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
Nov 14, 2018, 2:47 pm
#1546
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 836
I was actually planning on arriving by plane around 10 PM in Doha, sleep in the lounge and connect the next morning at 8 AM, I assumed that was permitted?
Nov 14, 2018, 5:13 pm
#1548
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,734
I'm fairly certain that it is. If you're planning to use one of the sleeping rooms, don't forget about the six hour limit.
Nov 15, 2018, 2:03 am
#1549
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
Nov 15, 2018, 2:33 am
#1550
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,734
Nov 15, 2018, 2:43 am
#1551
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 731
Nov 15, 2018, 10:15 am
#1552
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
Hopefully that is not (completely) true. What if your flights arrives at 8 PM and your connection departs one minute after midnight?
I was actually planning on arriving by plane around 10 PM in Doha, sleep in the lounge and connect the next morning at 8 AM, I assumed that was permitted?
I was actually planning on arriving by plane around 10 PM in Doha, sleep in the lounge and connect the next morning at 8 AM, I assumed that was permitted?
Nov 19, 2018, 1:45 pm
#1554
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 937
It's around midnite local time here in AS, there are a grand total of two other guests here in this relatively large lounge. Some 20 staff members standing around having absolutely nothing to do. Does it have an exclusive feel, yes...is it a bit weird and boring, also yes.
Nov 20, 2018, 2:56 am
#1555
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
Is it an extreme waste of ressources? Also yes. But then again, I am no airline executive, so I might just lack the insight to understand the greater good.
Nov 20, 2018, 4:52 am
#1556
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: FLYINGBLUE Gold QRPC Gold OMAN SINDBAD Gold
Posts: 408
Yes that is exactly the reason why i prefer Al Mourjan to Al Safwa....
Nov 20, 2018, 5:07 am
#1557
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,228
I would probably argue that QR have taken it slightly too far in terms of exclusivity by e.g. excluding paid upgrades from J to F, but admitting masses more people like any standard Oneworld F lounge would probably be the final nail in the coffin for paying for F on the A380 to me. The staff also are quite good at remembering regular customers as a result of the small numbers (I got asked 'aren't you normally in Al Safwa?' in Al Mourjan the other day by one of the staff members I normally chat to!).
Nov 20, 2018, 5:33 am
#1558
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Qatar Airways Gold, Singapore air Kris flyer,Emirates Silver, Etihad Gold
Posts: 359
Are there any special menus for the new year's eve? I will be in the lounge on the 31st of December so wondering if they will have special dishes or deserts.
Nov 20, 2018, 5:53 am
#1559
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: PAR
Programs: QR Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,088
Nov 20, 2018, 5:43 pm
#1560
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,734
Me, too. It's the relative peace and quiet of airline lounges (at least compared to any gate area) that I find most attractive about them. The fewer people, the better, for me.
