Doha Airport

This has got to be one of the worst airports I have been in. Mainly due to the archaic use of busses that take over 20 minutes to get to and from the aircraft to the terminal. And then when checking in with the extremely polite staff everyone must hurdle into a 2nd waiting room to wait for the bus. The lack of services at the airport are very poor. 2 or 3 restrooms tops that have a line out the door for men are packed and in locations not convenient to all passenger waiting areas. Since the current airport is so small the food and shopping options are extremely limited and the shopping is limited to duty free items (and over-priced electronics). The 1 great thing about this airport is the "Quiet Area" where it is dark reclining seats and very quiet if you have a long layover. Made for nice place to nap.

This airport desperate for an upgrade. The big fancy new Doha airport has had its opening delayed for several years and it shows as Qatar Airlines continues to expand its massive fleet despite the tiny overwhelmed airport that serves as its transit hub. A few problems to note: 1) The bathrooms would be a disgrace for even a small regional airport let alone a global hub. You would be forgiven for thinking the bathroom line is for boarding a plane because it stretches across the halls. Once you reach the inside there are more sinks than toilets. 2) During peak hours people are camped out all over the floors due to the lack of seats. Sleep is impossible because of the crowds. 3) Perhaps overwhelmed by it all staff are generally friendly but unhelpful or surly and unhelpful. For far fewer flights this would be a decently modern little airport. However when crammed in with the rest of the cattle it feels like a terrible place to be. When compared to the hub airports of the other 5 star airlines on skytrax (Singapore Hong Kong Kuala Lumpur - all of which I visited in the last year) it is a joke.

Travelling with QR we have visit Doha Int Airport every year for the last 6 years. Service and conditions at the Airport is ok for us. We have no problems to find seats while waiting in transit however the toilets area I have seen better in other airports. The main issue for us is how long time it takes to go by bus from the aircraft to the airport. Our experience is from 10 to 25 minutes which is long time when the departure time is 45 minutes. This year July we didn't have to be checked arriving the airport and I have never understand why they check people who arrives in transit. We look forward to see the new Airport next year so we don't have to go by bus from aircraft to terminal.

Airport does not have enough space to handle all transit passengers. There is nowhere near enough seating and toilets. Having to queue outside the mens toilets was a new experience for me and I felt very sorry for female passengers who had longer queues outside their toilets. Avoid Doha if you possibly can.

Airport staff were very humble. The only drawback was the bus ride after exiting the aircraft until you reach the airport. It was really very tiring and hectic. A complete modern airport is much awaited where you disembark from the aircraft directly into the main airport.

Transiting through this airport at around midnight is horrifying. There is no where near enough seating and toilets. Having to queue outside mens toilets was a new experience for me and I felt very sorry for female passengers who had longer queues outside their toilets. Avoid Doha if you possibly can.

Billions spent on the new terminal but someone seriously miscalculated the number of toilets required. Security staff rude and I have doubts about their efficiency. My hand luggage was x-rayed twice notwithstanding that I was in transit and it had been done thoroughly in Milan. Curiously my person was not searched during these checks. It is difficult to see the logic. The bus journey from the aircraft seemed never ending. I thought this was supposed to end once the new terminal had opened. I could not find any water fountains/coolers.

Great network of destinations and cabin/flight crew excellent but ground staff and Doha airport simply not up to the job. Had an uncomplicated transfer through on way to Europe though lengthy bus rides standing to/from tarmac and lack of airbridge onto plane problematic for older passengers with mobility issues. Check-in in Europe for return trip went smoothly purchased some duty free goods after checking in luggage and accepted as carryon to Doha in the usual sealed plastic bag. Passed through security again into Doha airport without comment when we were bussed into the terminal for a 2 hour transit. Had difficulty accessing departure gate due to long queues. Walked around to gate lounge that appeared to also have access to correct lounge but apparently did not lengthy redirection by ground staff and instead of being 15 mins ahead of check-in for ongoing flight we were 2 minutes late gate had been closed and we were off the flight with 24 hrs to spend in Doha airport. Went to board the ongoing flight and all our duty free was confiscated as was the duty free alcohol purchases of many other passengers including transit passengers who'd purchased in Doha. Final insult was to get home nearly 48 hours after starting our trip to find our luggage had not been placed on our flight despite repeated assurances that it would be. Facilities and processes on the ground are insufficient to cope with the rapidly expanding flight schedule and staff do not have sufficient support to retain customer focus. And I would agree with other reviewers regarding minimal toilets!

On arrival (for work) after midnight on a Monday night had to wait about 2 hours to get through immigration - this considered regular traffic. On departure 3 weeks later arrived at airport early checked in and went through to find its US$40 for access to the pay-in lounge where I could get an alcoholic drink.

The Airport terminal is pleasant enough and Duty Free Prices were average. Main complaint is there are too few toilets far too few. Every toilet was packed to capacity. With the number of people moving through there they need to improve that. Also if people are lying under the pay phones to charge iPhones and laptops then make a proper charge station to accommodate these people. There are charge stations but as with the toilets it is designed for half the volume that the airport can handle. Would rather fly Emirates next time.