Based upon the comments in my review, it seems that no major business class lounge divides readers more than Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in Doha. I’m firmly in the fan camp and would even put this lounge in the running for the best business class lounge in the world.
Best Business Class Lounge In The World? My Case For Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan Lounge
For years, the Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul was my favorite lounge in the world. That’s because of the delectable cuisine, superb coffee, and hotel-like sleeping accommodations available to select longhaul premium cabin travelers.
But excessive crowding at the Turkish Airlines lounges as well as its arcane rules for assigning sleeping rooms and poor internet mean it is no longer at the top of my list. There are many business class lounge around the world that I like. In the USA, the oneworld lounge in Los Angeles and most United Polaris lounges are excellent. In the UK, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is superb. I’ve also heard great things about the new Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer lounge in Singapore, though I have yet to check it out.
Quite honestly, though, my favorite business class lounge in the world is currently the Al Mourjan Lounge in Doha. Here’s why:
- Superb meals
- Excellent drink options, including freshly-squeezed juice, coffee, nad a wide range of alcoholic options
- Multiple shower suites
- While no sleeping rooms (like the Al Safwa Lounge), there is a huge quiet area where you can reserve easy chairs that are intended for sleeping and there are no onerous restrictions on their use
- Stable internet and power ports easily within reach of most chairs
Look at my meals during the last two visits:
At what other business class lounge can you enjoy such a delicious meal?
And if you are craving something lighter, there’s a second restaurant with delicious sandwiches made-to-order:
CONCLUSION
I’m a huge fan of the Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan Lounge in Doha and look forward to every visit.
Bottom line: this is a great lounge and perhaps even the best business class lounge in the world.
What is your opinion of the Al Mourjan lounge?
It is my favorite by far. Now that there is another AM opening, crowding should get better which is my only complaint.
I think you should add Air Canada’s Signature Suite (only been in YYZ). Even better than UA Polaris lounges!
Agreed, I’d rank Air Canada’s Signature Suite among the top, at least their food is going to trump any other business lounge IMHO. And it’s better than any other business lounge in North America for sure. I’d say it’s better than any in Europe, better than the Turkish lounge (though a very different experience), I haven’t yet ben to Al Mourjan or the new Singapore lounge to make a more definitive claim.
You are both right. I forgot about the Air Canada Signature Suite and even reviewed it!
“it seems that no major business class lounge divides readers more than Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in Doha”
If something is that divisive, then maybe it isn’t THE best. Better to say it’s your favorite lounge, maybe?
Fair to say that “best” is generally subjective, but I really don’t understand why so many seem to dislike this lounge when it has so many objective features that make it so special.
For me the biggest reason why I dislike the AM lounge was the complete failure of Imho one of the most basic features of any airline louge, irrops assistance.
Instead of helping me with a re-route due a big delay, the folks working the desk said I need to go to the gate.
I asked why they couldn’t help me and they just said it is not possible and that I must go to the gate.
A less important reason was even after asking my steak to be cooked rare, it came out well done.
One thing that may explain this is that none of the food (aside from sandwich assembly, etc.) is actually cooked on premises. It is all prepared by the same kitchen as in-flight catering, and is re-heated/finished in the lounge kitchen.
Getting meaningful IROPS assistance in a lounge isn’t much of a thing outside of the US.
The employees of Sodexo, Swissport, Goldair, AENA, Do&Co etc that staff the majority of non-hub lounges and a good chunk of hub ones do not have authority to act on behalf of an airline and won’t have a clue as to how to book you on the next flight out, let alone arrange rerouting to another airline.
The IB Velázquez lounge would probably never appear in a blog post like this one (I suspect that’s mostly because the airline to which it belongs tends to offer a mediocre service), but if is surprisingly good. My own favourite lounge is the otherwise relatively unremarkable Aegean lounge at SKG because of the facility to board straight from there. Virtually all hub airport lounges require one to time their visit to factor in the walk to the gate, and that’s very tricky as there are no boarding announcements (understandable due to the large number of flights) and the screens invariably call boarding way too early. I spent 40 mins standing at a CDG gate the other day because I was told the walk was 10 minutes (it was about 2.5) and a delay was announced exactly when I arrived (I would have waited for boarding to start had I known how near it was). No amount of lounge food can compensate for a miserable experience of that sort.
