Qatar Airways operates a somewhat-complex network of lounges at its home hub. Its very best pre-flight spaces have distinct, unique names beginning with ‘Al’ – Al Sawfa, and Al Mourjan. But then, there’s an independent lounge titled Al Maha. Add to that, a separate Mariner Lounge for offshore workers. Then there are lounges named after the country’s national animal, the oryx. But Qatar also has spaces with simpler titles in Doha: Platinum, Gold and Silver.
Perhaps, the latter is simple in one respect, and curious in another. Along with separate zones for Platinum, Gold and Silver, there’s an additional lounge shared between both Platinum and Gold. (Are you keeping up? It took me a while to wrap my head around it all…) So what’s this combined lounge all about?
In a nutshell, Qatar Airways usually provides different lounges for those with access via cabin class, and those entering a lounge using their status. In general, the best lounges are reserved for travellers sitting at the pointy end. Frequent flyers booked in Economy – or who’ve received a Business Class upgrade via Privilege Club – are sent to separate frequent flyers lounges instead.
It’s like how at London Heathrow, British Airways keeps The Concorde Room for actual First Class flyers. Meanwhile, most top-tier travellers not flying First Class are redirected to BA’s Galleries First Lounge instead. Qatar Airways takes a similar approach, but echoes it right across the lounge spectrum, not just at the top. Let’s step inside…
Accessing the Qatar Airways Platinum & Gold Lounge North in Doha
We normally cover lounge access at the end of a review, but here, we’re making an exception. Who visits this lounge, and why? Let’s clear that up before we move on.
In short, this lounge is for mid-tier and top-tier frequent flyers who are not booked in Business or First Class. And, for those who originally booked Economy Class but later upgraded to a higher cabin through Privilege Club. Those who’ve booked Business Class or First Class outright will want to take advantage of those much better lounges. Look for ‘Al Mourjan’ if flying Business Class and ‘Al Safwa’ if flying First Class.
But, back to Qatar Airways’ Platinum & Gold Lounge North in Doha. Here’s the guest list.
Lounge access
- When flying with Qatar Airways:
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold (+1 guest) and Platinum (+2 guests) – includes flights booked as a VA codeshare.
- Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold, Platinum and Beyond (+1 guest and children) – includes flights booked as a VA codeshare.
- Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge (+1 guest) – excluding flights booked as a VA or non-oneworld codeshare.
- Other oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers (+1 guest) – excluding flights booked as a VA or non-oneworld codeshare.
- When flying on Virgin Australia ‘wet lease’ flights (operated by Qatar Airways):
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold (+1 guest) and Platinum (+2 guests) – includes flights booked as a QR codeshare.
- Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold, Platinum and Beyond (+1 guest and children) – includes flights booked as a QR codeshare.
- When flying on other oneworld Alliance flights:
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold and Platinum (+1 guest).
- Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge (+1 guest).
- Other oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers (+1 guest).
Today, even though I qualify for Qatar’s higher-tier Al Mourjan lounge via my onward cabin class, I choose to visit this lounge instead, relying on my frequent flyer status. A quick comment at the entrance along the lines of “I know I can visit the other lounge, but…” does the trick, without any hesitation from the lounge host. I sense this isn’t an uncommon request, from those keen to explore Qatar Airways’ various Gold and Platinum lounge offerings in Doha.
Location, layout and amenities
Qatar Airways’ Platinum & Gold Lounge North sits at the ‘new’ end of Doha Airport. This places it within easy walking distance of the Orchard (the indoor garden) and near the airport’s ‘C’ gates. Conveniently, tonight, it’s also right above the gate for QR988, taking me home to Melbourne.
As one of the airline’s newest lounges in Doha, the space certainly feels fresh. Furniture looks and feels like new, and modern lampposts throughout keep the lounge at a pleasant level of brightness – even at 1am, when I’ve wandered on inside after touching down from Paris. The high ceilings provide a welcome contrast to the confines of an aircraft.
