With different access rules for each of Qatar Airways’ four airport lounges, determining exactly who is eligible to use which lounge and when can be a confusing task for your average traveller.
We've pulled together the official Qatar Airways lounge door list – so whether you’re flying in business or first class or are a top-tier traveller booked in an economy seat, here are the Qatar lounges you can use at Doha’s Hamad International Airport and at London Heathrow.
Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan Lounge: access rules
Business class and first class passengers of Qatar Airways and its Oneworld airline partners including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Royal Jordanian Airlines and SriLankan Airlines are welcome in the premium Al Mourjan Lounge:
However, top-tier frequent flyers stuck in economy can't access this lounge, nor can guests of first class passengers as would usually be the case in a Oneworld lounge.
Instead, these passengers can use one of Qatar's other lounges in Doha, as below.
Qatar’s Doha First Class Lounge: access rules
The separate Qatar Airways First Class Lounge in Doha has a much more 'frequent flyer friendly' door policy – here's who gets in:
- Qatar Privilege Club Platinum cardholders when flying with a Oneworld airline in any class of service (including economy), plus two guests when booked with Qatar Airways or one guest with all other Oneworld airlines
- Other Oneworld Emerald members such as Qantas Platinum and Platinum One when travelling with Qatar Airways or another Oneworld airline, plus one guest
- First class passengers of any Oneworld airline, plus one guest
- Ironically, also business class passengers of any Oneworld airline, but with no guests unless the traveller also holds Oneworld Emerald status
That said, business class and first class passengers will find much more glamourous facilities in the Al Mourjan Lounge, which they are also entitled to access.
Qatar’s Doha Business Class Lounge: access rules
Opposite from the First Class Lounge, Qatar's Business Class Lounge follows a similar set of rules but also welcomes Gold-grade frequent flyers the world over and Silver-status flyers with Qatar:
- Qatar Privilege Club Gold and Platinum members when travelling with any Oneworld airline, plus one guest (or a higher two guests for Privilege Club Platinum members when flying with Qatar Airways only)
- Oneworld Sapphire and Oneworld Emerald cardholders including Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One when flying with any Oneworld airline, plus one guest
- Business class and first class passengers travelling with any Oneworld airline, plus one guest for first class passengers only (guests permitted for business class travellers only when holding Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status)
- Qatar Privilege Club Silver members when flying with Qatar Airways only: no guest permitted and no access when booked in economy with other Oneworld airlines such as British Airways
Qatar’s London Premium Lounge: access rules
As with the Al Mourjan Lounge, the Qatar Premium Lounge in London is solely for business class and first class passengers of Qatar Airways and other Oneworld passengers flying out of Heathrow Terminal 4 – which at the time of writing is limited to Malaysia Airlines.
If you're stuck in economy with Qatar Airways and have Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status (Qantas Gold and above) – or you're the guest of a first class passenger – you'll instead be directed to London's SkyTeam lounge:
Alternatively, Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members and Oneworld business class and first class passengers can stop by the separate Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge at Heathrow, so keep this option up your sleeve if the SkyTeam lounge is crowded.
In all other cities served by Qatar Airways including Melbourne and Perth, Qatar follows the 'normal' Oneworld rules in using the same lounges for frequent flyers as it does for premium class passengers.
To see which lounge(s) you can use around the globe when flying with Qatar Airways, head to the airline’s website.
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Aug 2014
Total posts 22
Unless I am mistaken (and I frequently am), I thought that when any member of the OW alliance visited another OW alliance lounge, the lounge owner charged the oringating airline a fee for access. If this is the case, why is Qatar so exclusive? I believe that Qatari OW Emeralds can use the QF Flounges in Syd and Melb, so why not their First Lounge (or even Biz) in LHR?
Qantas - QFF Platinum
20 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
This is really ridiculous, would love to know the dirty deal as to how QR can get away with such convoluted lounge access.
04 May 2015
Total posts 262
In fairness, British Airways does a similar thing at its Heathrow hub where the 'first class lounge' is really for people who aren't flying in first class, while the Concorde Room is for first class only, plus a few selected BA frequent flyers (just not those of OW).
Qatar mirrors that with one lounge for premium passengers and the 'first class' (and business class) lounges for frequent flyers.
But agreed, it's needlessly difficult!
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
Yes agreed but the Concorde Room at LHR T5 is not that much different from the Galleries First lounge.
To justify QR's decisions on the basis of BA's approach is somewhat misleading.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
I don't think BA see the Concorde Room as "not that much different" to the Galleries First lounge...
But I agree with you ;-)
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
The Concord Room is tokenism. Fact is, there will be an uproar if the Concord Room was spanking by comparison to Galleries First. It goes against the DNA of the organisation to have such blatant elitism. It would not be tolerated by the wider community, even as British society is regressing in terms of social mobility.
It makes you wonder about society in Singapore and Qatar, with their attitude to lounge access...
30 Sep 2011
Total posts 45
Al Mourjan Lounge is the reason I fly QATAR. If all other oneworld lounges were of this standard then it would be fair. Before they opened the oneworld lounges the Al Mourjan Lounge could get very full now it's serenity with 2 restaurants, space and more staff than clients. This is their Business class lounge the first class is still yet to open, waiting.... The other thing Qatar do for their passengers is to have a seperate area in some Oneworld Lounges offering a higher standard of catering and drinks.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2012
Total posts 134
I gave Qatar a couple of tries in 2014 and being refused entry for my wife in London was the reason I abandoned them as an airline of choice. Still, they can probably do wihtout my yearly travel spend.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
Chris,
When will AUSBT be doing a review of the Doha First Class lounge and Doha Business Class lounge?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
Like any airport lounge of interest, that'd be when we next have a chance to fly through there and spend time enough in each lounge – both were still under construction on AusBT's last Doha visit.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
Thanks Chris! Looking forward to it!
QF
10 Oct 2012
Total posts 7
There is another lounge at DOH that OWE and OWS flyers (and presumably F and J pax if they wanted to), that's the Oryx Lounge which is at the same level as the F and J lounges but across the other side of the lower level (the giant Teddy level that is). It's pretty much the same size as the QR J lounge and is for non-OW F and J pax and non OW status pax. That said, entitled OW pax can also use it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
I have to say i enjoyed my extended layover in the Al Mourjan Lounge in Doha. It is huge with so much space you can easily find a quiet spot, even when it apepars to be a 'busy' time. I experienced it early morning to early arvo and also late evening to just past midnight and it never felt crowded. The food was excellent and the staff extremely helpful. The drinks were great as well. There is a 'quiet zone' where you can have a room like space to yourself...sadly it had the least comfortable furniture. The one seat you get was not at all comfortable, so I chose to head back out into the main lounge. Showers are also excellent and there were plenty of them.
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