J Passengers can pay for Al Sawfa Access - Now 600 QAR
Jun 10, 2019, 3:35 pm
#271
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 22
New data point, as I was there yesterday and flew QR 67 in F. Arrived from HKT at 11pm. Was in the Lounge around midnight . There were around 60guests. Had dinner and went to the bedrooms. Just saw 1room occupied. Woke up like 5:30am and there were 2rooms occupied. The lounge was less crowded, but still around 30-40guests. So it’s obvious that quite some people pay the cash to enter the lounge.
Jun 10, 2019, 4:14 pm
#272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,163
New data point, as I was there yesterday and flew QR 67 in F. Arrived from HKT at 11pm. Was in the Lounge around midnight . There were around 60guests. Had dinner and went to the bedrooms. Just saw 1room occupied. Woke up like 5:30am and there were 2rooms occupied. The lounge was less crowded, but still around 30-40guests. So it’s obvious that quite some people pay the cash to enter the lounge.
Last edited by CPH-Flyer; Jun 10, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Jun 11, 2019, 5:12 am
#274
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BA Silver, Eurobonus Gold
Posts: 35
I was there yesterday from around 8 pm to 1 am and it was varying between 1-3 other guests that I could see in the area in front of the bar, in front of the restaurant and in the restaurant. Same last week.
FYI, I did pay 250 QAR for entry both times.
FYI, I did pay 250 QAR for entry both times.
Jun 11, 2019, 7:24 am
#275
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: ZRH
Programs: QRPC
Posts: 228
If you want to avoid the people at the bottom of the escalator, just take the elevator which brings you directly to the lounge reception desk. This is valid for Al Sawfa as well as Al Mourjan.
I just had a question that I wanted to ask the staff members but the escalator guard didn't want to let me pass, so I just took the elevator. :P
I just had a question that I wanted to ask the staff members but the escalator guard didn't want to let me pass, so I just took the elevator. :P
Jun 12, 2019, 1:56 am
#276
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 22
Anyway, regardless of the number of guests. Good to see that the bedrooms are still more or less empty. Dinner , bedroom and breakfast would even be worth 500QAR, if you compare it to the transit hotel.
Jun 19, 2019, 6:36 am
#277
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 110
Another data point. I had a 10hr layover from around 4pm to 2am last Saturday evening. No one at the bottom of the Al Safwa escalator, so went straight up to the desk. 250 QAR (69 USD) for a 6hr block. Asked if I could extend and they said yes, another 250 for the remainder of my layover.
Got into the lounge and there were fewer than 10 people. I felt the space was amazing, privacy also was, and I loved the overall design of the lounge. Had a quick meal. As others have said, F&B could use some improvement, but not too bad. Had Salmon which was a bit overcooked, but the vegetables were done well. Champagne was the VC Grand Dame 2006, then some rose option I hadn't seen before. Also tried a French chardonnay that was quite good.
Service was outstanding. People constantly trying to refill drinks, get me food, etc.
Also did the "quiet rooms". Well appointed with a great bathroom. Saw 12 of them and no issue getting one.
Honestly it was a great stay and the 10hr layover flew by...
Got into the lounge and there were fewer than 10 people. I felt the space was amazing, privacy also was, and I loved the overall design of the lounge. Had a quick meal. As others have said, F&B could use some improvement, but not too bad. Had Salmon which was a bit overcooked, but the vegetables were done well. Champagne was the VC Grand Dame 2006, then some rose option I hadn't seen before. Also tried a French chardonnay that was quite good.
Service was outstanding. People constantly trying to refill drinks, get me food, etc.
Also did the "quiet rooms". Well appointed with a great bathroom. Saw 12 of them and no issue getting one.
Honestly it was a great stay and the 10hr layover flew by...
Jun 19, 2019, 8:33 am
#278
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Ann Arbor | Barcelona
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Platinum Pro | United Premier Platinum
Posts: 78
Another data point. I had a 10hr layover from around 4pm to 2am last Saturday evening. No one at the bottom of the Al Safwa escalator, so went straight up to the desk. 250 QAR (69 USD) for a 6hr block. Asked if I could extend and they said yes, another 250 for the remainder of my layover.
Got into the lounge and there were fewer than 10 people. I felt the space was amazing, privacy also was, and I loved the overall design of the lounge. Had a quick meal. As others have said, F&B could use some improvement, but not too bad. Had Salmon which was a bit overcooked, but the vegetables were done well. Champagne was the VC Grand Dame 2006, then some rose option I hadn't seen before. Also tried a French chardonnay that was quite good.
Service was outstanding. People constantly trying to refill drinks, get me food, etc.
Also did the "quiet rooms". Well appointed with a great bathroom. Saw 12 of them and no issue getting one.
Honestly it was a great stay and the 10hr layover flew by...
Got into the lounge and there were fewer than 10 people. I felt the space was amazing, privacy also was, and I loved the overall design of the lounge. Had a quick meal. As others have said, F&B could use some improvement, but not too bad. Had Salmon which was a bit overcooked, but the vegetables were done well. Champagne was the VC Grand Dame 2006, then some rose option I hadn't seen before. Also tried a French chardonnay that was quite good.
Service was outstanding. People constantly trying to refill drinks, get me food, etc.
Also did the "quiet rooms". Well appointed with a great bathroom. Saw 12 of them and no issue getting one.
Honestly it was a great stay and the 10hr layover flew by...
Jun 19, 2019, 9:16 am
#279
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Cardiff
Programs: qatar airways platinum
Posts: 732
For me breakfast is a little unimaginative there ( there again I do not like eggs) and it has been almost deserted when I have been there. Whilst you never want a place packed, it's quite nice to have some other passengers. enjoy your visit.
Jun 19, 2019, 12:52 pm
#280
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: QR
Posts: 19
I recently used the lounge on 8th June arriving at 11pm and departing at 8am on the 9th June. I flew out two weeks earlier to CDG in F but a short connection didn’t allow me time to enter the lounge as boarding had already started.
When i returned, I bought access to the lounge because of my long layover. I immediately went to get a room and was shown to one. The service is absolutely great and because of the shift change since entering they didn’t know I was suppose to leave the lounge. I had a lovely French toast and turkey bacon with a great cup of coffee before heading to the boarding gate...
i would say it is totally worth it to pay the 250 QAR for access because there was barely anyone in the lounge and it felt really private which is what I love. However, if I look at the lounge the amount of space they have wasted as its nearly as big as AM. But I can see why they made it that beautiful to impress their fake F flights in the ME....
When i returned, I bought access to the lounge because of my long layover. I immediately went to get a room and was shown to one. The service is absolutely great and because of the shift change since entering they didn’t know I was suppose to leave the lounge. I had a lovely French toast and turkey bacon with a great cup of coffee before heading to the boarding gate...
i would say it is totally worth it to pay the 250 QAR for access because there was barely anyone in the lounge and it felt really private which is what I love. However, if I look at the lounge the amount of space they have wasted as its nearly as big as AM. But I can see why they made it that beautiful to impress their fake F flights in the ME....
Jun 20, 2019, 9:52 pm
#282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,163
Jun 21, 2019, 1:56 am
#283
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764
Jun 21, 2019, 3:03 am
#285
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Ann Arbor | Barcelona
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Platinum Pro | United Premier Platinum
Posts: 78
I've heard the beds at Al Sawfa are pretty descent, but remember that you're also paying for higher quality drinks and food (compared to AM lounge).