Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Qatar Airways | Privilege Club
Reload this Page >

J Passengers can pay for Al Sawfa Access - Now 600 QAR

J Passengers can pay for Al Sawfa Access - Now 600 QAR

Old Jan 25, 2019, 4:59 am
  #61  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver,, Oman Air Gold
Posts: 745
Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
It is indeed 6 hours.
I could have had another hour in bed...!

;0)
CoweyB is online now  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 9:21 am
  #62  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 122
Went straight to Al Safwa on my AA J Award, can confirm award tickets also eligible for Al Safwa. Same experience as everybody else: 250 QAR, 6 hrs limit, they give you a 6 hr room (although that's optional), and no guests of course.
rinipiyan is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 3:29 pm
  #63  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WI
Programs: A bunch
Posts: 488
My family just bought Al Safwa acess on a AA award flight in qsuites. We had a 8 hour connection and instead of spending over $300 at the airport hotel we decided the 250qatar was a great option. We were capped at 6 hours as well but had a nice size sleeping room with 2 beds and of course the high quality food and drink was very enjoyable.
picco cph likes this.
pointspinnacle is offline  
Old Jan 30, 2019, 11:01 pm
  #64  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 117
Originally Posted by pointspinnacle
My family just bought Al Safwa acess on a AA award flight in qsuites. We had a 8 hour connection and instead of spending over $300 at the airport hotel we decided the 250qatar was a great option. We were capped at 6 hours as well but had a nice size sleeping room with 2 beds and of course the high quality food and drink was very enjoyable.
Did you have to pay 250 QAR/person or 250 QAR total for the whole family? How many were there in your family?
Traveller999 likes this.
Airfan is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 1:05 am
  #65  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: WI
Programs: A bunch
Posts: 488
Originally Posted by Airfan
Did you have to pay 250 QAR/person or 250 QAR total for the whole family? How many were there in your family?
its per person,me, wife and 3 yr old 250 each which was converted to almost $200 even (grand total) on my credit card. I thought it a bit odd to charge the 3yr old but its still a decent value for this lounge.
picco cph likes this.
pointspinnacle is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 3:49 am
  #66  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,163
To be honest, this policy just shows me how much QR has lost its way - I think I'm right in saying Al Safwa is now the only lounge globally which is operated by an airline that denies access to all status passengers but allows paid access to anyone! QRPC becomes more pointless by the day.
NoY and Traveller999 like this.
lost_in_translation is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 5:15 am
  #67  
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: QRPC
Posts: 18
Sad state of affairs, isn't it? Still since I tend to fly on routes where QR doesn't operate first class, I'm happy that I can get in, but would much prefer getting in with my gold status.
lawyered is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 6:19 am
  #68  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,163
Actually my previous post is wrong, it's not the only lounge globally that does that - the other one is Al Mourjan!
nikolask and Traveller999 like this.
lost_in_translation is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 1:23 pm
  #69  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold / Oneworld Emerald
Posts: 69
I have a 7h 20 connection in April in R, and reading above it seems that the 'Full Fare' access is a red herring, so I may be able to upgrade? Considering I have a 7h 20 connection, by the time transit security & walking times to and from gates are accounted for I should be closet to the 6hr maximum?

I arrive from SIN on QR947 at 0015, and depart again to ARN at 0735 on QR167
weebo15 is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 3:48 pm
  #70  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,878
Originally Posted by weebo15
I have a 7h 20 connection in April in R, and reading above it seems that the 'Full Fare' access is a red herring, so I may be able to upgrade? Considering I have a 7h 20 connection, by the time transit security & walking times to and from gates are accounted for I should be closet to the 6hr maximum?

I arrive from SIN on QR947 at 0015, and depart again to ARN at 0735 on QR167
Should be fine.
weebo15 likes this.
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 3:56 pm
  #71  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,878
Originally Posted by lost_in_translation
To be honest, this policy just shows me how much QR has lost its way - I think I'm right in saying Al Safwa is now the only lounge globally which is operated by an airline that denies access to all status passengers but allows paid access to anyone! QRPC becomes more pointless by the day.
I find it an odd way that they are doing it.

