Qatar Airways limits Stop Over

[bertair]

Wanting to give Qatar Airways a try on my next trip to the UK, I tried to book flying SYD/ DOH with a one day stop over in Doha, before flying to LHR, then returning with a three night stop over in Doha.it wasn't working doing an on line booking, so I called the airline directly.
I was informed by the airline that I may only have one stop over in Doha, either go to or coming from London. It was a restriction placed on the airline by the Qatar Government.
This seems strange to me, when I would have thought that the country would be encouraging tourists and the hotels needing the business of travellers.

I thought that the dates of my travel may have been the reason, but no, it is always like this.

Could any member please shed some light on why this is the case and as it seems to me to be unlikely to change, another airline and another port such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi will get my $$$$$$.

 

[RooFlyer]

That seems odd, as you say at the moment they are bending over backwards to get people through DOH. On the phone, they weren't meaning only one 'freebie' stopover, did they, where QR pay for the accomm and meals?

Call and ask again.

 

[OZDUCK]

That seems odd, as you say at the moment they are bending over backwards to get people through DOH. On the phone, they weren't meaning only one 'freebie' stopover, did they, where QR pay for the accomm and meals?

Call and ask again.

I must admit that reading up for my stopover the impression I always got was the same as Rooflyer said. However, I have just tried a few dummy bookings for a basic economy trip in with two stopovers in Doha and keep getting the message that "there are no fares for the flights and/or cabins you have selected". Maybe something odd is happening?

 

[madrooster]

If you're looking at a commercial fare, pretty much all of QR's fares have this:

  UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
       1 IN DOH EITHER OUT/IN.
     A STOPOVER MAY NOT EXCEED 96 HOURS.
  OR - 5 STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
          LIMITED TO 1 FREE AND 4 AT USD 200.00 EACH.
            1 FREE IN EUROPE/AFRICA
            1 FREE IN AREA 3/AREA 1
            1 IN DOH EITHER OUT/IN AT USD 200.00
            4 IN AREA 3/AREA 1/EUROPE/AFRICA AT USD 200.00
              EACH.                                                             
          A STOPOVER MAY NOT EXCEED 14 DAYS.

 

[BAM1748]

Looks like you can't do it which is interesting. Could it have something to do with their route access that the countries on one or both ends want this as part of their agreements to not disadanvstrg their own countries airlines.

I don't know just thinking aloud.

 

[Mattg]

Could you have a long transit (e.g. around 20 hours) on the way to London and then spend 3 nights in Doha on the way back? That should qualify as only one stopover?

 

[jxv]

Could you have a long transit (e.g. around 20 hours) on the way to London and then spend 3 nights in Doha on the way back? That should qualify as only one stopover?

Exactly what my daughter and her family have booked for September on their way to/from CDG.

 

[travelislife]

The thing is, booking a stopover on both directions you are essentially want to purchase two seperate airfares as it is completely breaking the journey so it no longer appears to price like a stopover. SYD-DOH-SYD and DOH-LHR-DOH.

 

[madrooster]

Looks like you can't do it which is interesting. Could it have something to do with their route access that the countries on one or both ends want this as part of their agreements to not disadanvstrg their own countries airlines.

I don't know just thinking aloud.

It's about revenue protection. They're trying to protect ex-DOH revenue by not allowing Qataris to utilise ex-elsewhere tickets with stopovers both ways.

 

[bertair]

Exactly what my daughter and her family have booked for September on their way to/from CDG.

I considered that, but 20 hours in an airport ? No thanks. I doubt if I would be permitted in the lounge for that length of time anyway.

 

[travelislife]

I considered that, but 20 hours in an airport ? No thanks. I doubt if I would be permitted in the lounge for that length of time anyway.

No need to stay in the airport. Go get a hotel and have a look around and a good sleep.

 

[bertair]

Looks like you can't do it which is interesting. Could it have something to do with their route access that the countries on one or both ends want this as part of their agreements to not disadanvstrg their own countries airlines.

I don't know just thinking aloud.

I did call again, and it seems to be a case of the Qatari Government imposing the stop over rule and not Qatar Air. I am unable to find out why, but perhaps it may have something to do with the recent dispute Qatar had with Saudi Arabia and United Emirates Governments ? Any way, I think that I shall look at Emirates or Etihad as an alternative.

 

[travelislife]

I did call again, and it seems to be a case of the Qatari Government imposing the stop over rule and not Qatar Air. I am unable to find out why, but perhaps it may have something to do with the recent dispute Qatar had with Saudi Arabia and United Emirates Governments ? Any way, I think that I shall look at Emirates or Etihad as an alternative.

I'd be very surprised if you can do a stopover both directions with Emirates and Etihad (I could be wrong). As earlier mentioned you are essentially asking to book two separate return tickets with 2 stopovers.

 

[Mattg]

No need to stay in the airport. Go get a hotel and have a look around and a good sleep.

Or join a Doha city tour!

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/doha-city-tour.html

 

[fifo]

they are doing it it to limit your access to the freebie stop over program. likely had nothing to do with the QR govt.

as someone said, do a 20 hr 'stop' over and the and a 3 day. doesnt seems to confusing, he has it booked for CDG!

 

[blu]

(post #12) it's Qatari law. Stopovers effectively only in one direction (as single entry only permitted):

"the transit visa will be valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and meant for a single entry into Qatar."
New transit visa scheme from Tuesday

 

[Surfin1230]

I have just flown with Qatar from ADL - LHR.
I did hear a few people complaining that they were now allowed out of the airport unless you let them know weeks in advance.
We had a 9 hr transit and booked the transit hotel.
Far from cheap $300 for a room.

 

[OZDUCK]

I have just flown with Qatar from ADL - LHR.
I did hear a few people complaining that they were now allowed out of the airport unless you let them know weeks in advance.
We had a 9 hr transit and booked the transit hotel.
Far from cheap $300 for a room.

Welcome aboard!

I don't really understand the bit about not being allowed out of the airport. Australians are issued a "visa on arrival, according to my research and Smartraveller.gov.au - Qatar , which we intend to use in October this year. They could have grabbed a taxi for a few hours or possibly taken the free tour.

I assume you didn't qualify for the free transit hotel room?

 

[Surfin1230]

I don’t know I just heard if they wanted to leave the airport Qatar Airlines need to know weeks in advance.

 

[OZDUCK]

I don’t know I just heard if they wanted to leave the airport Qatar Airlines need to know weeks in advance.

OK - then it is a mystery to me. I have only done one short transit through Doha but will be spending 2 nights there using their stopover special in October - and I haven't heard anything about a special notification.