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
#1441
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
are you able to control the temperature in those sleep rooms? I found them quite warm
#1442
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,163
#1443
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
Ha that was my experience. I just thought I was being a technophobe. next time I think I will have a few drinks and then try and sleep
#1445
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 574
#1446
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: BKK, CDG, TLS
Programs: QR G, A3 G, EK G, IHG Amb, GHA Black, WOH LT something
Posts: 1,306
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!).
AF La premiere is not even in the same league as the AS regarding F&B, AS is at its best a bistro food and even that is far fetching it, AF is Michelin starred and it's not an analogy, Ducasse made the menus.
LH is at least several categories above regarding F&B, so is LX. Pier HKG is also above imo. I have been to AS several times over the last couple of years and each time I felt "meh" about the food, not bad, but not great either, and wouldn't go out of my way to spend a few extra hours in there, while I would do so at LH, LX, EK, CX, and for sure AF. GA, JAL, QF, SQ private room provides arguably better nourishment in their lounges.
#1447
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,163
#1448
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
I was The same ANA, but I kept waking up due to the heat.
#1449
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: QR Gold, BAEC, Marriott Rewards Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,142
Just arrived in DOH from BKK flying in F. Was informed by AS reception to go to Al Mourjan as my onward flight was in J.
Pointed out I had arrived from BKK in F & was again refused entry because it was an award upgrade F. I then pointed out the upgrade was processed in Jan, i.e. before Feb 5th & therefore eligible. A 5 min wait & 2 phonecalls later apologies were issued & access granted.
It shouldn't be this difficult.
Oh, & the bedroom I'm in has the aircon controls by the bed.
Pointed out I had arrived from BKK in F & was again refused entry because it was an award upgrade F. I then pointed out the upgrade was processed in Jan, i.e. before Feb 5th & therefore eligible. A 5 min wait & 2 phonecalls later apologies were issued & access granted.
It shouldn't be this difficult.
Oh, & the bedroom I'm in has the aircon controls by the bed.
#1451
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: FLYINGBLUE Gold QRPC Gold OMAN SINDBAD Gold
Posts: 408
Just arrived in DOH from BKK flying in F. Was informed by AS reception to go to Al Mourjan as my onward flight was in J.
Pointed out I had arrived from BKK in F & was again refused entry because it was an award upgrade F. I then pointed out the upgrade was processed in Jan, i.e. before Feb 5th & therefore eligible. A 5 min wait & 2 phonecalls later apologies were issued & access granted.
It shouldn't be this difficult.
Oh, & the bedroom I'm in has the aircon controls by the bed.
Pointed out I had arrived from BKK in F & was again refused entry because it was an award upgrade F. I then pointed out the upgrade was processed in Jan, i.e. before Feb 5th & therefore eligible. A 5 min wait & 2 phonecalls later apologies were issued & access granted.
It shouldn't be this difficult.
Oh, & the bedroom I'm in has the aircon controls by the bed.
#1452
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764
#1453
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,654
#1454
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764
they made a mistake and did sort it out, even with apologies - so I am with you, thats fine...