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 14, 2017, 12:18 am
#1141
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
Like Gordon Ramsay says, "You know a chef knows how to cook properly if they can make tasty scrambled eggs on toast."
I apologize in advance if your post was meant tongue in cheek 
Mar 14, 2017, 12:24 am
#1142
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
(Disclaimer: I know it's likely more down to kitchen limitations than the chefs, but the end result in front of the lounge guests are still the same)
Mar 18, 2017, 1:52 am
#1143
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 762
Hi guys,
Am I gonna face a battle with the lounge staff at Al-Safwa if I am coming off SYD-DOH in F but my ongoing journey to MCT is in Y ? Both legs are on QR metal but booked as a partner award using QF points.
Thanks
Am I gonna face a battle with the lounge staff at Al-Safwa if I am coming off SYD-DOH in F but my ongoing journey to MCT is in Y ? Both legs are on QR metal but booked as a partner award using QF points.
Thanks
Mar 18, 2017, 2:30 am
#1145
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 762
Mar 18, 2017, 2:38 am
#1146
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Nizar your onward boarding pass does not matter provided it is for a OW flight. Your access is based upon arriving in longhaul F. It matters not where you go from there.
But you need to show your onward boarding pass because arrivals into Qatar have no access.
But you need to show your onward boarding pass because arrivals into Qatar have no access.
Mar 19, 2017, 1:54 am
#1148
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Apr 2, 2017, 8:25 am
#1149
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
I can't believe how much the Al Safwa has downgraded their scotch. JW Black, normal Glenmorangie, or Chivas 12 is absolutely pathetic for a true F lounge. Have scotches on board been downgraded as well? (didn't bother looking coming in from LHR and now heading off to KSA)
Apr 4, 2017, 1:36 pm
#1150
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA 1MM lifetime gold, Starwood gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 719
The other thread on Krug suggests that the champagne at Al Safwa has also been recently downgraded to no longer having Taittinger Comtes de Champagne. In 2 years, massive downgraded to the drinks on board and in the lounges. I remember getting Krug in Al Mourjan only 2 years ago. I also remember the kopke port and the Pol Roger Rose champagne on board.
The drinks selection in the BA LHR Concorde room is now superior to Al Safwa. I hear the LHR CCR is getting new sofas too!
The drinks selection in the BA LHR Concorde room is now superior to Al Safwa. I hear the LHR CCR is getting new sofas too!
Apr 4, 2017, 2:22 pm
#1151
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
Jed while much of what you write is correct I think that you are overstating the case with regard to Al Mourjan.
It is true that Krug was available in Al Mourjan for a time. But it was expected to be a short term measure for First class passengers until Al Safwa opened. And indeed when Al Safwa opened in October 2015 Krug was no longer served in Al Mourjan. It was a temporary measure and as such cannot be used as an example of falling standards.
It is true that Krug was available in Al Mourjan for a time. But it was expected to be a short term measure for First class passengers until Al Safwa opened. And indeed when Al Safwa opened in October 2015 Krug was no longer served in Al Mourjan. It was a temporary measure and as such cannot be used as an example of falling standards.
Apr 4, 2017, 2:46 pm
#1152
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Frankfurt
Programs: QR Platinum
Posts: 256
The other thread on Krug suggests that the champagne at Al Safwa has also been recently downgraded to no longer having Taittinger Comtes de Champagne. In 2 years, massive downgraded to the drinks on board and in the lounges. I remember getting Krug in Al Mourjan only 2 years ago. I also remember the kopke port and the Pol Roger Rose champagne on board.
The drinks selection in the BA LHR Concorde room is now superior to Al Safwa. I hear the LHR CCR is getting new sofas too!
The drinks selection in the BA LHR Concorde room is now superior to Al Safwa. I hear the LHR CCR is getting new sofas too!
Apr 4, 2017, 3:27 pm
#1153
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: BKK
Programs: QR Platinum
Posts: 159
There is a new rule for Al Safwa access: if you come from A380 First class and your next leg is in business class, your transit time has to be less than 8 hours to give you access to the Al Safwa first class lounge.
Apr 5, 2017, 12:31 am
#1154
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA 1MM lifetime gold, Starwood gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 719
Jed while much of what you write is correct I think that you are overstating the case with regard to Al Mourjan.
It is true that Krug was available in Al Mourjan for a time. But it was expected to be a short term measure for First class passengers until Al Safwa opened. And indeed when Al Safwa opened in October 2015 Krug was no longer served in Al Mourjan. It was a temporary measure and as such cannot be used as an example of falling standards.
It is true that Krug was available in Al Mourjan for a time. But it was expected to be a short term measure for First class passengers until Al Safwa opened. And indeed when Al Safwa opened in October 2015 Krug was no longer served in Al Mourjan. It was a temporary measure and as such cannot be used as an example of falling standards.
Apr 5, 2017, 6:19 am
#1155
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: BA*G
Posts: 104
I can't believe how much the Al Safwa has downgraded their scotch. JW Black, normal Glenmorangie, or Chivas 12 is absolutely pathetic for a true F lounge. Have scotches on board been downgraded as well? (didn't bother looking coming in from LHR and now heading off to KSA)
While on the topic of whisky, which goes well with cigar (long layover), I asked if the cigars on display in Al Safwa's cigar lounge were available. 'No sir', came the reply, 'for display only'. OK, so may I buy a single cigar then? 'No sir, try at duty free'. So your option is to buy by the box / pack (no singles). Qatar shouldn't bother having 'display cigars', it's a bit like displaying bottles of Krug for decoration, and then telling you to buy a case at Duty Free if you want to drink it ;-)
Lots of small cost cuts in F - no longer was there an Al Safwa lounge to gate escort, the desk attendant at the baggage storage had been replaced by a self service locker, and cologne has disappeared from the F amenity bag. Lots of small things but you do notice. Even BA have a locker attendant...