The Velázquez lounge is superb! I expected CX lounges at HKG to be great but I was underwhelmed; TK at IST is fine as long as you can keep out of the way of overnight sleepers taking 2-3 seats each, but Velázquez is one of the best I’ve experienced.
I also like the Velazquez and reviewed it here:
https://liveandletsfly.com/iberia-premium-lounge-velazquez-madrid-review/
Good call on this one Mr. Klimt. Your food looked like someone took some time to prepare. It looks delicious & is presented rather beautifully. I believe some people don’t like the lounge because of the Airbus/Qatar dispute. Some people are very sensitive to the issue. I believe Qatar is an excellent airline with excellent lounges as well & that the issues people have with Qatar Airlines CEO are blinded to the real product. Also, I believe Akbar Al Baker (Qatar CEO) has every right to be upset with the manufacturer for delivering a flawed product. Also Boeing is having some of the same issues and I feel the same way.
I definitely would put Al Mourjan amongst the best, my other favs are the Pier in HK and the Virgin club house in London, though it has been a while since I have been to the clubhouse and I have heard it has slipped a bit recently.
AM lounge in Doha is my favorite biz lounge but the last time I was there coming back from the Maldives in September it was very busy. No room in the quiet areas in the back. We scored a couple of the lounge sleepers by the front, but they are located right next to a children’s play area in the airport. Too must screaming at 2AM to sleep. 20 minute wait for the showers in the back. The food is really good though. It’s still an awesome large place. Just very tough to find sleeping space now.
Totally disagree, lounge is beautiful but food is worse among other business lounges such as etihad and emirates
I quite disagree, especially compared to Etihad, but we can disagree.
Are there still not some restrictions related to the type of QR J ticket purchased or awarded?
Yes, the so-called “business basic” fares do not necessarily allow lounge access.
Hi Everyone… I’m surprised that there wasn’t even a single mention of the LHR BA First Galleries South lounge. While quite large, it is part of BA’s rather fabulous First Wing check-in area (always well staffed), with its own reserved Security zone, and a direct entry into the Galleries First lounge itself. The Wine & Champagne bar is excellent, the food is extremely varied in selection (and is plentiful), the showers are great before a connection after a long-haul, and there’s even a “quiet zone room”, to try to avoid the speaker-phone people who insist that we join in their conversations!! So while Al Mourjan (and especially Al Safwa) are so exquisite, I think many of us pass via LHR even more than via DOH. Anyone agree?
I’m only taking about business lounges here – I do like the BA lounge as a first class lounge.
“Fair to say that “best” is generally subjective, but I really don’t understand why so many seem to dislike this lounge when it has so many objective features that make it so special.”
While I don’t think too many people disagree that the lounge scores well in most of the objective categories, you have to accept that the minimalist design is polarizing. Clearly you like it, but personally I detest minimalism, and find the design of this lounge cold, soulless, and uninviting (at least based on your photos; I haven’t had the privilege of visiting in person yet). And I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way. That being said, if the architecture is my only complaint, sure, I’d get over it if everything else was on point.
Most frequent flier based in Singapore would agree that SQ refreshed Business Class (SilverKris) lounge is not a strong contender.
While the lounge has a nice design and great selection of hot buffet items (which already puts it above many other US/ Europe lounges), crowding could be an issue and many would definitely regard the made-to-order dishes as superior in quality.
Even this small Qatar Airways lounge in Changi Airport is considered to be better than SQ’s own Business lounge and could even match its First Class.
Some links for reference:
https://milelion.com/2022/11/15/review-qatar-airways-premium-lounge-singapore/
https://milelion.com/2021/11/23/review-singapore-airlines-new-silverkris-lounge-at-changi-airport-terminal-3/
You sir sound like a frequent flyer out of Singapore. I concur wholeheartedly with your claims, there is nothing special about SQ’s Silver Kris Lounge, from the ambience to the catering and even the showers. In fact I find all of OWs lounges in Changi, the Qantas Business and First, BA Lounge, CX Business Lounge in T4 and of course the Qa tar Premium Lounge all superior both in terms of catering and amenities. SQ do not deserve the acolodates they get on ground.
Back to the point, AM for me is without a doubt the best business lounge in the world.