Doha-Hamad airport

[buck011]

Hi guys,

 

on my next trip in february im flying with Qatar and have a 3 hours layover in Doha.

From the pictures the new airport looks fantastic.

Your experience?

Is it enough time for some shopping?How about the prices?

Thanks a lot!

[cbmgolfer]

So, I assume the new terminal is now open?

 

 

.... It was 6 or 7 years in the making I believe (opening "next year" for like 5 years)

 

... The old one was one of the worst in the world, so I hope for your sake the new one is open...

[COLD SODA]

Hi guys,

 

on my next trip in february im flying with Qatar and have a 3 hours layover in Doha.

From the pictures the new airport looks fantastic.

Your experience?

Is it enough time for some shopping?How about the prices?

Thanks a lot!

Don't know the prices but it's a fabulous airport . You will surely enjoy it . It's more of a entertainment centre then an airport ...

[buck011]

So, I assume the new terminal is now open?

 

 

.... It was 6 or 7 years in the making I believe (opening "next year" for like 5 years)

 

... The old one was one of the worst in the world, so I hope for your sake the new one is open...

 

Yep it finally opened about 8 months ago.

I found the old one not that bad 2 years ago when i had a 9 hours layover(Oryx lounge was great value),and the cigars were not exspensive.

[cbmgolfer]

Yep it finally opened about 8 months ago.

I found the old one not that bad 2 years ago when i had a 9 hours layover(Oryx lounge was great value),and the cigars were not exspensive.

You were obviously in the business lounge ... It was great. The general terminal for normal travelers was complete and utter shit. The contrast was shocking, as I did both ... And, unfortunately, the normal terminal once w my 3 teenagers !!

[Docker]

You were obviously in the business lounge ... It was great. The general terminal for normal travelers was complete and utter shit. The contrast was shocking, as I did both ... And, unfortunately, the normal terminal once w my 3 teenagers !!

It was the buses that I hated, I take it that is not now the case with the new terminal?

[iluvasians/latins]

Restrooms were nice in old terminal!!!!

[davidge]

Friend about to fly through Doha for third time recently. Says new Terminal is huge but he couldn't get a beer there!

[thawit77]

 

It was the buses that I hated, I take it that is not now the case with the new terminal?

 

I've had to take a bus twice recently when using them at the new Hamad airport.  Not great but certainly better than the perimeter tour on the bus at the old airport.

 

 

Friend about to fly through Doha for third time recently. Says new Terminal is huge but he couldn't get a beer there!

 

Alcohol is available but it is not as open as in Dubai airport.  The nice restaurants there definitely have it.  The Qatar silver lounge also had draft beer but you had to ask the waiter for it (they only had cola and water out for self service).

 

Food options at the moment are not that good...a few high priced restaurants and a few over priced places in their food court (this might be one of the few times when McDonalds is the best option).  Supposedly they will be openning a new food and shopping section at the end of the C concourse soon.

[boxershrimp]

I've been through there 4 times now. And it's quite all right, as airports go (if you actually love airports, there must be something wrong with you).

 

Speaking of cigars and shopping, first time I was there they hadn't opened the main business lounge yet, so instead I got shopping vouchers of, I think, 150 riyal (about €35). Which bought me a 5-pack of fat Cohibas and a bottle of Havana Club. Considering my layover was only like 1 hour 30 min anyway, I was quite OK with that exchange.

 

As far as booze is concerned, it is there as far as I've seen, except during Ramadan apparently. And even then they just keep it somewhat more hidden.

[thinkingallowed]

Not that impressive considering the length of time it took to build. I've departed a couple of times from the D wing and that is quite some walk from the central area. 

[Wil]

Yep it finally opened about 8 months ago.

I found the old one not that bad 2 years ago when i had a 9 hours layover(Oryx lounge was great value),and the cigars were not exspensive.

I would be interested in knowing if the Oryx lounge was open 24 hrs. I'm flying home and have a 6 hours stopover and I'm not worried about the cost as it looks like it's worth it but I get in just after 23:00.

 

Would be interested Buck011 what time you were using the lounge.

I would be interested if anyone else recently used the lounge and if it was around my timings.

 

Wil

[buck011]

Yep my layover times were similar as yours,i spent in Oryx the time between midnight and 6 am.

It's really worth since i paid about 30 EUR for that with unlimited drinks&snacks.

But after 1am or so no alcohol served.

