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

Qatar Airways is legendary for its world-class journey expertise, particularly should 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 listing of many avid vacationers.

Passengers who can entry this facility get pleasure from sit-down eating, non-public nap rooms and even a sizzling 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 firstclass. Whereas the Qsuite business-class product flying U.S. routes is among the finest on this planet, passengers solely get entry to the airline’s Al Mourjan Enterprise Lounge. That is nonetheless a unbelievable lounge — but it surely’s not firstclass.

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

• Flying in Qatar Airways firstclass (defined beneath).
• 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 firstclass on a really restricted (and declining) variety of high-yield, long-haul routes, equivalent 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 international locations within the Center East (suppose: United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan) as “firstclass,” that means these passengers can entry the Al Safwa First Lounge, too.

The commonest manner somebody dwelling within the U.S. might reap the benefits of this feature could be to guide 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 possibly can add a “first-class” flight from Doha to a close-by vacation spot equivalent 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 “firstclass.”

In order that’s 91,000 Avios in complete 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 goal — within the first-class lounge, ending up with a brief 90-minute flight to Muscat.

And through my time within the lounge, I am trying ahead to sitting right down to a multicourse meal, having fun with a quiet siesta and maybe even 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.