Qatar is open to international tourism
Visitors from all around the world can now enter Qatar either visa-free, or by filling out simple online applications, depending on their nationality. Arrivals to Qatar are not required to quarantine, or present evidence of a negative Covid test result.
Transit through Hamad International Airport in Doha is permitted without acquiring a visa, as long as you are not leaving the airport.
Practical tips
- If you are flying to Qatar from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Doha (Hamad International Airport
DOH). If you are transiting to a connecting flight, follow the signs or ask at an information desk to find your way to the gates.
DIA (now in a semi-retirement state). According to Skytrax's World Airport Awards 2022, HIA is currently the - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, Air India Express, FlyDubai, Indigo, Pegasus Airlines, and Salamair.
Flights to Qatar
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Qatar. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Qatar, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are plenty of direct flights from the US/Canada to Qatar operated by Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Iberia, and JetBlue. Direct flight fares start at $700 if you depart from the East Coast (~13 hours flight), and $1100 from the West Coast (~15 hours flight).
- Qatar is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Qatar with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Qatar from the US and Canada are: American Airlines, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Saudia. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
40–80% off flights to Qatar
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What is the best time to book flights to Qatar?
The best time to book flights to Qatar is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Qatar flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Qatar flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Qatar. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Qatar less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Qatar, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Qatar from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Qatar — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Qatar is well-connected with Europe with numerous direct flights to Doha
DOH. The Qatari airport serves as a major transit hub where Europeans move to their connecting flights to popular destinations in Asia. With Qatar Airways you can fly non-stop to Doha from nearly all major cities in Europe (Athens, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, and Vienna, among others). Additionally, British Airways has direct flights from London and Manchester, Finnair from Helsinki and Copenhagen, and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul. - Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Qatar include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Bulgaria Air, and Finnair.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Qatar from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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The cheapest time to fly to Qatar
Middle East countries, like Qatar, have a desert climate and are extremely hot from April to September. June, July, and August – traditionally the hottest months of the year – should be avoided at all costs. It’s not unusual for the mercury to soar to 42° Celsius (!).
The cool season comes in December and lasts until February – with temperatures averaging 14°-25° C most days. However, if you plan your trip for the winter you must know that these are the best months for tourists – the country sees a sharp spike in tourist footfall, so make sure to reserve your flights, hotels, and rental car well in advance.
Oryx hotel inside the Doha airport
Airside of the Hamad International Airport in Doha there’s a conveniently located Oryx hotel, offering transiting passengers a choice of six different room types. You can make a booking for a night, but the hotel also accepts bookings by the hour – great for a little nap during the layover.
All guests are offered complimentary access to the Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Centre during their stay, with the choice of spa, massage treatments, fitness, and squash activities.
As the rooms tend to be often fully booked (with only expensive suites left) we recommend booking in advance.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Qatar has only one time zone – it observes Arabia Standard Time (AST) all year, which is GMT/UTC+3 time zone. There are no daylight saving time clock changes.
Qatar is 8 hours ahead of New York, and 8 hours behind Sydney. Arabia Standard Time is also used by Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Download a VPN app
Qatar is known for its repressive laws and censorship. There is no freedom of speech in Qatar and online content is censored – various websites and online services have been banned temporarily or permanently, including WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime, and Telegram. There are also growing concerns regarding online surveillance.
Solution? If you want to keep access to your favorite websites and avoid being spied on while traveling around Qatar, you should download a VPN app for your smartphone and laptop. By hiding your location, it will allow you to bypass government censorship and freely access all blocked content.
Make sure to install it before you arrive – VPN websites are often also blocked (however, using a VPN is not illegal).
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, and others).
When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@qatarairways”). The customer care team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Qatari airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
It is always a good idea to bring cash to Qatar. Plan ahead and exchange some money for Qatari riyal at home, or use one of the many ATMs at the airport and in almost every city.
Airlines of Qatar
Qatar has only one main airline, the national flag carrier Qatar Airways. With the base of operations in Hamad International Airport, it’s flying to over 150 international destinations across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, using a fleet of more than 200 aircraft (including Airbus A380, A350-1000 and Boeing 777).
According to the consumer-aviation website Skytrax, Qatar Airways holds the status of the World’s 5 Star Airline since 2011, and in 2022 has been awarded the title of World’s Best Airline. It keeps the perfect 7/7 score for both safety and services onboard. Even in economy class, it offers the combination of top-notch service, delicious cuisine, comfortable seats, and a clean, spacious cabin. On all flights, passengers receive complimentary refreshments and the choice of nearly 20 special meals for those who require them. Travelers who book their flight on the airline’s website can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi on board (available on select flights only).
Flights to Qatar
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Qatar included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.
There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Qatar. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. Currently, only Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia have direct flights from Australia to Qatar. Non-stop routes connect Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide with the only international airport in Qatar - Hammad International AirportDOHin Doha. There are no direct flights from New Zealand to Qatar though - you’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. - Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. Depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even the time of year, a flight to Qatar could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne.
Compare fares from main international airports in Australia: SydneySYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, DarwinDRW, and in New Zealand: AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, and QueenstownZQN. - If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Qatar with a regional budget airline such as Air Arabia, Air India Express, FlyDubai, Indigo, Pegasus Airlines, and Salamair.
For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.
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Flights to Qatar
from major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Qatar look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Qatar will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Qatar and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Flights to Qatar dataset
