Best Qatar Airways Doha lounge: Oneworld Emerald flying business class

Hi,

I am qantas platinum travelling in Qatar airways in business class. When i transit through Doha, can I use the Al Safwa the lounge?

The website says the lounge is only available to first class passengers and business class travellers that are Privilege Club Platinum (it does not say one world emerald)

If not, what's the best lounge I can use?

You will not get access to Al Safwa lounge, and will be asked to visit their “First Class” (different from Al Safwa) lounge instead.

Is the Al Mourjan or First Lounge better? The first lounge looks pretty rubbish from what I can see

Al Mourjan is infinitely better.

You can pay to use the Al Safwa lounge, I think it's 600QR but I'm not sure, I've never paid for it.

Thanks Rosco, great advice

Definitely Al Mourjan (via Business class of service) over the First Class (effectively just oneworl Emerald) lounge

As per a recent flight, SYD-BEY if your onward flight out of DOH is ticketed 'First' you may use the Al Safwa lounge(despite arriving in J class). All QR Middle Eastern sectors are ticketed Y or F, no J, as J effectively becomes F - bonus!

On the return if your incoming flight to DOH was over 5 hours and ticketed 'F' you can also use the Al Safwa lounge. This is despite your onward connecting flight from DOH being in J. Of course if you are connecting to an F flight out of DOH Al Safwa it is by default.

Al Safwa is sheer bliss. Only -ive is you need to pay to use spa services. Day rooms are divine almost proper hotel rooms in concept. Other slight -ive is food could be a notch higher in standard but still great.

QR has some quirky rules about Lounge uses. The Al safwa rules are explained well above. When I used to do CAI mileage runs, got to use Al Safwa, which is truly wonderful. If you are flying QR on a paid business class ticket, and not an upgraded ticket, you can use Al Mourjan, this rule also applies to arrival lounges. The so called First Class Lounge should be called III class lounge, really terrible ..

I have not used the new Al Mourjan which seems to be wonderful, I am not even sure whether they are open, but I have a flight with stop over in DOH using their stop over hotel programme at Marriott Marquis for two nights. I certainly would explore the new Al Mourjan if they are open. I am fond of the old Al Mourjan and have wonderful memories of countless visits to that great lounge.

There are 4 QR lounges at DOH. The named Al *** lounges (Safwa for F, Mourjan for J). These can only be used based on class of service.

Then there is the "First Class lounge" and "Business Class lounge", access to which are based on status. Go for the Al X lounges if you are in J/F.

They can be a bit hard to find at times. The directional signage is confusing. Both the lounges are upstairs with staff at the base of the escalators checking boarding passes before you can go up stairs.

If you are fortunate to get upgraded from J to F on QR you can still only use the Al Mourjan lounge not the Al Safwa. As Joe says, they do check travel class on boarding passes!

The Al Mourjan has several day rooms where you can relax, especially handy on a long layover

The supposed first class lounge is just a business class lounge at best. Why they restrict access to the Al Safwa makes no business sense because who wants to fly to Doha anyway? Unless they are in transit or going there for work. QR should be trying to attract business class/emerald OW FFs! Poor strategy on their part.

Bottom line, much better off taking Emirates who will give you access to real First Class lounge in Dubai.

My wife ( platinum) and I ( gold) will be flying with Qatar in J class to Doha and flying with Qatar to Athens mid 2020. We will be looking to freshen up in Doha. Any recommendations on which lounge to use- forget food, wines etc, just a good place to stretch legs and refresh.

If you are on QR J then Al Mourjan is the place.

A huge 2 storey area, try walking round it for exercise!

There are some lovely day rooms upstairs, just opposite the bar/buffet, if you have a long layover

Curses and Boooooo to QR for being the only major Oneworld hub with status lounges different to class lounges.