I arrived at the Hamad International Airport shortly before 5AM, about three hours before my 7:55AM departure to London Heathrow on the inaugural Qatar Airways A380 flight.
Right as you pull up to the terminal, the first signage is for premium check-in, so I was dropped off there.
Hamad International Airport check-in hall
The check-in hall is extremely impressive, with high ceilings and a modern look. On the right side of the terminal is the premium check-in area, with business class check-in being on the left and first class check-in being on the right.
Hamad International Airport premium check-in
I had already been issued my boarding pass to London when I checked in the previous day in Cairo, so just walked past the first class check-in area.
Hamad International Airport premium check-in
There’s plenty of lounge style seating alongside the check-in desks, presumably in the event that you’re waiting on someone or have ticketing issues.
Hamad International Airport premium check-in
Then there are really sleek and private check-in desks, whereby you can be seated while your check-in is being processed.
Hamad International Airport premium check-in
At the end of the check-in hall was a dedicated premium line for immigration, where I was through in no time. Behind that was security, which was equally efficient.
Hamad International Airport terminal
The central part of the airside terminal is super impressive, with the centerpiece being the $6.8 million, 23 foot, 35,000 pound teddy bear, belonging to the Qatari royal family.
Hamad International Airport terminal
I can’t help but feel bad for the teddy bear, given that he looks like he’s being interrogated, and has a lamp lodged in his back.
Hamad International Airport terminal teddy bear
While the Oryx Lounge (for oneworld frequent flyers and oneworld premium cabin passengers) is located on the right side of the terminal, the Al Mourjan Lounge (for Qatar Airways first & business class passengers) is located on the left side of the terminal. For what it’s worth they’re also building a first class lounge, which should open in the first half of 2015. There are some other options available to those with a credit card with lounge access.
Hamad International Airport terminal
There’s clear signage leading up to the Al Mourjan Lounge, which can be accessed via an escalator.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge signage
At the bottom of the escalator is an agent that already verifies eligibility to access the lounge.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge escalator
Then at the top of the escalator is a reception desk, where they scan your boarding pass and check on your departure gate information.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge reception desk
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge reception area
As I mentioned above, for the time being this lounge is shared by first and business class passengers, so presumably it will only get emptier in the future. That being said, the lounge was massive, and didn’t feel crowded at all.
It’s a physically stunning lounge. I know it sounds cliche at this point with my reporting on Qatar Airways, but His Excellency’s attention to detail really is reflected in this lounge, both in terms of how it was designed and in terms of the quality of the furniture and finishes.
There’s tons and tons of seating spread across all kinds of environments.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge seating
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge seating
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge magazines
One thing this lounge does brilliantly is that it simultaneously create a sense of privacy and spaciousness. The ceilings in the lounge are really high, but at the same time there are so many “shields” between seats that you really don’t realize how many people you’re sharing the lounge with.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge seating
Each seat has a power outlet, touchscreen monitor with airport and flight info, and most of the seats have a bottle of water and packaged cookies as well.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge cookies & water
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
There are also tons of couches. I was amazed by how many people took their shoes off and used them as beds (the lounge doesn’t have any nap rooms, unfortunately).
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge seating
Most of the lounge is centered around the first floor, though the restaurant is one level up. Below the spiral staircase leading up the restaurant is a cute little “pond” of sorts, which is almost hypnotizing thanks to how it reflects on the ceiling.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Throughout the lounge there are drink stations with water and soft drinks. Then there are several stations with snacks as well.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge drinks
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge
Then at the far end of the main level of the lounge is a deli, which physically is the highlight of the lounge, in my opinion. It’s such a gorgeous space, and even if not eating I’d almost choose to sit there.
There’s bar-top seating, dining tables, and booths.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli
The food concept in this area is a bit confusing to me. They have made to order sandwiches 24/7. There’s not even a sandwich menu, they’ll literally just make you whatever the hell you want.
I had a chicken sandwich, which was actually extremely good.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli sandwich
Then there’s also a small continental breakfast spread with cereal and pastries.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli breakfast
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli breakfast
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge deli breakfast
The service concept throughout the lounge is a bit confusing, though. It seems that they sort of offer service, though you have to request it. In other words, it’s not like a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse or the Lufthansa First Class Terminal where someone will proactively come up to you and see if you want anything. Instead, I typically had to flag someone down, but once I did, they usually stopped by again to see if I wanted anything. I’m not sure if that’s how it’s supposed to work, or…
Speaking of service, one interesting thing is that they actually have cabin crew working in the lounge. I only noticed this because the guy serving me had “Cabin Crew” written on his name tag. He explained that the lounge was understaffed because of how new it was, so they had some cabin crew working in it for the time being.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge bistro cappuccino
Anyway, the lounge’s main dining area is actually one level up from the lounge, and can be accessed by spiral staircase or elevator.
