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
Apr 21, 2018, 4:03 am
#1426
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
Unless you are in a desperate hurry, the 102 is fine (if not all that frequent). It's also quite direct (apart from the minute or two at Komtar), and seat 1A is really quite nice, if you're not all that squeamish.
May 5, 2018, 4:51 am
#1427
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
You'd need a travel card, which ran at QAR20 for the unlimited 24H one, or you can get a two-ticket version from the driver for QAR10. Not a king's ransom, but unless things have changed (and they were going to) you can't use a credit card at the airport to get the Karwa card. So that means getting cash from ATMs or Forex desks.
I checked, and for what it's worth the information desk in the baggage hall can take credit card payments for Karwa cards, used on the bus.
Thats around carousels 3/4, before heading out through customs.
May 17, 2018, 2:11 am
#1428
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
Just as a note of warning, there used to be a policy that those arriving in long haul F and departing in J would only be granted access to Al Safwa if their transit time was under 8 hours. As yours is much longer than this you *may* find yourself being redirected to Al Mourjan. That said, you can come and go from there all day if you wish.
In the end I didn't leave and go to the city because I had a bit of a cold and decided to stay at the airport. Managed to get a few hours sleep in one of those private rooms and then headed out to the lounge for a very pleasant meal and few glasses of champagne. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and probably saw no more than 6 other passengers in the 4 hours I was in the lounge. For me, without question, this was the best lounge that I've ever been in....now just to work out how to get in there again!
May 17, 2018, 2:39 am
#1429
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,254
Just to report back...Despite the 10+ hour connection I managed to get into the Al Safwa First Lounge without major issue. It did take a bit of time for the guy on reception to allow me in but I think it was because my boarding passes were issued by Qantas. Once he checked that the flights were on Qatar metal he waved me through. I do wonder if the 8 hour rule is if someone is travelling longhaul to shorhaul, whereas I was travelling longhaul to midhaul (longhaul? DOH-VIE).
In the end I didn't leave and go to the city because I had a bit of a cold and decided to stay at the airport. Managed to get a few hours sleep in one of those private rooms and then headed out to the lounge for a very pleasant meal and few glasses of champagne. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and probably saw no more than 6 other passengers in the 4 hours I was in the lounge. For me, without question, this was the best lounge that I've ever been in....now just to work out how to get in there again!
In the end I didn't leave and go to the city because I had a bit of a cold and decided to stay at the airport. Managed to get a few hours sleep in one of those private rooms and then headed out to the lounge for a very pleasant meal and few glasses of champagne. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and probably saw no more than 6 other passengers in the 4 hours I was in the lounge. For me, without question, this was the best lounge that I've ever been in....now just to work out how to get in there again!
May 17, 2018, 11:11 pm
#1431
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MEX
Posts: 1,014
Yes, Al Safwa seems to get a lot of criticism for things I actually quite like about it! (It's quiet, staff members often outnumber guests, etc.) With better food I'd rank it as one of the best lounges anywhere, without that it's still a great lounge, just maybe not top 5.
May 18, 2018, 12:14 am
#1432
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,254
QR at LHR and CDG ironically have better food than Al Safwa, but I think I marginally prefer Al Safwa. Ditto CX F LHR.
May 18, 2018, 12:56 am
#1433
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
May 18, 2018, 2:04 am
#1434
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,254
No, it's on my list, too loyal to QR when going through the Middle East 
. Will need to find an excuse to a book a QF codeshare at some point. From the way it looks I don't think I'd like it (not good interior design / too big).
. Will need to find an excuse to a book a QF codeshare at some point. From the way it looks I don't think I'd like it (not good interior design / too big).
May 18, 2018, 4:32 am
#1435
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,755
AS, without question, is my favorite lounge so far. (I haven't tried EK at DXB or the [now downgraded from what I've heard] EY experience at AUH.) Other lounges have certain INDIVIDUAL things that I think are great (e.g., The Wing has floor-to-ceiling windows; FCT has great bath facilities and tarmac rides to the gate); but taken as a whole, AS can't be beat, at least in my book.
May 18, 2018, 4:56 am
#1436
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,106
Al Safwa is a missed opportunity. It easily could have been the world's best airport lounge with its stunning architecture and expanse. But with mediocre food and beverage offerings at best, it falls short of its potential.
May 18, 2018, 9:25 am
#1437
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
Well I'm confused. Are there two Al Safwa lounges? Because the lounge I was in certainly had some excellent food and drinks, much better than I got served the previous day at the Qantas First Lounge in Melbourne, and just as good as The Pier at Hong Kong.
As I said earlier, the Al Safwa was for me without doubt the best experience that I've ever had in a lounge - an amazing setting, few other passengers, and very attentive staff who were almost falling over themselves to help me (in a positive way). I've certainly no complaints about the food and drinks either...the champagne was flowing freely.
I had a chat with a couple of the staff and they genuinely seemed to enjoy working there which was also nice to hear. During my entire stay it showed that they were proud to be working in the lounge and not looking down their noses at me like they tend to do in some other lounges (i.e. BA Flounge at LHR!).
As I said earlier, the Al Safwa was for me without doubt the best experience that I've ever had in a lounge - an amazing setting, few other passengers, and very attentive staff who were almost falling over themselves to help me (in a positive way). I've certainly no complaints about the food and drinks either...the champagne was flowing freely.
I had a chat with a couple of the staff and they genuinely seemed to enjoy working there which was also nice to hear. During my entire stay it showed that they were proud to be working in the lounge and not looking down their noses at me like they tend to do in some other lounges (i.e. BA Flounge at LHR!).
May 18, 2018, 9:41 am
#1438
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,254
Well I'm confused. Are there two Al Safwa lounges? Because the lounge I was in certainly had some excellent food and drinks, much better than I got served the previous day at the Qantas First Lounge in Melbourne, and just as good as The Pier at Hong Kong.
As I said earlier, the Al Safwa was for me without doubt the best experience that I've ever had in a lounge - an amazing setting, few other passengers, and very attentive staff who were almost falling over themselves to help me (in a positive way). I've certainly no complaints about the food and drinks either...the champagne was flowing freely.
I had a chat with a couple of the staff and they genuinely seemed to enjoy working there which was also nice to hear. During my entire stay it showed that they were proud to be working in the lounge and not looking down their noses at me like they tend to do in some other lounges (i.e. BA Flounge at LHR!).
As I said earlier, the Al Safwa was for me without doubt the best experience that I've ever had in a lounge - an amazing setting, few other passengers, and very attentive staff who were almost falling over themselves to help me (in a positive way). I've certainly no complaints about the food and drinks either...the champagne was flowing freely.
I had a chat with a couple of the staff and they genuinely seemed to enjoy working there which was also nice to hear. During my entire stay it showed that they were proud to be working in the lounge and not looking down their noses at me like they tend to do in some other lounges (i.e. BA Flounge at LHR!).
May 19, 2018, 1:05 am
#1439
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,077