Originally Posted by
brarrr
A couple of options - arriving on a thursday 1pm from RUH in Qatar A class departing 8am next day to SEA in I class. US passport/resident. Never been to doha so there's appeal in at least spending the afternoon. My inclination is venture out and return to the lounge where food / drink is free.
1. don't leave the airport and use the A class to access the AS lounge, nap, eat, work, etc.
1A. stash /check bag and hit Doha for the afternoon, return to airport and nap/eat/work
(both of those assume I will be able to access with the A class rights even though midnight comes in between inbound and outbound)
2. book using Marriott certificate at the ritz for free, hang on the beach, go back to the airport at 3am (prepping for time change)
3. use the qatar layover system and pay 30-130 usd for a hotel that is easily cancelled if random visa issue. maybe includes some kind of transit?
4. wishful thinking - the comped layover for J/A class returns in the next week
With a 20-hour connection surely the rational solution is to get a hotel, giving you absolute certainty of a bed and unfettered access to your very own bathroom. Beach, pool and gym come as a bonus.
The caveat is, of course, that you satisfy whatever conditions Qatar place on you entering and leaving the country.
If you can't get cross the frontier, you'll be down to either lounge-hopping and the goodwill of QR, or seeking accommodation in the airside hotel (a pricey and uncertain option). There are rentable sleep-pods airside.
You might be disappointed at QR's willingness to host your visit in Safwa the calendar day after your arrival. The rules appear muddy, quirky and mutable.