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
Dec 3, 2017, 2:42 pm
#1307
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC Gold, QRPC Silver, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 265
Went up the lift! Times like these I'm so grateful to the flyertalk community for the wealth of information! ^
Dec 3, 2017, 3:14 pm
#1308
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: qr
Posts: 262
totally agree had a similar experience back in July , it was only thanks to this forum that I also managed to gain access to the lounge, people sharing experiences and advice which is invaluable.
Dec 4, 2017, 1:23 am
#1309
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: AUH
Programs: EY Guest Gold, Hilton HHonors Gold, Le Club Accor Silver, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 552
The lounge is very impressive. It is visually stunning with good alacarte dining and a Jacuzzi which I could not resist paying for along with a massage or two. I write to you all from the private bedrooms 
. Easily best lounge I've been to.
. Easily best lounge I've been to.
Dec 9, 2017, 11:30 am
#1310
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 60
12/2017 Al Safwa Visit
Visited on the way back from a wedding in Thailand. Flew A380 BKK to CDG in F with 8+ hour layover, continuing in J DOH to MIA on A350. Was admitted after some quick discussion by the desk agents and a sly "warning" that they weren't supposed to admit me, but would make an exception. I should note the flight crew on the A380 leg hyped up Al Safwa and stated I would have access. All and all though a beautiful, albeit a bit uninviting (purely due to the massive size of the lounge and lack of passengers for the majority of the visit) lounge. Hope the photos are helpful and this post doesn't offend anyone's sensibilities. New to FT so keep in mind. :-)
I have photos but I can't post. Can anyone assist w/ this?
I have photos but I can't post. Can anyone assist w/ this?
Jan 2, 2018, 9:39 am
#1311
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
QR CAN-DOH in First (flight more than 5 hours) then RJ DOH to AMM in Y exactly 7 hours later. A bit confused on the rules, it would be no problem if flying the DOH-AMM on QR in Y but can I access Al Safwa during the 7 hour layover flying another Oneworld airline in Y?
Jan 2, 2018, 9:52 am
#1312
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,944
BOStonTravels since you are arriving on longhaul F it does not matter what class you continue your journey with provided it is a flight operated by a Oneworld carrier and your transit time (scheduled landing to scheduled departure) does not exceed eight hours. Therefore you qualify for access to Al Safwa.
Jan 2, 2018, 10:04 am
#1313
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,077
I had the opportunity to transit through Hong Kong twice last week. I also had enough time to visit the Cathay Pacific first class lounge The Pier. I found it a much better all around experience than Al Safwa. The beverage menu was extensive (selection of three champagnes and even craft beer). The food menu put Al Safwa to shame. The private day rooms looked great too. The atmosphere was cozy due to the use of wood, carpet and colour pallet, it kind of felt like a 1950s gentlemen’s club vs that of Al Safwa’s near empty soulless museum of a lounge. Anyways, probably being too harsh regarding Al Safwa as their staff are always great.
Jan 3, 2018, 6:02 am
#1318
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,077
I saw the Xmas menu. Sadly, after lounge hopping in BKK and dinner on the 380 I could not have even attempted a chocolate wafer without dire consequences. [img]webkit-fake-url://48be3235-b6f9-4473-8316-30c9567b1b60/imagejpeg[/img]
Jan 6, 2018, 1:41 pm
#1320
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Pleb
Posts: 57
Saturday night blues
In on a Saturday night. Arrived very early (5 hours before fight) and was admitted with no issues.
Longe absolutely stuffed to the rafters. Found a reasonably quiet spot in the dining area, but elsewhere it's a heaving scrum. Asked if I could use sleeping room (flight is in another few hours) but was informed 'the best I can offer is a reclining chair in the business lounge'. Even a comfortable chair is out of the question, so I'm staying put in the restaurant for the next few hours. I would have been far better off downtown at Shujaa with tea in the Souk. Just as well I'm not paying!!
Food (ordered from menu) no better than ok, although the arabic dessert was a highlight (I sampled three). Buffet average. Wines excellent, especially the French white and the dessert wine. As elsewhere indicated, they perversely serve the champagne lukewarm.
Service and the space itself very good, though given the choice, who wouldn't rather hang around the lobby of the museum of Islamic art, which is completely free?
Moral of the story, avoid Saturday nights, and definitely don't sacrifice Doha time.
Longe absolutely stuffed to the rafters. Found a reasonably quiet spot in the dining area, but elsewhere it's a heaving scrum. Asked if I could use sleeping room (flight is in another few hours) but was informed 'the best I can offer is a reclining chair in the business lounge'. Even a comfortable chair is out of the question, so I'm staying put in the restaurant for the next few hours. I would have been far better off downtown at Shujaa with tea in the Souk. Just as well I'm not paying!!
Food (ordered from menu) no better than ok, although the arabic dessert was a highlight (I sampled three). Buffet average. Wines excellent, especially the French white and the dessert wine. As elsewhere indicated, they perversely serve the champagne lukewarm.
Service and the space itself very good, though given the choice, who wouldn't rather hang around the lobby of the museum of Islamic art, which is completely free?
Moral of the story, avoid Saturday nights, and definitely don't sacrifice Doha time.