Turnaround at HBE Alexandria Airport
May 7, 2017, 12:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Havana, Cuba
Programs: AA EXP UA Gold QR Platinum Hilton Gold FB Sinbad
Posts: 125
Turnaround at HBE Alexandria Airport
Tomorrow I arrive at HBE from DOH on QR at 1735 and would like to go back to DOH on QR leaving at 1855.
Transiting in CAI was such a bother, HBE being smaller (I am told), would I be able to do it without much hassle in the little time the plane is on the ground?
Thanks in advance
PS doing this because I was able to snatch a good HBE-KUL fare.
Transiting in CAI was such a bother, HBE being smaller (I am told), would I be able to do it without much hassle in the little time the plane is on the ground?
Thanks in advance
PS doing this because I was able to snatch a good HBE-KUL fare.
May 28, 2017, 1:48 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN
Posts: 1,098
Tomorrow I arrive at HBE from DOH on QR at 1735 and would like to go back to DOH on QR leaving at 1855.
Transiting in CAI was such a bother, HBE being smaller (I am told), would I be able to do it without much hassle in the little time the plane is on the ground?
Thanks in advance
PS doing this because I was able to snatch a good HBE-KUL fare.
Transiting in CAI was such a bother, HBE being smaller (I am told), would I be able to do it without much hassle in the little time the plane is on the ground?
Thanks in advance
PS doing this because I was able to snatch a good HBE-KUL fare.
Jun 4, 2017, 8:48 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Havana, Cuba
Programs: AA EXP UA Gold QR Platinum Hilton Gold FB Sinbad
Posts: 125
HBE is as surrealistic as CAI but less threatening but always the feeling of being doomed, with petty officials making your transit less than pleasant (anxiety). QR staff excellent.
Inform the desk at DOH that you are doing a turnaround.
Let the Cabin Crew inform the ground staff that you are doing a turnaround.
They will assign you a person, who will take you through the Immigration and then to the QR desk to issue boarding pass (you may have your boarding pass issued in Doha as well)
MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE TAKES YOU BACK TO THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE THROUGH IMMIGRATION AND SECURITY PERSONALLY. I was just pointed out and that is when the surrealistic episode started in the office of the Chief Immigration Officer (a caricature for a developing country). make sure like in CAI, an immigration officer or a QR employee is with you all the way through, until you clear security. HBE is a charming little airport, reminds you of the airports of yore, an open space and much less security conscious.
As someone had mentioned elsewhere, in May I did one CAI turn around and another HBE turnaround and on my DOH JFK flight i had SSSS in Doha, on my boarding pass. No problem entering USA with Global Entry. Enjoyable (especially as you get to use Al Safwa lounge at Doha on the outbound flight), short flights and excellent QR service
Inform the desk at DOH that you are doing a turnaround.
Let the Cabin Crew inform the ground staff that you are doing a turnaround.
They will assign you a person, who will take you through the Immigration and then to the QR desk to issue boarding pass (you may have your boarding pass issued in Doha as well)
MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE TAKES YOU BACK TO THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE THROUGH IMMIGRATION AND SECURITY PERSONALLY. I was just pointed out and that is when the surrealistic episode started in the office of the Chief Immigration Officer (a caricature for a developing country). make sure like in CAI, an immigration officer or a QR employee is with you all the way through, until you clear security. HBE is a charming little airport, reminds you of the airports of yore, an open space and much less security conscious.
As someone had mentioned elsewhere, in May I did one CAI turn around and another HBE turnaround and on my DOH JFK flight i had SSSS in Doha, on my boarding pass. No problem entering USA with Global Entry. Enjoyable (especially as you get to use Al Safwa lounge at Doha on the outbound flight), short flights and excellent QR service
Jun 4, 2017, 9:40 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
From what I saw of HBE airport and its staff, I don't think I'd be attempting to do a turnaround. I think there would be too many hassles. I'd rather overnight in a niceish hotel.
And security didn't appear to be particularly lax either.
And security didn't appear to be particularly lax either.
Jun 5, 2017, 11:42 am
#6
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Jun 6, 2017, 7:26 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
The hotel doesn't have to be in Alexandria. I recently stayed at a nice resort on the coast a 30 minute drive from HBE. And there was a large modern shopping mall, with a huge Carrefour hypermarket, on the way there.
Jun 7, 2017, 7:49 am
#8
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Jun 7, 2017, 2:31 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The point is that there's no hotel within walking distance.
but to introduce another non sequitur, for those who know or who have "done" Cairo, your mileage run/cheap ticket gives you a great opportunity to have a look at Alex while lifting the pressure on connections; really worth a one (better two) night stay. Or you can see Egyptians at play in beach resorts very different to the international Sharms and Hurghadas.