Transit requirements (non-DOH)
Jun 10, 2020, 3:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 639
Transit requirements (non-DOH)
Hi,
Trying to book an award ticket AUS-EUR for next month (HEL final destination, EU passport). There is award space at the moment on QR for flights to ARN or CPH via DOH, connecting then onto Finnair.
I am trying to figure out transit requirements for both ARN and CPH but haven't been able to find any specific information. Any help would be more than welcome. Thanks
Trying to book an award ticket AUS-EUR for next month (HEL final destination, EU passport). There is award space at the moment on QR for flights to ARN or CPH via DOH, connecting then onto Finnair.
I am trying to figure out transit requirements for both ARN and CPH but haven't been able to find any specific information. Any help would be more than welcome. Thanks
Jun 10, 2020, 6:07 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 641
Transiting via Sweden is currently banned until 15 June: https://www.government.se
For Denmark, you can acquaint yourself with the respective requirements here: https://politi.dk/en/coronavirus-in-...d-from-denmark
Keep in mind that QR is obliged to (and will) verify that you have valid documents to disembark at your final destination purely according to your contract of carriage with QR (onward travel on different carriers is irrelevant) - if deemed ineligible to travel by QR, you may be denied boarding.
For Denmark, you can acquaint yourself with the respective requirements here: https://politi.dk/en/coronavirus-in-...d-from-denmark
Keep in mind that QR is obliged to (and will) verify that you have valid documents to disembark at your final destination purely according to your contract of carriage with QR (onward travel on different carriers is irrelevant) - if deemed ineligible to travel by QR, you may be denied boarding.
Jun 10, 2020, 11:48 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 264
I have had a lot of luck in getting Qatar to check in and tag my luggage all the way through to my final destination on separate tickets, where both tickets were with OneWorld airlines. Example: CMB - DOH - PRG on Qatar, and PRG - LHR on BA. On that journey, I did not have to go landside at PRG. Of course, this was before COVID19, so you must always check the restrictions for each country. I know that Sweden will allow travel from Sweden to another EU member country, as long as the passenger is a EEA citizen or citizen of Switzerland, or a qualifying family member of such a citizen.
Jun 10, 2020, 11:54 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 264
This might be relevant for you: https://polisen.se/en/the-swedish-po...sh-police/faq/
It says:
Which rules apply for arriving in transit from a non-EEA* country?
If a non-EEA citizen is arriving in transit by plane from a non-EEA* country, they will only be allowed to stay in the international transit area of the airport on the condition that they do not go through passport control.
So, if you can get Qatar to check in your luggage all the way to HEL, it will work out. Be aware that regulations can always change at the last minute.
It says:
Which rules apply for arriving in transit from a non-EEA* country?
If a non-EEA citizen is arriving in transit by plane from a non-EEA* country, they will only be allowed to stay in the international transit area of the airport on the condition that they do not go through passport control.
So, if you can get Qatar to check in your luggage all the way to HEL, it will work out. Be aware that regulations can always change at the last minute.
Jun 10, 2020, 12:00 pm
#5
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Passengers generally "enter Europe" at the first Schengen airport. Unless there's documentation otherwise, someone would need to be admissible at the first such connecting airport.
What does TIMATIC say?
ADDED: Another consideration is that COVID-19 doesn't seem to be very well controlled in Sweden, so there's more potential risk to one's personal health (and that of family members, etc.) if one connects through Sweden.
Also, what if IROPs strand you? You wouldn't want to be stuck in a country you can't enter, especially if there's no clear indication of access to an open airside transit hotel, etc.
What does TIMATIC say?
ADDED: Another consideration is that COVID-19 doesn't seem to be very well controlled in Sweden, so there's more potential risk to one's personal health (and that of family members, etc.) if one connects through Sweden.
Also, what if IROPs strand you? You wouldn't want to be stuck in a country you can't enter, especially if there's no clear indication of access to an open airside transit hotel, etc.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Jun 10, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Jun 10, 2020, 11:23 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Transiting via Sweden is currently banned until 15 June: https://www.government.se
For Denmark, you can acquaint yourself with the respective requirements here: https://politi.dk/en/coronavirus-in-...d-from-denmark
For Denmark, you can acquaint yourself with the respective requirements here: https://politi.dk/en/coronavirus-in-...d-from-denmark
Jun 11, 2020, 1:56 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 639
Thanks. My partner is a Finnish passport holder, and we are traveling together. And yes, we would be traveling back home. Based on the above, and the fact that we would have to go through passport control in order to take the Finnair flight to Helsinki, it looks like Denmark is a safer choice, no?
Edit: Just to clarify that the itinerary would be MEL-CPH-HEL all in one ticket so yes, we hope Qatar can check through luggage to final destination.
Edit: Just to clarify that the itinerary would be MEL-CPH-HEL all in one ticket so yes, we hope Qatar can check through luggage to final destination.
Last edited by Mister P.; Jun 11, 2020 at 2:17 am