February 8
I am little more than half-way through my posts pertaining to my most recent set of flights. Below, I tried to capture my experience at Qatar Airways Premium Terminal in Doha. I would ask you to think about the best airline lounge you have ever visited. Now, picture that lounge making up an entire terminal. That, in essence, is the Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, although there are 2 separate actual lounge areas; one for First Class passengers and one for Business Class passengers.
A bus brought Business Class passengers from the plane to the terminal where we were greeted by two Qatar attendants and escorted to a security check-point with no line.
premium terminal from the tarmac
The lower level of the terminal contains a few shops as well as the departure gates. The actual First Class and Business Class Lounges can be found on the upper level.
first lounge on the left; business on the right
I could not resist posting a picture of the bathroom. Very clean and modern. Good thing the bathrooms were staffed with attendants because I couldn’t figure out how to use the soap dispenser or make the water turn on.
Satellite snack and beverage counters could be found throughout the lounge:
In addition to the snack and beverage stations, there was a restaurant. While the food was self-service, waiters were on hand to clear plates and serve beverages. The restaurant has hummus, salads and breads available throughout the day and various hot foods are served at meal time. All food from the restaurant is required to be consumed within the restaurant’s dining area. I included a picture of my lunch at the restaurant.
lunch: chicken thigh, potatoes, bread, baba ganoush (?)
Beyond the spectacular setting and wonderful food, what makes the Premium Terminal so great is, like any successful operation, the people. Qatar staff were focused solely on the well being and comfort of the passengers. When I inquired about catching an earlier flight to London, the service desk attendant insisted I return to the lounge and relax while she checked out the availability. I obliged and after about ten minutes the agent appeared in the lounge to let me know I would be able to take the earlier flight. She then insisted that she wheel my bag while she escorted me to the departure gate. After a few leisurely hours enjoying all that the Premium Terminal has to offer, I was on my way to London.
