Anyone tried Qatar Airways to Europe via Doha?

[too cheap for SQ]

Anyone tried Qatar Airways to Europe via Doha?

The flights I'm looking at are cheap but the  leg back has a 7 hour transfer in Doha airport.  Is this suicidally insane or perfectly managable?  (2 kids under 5 with us, economy class.)

Seeking comments from those who've actually used them...

Thanks!

[Kafka]

I flew to Paris through Doha on Qatar Airways a few years ago... well, being spoilt by Asian airports, that was terrible... First, you're likely to have a stopover in the middle of the night, probably not super convenient with kids. Second, the main terminal is super boring, very few shops/restaurant if I remember correctly, super cramped and crowded with many workers & maids on their way to other Middle-East countries, sleeping on the seats, on the floor...
That said, for the same reason I picked Qatar at that time, it's only 7 hours of your life... for a family of 4, I guess the savings must be around $3-4K maybe vs. SQ for example, I'd rather spend this on my holiday !

PS: have you checked Thai via BKK, the stop over would be late evening on your way there, more manageable with kids, and the airport is well appointed (and if you are PPS, you can try to get 2-3 of you in the Thai lounge)

[too cheap for SQ]

Thanks for the info.  

Yes it's a time and convenience vs. money thing.  Reading around on Doha airport it seems to be a dire place to spend any time, although you can pay to use the lounge.  Going in to town to see the corniche and find a restaurant might be fun if we feel up for it (it's a 6pm arrival, 1am onward flight) but I'd have to sell that heavily to my wife!!

Some good threads on Lonely Planet.

(Mods: Sorry for posting in the wrong forum.)

[Kafka]

Thanks for the info.  

Yes it's a time and convenience vs. money thing.  Reading around on Doha airport it seems to be a dire place to spend any time, although you can pay to use the lounge.  Going in to town to see the corniche and find a restaurant might be fun if we feel up for it (it's a 6pm arrival, 1am onward flight) but I'd have to sell that heavily to my wife!!

Some good threads on Lonely Planet.

(Mods: Sorry for posting in the wrong forum.)

On another stopover through Doha, I also took the opportunity to leave the airport to have a look around (at that time I got a visa on arrival), frankly no big deal, only desert then shopping malls and 5* hotels... But, staying in the airport will probably drive you guys nuts, so why not a nice family dinner, enjoy your trip

[cmdsea]

You can usually extend a transit up to <24Hrs without it being considered a stopover. Rather than taking the 7Hr connection is there either an earlier arriving flight or later leaving flight that would give you time for a hotel, a shower and a sleep without bumping the price up.?

[Kafka]

You can usually extend a transit up to <24Hrs without it being considered a stopover. Rather than taking the 7Hr connection is there either an earlier arriving flight or later leaving flight that would give you time for a hotel, a shower and a sleep without bumping the price up.?

This reminds me that last year I flew Sri Lankan to Paris via Colombo, price was unbeatable, $900 all taxes in (old A340 though, entertainment system virtually non-nexistent). Even in economy, if your stopover is 7hrs (and that was the case for SIN to Paris), the airline throws in the Taj-affiliated hotel nearby the airport. Alternatively, you can access (for a fee) the Priority Pass lounge in the airport (sofas, wifi, food, shower).
In case you are the adventurous type !

[Another Sri Lanka]

Passenger here - way back in 2000 it was the cheapest option for a one way back to London one way - something like 140 GBP it cost me.

Just like Kafka it was a late arrival in Columbo followed by early morning out - they put us up in a very decent hotel for the night.

[not worth it]

I flew Qatar with 2 kids under 3 from Sg-Abu Dhabi - flight cancelled put us up at crowne plaza and put us on singapore airlines next day but only booked my husband not me and the kids.  Luckily plane was nearly empty so we got seats too.

Flew back from Abu Dhabi - singapore and flight delayed.  They lied to us and said we could meet our connecting flight in Doha but could not.  Gave us the run around.  Then put us on next flight with seats separated and no bassinet.  Ended holding baby for 7 hours! with other child beside me and mother far away. 

Just wrote a letter of complaint to them and they were totally apathetic about it all offering compensation only on cancelled flight with a discount on next purchase

Will never fly with them again if I can help it!

Not worht the cheap flight and much struggle.

[Qatar to Brasil]

If you fly on business class, there is an AMAZING lounge area with good drinks, service, food (chef on duty), etc.

I wanted the stopover to last longer!

[WOW!!]

If you fly on business class, there is an AMAZING lounge area with good drinks, service, food (chef on duty), etc.

I wanted the stopover to last longer!

Ain't you Johnny Big Balls!

[to WOW!!]

You want salt and vinegar to go with that chip on your shoulder?

[Dr. Phil]

I flew Qatar with 2 kids under 3 from Sg-Abu Dhabi - flight cancelled put us up at crowne plaza and put us on singapore airlines next day but only booked my husband not me and the kids.  Luckily plane was nearly empty so we got seats too.

Flew back from Abu Dhabi - singapore and flight delayed.  They lied to us and said we could meet our connecting flight in Doha but could not.  Gave us the run around.  Then put us on next flight with seats separated and no bassinet.  Ended holding baby for 7 hours! with other child beside me and mother far away. 

Just wrote a letter of complaint to them and they were totally apathetic about it all offering compensation only on cancelled flight with a discount on next purchase

Will never fly with them again if I can help it!

Not worht the cheap flight and much struggle.

I have just flown from Dubai to Singapore on SIA.
Quite honestly I am now, first time in 12 years, concerned with the SIA air crew mentality.
I can honestly say I have never been disturbed by turbulence over 12 years of very frequent flying since pilots always managed to go around the bad weather but recently I have had two flights which were thrown around so much I was practically hanging from the chandeliers. 

And its not even the SW monsoon season!

I suspect the pilots go looking for it. The guy next to me threw a glass of wine over himself which really was unforgivable.

I have also had occasion recently to complain about the Marhaba Lounge at Dubai for Star Alliance Members. This is the pits. 

If Qatar Airlines gets you into the EK Lounge then you will have a holiday because that is probably the best Lounge I have ever visited and that is not the first class Lounge by any means.

No doubt about it, these Middle East 6-star airlines know how to entertain and make SIA appear quite tacky by comparison.

I think SIA has given up trying to compete. They are cheating loyal customers by creating a 2-tier economy redemption class which effectively doubles the required air miles and even when one buys a ticket its more like roller coaster from hell. 

And the wine has not improved either. The in-house entertainment was disappointing with almost all comedy from USA, which you may consider is a contradiction.
Having waited for the English movie "Tinker Tailor.." I can now confirm that if I were a movie mogul it would be my single goal in life to ensure the director never worked again. Not even 4 glasses of cheap red plonk could soften the disappointment. 

[Went once...]

I flew once, a few years ago now, to Paris. Planes fine, no personal entertainment on the sg to Doha leg though, same on the way back. Food was actually really good. Airport at Doha, boring, terribe food choices, toilets etc were fine. When getting to the terminal we had to wait in a tiny room, no seats, a child was sick and vomitted all over herself and everywhere, no one to clean it up, no where to clean it. No standing room. Waited ages for the bus. On he way home we flight shared with Garuda, didnt like that idea at all. Flights were ok carry ons weren't monitored and so many people took excess baggage we had to stash ours under our seat. Not a terrible experience and actual flights were fine.