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
Mar 7, 2017, 5:40 am
#1096
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
Mar 7, 2017, 6:25 am
#1097
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,005
I wonder if the three hour gap between your meals blunted your appetite and your tolerance for approximations ...
Mar 7, 2017, 6:55 am
#1098
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
Not sure what you'd expect from Eggs Benedict from an kitchen in an islamic country. It's not a dish within their canon. Brave attempts with turkey bacon aren't always happy approximations.
I wonder if the three hour gap between your meals blunted your appetite and your tolerance for approximations ...
I wonder if the three hour gap between your meals blunted your appetite and your tolerance for approximations ...
It is a first class lounge. FIRST.CLASS.
Mar 7, 2017, 7:02 am
#1099
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
The quality of catering certainly stands at sharp contrast to the offerings at EK and EY F lounges in DXB/AUH. It is by far the worst amongst the ME3.
But then again, I thought the EY F lounge was overall pretty average, and there wasn't any "wow" factor like you get when you step into Al Safwa. Same with the EK F lounge - just too big to have any feeling of exclusivity. For my personal tastes, Al Safwa has the best hard product. Just a shame about the quality of food.
But then again, I thought the EY F lounge was overall pretty average, and there wasn't any "wow" factor like you get when you step into Al Safwa. Same with the EK F lounge - just too big to have any feeling of exclusivity. For my personal tastes, Al Safwa has the best hard product. Just a shame about the quality of food.
Mar 7, 2017, 5:08 pm
#1104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,005
That's being silly. A principal ingredient of the classic Eggs Benedict is generally unavailable in Qatar, and certainly not available in the airport kitchens.
So while I'd give full marks for effort, I think I'd order the dish only as a novelty.
with TURKEY.BACON
So while I'd give full marks for effort, I think I'd order the dish only as a novelty.
with TURKEY.BACON
Mar 7, 2017, 7:10 pm
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,742
Mar 7, 2017, 7:47 pm
#1106
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 761
Guys is 5-6am a busy time at Al-Safwa ? What are my chances like to get a room ?
Also are there rooms with queen/double beds ?
Arriving at 5:05 from SYD before taking a 14:05 to MCT, hoping to arrive in Muscat well rested
Also are there rooms with queen/double beds ?
Arriving at 5:05 from SYD before taking a 14:05 to MCT, hoping to arrive in Muscat well rested
Mar 7, 2017, 9:32 pm
#1107
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
If you think the meat makes a good Eggs Benedict, I give up.
It was empty at 04am-wish when I arrived from ADL. Just me and wife in the lounge and was able to get a double bed room for 4 hours. They don't do queens, but single and double bed rooms.
It was empty at 04am-wish when I arrived from ADL. Just me and wife in the lounge and was able to get a double bed room for 4 hours. They don't do queens, but single and double bed rooms.
Mar 7, 2017, 10:51 pm
#1108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,005
I think I've seen the dish referred to as Eggs Royale. I assemble an ersatz version with toast, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs in hotel breakfasts: the only thing that drags me away from my boring, everyday, tea and toast.
Mar 7, 2017, 11:31 pm
#1109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,742
Now that would be an excellent idea to jot down in the restaurant's suggestion book (no, I've never seen one: figuratively speaking).
I think I've seen the dish referred to as Eggs Royale. I assemble an ersatz version with toast, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs in hotel breakfasts: the only thing that drags me away from my boring, everyday, tea and toast.
I think I've seen the dish referred to as Eggs Royale. I assemble an ersatz version with toast, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs in hotel breakfasts: the only thing that drags me away from my boring, everyday, tea and toast.
I just grab some smoked salmon off the buffet and take it to the egg station and ask them for the Bennies but with the salmon instead of ham. Yummmm!!
Mar 8, 2017, 12:25 am
#1110
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: usually somewhere between 30000 and 40000 feet...but actually the English countryside
Programs: BA GGL/Lifetime Gold, EK Gold, Lowly M&M, Marriott tit, Hhonors Diamond, numerous others
Posts: 1,156
Access question
Go easy on me if its obvious to you guys, but I cant readily figure out if I will have access or not based on the below?
LHR - DOH in J (7 hours or so) connecting onto KRT (4 hours or so) in F?
I think I do (and would like to try it) but would like to avoid the "walk of shame" if possible!
ps - Im not into eggs so wouldn't be able to contribute to the last 10 posts or so
LHR - DOH in J (7 hours or so) connecting onto KRT (4 hours or so) in F?
I think I do (and would like to try it) but would like to avoid the "walk of shame" if possible!
ps - Im not into eggs so wouldn't be able to contribute to the last 10 posts or so