Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Muscat arrivals

Can someone offer the drill on efficient "visa-on-arrival" acquisition at MCT?

Next week I really need to speed through the airport. For a change, i'll be arriving C-class and gold-carded on SWISS.

I know there's an arrivals lounge/facilitation - but it may be retricted to Omanair passengers.

The trick is (well it was when I did it 15 months ago) to go directly to the foreign exchange counter where you pay for you visa. (They will also offer to change extra money for you, which is handy if you need a bit for taxis etc. - but be aware that the rate is pretty awful.) Then you go to the immigration officers to get the visa and complete formalities.

I did it at 4am so it was very quiet. But like all other ME airports they are great at letting the premium pax off first, giving you a separate bus etc. so that you should get to the arrivals hall well ahead of the hoi polloi.

The trick is (well it was when I did it 15 months ago) to go directly to the foreign exchange counter where you pay for you visa. (They will also offer to change extra money for you, which is handy if you need a bit for taxis etc. - but be aware that the rate is pretty awful.) Then you go to the immigration officers to get the visa and complete formalities.

I did it at 4am so it was very quiet. But like all other ME airports they are great at letting the premium pax off first, giving you a separate bus etc. so that you should get to the arrivals hall well ahead of the hoi polloi.

Brilliant, thanks! There's just got to be a form to be filled in somewhere - fingers crossed the efficient SWISS folk hand those out pre-landing.

Just returned MCT-Cheetah report is still up to date.
We arrived GF at the same time as BA flight ( 22.30) and even with 20+ in the queue we were through visa fee and passport control within 10 mins and our luggage was waiting for us by the side of the carousel.
Don't forget to stock up at "Duty free on Arrival" 2L per PAX allowance- booze is very expensive in Oman.
Also no forms to be filled out -just pay your OMR6 and get your passport stamped.

Can you pay the visa fee using a credit card? I've got one that doesn't charge fx fees

Is there any cash machine anywhere in MCT airport? Similarly I've got a debit card with a 80bps fx fee so probably works out better than travelex et al!

Yup, cash machines in the airport - but I didn't see any airside on arrival. Easier to hand the visa-folk a note covering the visa fee. It's quick and painless. No faffing. You'll get the change, and you shouldn't let whatever commission is charged spoil your trip.

You can get serious cash out of the machines landside with your debit card.