Transit in Kuwait
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,701
Transit in Kuwait
I am looking at flying XXX-AUH-XXX and XXX-AUH-KWI-AUH-XXX is much much cheaper. It looks like I can get a VOA as a US citizen. Unfortunately, it does not seem like I can come in and go back on the same flight (probably due to MCT I am guessing) so I will be there for at least six hours. Has anyone done something like this and how did it go? Any issues? I could potentially get a hotel if that makes things easier.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 652
I did it pre pandemic, and it’s fine. The airport isn’t as grandiose as DXB or DOH, but more than adequate. I got a cheap room at the Crowne Plaza and took a cab there, giving me the chance to hit the fitness center, grab a bite, and cab back to the airport. The VoA as a US citizen was a simple transaction, nothing to worry about. If I were to do it again, I’d skip the hotel and instead visit the invasion museum, which is amazing and describes the horrors of the Iraqi invasion and the liberation by the USA.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,353
I did it pre pandemic, and it’s fine. The airport isn’t as grandiose as DXB or DOH, but more than adequate. I got a cheap room at the Crowne Plaza and took a cab there, giving me the chance to hit the fitness center, grab a bite, and cab back to the airport. The VoA as a US citizen was a simple transaction, nothing to worry about. If I were to do it again, I’d skip the hotel and instead visit the invasion museum, which is amazing and describes the horrors of the Iraqi invasion and the liberation by the USA.
(Signed - An Aussie who was there....
![Wink](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 652
There?
Thanks for the correction!
Yes, it was a team effort catalyzed by James Jay Baker’s diplomacy and coalition, you’re 100% right, of course.
When you write that you were “there”, what do you mean exactly? No boots in the sand, right?
According to Wikipedia:
Although Australia's contribution was primarily naval, a small contingent of Australian service personnel were seconded to British and United States ground troops.[1] However, the government's position was not to deploy ground troops with "no boots in the sand".[citation needed]The Royal Australian Air Force deployed a unit of photo interpreters who were based in Saudi Arabia.[1] Four medical teams were also deployed.[1] At the end of Desert Storm, 75 ADF personnel were deployed to Northern Iraq to assist in the provision of humanitarian aid to the Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone.[1]
Yes, it was a team effort catalyzed by James Jay Baker’s diplomacy and coalition, you’re 100% right, of course.
When you write that you were “there”, what do you mean exactly? No boots in the sand, right?
According to Wikipedia:
Although Australia's contribution was primarily naval, a small contingent of Australian service personnel were seconded to British and United States ground troops.[1] However, the government's position was not to deploy ground troops with "no boots in the sand".[citation needed]The Royal Australian Air Force deployed a unit of photo interpreters who were based in Saudi Arabia.[1] Four medical teams were also deployed.[1] At the end of Desert Storm, 75 ADF personnel were deployed to Northern Iraq to assist in the provision of humanitarian aid to the Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone.[1]
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,701
I did it pre pandemic, and it’s fine. The airport isn’t as grandiose as DXB or DOH, but more than adequate. I got a cheap room at the Crowne Plaza and took a cab there, giving me the chance to hit the fitness center, grab a bite, and cab back to the airport. The VoA as a US citizen was a simple transaction, nothing to worry about. If I were to do it again, I’d skip the hotel and instead visit the invasion museum, which is amazing and describes the horrors of the Iraqi invasion and the liberation by the USA.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 652
Staying 10 pm to 4 am airside will be doable, but you’ll be counting the minutes and they’ll pass slowly. I’d head to the hotel, sleep for 3 hrs, shower, and head back to KWI. Yes it’ll be $100 USD, but sooooo much better than staying in transit being bored and exhausted.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,353
Thanks for the correction!
Yes, it was a team effort catalyzed by James Jay Baker’s diplomacy and coalition, you’re 100% right, of course.
When you write that you were “there”, what do you mean exactly? No boots in the sand, right?
According to Wikipedia:
Although Australia's contribution was primarily naval, a small contingent of Australian service personnel were seconded to British and United States ground troops.[1] However, the government's position was not to deploy ground troops with "no boots in the sand".[[i]citation needed]The Royal Australian Air Force deployed a unit of photo interpreters who were based in Saudi Arabia.[1] Four medical teams were also deployed.[1] At the end of Desert Storm, 75 ADF personnel were deployed to Northern Iraq to assist in the provision of humanitarian aid to the Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone.[1]
Yes, it was a team effort catalyzed by James Jay Baker’s diplomacy and coalition, you’re 100% right, of course.
When you write that you were “there”, what do you mean exactly? No boots in the sand, right?
According to Wikipedia:
Although Australia's contribution was primarily naval, a small contingent of Australian service personnel were seconded to British and United States ground troops.[1] However, the government's position was not to deploy ground troops with "no boots in the sand".[[i]citation needed]The Royal Australian Air Force deployed a unit of photo interpreters who were based in Saudi Arabia.[1] Four medical teams were also deployed.[1] At the end of Desert Storm, 75 ADF personnel were deployed to Northern Iraq to assist in the provision of humanitarian aid to the Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone.[1]
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, AC *S, Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 9,701
Wanted to provide an update for anyone else that is in a similar situation. I ended up waffling but decided that I did not want to spend the time going back and forth form the hotel. The airport is very efficient. I applied for an e-visa online (free). You have to go to the visa issuance area on arrival and I was issued my visa within 10 minutes. Passport control and baggage claim were quick. The landside area of Terminal 1 has lots of shops (including Debenhams) and multiple coffee shops with good wifi. The airside area is much smaller than other large middle eastern airports but there a few places to eat and ample areas to charge your device. It was overall quite easy to spend 6 hours here. The caveat is that I am jetlagged and so was awake for the whole time overnight and I think a hotel would have made more sense if I was tired.