Al Safwa - Underwhelming
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: BA Gold Lifetime, AA 2M, Delta 2M, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Club, EK Platinum
Posts: 948
Al Safwa - Underwhelming
Today I had my first visit to this lounge. I had high expectations but soon found that while the lounge is generally quiet and very large... it is disappointing.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BWN
Programs: Enrich (Platinum), Privilege Club (Gold), MVP Gold
Posts: 20
Today I had my first visit to this lounge. I had high expectations but soon found that while the lounge is generally quiet and very large... it is disappointing.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,163
Today I had my first visit to this lounge. I had high expectations but soon found that while the lounge is generally quiet and very large... it is disappointing.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
Having said that, Al Safwa could indeed fairly easily be better - in many ways I think the CDG and LHR lounges are actually nicer places to spend time.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
Please forgive my confusion. You state that you visited Al Safwa for the first time today.
On 3 March 2018 you posted - ‘And... when you have experienced the First lounges of EK, QR, and even QF... the BA CCR is more than a few steps down.’
At the time I took your reference to QR’s first lounge as being Al Safwa; it appears, based on today’s post, that this was not the case. So which QR first lounge were you referring to?
Furthermore, why mention EK and QR lounges in the same breath five weeks ago if the EK lounge is now considered much better?
#5
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
Please forgive my confusion. You state that you visited Al Safwa for the first time today.
On 3 March 2018 you posted - And... when you have experienced the First lounges of EK, QR, and even QF... the BA CCR is more than a few steps down.
At the time I took your reference to QRs first lounge as being Al Safwa; it appears, based on todays post, that this was not the case. So which QR first lounge were you referring to?
Furthermore, why mention EK and QR lounges in the same breath five weeks ago if the EK lounge is now considered much better?
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
impeymac - thank you . Im just trying to understand the OPs post. The OP has logged-in every day since posting, and, at the time of writing, post #1 above remains his/her most recent post. I had hoped the OP might return to clarify the matter, but that hasnt yet happened.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: QFF, AA, LM, EY
Posts: 757
Today I had my first visit to this lounge. I had high expectations but soon found that while the lounge is generally quiet and very large... it is disappointing.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
A few items.
- Limited self service items
- No drinks allowed in business center
- Restaurant - limited menu
Emirates is so much better.
For me, comparing Al-Safwa to EK DXB F lounge is like comparing the heavens to the earth lol.
The aesthetics and design of Al-Safwa is amazing and much more interesting compared to the massive monotonous space that the EK DXB F lounge sits in.
And as for the sleeper rooms, well there is no comparison.
And the degree of exclusivity, which is what F flyers want, also no comparison.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ, EY, QR, BA, ITA, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Amex Plat, Marriott
Posts: 5,258
Lol horses for courses I suppose.
For me, comparing Al-Safwa to EK DXB F lounge is like comparing the heavens to the earth lol.
The aesthetics and design of Al-Safwa is amazing and much more interesting compared to the massive monotonous space that the EK DXB F lounge sits in.
And as for the sleeper rooms, well there is no comparison.
And the degree of exclusivity, which is what F flyers want, also no comparison.
For me, comparing Al-Safwa to EK DXB F lounge is like comparing the heavens to the earth lol.
The aesthetics and design of Al-Safwa is amazing and much more interesting compared to the massive monotonous space that the EK DXB F lounge sits in.
And as for the sleeper rooms, well there is no comparison.
And the degree of exclusivity, which is what F flyers want, also no comparison.
EK F lounge scores on F & B. Thats it. The rest of the lounge = dated & drab.
#10
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,915
As a result, and because I usually only have a 2 hour layover, I'm quite content in the EK F spaces.
For any longer though, the Al Safwa and sleeping rooms are the winner.
M
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ, EY, QR, BA, ITA, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Amex Plat, Marriott
Posts: 5,258
While the design of the EK F Lounges is terribly dull, albeit quite typical for the culture (lots of seated areas), the food absolutely blows The Al Safwa out the water.
As a result, and because I usually only have a 2 hour layover, I'm quite content in the EK F spaces.
For any longer though, the Al Safwa and sleeping rooms are the winner.
M
As a result, and because I usually only have a 2 hour layover, I'm quite content in the EK F spaces.
For any longer though, the Al Safwa and sleeping rooms are the winner.
M
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
However the reason for this post - what is the general opinion of DOH v DXB as airports (eg, ease of transfer through airport, flight congestion, etc)? In my opinion DOH is ahead of DXB.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,074
Ive not flown EK F for 20+ years, nor EK J for 12 years - so I cant comment on EKs F lounge. However, like you, I would choose QR over EK in a heartbeat.
However the reason for this post - what is the general opinion of DOH v DXB as airports (eg, ease of transfer through airport, flight congestion, etc)? In my opinion DOH is ahead of DXB.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
The reason I raise the subject of DXB flight congestion is that a few years ago my son was flying QR J ARN DOH DXB (in the days before the UAE threw their toys out of the pram). As I invariably do I was tracking his progress on FR24. His ARN DOH flight landed, without delay, at approx 2300hrs. His DOH DXB flight (< 250 miles) departed DOH just after midnight and made its way towards DXB, however the aircraft made no fewer than five circuits of a holding pattern offshore before being able to land at DXB - it appears that many other aircraft suffered similar holding pattern delays. What could/should have been a 30-45 minute flight turned into 75+ minutes in the air.
Ive never seen much in the way of delays for aircraft waiting to land at DOH - although admittedly there can be some queues for take-off at peak times.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DUB / DOH
Posts: 682
I must admit I was also quite disappointed by the AS. There is no denying that it is an absolutely stunning lounge from a design and architecture point of view, and it is nice to have the sleeping rooms when available. However, I just didn't think it was comfortable, it was awkwardly quiet and I found the food to be meh.
Admittedly, there are few first class lounges to compare to the likes of the CX lounges in HKG, but I just didn't enjoy the AS.
On reflection, the fact that it was Ramadan and there was not alcohol may have affected my perception of the lounge.....
Admittedly, there are few first class lounges to compare to the likes of the CX lounges in HKG, but I just didn't enjoy the AS.
On reflection, the fact that it was Ramadan and there was not alcohol may have affected my perception of the lounge.....