Qatar Airways makes an effort to ensure that it’s Premium Cabin customers in First or Business Class have expedited services for end – to – end travel through it’s network. With dedicated check in lines, priority security and priority boarding along with a dedicated lounge network, Qatar Airways has placed a premium on it’s commercially important customers. The Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Lounge in Doha is another example of these efforts and offers a comfortable place to recharge prior to arriving.

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This post is one chapter on my trip to the Republic of the Maldives. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Air Canada’s Aeroplan. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us here or on social media through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for more travel tips and hacks on how to “Upgrade Your Travels”.

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Review: Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals First & Business Class Immigration Lounge, Doha Hamad International Airport, Qatar

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Qatar Airways features a little known arrivals facility in the Doha Hamad International Airport. The arrivals facility consists of an immigration lounge that can be used prior to your arrival into Qatar.

If you’d like to read about the departures lounge, please see our latest review of the Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge.

Locating the Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Lounge:

We arrived into Doha Hamad International Airport on an excellent Qatar Airways Q Suites Malé – Doha flight. As a result of an eleven hour layover, we opted to transfer to a hotel for the night, specifically the Westin Doha Hotel and Spa.

After landing, we headed for the immigration exit check points for Qatar. The Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Immigration Lounge is very easy to find on the left hand side of the arrivals concourse.

It is easily marked and travellers won’t have any difficulty finding it. Despite the marking actually indicating that signs are for Al Salwa First and Al Mourjan business, you’ll find that the pathways actually lead to the Qatar Airways Premium Business Lounge.

Accessing the Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Immigration Lounge:

The Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Immigration Lounge is accessible by travellers in Qatar Airwaya First or Business Class.

Qatar Airways First Class and Business Class (Elite, Comfort) and One World First Class and Business Class passengers can access this lounge on a complimentary basis.

Qatar Airways has unbunded some of their business class fares. Accordingly, some Qatar Business Class Fares do not automatically offer lounge access.

Fortunately, basic business class passenger and Economy Class passengers throughout the network can purchase lounge access on line, at the check-in counters, preferred travel agents, or Qatar Airways’ sales offices.

Access is also likely granted per the One World First and Business Class Lounge Access policy, even though this isn’t specifically a One World Lounge:

• Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. First Class passengers may use a Business Class or frequent flyer lounge if a First Class lounge is not available.
• First Class passengers may invite one guest to join them in the lounge. The guest must also be travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.
• Access is available on the day of travel (or before 06:00am the following day), at the airport from which the oneworld flight on which the eligible customer is travelling departs.
• Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:
  • First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
  • 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.
  • You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.

Today’s access was courtesy of our Qatar Airways Business Class Ticket, which was redeemed through Alaska Mileage Plan.

Our boarding cards were scanned by a host at the lounge entrance. We were then given access to the lounge.

Inside Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Immigration Lounge:

The lounge itself is a large square space that contains lounge chairs and tables. The lounge itself has always been completely empty every time I’ve passed through.

Immigration facilities are located within the lounge itself. They can be seen in the distance in the back of the below photographs.

The lounge has access to wifi. As a result, it’s a perfect place to finalize your travel arrangements in to the city, or perhaps respond to or address emails before you lose connectivity.

Food and Beverage:

The Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Lounge has a small amount of food and beverage available. It’s nothing like the over the top restaurants located upstairs in their Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge, but at least it’s something.

You’ll find tinned soft drinks and sparkling water, light snacks and an espresso machine for those that need to perform after a long flight.

There were also a number of baked goods presented in an etagière.

We briefly paused here to make sure our paperwork was in order before passing through Qatar Immigration. There were no queues and no other travellers, making this immigration entry point the one to be at for a fast entry into Qatar. We transferred over to The Westin Doha Hotel and Spa for an overnight layover.

My Thoughts the Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Lounge at Doha Hamad International Airport:

The Qatar Airways makes every effort to provide expedited efforts for their business class travellers. The Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals Lounge at Doha Hamad International Airport is just one of many end – to – end features designed to assist in expediting your journey.

The Qatar Airways Premium Arrivals space is great for making those final travel arrangements or finishing up on issues requiring internet connectivity prior to entering into Qatar. The expedited and private immigration check point is likely the primary advantage for using this space. You’ll be on your way quickly and without much delay.

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If you’ve flown regularly on Qatar Airways, do you appreciate the end to end features designed to make your travel faster ?

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