Btw for alcohol it was necessary to ask the staff and no probs there are beer cans(Heineken) and wine(not bad).

There were showers aswell and and a smoking room.

[SeaEmDee]

I have used the new terminals about 4 or 5 times last year. It's not as big as Dubai and definately better than Abu Dhabi which is undergoing a revamp.

 

Transfers at Hamad have been smooth and faultless. Sometimes with a security check, sometimes without (not sure when this is the case and why). My transfers have been no longer than two hours each time so didn't really have time or the need for a beer or window shopping. Did find that most of the restaurants and shops were in the central area. The terminal wings only had limited options.

 

At the moment I prefer this airport to transfer at if using Arabic based airlines.

 

Sent from my SM-N910U using Tapatalk

[Wil]

Yep my layover times were similar as yours,i spent in Oryx the time between midnight and 6 am.

It's really worth since i paid about 30 EUR for that with unlimited drinks&snacks.

But after 1am or so no alcohol served.

Btw for alcohol it was necessary to ask the staff and no probs there are beer cans(Heineken) and wine(not bad).

There were showers aswell and and a smoking room.

Cheers, for 30 euro feels like steal.

Did you have to book or just walking up is ok?

 

Wil

[thawit77]

The Qatar Airways business class lounge in Doha is quite impressive.  Its spread over two floors with a giant reflecting pool in the middle.  The second floor is the sit down restaurant with table service and a full bar (everything free of course).  BA silver card, QR gold card, or AA platinum card will get you in if you are not flying business class.

[olern]

Im having a connection in Qatar, and I wondered if its possible to buy beer at the restaurants in the airport.

[cousin it]

You can get a 30 dollar glass of wine at the wine bar.Airport prices are usually stupid high but I think they mainly cater to oil sheiks at Doha airport.That being said the business class lounge is awesome.

[napacwc]

OP also mentioned busses. Bus "tours" from tarmac to terminal were the biggest grief I had with the old airport. Some flights into the new airport had bus transfers too. No future plans to have all flights pull up to terminal either. Some things never change.

 

QA lounge definitely an upgrade. Very relaxing and good selections.

[thawit77]

 

The Qatar Airways business class lounge in Doha is quite impressive.  Its spread over two floors with a giant reflecting pool in the middle.  The second floor is the sit down restaurant with table service and a full bar (everything free of course).  BA silver card, QR gold card, or AA platinum card will get you in if you are not flying business class.

 

Quick update on the lounge...you can only get into the fancy Qatar Airways business class lounge if you are actually flying in business class.  Anyone with a Qatar Air gold card (or oneWorld equiv frequent flyer card) now has to the use the Gold Lounge (had another name, but can't remember) which is definitely a big step down.

[Joey_J]

Any ideas on what one can do with nine hours layover? Is leaving the airport even worth it? How safe is Doha at night?

[Digsy]

Yep it finally opened about 8 months ago.

I found the old one not that bad 2 years ago when i had a 9 hours layover(Oryx lounge was great value),and the cigars were not exspensive.

Longer than that mate. I think just over a year bit could be longer. Can't remember if june last year was eithad or Qatar.

 

As for the shops, i didn't bother but the airport is big, nice and very cool. Almost like swampy in style.

[taylor1975]

free wifi in the airport and free apple macs if you want to use them. Duty free booze prices seemed ok and I got a 0.7L of JD for £23.

 

bizarrely, none of the toilets I saw have urinals, so there is typically a big queue!! .....maybe the locals are a bit shy?

 

I find dubai airport too cold for just t-shirt, but qatar is ok. 

 

Loads and loads of places to sit and chill.

[Scumbag]

bizarrely, none of the toilets I saw have urinals, so there is typically a big queue!! .....maybe the locals are a bit shy?

Sure you didn't go into the female toilets...lol  I have been in a few of them and they have all had urinals.

 

I had about 6 hours in the terminal 2 months ago and the lounge was great. Unfortunately they have since opened a new one for frequent fliers but it is still OK.

[Kandinski]

Any ideas on what one can do with nine hours layover? Is leaving the airport even worth it? How safe is Doha at night?

 

Qatar is probably one of the safest place on earth but there's really nothing to see or do in Doha night time beside drinking in overpriced hotel bars. To leave airport you'll need a visa,remember cost 100 QAR = 30 USD maybe a bit more, and taxi about 25 QAR.