After a few nights in Doha, my dad and I continued our round the world journey by flying Qatar Airways Airbus A380 first class to Perth. We spent lots of time at Doha Hamad Airport so that I could review several lounges plus the airport expansion.
Continue reading: Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Garden Business Lounge Doha Airport (DOH)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Beautiful lounge and nice review. Does anyone know if a OW Emerald would have access to this lounge if coming off a flight in J but connecting to a QR flight in Y, with both on the same reservation? I managed to use some AA SWUs for flights to the Seychelles, but the short flight from DOH to SEZ will still be in Y. Thanks in advance!
Nice review. I'll be there in October.
"I love the design of this lounge, and in particular how high the ceilings are, and that the lounge opens up into the terminal. "
As with the other lounge, all I've found this does (the opening up to the terminal part) is direct loud sounds from machinery, people, and advertising and light from strobing LED screens into the lounge area, disrupting the possibility of sleep unless you're one of the few that is able to get a pod. I see nothing positive about opening the lounge to a busy airport terminal.
was there in May.
Loved it. Now I have to find a reason to book another trip on QR 😉
You can’t visit the LV lounge unless you have higher tier status with Qatar. Just having a Biz class ticket will not get you in. We were turned away in May, due to only being Silver status even though we were flying Biz class.
Wow, those seats right at the edge overlooking the trees below are spectacular.
I said it once and I'll say it again.
Any Priority Pass lounge does the job for me: coffee and fruits/biscuits...
what else would you need before a flight?
This lounge does not accept Priority Pass members so it is a hard Pass in my book.
Even though I never tried this lounge, I believe it is way overrated.
What about the proper ala carte dining menu ( https://www.qatarairways.com/content/dam/hia/pdf/al-mourjan-dinning-en.pdf), not just deli sandwiches? Is it available in the new lounge, or limited to the original one?
@ TommyGzzz -- Per the oneworld lounge rules, you should be allowed access. This is a oneworld business class lounge (not an elite lounge, though), and per oneworld's website, this policy should apply:
"Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight."
Now, that's how it should be, as I understand it. But I can't guarantee the person at the entrance to the lounge will have the same interpretation.
@ Chris -- I hear you, and I agree in theory. But I have to say that even when I returned in the evening (when the terminal was otherwise busy), I heard almost no noise from outside the lounge.
@ SBS -- Sorry, good catch, forgot to include that. I just updated the post to add that.
@ food -- Sorry, I forgot to include the other menu, so just added that. There is a more substantial selection.
LOL come on. I've been to some pretty dire PP lounges. To compare those to a lounge like this would be insulting to QR.
By all means please stay away. The less crowded these real lounges, the better!
Stumbled into here recently when my flight from Paris disembarked near the new garden (and was confused at first with the new section and thought it was the original location of the big teddy bear and was replaced by garden!)
Not having toilets within the shower suites was a big factor that would make me want the other lounge as when traveling with my 5 year old daughter (mom not traveling) try to look for private bathrooms to take her to rather than a common men's restroom especially in such a partriarical society which this country is!
Ben - in the entry requirements section you link to your past article on Qatar's business lite fare ( https://onemileatatime.com/qatar-airways-basic-business-class/). That older article notes business lite as being the "R" fare class, but I believe that may be a typo (or it changed) as it's the "P" fare class that is business lite and doesn't include lounge access. Just noting as it caused some initial confusion for an upcoming Qatar business flight I'm on before realizing I'm in classic and not lite.
Ben, do you know if the nap rooms can be locked, to not be disturbed, and to keep valuables safe, while leaving temporarily to grab some food etc.
Or is it best to leave your bag in the locker?
OK, that's good news. In the other lounge I've struggled to get a decent seat. Then again it's much closer to the hub
Because people like me like to know what it looks like. I’m always curious whether a bidet is offered and how it looks like so I can prepare beforehand. For me restrooms and showers are one of the most important aspects after a long flight. Everyone has their own things that they find important.
There is also a clause from the OneWorld website:
"Qatar Airways' Al Safwa First and Al Mourjan Business lounges in Doha (DOH) and Qatar Airways' Premium Lounges are excluded (in the oneworld lounge access policy)."