I find many of the zones duplicated at each end of the lounge. There are tables and chairs for dining, zones for laptop work, and lots of seating purely for kicking back. The lounge also overlooks the bustling concourse below, but has no boarding announcements of its own, keeping the vibe on the relaxing side.
While the space is modern with elements of subdued stylishness, there are still a couple of omissions. I stroll from end to end and notice that most seats don’t provide access to a power point. And, where these are fitted, there’s one power outlet provided between two seats. It’s complemented by wireless charging and USB power – but if you have two gadgets needing a real plug, it’s not ideal. Many solo power points are also occupied by lights, such as in the terrace area. The only way to power up would be to unplug, which I sense you’re not meant to do…
Seating-wise, there’s also little in the way of privacy. The dining and kids’ areas have dividing walls, but elsewhere, chairs line up row after row. It makes the lounge feel ‘open’, but it also gives the sense that no matter where you sit, you’re on display.
Shower suites are available, but tonight, there’s a line-up – even when the lounge itself isn’t particularly full. For a newly built lounge in an established transit hub with predictable passenger volumes, this shouldn’t be the case.
Food and beverage in Qatar Airways’ Platinum & Gold Lounge North in Doha
On the food front, Qatar’s Platinum & Gold Lounge North in Doha is a little more ‘Platinum’ than ‘Gold’. That’s because the dining options are a tad more generous than the typical Gold Lounge fare. A very short à la carte menu offers bites such as smoked salmon tartare on toasted sourdough, and ice cream plated to order.
I don’t have a lot of time, and after eating just before landing, I’m also not overly hungry. That’s why it’s also pleasing to find a reasonably stocked buffet with several hot options. There are also many pre-plated things to take – handy in scenarios like this where you don’t have hours to spare.
I can’t fly through the Middle East without sampling the hummus, and it doesn’t let me down. The baklava bites are also tasty.
There’s an open bar with a mixologist at the ready. But after a week of wine tastings in France (and bubbles on the flight I’ve just arrived on…), I’m content with sparkling water tonight. I still investigate the alcoholic sparkling in the name of research – Devil’s Rock from Germany. I have a small taste: it’s drinkable, but clearly, it’s not Champagne.
The verdict
On the whole, Doha’s Qatar Airways Platinum & Gold Lounge North isn’t bad, by any stretch. Design-wise, it’s a step up from the airline’s ‘original’ frequent flyer lounges, which remain available closer to check-in and immigration. There’s hot food, bar service, and the airport’s public Wi-Fi is fast enough (165Mbps down, 171Mbps up) that the lounge doesn’t need its own network. Showers are available too, if you have time to wait.
But, it’s also fair to say, this lounge is more about meeting a traveller’s basic needs and passing time, rather than being a destination in its own right. For frequent flyers travelling from Australia to Europe in Economy, it’s may also be a step down from the frequent flyer alternative lounges, given the way that Qatar Airways separates status holders from premium cabin flyers.
Fly through Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, for instance, and top-tier status with Qatar Airways or oneworld unlocks Cathay Pacific’s real First Class lounges. That is, the very same lounges afforded to those buying a full fare First Class ticket. Hit the Champagne bar, book a cabana or a spa, and enjoy full à la carte dining – even when flying Economy. In Doha with Qatar Airways, it’s this lounge. It gets the job done, but doesn’t have the same X-factor. You get the idea.
For those with Velocity status, Qatar’s offering is more comparable to that of Singapore Airlines, which similarly separates frequent flyers and front-of-plane passengers at Changi Airport. How the offering stacks up for your own journey depends on a lot of variables. From where we sit, this space is broadly comparable with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Singapore. On that basis, we’re awarding the same rating: four stars.
Chris Chamberlin travelled to Doha as a guest of Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways.
Also reviewed: Virgin Australia x Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Qsuite Business Class (Sydney – Doha)
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