Nov 5, 2015, 11:11 am
Last edit by: Global321
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.
Cash upgrade offers are not eligible for lounge 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: 24/10/2025
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.
Cash upgrade offers are not eligible for lounge 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: 24/10/2025
QR Al Safwa First Class Lounge
Nov 24, 2024 | 10:35 am
#4741
Join Date: Aug 2024
Programs: Qatar privilege Platinum, Etihad Guest Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 761
We have different ideas of being turned away mate. I wanted in to use the sleep room and was told no go back to AS where there were no sleep rooms available. That is being turned away by my definition.
Nov 24, 2024 | 1:35 pm
#4742
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QRPC PLT/OW EMD; Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 14,554
Nov 25, 2024 | 1:18 am
#4743
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 3,103
I think this is the explanation. Your AA ticket includes lounge access. Had you been on a QR issued lite ticket you would have been turned away, irrespective of which airline FF number was in the booking. OWE does not grant access to AM in the absence of a qualifying ticket.
Nov 25, 2024 | 8:26 am
#4744
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 6,445
Did you ask to go in to AM even though you were eligible for AS?
Nov 25, 2024 | 1:48 pm
#4745
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, TK M&S Elite Plus, SQ KF Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Radisson Rewards VIP
Posts: 2,273
Nov 26, 2024 | 5:54 am
#4747
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 6,445
I believe you and OP... just wildly bizarre and unprecedented.
Dec 4, 2024 | 11:46 am
#4748
Join Date: Nov 2022
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 11
Apologies if this has already been covered but can't see it...
Travelling DXB - DOH in First (A) class, operated by Qatar Airways then connecting to British Airways operated DOH - LHR also in First (A) class. Will I be able to use the Al Safwa lounge or is it only for people connecting on to Qatar metal?
Thanks
Travelling DXB - DOH in First (A) class, operated by Qatar Airways then connecting to British Airways operated DOH - LHR also in First (A) class. Will I be able to use the Al Safwa lounge or is it only for people connecting on to Qatar metal?
Thanks
Dec 4, 2024 | 3:15 pm
#4749
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, TK M&S Elite Plus, SQ KF Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Radisson Rewards VIP
Posts: 2,273
Apologies if this has already been covered but can't see it...
Travelling DXB - DOH in First (A) class, operated by Qatar Airways then connecting to British Airways operated DOH - LHR also in First (A) class. Will I be able to use the Al Safwa lounge or is it only for people connecting on to Qatar metal?
Thanks
Travelling DXB - DOH in First (A) class, operated by Qatar Airways then connecting to British Airways operated DOH - LHR also in First (A) class. Will I be able to use the Al Safwa lounge or is it only for people connecting on to Qatar metal?
Thanks
Dec 4, 2024 | 10:42 pm
#4750
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: who knows!
Programs: FB PFL, TK Gold, QRPC Platinum
Posts: 469
Dec 5, 2024 | 1:55 am
#4751
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ontario Canada
Programs: Star alliance
Posts: 55
Dec 5, 2024 | 2:03 am
#4752
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,448
With an F ticket (not an F connection from a business lite fare) you would be able to enter both the AS and the AM. Though they might recommend you to go to AS when you show up at AM.
Dec 5, 2024 | 2:10 am
#4753
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 3,103
Yes, always check the fare basis shown on your eticket. It is that which determines lounge entry, not automatically which cabun you are sitting in. If the fare basis code shown in the column next to the cabin/class column starts with a 'P", you do not have premium lounge access.
QRPC platinums can go to AS as a member privilege, every other OW status holding passenger will have to use the appropriate status lounge
QRPC platinums can go to AS as a member privilege, every other OW status holding passenger will have to use the appropriate status lounge
Dec 7, 2024 | 1:28 am
#4754
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 21
Sorry to bring it up again as it's probably been asked a thousand times but I really get confused with the access rules. Can someone correct me if I'm wrong?:
I booked an award itinerary using American Airlines AAdvantage Miles, all flights are on QR metal. I'm flying from MCT-DOH in First (fare class Z) arriving at 13:30 pm. Then I depart DOH-LAX in Business (fare class U) at 08:05 am the next morning. All booked on the same ticket/itinerary. Am OWE (but I don't think that makes a difference)
I am thinking I, um, don't have access to Al Safwa? Because Z fare class upon arrival and departure is in U the next day? Or maybe I do because I'm crossing my fingers?
Apologies again and thanks in advance, I'm a bit of an airhead when it comes to these things
I booked an award itinerary using American Airlines AAdvantage Miles, all flights are on QR metal. I'm flying from MCT-DOH in First (fare class Z) arriving at 13:30 pm. Then I depart DOH-LAX in Business (fare class U) at 08:05 am the next morning. All booked on the same ticket/itinerary. Am OWE (but I don't think that makes a difference)
I am thinking I, um, don't have access to Al Safwa? Because Z fare class upon arrival and departure is in U the next day? Or maybe I do because I'm crossing my fingers?
Apologies again and thanks in advance, I'm a bit of an airhead when it comes to these things