Originally Posted by
erdoran
I heard that it's possible to go through DOH Immigration in Al Mourjan. Is this correct?
I'm trying to figure out some logistics. I had posted above - friend & I are traveling PHL-DOH and then DOH-MEL, two separate tickets, so we have to pick up & recheck our luggage in DOH. We have a 10 hr layover in DOH. I was thinking about doing Discover Doha transit tour as well, but no clue how the logistics would work, so perhaps this is two separate questions:
1. If I go through Immigration in AM (how?) then do I just walk through the immigration line and show some sort of paper to go get my luggage and recheck it?
2. Once I've re-checked my luggage, I assume I go back through immigration/TSA and then go to the tour desk, and then I'd have to go back out again through Immigration/customs.
Or do I go to the tour desk first, and perhaps they would do the immigration/customs thing, and from there get luggage, recheck, and wait somewhere outside the secure area for tour pickup?
Sorry if this is a bit unclear/confused. TIA
No, you cannot go through immigration in Al Mourjan. If you have an eligible ticket (i.e a ticket NOT in the lite family/ a 'P' fare) you can access the "premium arrivals facility" which is basically a glorified fast track immigration channel cum lounge off of the main airport arrivals hall. Although reading back you are travelling with AA, not sure if AA customers get access to the premium arrivals area.
For checking re-checking your luggage, you may wish to visit the transfer counters (BEFORE immigration) and ask if they will retag your bags for you. I believe this is done. You could then go through transit security to the airside tour desk to begin your tour. Judging by the DQ website, the meeting place for the tours is the airside desk.
I don't think they are going to entertain delaying the tour for you to go and recheck your bags. If you're a US passport holder, don't forget they have a (paid) ESTA style visa waiver thing in Qatar for you now.