Technically, it seems like the right lounge will be "First Class Lounge", which is for OWE members traveling in economy.
However, since you're holding the same ticket and if the lounge agent considers it as a business class ticket (as your long-haul segment is in J), you might be allowed in.
Transitting through here in September with a 4hr stopover (0440hrs-0845hrs) so not ideal to sample the best of this new lounge.
I would say about 6-8 hours, through breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea would be ideal; next time maybe.
Nonetheless, I'm excited to get to visit!
Let's all follow DCS brilliant Life lessons and feed on:
_ bretzels
_ humid peanuts
_ hard as a rock apples
_ Lukewarm Coke
The default coktail menu at Hilton properties Lounges
Showers?... forget about it, you'll shower the next morning,
I'm still baffled as to this Louis Vuitton lounge. It's a lounge within a lounge, where even though you don't pay for anything in the Al Mourjan lounge, you then pay for everything in the LV lounge, because it has an LV logo on it? What is the point? Is it just for influencers?
And the public without lounge access cannot access it? Why, if they want to spend the money?
The less people that want in to this lounge the better. It will (hopefully) never get as crowded as AM South, but the less people I have to wait behind for a shower or nap room...
My favorite seats in the whole lounge. Wait service there too, so order champagne and sushi and relax over the garden.
You can't visit the "LV" AM North on status, period. Must be on an eligible QR business class ticket.
@ Chris W -- Correct, it's not open to the public. Not only that, but you actually need Privilege Club Gold or Platinum status in addition to having access to the lounge to visit the Louis Vuitton Lounge. Only time will tell if this concept proves successful.
@ CodeAdam10 -- Usually the flights to the US leave from closer to the Al Mourjan Lounge South.
@ Jeffrey -- Yep, as noted by Origami, they can't be locked, so you can leave your stuff in lockers if you want. Personally I'd feel pretty comfortable leaving my items in a nap room, though, given that the area is staffed, so there aren't just dozens of people walking past all the nap rooms.
"It’s like asking me if I’d prefer a dirty martini or cappuccino"
Regarding the two lounges, I think the better question would be if you prefer your dirty martini with olives or onions.
This actually explains a lot about why DCS is so happy with Hilton, given their clearly low expectations. A stay at a Hampton must be a luxury day out.
A hard pass to something objectively more luxurious that you can’t access anyway on your priority pass? What are you adding to the conversation?
Go home.
Bizarre concept. I sense the ego massage will be the most popular Dior spa treatment.
Specifically QR status, or oneworld equivalent?
@Ben. Not apropos this post, but I would love to be able to browse a gallery of the pictures (with captions) from these review posts that feature dozens of pictures. Do you think that might be something you might be able to implement, if there's interest from other readers? (Though Boarding Area's infrastructure would probably not allow for it?)
“Even though I never tried this lounge, I believe it is way overrated.”
Brilliant…
Sorry if it comes out as basic. But flying Qatar Business (both my first) in September and have intentionally taken a 10 hour layover.
Can I use both lounges or once I enter one, I am not allowed entry into the other. And if the former is true, can I shuttle between them multiple times (if need be, just as an option)?
I’m here right now on an 8-hour layover. We started out at the Main Lounge and then left to come to The Garden Lounge. No problem visiting both. We didn’t go back to the Main Lounge, but I asked if we could, and the receptionist said it wouldn’t be a problem.
I must say- most PP lounges are honestly trash in comparison to some airline lounges. There's a few AA and delta lounges I'd prefer any day over PP. With that being said, when you have a 8/10/12 hr lay over.... Coffee/fruits and biscuit aren't cutting it!
Honestly I prefer the main Al marjoun lounge. This one is best avoided if your flight is not leaving from the C gates. It's quite a long walk from the other lounge. This lounge while quieter seems less interesting than the main one.
Visited this lounge multiple times. Some things to be clear on…the showers here don’t have toilets (as Luke acknowledges in his comment). You need to plan for this before your visit. This is the only Qatar lounge (F or J) that has a filtered water dispenser to refill your travel bottle. The buffet food is very similar to what’s on offer in the Platinum lounge. The wine/champagne was the exact same options I saw in the Al Safwa lounge on the day I lounge hopped.