I can understand why they are want to utilise the space more, and why they want to monetise that at the moment. I just don't understand the way that they do it.

On the flip side. As far as I have seen, Qatar has not written about this offer anywhere. Making it easy to remove the offer. And as it is only blog readers, and word of mouth at the moment, keeping the numbers low is a natural effect. But ideally, I would say they should used focused invitations to their high value flyers. That would cut me off, but I'll survive that.. .
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2019, 6:48 pm
  #72  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Singapore & Globe trotting
Programs: QR Gold, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, GHA Titanium, Taj Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 422
Originally Posted by lost_in_translation
To be honest, this policy just shows me how much QR has lost its way - I think I'm right in saying Al Safwa is now the only lounge globally which is operated by an airline that denies access to all status passengers but allows paid access to anyone! QRPC becomes more pointless by the day.
As a QR Platinum for a few years now it is indeed annoying that I can't get access to Al Safwa. That being said, Al Safwa does not allow paid access to anyone. You still need to be flying with QR in J (revenue or award). A passenger in Y cannot get access to Al Safwa. QR is obviously in desperate times and looking for ways to monetize rather than keeping their frequent flyers happy. I guess they can afford to do so, as, in my opinion, a majority of business travelers will still fly QR's superior products. They will simply credit their miles to another FFP.
lifeonthego_k is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2019, 8:30 pm
  #73  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,526
Tried this at 5:30am on a paid Business class ticket. No problem, paid QAR 250 to get in. Went direct to Al Safwa and the lady at the desk called the duty manager who came out with a credit card machine.

This is my first time in Al Safwa and its nice to have the option but for a relatively short 2-3 hour connection am not sure if this is worth paying for if you have access to Al Mourjan already.
midlevels is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2019, 6:27 am
  #74  
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: Etihad, Krisflyer, BA Executive Club
Posts: 47
Originally Posted by midlevels
Tried this at 5:30am on a paid Business class ticket. No problem, paid QAR 250 to get in. Went direct to Al Safwa and the lady at the desk called the duty manager who came out with a credit card machine.

This is my first time in Al Safwa and its nice to have the option but for a relatively short 2-3 hour connection am not sure if this is worth paying for if you have access to Al Mourjan already.
I was there a couple of weeks ago and didn't bother as I was on a short transit of 2 hours one way and less the other.

I just had some food in the rear business class snack place and that was enough. If I'd wanted more I would have upgraded perhaps and might in future but I didn't find the Q-Suites worth paying the premium for over say Etihad's seats on their A380.
Talay is offline  
Old Feb 5, 2019, 4:10 am
  #75  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764
I did take the paid access now 2 times recently, but I think I will skip it in future.
Yes, the flair is impressive and everything so quiet and calm. But I myself did feel somehow lonely, with just 5 to 7 more guest in the total lounge.
In addition, you may call me picky, I was not satisfied with the temperature of the Champagne served neither with the quality of the steak. Dont get me wrong, it was nice, but in a "over the first class" lounge I expect that if I order a medium steak, that it does not come well done and if I express my wish for a more cold Champagne, that the staff fulfills my wish, especially when the lounge is operated by an airline, which shouts around all the time "we are the best in universe...ok in skytrax universe" ;-)

One nice thing on 1st of February was, that the lounge staff did prepare a cake and asked people (5) to come to celebrate the victory of the Qatari football team. Pictures were taken from the passengers celebrating with a piece of cake and some juice ;-) and then something weird happend - I did ask if I can get a copy of the pictures taken as well, as I am on them, but they could not grant me that request. However they did take my email, but surprise, I did not receive any picture or mail from QR......

Last edited by Traveller999; Feb 5, 2019 at 10:27 pm
Traveller999 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.