A straightforward strategy to get into the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge in Doha

Qatar Airways is known for its world-class journey expertise, particularly in case you’re touring in a premium cabin. And the provider’s flagship Al Safwa First Lounge at Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH) in Doha is spacious, opulent and on the bucket checklist of many avid vacationers.

Passengers who can entry this facility get pleasure from sit-down eating, non-public nap rooms and even a scorching tub within the spa.

Sadly, the airline flies two-cabin planes between the U.S. and the provider’s hub that are not outfitted with first-class. Whereas the Qsuite business-class product flying U.S. routes is without doubt one of the greatest on the earth, passengers solely get entry to the airline’s Al Mourjan Enterprise Lounge. That is nonetheless a improbable lounge — but it surely’s not first-class.

Oneworld elite standing notably will not get you into the Al Safwa First Lounge. As a substitute, there are simply three revealed methods to entry it:

• Flying in Qatar Airways first-class (defined under).
• Buying entry for 600 Qatari riyals (round $165) if touring on a business-class ticket (excludes upgrades).
• Touring in full-fare enterprise class as a Privilege Membership Platinum member (together with as much as two company).

Qatar Airways flies first-class on a really restricted (and declining) variety of high-yield, long-haul routes, corresponding to to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), and Australia’s Sydney Airport (SYD) and Perth Airport (PER).

Here is the tip: Qatar classifies its business-class cabin on flights to neighboring nations within the Center East (assume: United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan) as “first-class,” that means these passengers can entry the Al Safwa First Lounge, too.

The most typical method somebody dwelling within the U.S. might make the most of this feature can be to e book a Qsuite (business-class) flight from the U.S. to Doha utilizing American Airways AAdvantage or Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles or British Airways, Iberia or Qatar Airways Avios (transferable from all main versatile factors currencies). Then you might add a “first-class” flight from Doha to a close-by vacation spot corresponding to Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB), Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport (AUH) or Muscat Worldwide Airport (MCT) for as few as 21,000 Avios plus $110 in taxes.

And that is precisely what I am doing three months from now. I’ve redeemed 70,000 British Airways Avios to fly enterprise class from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Doha. Then I’ve a separate award redemption utilizing 21,000 Avios to fly onward to Muscat in “first-class.”

In order that’s 91,000 Avios in whole for 14 hours in a lie-flat business-class seat with a sliding privateness door from Houston to Doha, adopted by eight hours — deliberate on function — within the first-class lounge, ending up with a brief 90-minute flight to Muscat.

And through my time within the lounge, I am wanting ahead to sitting right down to a multicourse meal, having fun with a quiet siesta and even perhaps getting a calming therapeutic massage earlier than persevering with on my journey to Oman.

The subsequent time you journey on Qatar Airways, think about using this tip to achieve entry to the Al Safwa First Lounge.