Am I entitled to overnight accommodations by Qatar Airways on a long layover?
I am travelling to Jeddah from Kolkata on the 15th of June via Doha. I have a layover in Doha of 18 hours, 15 min. Should I get accommodations in Doha by the airline since my next connecting flight is more then 6 hours? If there is a law that passengers should get accommodations if the connecting flight is more then 6 hours, please let me know.
Best Answer
I have never heard of a law or regulation that would require an airline to provide transit accommodations based on a scheduled connection (as opposed to a cancellation or other operational failure, for example). After all, you are the one choosing to accept the itinerary as given.
But it is true that such accommodations are written into some fare rules on some airlines. The travel industry term is Stopover Paid By Carrier (STPB), a web search on which will be informative. On this site, also see Does a layover of more than 6 hours entitle me to accommodation by the airline?
In the specific case of Qatar Airways, a simple web search indicates that it is possible:
What if I have a transit time of over 8 hours in Doha?
Qatar Airways may offer transit hotel accommodation for customers who face extended transit times (between 8 and 24 hours) in Doha, en-route to their final destination depending on the fare and route purchased.
You should consult the airline's Conditions of Carriage as well as the rules of your fare first, then contact the airline directly to see if you qualify. On a flight as short as DOH-CCU, I doubt that will be the case, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
For some other airlines which frequently offer accommodations on long layovers, see the March 2015 blog article "Long Layover Ahead of You? These Airlines Will Hook You Up With Free Hotel" at travel site MapHappy.
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Can you stay overnight in Doha Airport?
If you are on a layover, you don't have to go through security as there is a transit hotel and sleep cabins offering both short-term and overnight rates. A few nearby hotels provide free airport shuttles, but you will need to pass through immigration/security to access them.How do I get complimentary hotel on Qatar Airways?
Return journeys from the United States, with a booking made 5 days or more prior to travel. Only passengers who receive confirmation of this offer after booking their flight will be eligible for the complimentary hotel stay. How long is the stopover? This offer is valid for stopovers in Qatar between 24 and 32 hours.Can you sleep in Qatar airport lounge?
While Doha Airport has a few lounges, none have any sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Doha Airport Guide that you can pay to access.How long can you stay in transit in Doha?
The transit visa will be valid for a duration between 5 to 96 hours. The duration of stay beyond 96 hours is not permitted under this scheme. Please note that entry into Qatar with the pre-approved transit visa must be within 30 days of the date of issuance.How to spend your FREE Qatar Airways stopover! DOHA, QATAR - prices, transportation, \u0026 travel tips
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