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Another question about tight Qatar connections at Doha. We have a connection time of 1 hour and 10 minutes between flights. I’m quite confident we’ll make it, as Qatar Airways is known for its efficient transfers, and recent flight tracking suggests delays are unlikely.
That said, if we do miss the connection, the next available flight isn’t for another 8 hours—in the early hours of the morning and we’ll have a couple of kids with us and are travelling in economy using avios. Any suggestions on how best to spend the time after an already long flight? Should I look into a transit hotel (assuming there’s last-minute availability), would paid for lounge access be a better option, or should we just tough it out in the terminal.
Just want to have a backup plan in case things don’t go our way. I’m just interested in the experience of others.
IMHO for that length of time a hotel would be better than a lounge. Would be quieter and calmer than a lounge with a constant turnover of arrivals and departures.
Your kids likely to get a better sleep in a hotel room and be able to chose what to watch on the TV and be able to hear it too.
The other option is to book Al Maha meet and greet, (at a cost, free if gold and above), they will whisk you through transit and get you to the next gate on time,I have used them many times. it will save booking a hotel
I would spin a coin and hope for the best where Qatar Airways are concerned, especially where connection times are concerned. I left LHR on Thursday to fly to Seoul via Doha. The IFE for my seat was broken beyond repair (small issue in the grand scheme of things) and then upon arrival at Doha due to our late arrival, I was informed that I would miss my connection to Seoul and I was offered a seat to Seoul via Guangzhoi with Qatar Airways and China Southern. I accepted this on the proviso of my case being on the flights with me.
On arrival in China I discovered that my case was not on the flight to China, but still in Doha, and would be forwarded directly to Seoul (ICN) on a Qatar Airways flight the following day. I could not lodge a missing case file until I had completed my journey to ICN with China Southern, and I was informed it had to be lodged with China Southern due to my last flight completed with them (organised by Qatar Airways) which is what I did.
So fast forward 24 hours, still no case, even though I know it is currently at Seoul (ICN) with the grand staff. There is a dispute as to how I can recover my case as my hotel is over an hour away, where the taxi fare is £60 each way and the baggage handling company cannot contact China Southern to confirm my bag being delivered and Qatar Airways having teflon shoulders and wiping their hands clean of any responsibility, and a need to join their ‘Lack of’ Privilege Club to try and speak with an agent online. So, if you are asking me, I would maybe do an extra day and enjoy the sun of Qatar before continuing your journey. I am only hoping that they improve vastly before my next trip home with Qatar Airways in a few days time. Fingers crossed for you 🙂I’ve flown 5 times this year with QR all with a tight connection , all were fine ( a QR rep with our name was present once getting off the plane at DOhA who whisked us to our connecting flight)
Out of the 5 one was an issue as the flight was late from LGW, next flight was 6 hours later , they offered a room in hotel in the airport to rest with food /drink credit without charge , we had lounge access as ba gold member but took the room instead so can sleep
All dealt with very well
Not had any bus gate issues in Doha this year , last year nearly every flight was a bus gate which took ages but believe the work is done . Out of the 5 tight connections , 4 of them the flights arrived at a gate and we didn’t have to go through security we were in the terminal which also saved time
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