Anastasia Hedge visits the Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Hamad International Airport, Doha
Getting there: Qatar Airways offers lounges of various tiers to guests at Hamad International Airport. The Al Mourjan Lounge is open to Qatar Airways First-class and Business-class passengers and now, according to the airline's website, has opened up to Economy-class passengers who purchase a pass. The lounge is located in the Duty-Free Plaza South, just turn left at the giant teddy bear and head up the escalator. An attendant will check your pass before you head up, to make sure you're in the right place.
The look: Opulent but warm and friendly. Beyond the welcome desk of smiling faces, an expansive water feature with droplets of water dancing on the surface greets you. After battling temperatures at around 45C outside and a bit of a trek in heels through the huge airport, it's tempting to throw myself in, but — this is ornamental only, so the air conditioning will have to suffice. The sheer size of the lounge is astounding. At 10,000sq m, Al Mourjan feels more like a mini five-star hotel.
Techie stuff: Comfy chairs with accessible screens, plugs and charging ports are on the first floor. For those who must work, there's a business centre, and an electronic games room to keep the kids or teens occupied next door. Wi-Fi is fast and free.
Food: A sweeping staircase or lift takes you to a mezzanine floor to dine. Buffets were set up on two tables offering both western and Middle Eastern hot and cold dishes, which you can enjoy at tables overlooking the bustling airport. We instantly regretted having a big breakfast and such a short window to enjoy lunch, settling for snacks put down on our table, but other diners seem impressed. The upper level is set up for a sit-down meal but those downstairs can have sandwiches and patisserie, fit for any high tea with a hot or cold drink.