Several months back I flew Qatar Airways first class from Dubai to Doha (it was actually a business class seat, but for flights within the Gulf, Qatar Airways markets the forward cabin as first class rather than business class), connecting to Qatar Airways first class from Doha to London. I'd argue that Qatar Airways has…
Continue reading: Qatar Airways Opens New Lounge In Dubai
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The QR LHR Lounge is one of the best in the world for an outstation lounge. I was able to access easily with my QF boarding pass a few months ago. So the "This is the same (ridiculous) policy they have for their lounges in London and Doha." That isn't true and I know others have gained entry in the QR lounge with other OW premium boarding passes so it would seem like this policy is just for the DXB lounge if its true.
That lounge looks really nice. Open space, cool light fixtures, and luxurious finishes.
Will be there sometime in 2017. Hope it doesn't flood before then.
Maybe its because the sheikh is also the chairman of Dubai airport and thus appeared at the opening ceremony not as the chairman of the emirates group but rather representing the airport
Back in 2010, Qatar airways had a huge dedicated lounge in Terminal 1 in DXB, when i was flying QR again in 2014, they were using the Dubai International Lounge.
Opening their new lounge NOW in concourse D is a disappointment, Concourse D has been already operational for a couple of months now.
I suggest that you travel in DXB through Concourse D, it's very different than the rest of the airport and is very nice.
As per press release, QR biz class pax are allowed access as well. In your chastising paragraph, you said that only QR First class pax and PC elites have access, omitting QR biz class pax.
@ Nobody in particular -- There are no business class passengers. The planes are two cabins, with a first class and economy class.
Ben - would you say that the OneWorld alliance may terminate Qatar from being part of the alliance? I may they are already excluding us OneWorld members from entering their lounge. So how far can they go with it? On top of us not getting full Milage credit when flying revenue with them.
That picture of the Dubai International First Class Lounge may be out of date. I don't know for certain about the first class lounge, but I do know that when I visited the Dubai International Business Class lounge, it was recently renovated, and is very nice. Upon arrival, an attendant showed my family and I around the lounge, offered a spa treatment, showed us to a table, and distributed menus. The whole experience was much better than what older online reviews said. I wonder if the same is the case for the First Class lounge.
It's annoying that QR won't let in oneworld J/F or Emerald/Sapphire members, especially since the lounge entrance prominently displays the oneworld logo...
I chilled in this lounge when I was flying in March. It was super nice, and I was wondering why nobody had made mention of it!
I will be spending about 5 hours in that new lounge on 5/23. I am excited to try it out and will let you know my thoughts.
Ben - your point about no J class pax is not technically true. There are occasionally 3 cabin planes (A340) that operate DXB-DOH. If you are booked in a J class ticket, for example DXB-DOH-HKG, you will be seated in the business class cabin on a 3 cabin aircraft. This has happened to me a couple of times. Additionally, depending on the channel (like some travel agencies) that you buy your ticket through, on a business class ticket DXB-DOH-LHR, with the DXB-DOH portion operated by a 2 cabin aircraft, you will be seated in the topmost cabin, but your flight number will show QRXXXJ instead of QRXXXF for that segment. The implications in both of these situations has been that I was not permitted to use the first class lounge in Doha because I was on a business class ticket. Whereas if your flight shows F class - even for the same seat, you get to use the F lounge.
Fly F/C intragulf and you get dates and arabic coffee in a J class seat, business class cabin. The real F/C is available only on some aircrafts on certain routes.
Qatar Airways lounge in Abu Dhabi (Plaza Premium Al Dhabi Lounge) still has a long, long way to go. And, the hard product is good on the intra-Gulf flights if you get a true QR aircraft. Watch for when they sub in one of their green Al Maha planes. First Class cabin just a US domestic product, no IFE, etc. Not that it matters on a short AUH or DXB to DOH flight. Food and service still amazing, though, regardless the aircraft.
@John, No, the new lounge in DXB Concourse D is NOT better than QR business class lounge in DOH. For one thing, the food on offer is rather limited in the DXB lounge while the Biz Lounge in DOH offers buffet AND menu selection. Also, the Qatar Airways Lounge in DXB only has one 'real' Qatar Airways staffer (the others are contract catering staff that just wear the QR uniform). This is important because if there are any delays, they have very limited means to help you out ticketing-wise (unlike the full service counter staff at the entrance to the Biz lounge in DOH).
Traveling to Manchester from Dubai. Compared the the lounge in Manchester this is miles apart. 1st stop the "washroom". Surprised that they are actually nice and roomy. nice wooden shelves to place you items on. There was also a shower room (had I known before I would have used).
There was a nice spread of food for breakfast in the lounge. Fresh juices and various selection of fruit.
Nice dining area, comfy sofas and a tv area.
Wasn't too busy. Staff were prim and proper and very attentive.
Minor flow was that there was not window in the lounge and There were no announcement for the flights so have to keep an eye on the boarding screens.
Other Issues I did find, not with the lounge itself, but the airport. There is no priority lane for business class passenger and had to catch a train to gate D.
Ben, I have a question for you in regard to this lounge.
If I'm traveling from DXB to DOH on X/2/17 in economy on QR but I'm then connecting to a FC flight on QR on X/3/17 am I allowed to access this DXB QR lounge?
I just got here only to find out that it is now restricted to just those with first and business class tickets. Oneworld first and business class ticket holders are now allowed. QR has also updated their website with this info: http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/lounges-dubai-airport.pag.