, just pass the control area they have inside and they will take you to the plane (Perhaps for few flights without gate like Intra gulf ones).
I was there late morning until mid afternoon - excellent service, food, beverages. Great.
(they can improve the signage in there though- cr@p!!)
The last time I was in Al Mourjan the food was disgusting slop - no really - has it improved - I hope so? This was last October.
Aug 14, 2016, 4:11 am
#849
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: 8,950
I was there 3 days ago around 3:00 / 4:00am and it was quite dead, some of the food stations were closed, coffee machine was not working (Service or cleaning)
The whole atmosphere was just odd for me. yes its nice... a lot of luxury, they have one internal duty free shop which has high end luxury items like Rolex Watches, or bulgari jewellery and stuff like that, but again I rather buy in the other shops.
I asked for any complimentary service, 20 minute massage or something like that and nothing...
I think I prefer Al Mourjan... does that make me less F class?
One good thing is that you get transportation to the plane from that specific lounge so you dont have to worry where is your gate, just pass the control area they have inside and they will take you to the plane (Perhaps for few flights without gate like Intra gulf ones).
The whole atmosphere was just odd for me. yes its nice... a lot of luxury, they have one internal duty free shop which has high end luxury items like Rolex Watches, or bulgari jewellery and stuff like that, but again I rather buy in the other shops.
I asked for any complimentary service, 20 minute massage or something like that and nothing...
I think I prefer Al Mourjan... does that make me less F class?
One good thing is that you get transportation to the plane from that specific lounge so you dont have to worry where is your gate, just pass the control area they have inside and they will take you to the plane (Perhaps for few flights without gate like Intra gulf ones).
A chauffeur service is available to those boarding from remote stand gates - this saves you a long walk and taking the bus...plus it's pretty cool!
I agree with Noy that the signage could be better, and this is something I'm told they are working on at present.
M
Aug 14, 2016, 10:32 am
#850
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 109
Do they tell you about the chauffeur service when you enter the lounge? If not, how do you know that it's a remote gate for your particular flight?
Aug 14, 2016, 10:44 am
#851
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: 8,950
However, if a boarding gate has not yet been allocated to your onward flight, it's always worth asking the staff prior to leaving the Lounge.
Additionally, Al Maha staff usually roam the Al Safwa calling out specific departures for Boarding - but the ones they call, are remote stands so they are quite helpful.
M
Aug 14, 2016, 4:16 pm
#853
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Aug 15, 2016, 7:32 pm
#854
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 762
QR may be unique in this - offering ONLY paid massages at their F lounge at their home port.
I was disappointed when this was first revealed and to be honest I am still disappointed.
Aug 15, 2016, 9:01 pm
#855
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,273
I would certainly never choose an airline based on a free (probably 15 minutes in many cases) massage! Would you?