It’s also a fairly nice dining area. I prefer the design of the deli, since the ceilings aren’t quite as high here. That being said, the restaurant boasts nice views of the rest of the lounge, and also has several types of seating options. The big leather chairs by the windows are especially comfortable.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant
The restaurant area also has a bar, which as far as I’m concerned has the single best feature of the lounge — Krug!
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge bar
They have a large champagne selection, and Krug is among them. That being said, you specifically have to request Krug, and it’s only available in the restaurant area. There’s no airline in the world that serves Krug in their lounges as far as I know, so that’s amazing.
At first I wondered if they’d stop offering it in the business class lounge once the first class lounge opened, though I was told that’s not the plan as of now. I guess we’ll see if that remains true in a few months.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant bar drinks
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge Krug!
In addition to a buffet, the lounge also has a limited a la carte menu. Later on I had the chance to ask a lounge manager why the a la carte menu wasn’t bigger, and it was explained to me that apparently the lounge’s kitchen is tiny, and wasn’t properly designed to serve a lounge of this size.
Anyway, the breakfast menu read as follows:
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast menu
The buffet spread was quite good, though, with several hot and cold options.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge restaurant breakfast buffet
The restaurant is definitely where the service was most attentive, almost too much so.
In terms of the lounge’s other facilities, there are several shower rooms, which are decent enough, though not really cutting edge.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge shower room
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge shower room
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge shower room
There’s a pretty big game room as well.
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge game room
Doha Airport Al Mourjan Business Lounge game room
Then there’s a prayer room, though I didn’t take a picture of that.
Anyway, at around 7AM I decided to head to the gate, just under an hour before departure. At this point I had met up with my friend Sven, who was also on the inaugural flight in first class.
Doha Airport terminal
Our A380 was departing from gate A3, where they had separate queues for premium passengers and economy passengers.
Doha Airport A380 departure gate
Doha Airport A380 departure gate
Doha Airport A380 departure gate
I was curious what festivities they had planned at the gate, as no one at check-in or in the lounge seemed to have a clue of anything special going on, let alone had they heard of the A380.
To my surprise there was a lovely lady from Qatar Airways handing out roses as passengers entered the gate area.
Doha Airport inaugural A380 flight departure gate
Doha Airport inaugural A380 flight departure gate
There was a large seating area on the main concourse level.
Doha Airport inaugural A380 flight departure gate
And then there were stairs and an elevator leading up to the second floor, where first & business class passengers could wait for the flight before boarding.
Doha Airport inaugural A380 flight departure gate
It was a large area, and it’s rather unique on the part of Hamad Airport that they actually have a separate floor for upper deck passengers to wait.
Doha Airport inaugural A380 flight departure gate
At around 7:10AM a frantic Qatar Airways employee showed up and asked us our names. Once we told her, she said “I was looking all over for you.” Apparently they escort first class passengers from the lounge to the gate, though I’m not sure how that would happen anyway, given that the lounge is so big and we hadn’t identified ourselves there.
I couldn’t help but ask her if The Chief was going to be on the flight, and she said “yes, I think he will be.” Naturally I had a hard time controlling myself.
Qatar Airways A380 Doha Airport
Anyway, another German joined Sven and I shortly before boarding, who was also in first class on the inaugural flight, so I suppose Germany was well represented on this one. 😉
At around 7:20AM the agent informed us that they were ready for boarding, and she escorted us all to the door of the plane.
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Lounge bottom line
Ultimately I think this should be judged as a business class lounge, since that’s what it is. It’s an absolutely stunning lounge physically. The food is excellent, and the drink select is spectacular.
What could they do to improve?
- Make the service concept a bit more consistent, or at least explain it — where in the lounge should you expect service, and how quickly should you expect it?
- Add some amenities — while it’s a nice lounge to sit in, there’s not really a spa or other amenities like some other lounges have
I’ve been told that the first class lounge will be amazing, though admittedly it was from a biased source. But apparently it will have a spa, restaurant with an a la carte menu, etc. I guess we’ll find out soon enough!
But all-in-all, this is a great lounge, among the best business class lounges out there.
If you’ve been to the Al Mourjan Lounge, what was your experience like?
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