Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Middle East including Egypt > Middle East
Reload this Page >

65 minute connection time at DOH - problem?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

65 minute connection time at DOH - problem?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 21, 2014 | 1:40 am
  #1  
Original Poster
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA 'making our descent', AF/KL Gold, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,882
65 minute connection time at DOH - problem?

A colleague of mine has a 65 minute connection time at DOH (15:30-16:35 on a Friday) and is slightly worried about it. Given the bussing that goes on there it looks a bit tight. Both flights arrive/depart from the same terminal and are with QR (sorry, this is probably OT but it seems that quite a few people on this board travel through a fair bit). Incoming flight is from BAH, connecting onto one to LHR. He will be in Y.

Does anyone know how realistic that is? Our TA said it would be fine but I'm not so sure, so I thought I would come to the real experts!
gustavmahler is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 1:47 am
  #2  
All eyes on you!
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Phuket Thailand
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, IHG Gold, Oman Gold
Posts: 1,043
My dad has the same He is one the new One Business LHR - DOH and then onto KL. around 65 minutes as well, he spoke to them and they assured it is fine, we will see
gav0106 is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 1:52 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
Originally Posted by gustavmahler

A colleague of mine has a 65 minute connection time at DOH (15:30-16:35 on a Friday) and is slightly worried about it.
DOH MCT is 45 minutes. I'll post the web-link in a minute.

Here you go:

http://qatarairways.zendesk.com/entr...ecting-flight-
Phil the Flyer is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 1:53 am
  #4  
Original Poster
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA 'making our descent', AF/KL Gold, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,882
Originally Posted by gav0106
My dad has the same He is one the new One Business LHR - DOH and then onto KL. around 65 minutes as well, he spoke to them and they assured it is fine, we will see
I'm hoping to try that service in September! I hope all works out for him.
gustavmahler is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 1:55 am
  #5  
Original Poster
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA 'making our descent', AF/KL Gold, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,882
Originally Posted by Phil the Flyer
DOH MCT is 45 minutes. I'll post the web-link in a minute.

Here you go:

http://qatarairways.zendesk.com/entr...ecting-flight-
Thanks, Phil. Do you have any experience of this yourself, and is the MCT quoted by QR reliable? I'm assuming it is.
gustavmahler is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 1:59 am
  #6  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 3,033
Well the Travel Agent could not have booked connecting flights outside of the minimum connecting time set by the airport and airline, and based on a very high probability they will make it with no issues whatsoever, so you're being a bit harsh!

But if you want first hand experience, i've managed a 50 minute connection with 2 children, 1 in buggy, Y to Y with no issues. With 90% of passengers connecting, and mostly QR to QR, it is a finely oiled machine. Yes the bussing is crazy, 15 minutes to the terminal, a walk upstairs, and then 15 minutes ending up next to the plane you just left can be frustrating, but there were no issues. Every flight i've taken from Doha has left 15-20 minutes late - it seems to build in time, and colleagues have been on planes (to Bangkok) delayed an hour as so many people on were coming from Germany (holiday routes they often will for UK / German flights).

You even get priority boarding passes with lots of people employed to look out for you and push you in the right direction in the terminal.

Of course by the time your colleague flies (this Friday or another?) QR could have moved into their shiny new terminal with airbridges and everything.

To be honest, I wouldn't want anymore time than 65 minutes in the old terminal in Y.
Sam Bee is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 2:00 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
Originally Posted by gustavmahler

Thanks, Phil. Do you have any experience of this yourself, and is the MCT quoted by QR reliable? I'm assuming it is.
Is your friend's trip this Friday (23 May 2014)? I only ask as this is the last Friday of QR operations before moving to the new airport (from 27 May 2014) where, hopefully, there will be considerably less bussing.

I hate tight connections at the best of times, and try to avoid them at all costs. At DOH my connections tend to be measured in hours, rather than minutes: I've even had a private bed for the night in the Premium Terminal F section - very civilised.
Phil the Flyer is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 2:04 am
  #8  
Original Poster
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA 'making our descent', AF/KL Gold, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,882
Originally Posted by Sam Bee
Well the Travel Agent could not have booked connecting flights outside of the minimum connecting time set by the airport and airline, and based on a very high probability they will make it with no issues whatsoever, so you're being a bit harsh!

But if you want first hand experience, i've managed a 50 minute connection with 2 children, 1 in buggy, Y to Y with no issues. With 90% of passengers connecting, and mostly QR to QR, it is a finely oiled machine. Yes the bussing is crazy, 15 minutes to the terminal, a walk upstairs, and then 15 minutes ending up next to the plane you just left can be frustrating, but there were no issues. Every flight i've taken from Doha has left 15-20 minutes late - it seems to build in time, and colleagues have been on planes (to Bangkok) delayed an hour as so many people on were coming from Germany (holiday routes they often will for UK / German flights).

You even get priority boarding passes with lots of people employed to look out for you and push you in the right direction in the terminal.

Of course by the time your colleague flies (this Friday or another?) QR could have moved into their shiny new terminal with airbridges and everything.

To be honest, I wouldn't want anymore time than 65 minutes in the old terminal in Y.
Thanks! We've had a few problems with our TA and I'm responsible for this colleague. He has asked me to change the flight as he's worried. I'm reluctant to do so, given the change fees, so I really just wanted some first hand experience from people here to make sure that the information is reliable.
gustavmahler is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 2:09 am
  #9  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 3,033
Oh god no - don't change!

If I had the choice of 55 minutes or 65 minutes, i'd take 55 minutes every time.

Well oiled machine etc...! Experience is that if there is a delay with QR (rare), it's measured in hours rather than minutes, so would buckle the longest connections.

If they were in J and had access to premium terminal, they may have reason to expand their time there!
Sam Bee is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 2:10 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
Ahem!!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qatar...5-minutes.html
Phil the Flyer is offline  
Old May 21, 2014 | 2:11 am
  #11  
Original Poster
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA 'making our descent', AF/KL Gold, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,882
Originally Posted by Phil the Flyer
Sorry - is that not allowed? Didn't mean to commit an FT faux pas!
gustavmahler is offline  
Old May 22, 2014 | 2:47 am
  #12  
Original Poster
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA 'making our descent', AF/KL Gold, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,882
Since I almost always fly BA, I have never really had any reason to post on another forum. Apologies for causing confusion and breaking FT rules. I won’t do it again!
gustavmahler is offline  
Old Jun 3, 2014 | 5:38 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Midwest/Mideast (ORD/DTW/FNT/BAH)
Programs: QR Gold/Gulf Air Gold/UA Gold
Posts: 345
With the old terminal, once you arrived at the transit terminal, they have the line at the left for those with short time frames for connections, so unless overly congested, you should get through security within 0-10 minutes. The gates do close 20 minutes before (and sometimes even a little earlier), so do be at the gate early, even though all you will do is scan your boarding card and go down the stairs to the cramped area and wait for the bus.

For the new terminal, with the jet bridges, you should be fine.
westmideast is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.