Yesterday I wrote about the new +Qatar program in Doha, offering a complimentary visa and hotel room for transit passengers. Here’s how to take advantage of this free offer.
Reminders:
- Free transit hotel program runs through 30 September 2017
- Valid for new bookings made by 31 August 2017
- Flights must be booked on qatarairways.com and be on Qatar Airways (no codeshares)
- Transit must be a minimum of 12 hours
How to Book a Free Transit Hotel in Doha
1. Book your multi-city ticket with transit in Doha with Qatar Airways
Select the ‘Multi-city’ option when searching for your flights on qatarairways.com, and click on the ‘Add another flight’ button to add your stopover in Doha:
Add Doha to your itinerary during your outbound or inbound journey:
After including Doha as one of your stops, select the flights for your trip then click ‘Continue’:
Review your flights, and click on ‘Continue’ to complete your booking:
2. Apply for your free transit visa
Simply enter your booking reference number and last name to begin the process. Remember, the free transit visa (and hotel) is one for Qatar Airways flights on Qatar Airways issued tickets.
3. Book your +Qatar offer with Discover Qatar
After booking your flight, you can also confirm your free hotel room. You’ll have three choices: +Qatar Premium, Luxury, or Ultimate. I detail the choices here.
If you are flying in economy class, you are entitled to a free night at a 4-star hotel. The list includes 19 hotels.
If you are flying in business or first class, your five star hotel is complimentary. This includes 18 hotels. Unfortunately, the Grand Hyatt Doha is not one of the choices.
Choose your hotel, then check for availability over your travel dates:
If your hotel is available, you’ll see a price of $0 indicated ($50 if you take advantage of the +Qatar Ultimate package) and can fill in the details and make the reservation. You will need to enter your ticket number into the reservation. I would assume that if you cancel your ticket your hotel reservation will also be canceled.
CONCLUSION
Follow the steps above to enjoy a free hotel during your extended transit in Doha. While Doha is frankly one of the most boring places in the world, spending a night or two at a luxury hotel with great restaurants and shopping is still probably worthwhile.
FYI, I have an upcoming trip on Qatar (economy) with a transit in Doha so I tried these steps and received an error. It said “YOUR JOURNEY COMMENCES IN MORE THAN 30 DAYS. PLEASE APPLY FOR YOUR QATAR VISA WITHIN 30 DAYS OF TRAVEL” Does that mean I would also need to wait until within 30 days of travel to book the hotel?
Not necessarily. I would book your hotel now and just grab the transit visa once you get within 30 days.
The Museum of Islamic Art is fantastic and absolutely worth visiting during a stopover.
I look forward to visiting!
My wife and I have two (2) 12+ hour layovers in DOH on an upcoming vacation run to Singapore. Can we take advantage of this offer or is it only for NEW bookings?
Only for new bookings (made after 24 April)
This is very helpful. Thanks!
How do you get on the Qatar+ program?
Are all Economy flight eligible? Because they have codes e.g N and O and S which dictates different economy pricing? Thanks
All Qatar flights are eligible — you just must book directly via Qatar.
Award tickets, even First Class, will not qualify for the free hotel room. I tried. twice.
Booked with what loyalty program?
My name is Ramla lam Somalia 16 years old I live my parents father mother and 2sister,2brother please help my family thanks
Ramla, how can we help?
is it necessary that it should be a round trip…..
No, round-trip is not necessary.
I have booked a Round-trip flight from ATL to HYD via DOH already. Now, I am thinking to add a stop over in DOH during my return journey, but couldn’t do it on Qatar Airways webiste. Any suggestions on how I can do it?
Did you book directly through Qatar Airways? If so, contact call center.
If my stopover date is 2 Jan 2018 (more than 12 hours connection time)do I still eligible for the free hotel stay? Saw in T&C travel have to be completed by 31 Dec 2017.
The program has been extended, so you’ll be fine.
could you please specify the dates upto which this program is valid
Seems to have been extended for the next six months.
Hi , i have upcoming flight from UK to Pakistan on 15th november with more than 8 hours transit on doha Airport, can i have free hotel to stay as i have booked the qatar airways flight from qatar airways website.
Dear Wajeeha, unfortunately your transit must be 12 hours.
Assalam
Hope you are doing good inshallah. I have already booked my flight from Chicago to Islamabad via Doha on Qatar Airways. I have 3.45 hrs of stay. But I want to explore Qatar is this possible I can have stopover while coming or going back to USA
Yes, your ticket should allow for a stopover. Call Qatar to see if they can rebook you. Good luck!
Hi Matt
Do Qatar airways provide complimentary airport transfer too from and to the hotel
Yes.
I booked my tickets for my family, directly, from Qatar Airways’ web site, to travel from MCO to TRV via JFK. The layover at Doha is, almost, 13 hours, but, I was told that, we are not eligible for hotel accommodation. There was an earlier connection flight, but, not for the price that I was looking at. So, not all fares are eligible, even if the layover time is more than 8 hours. More and more airlines are doing that.
Hi
On 3rd January i applied for transit visa by Qatar Airways and that time my status was my application was submitted but today my status was change now it was resubmitted,
so i just want to know is that ok ! and how many step there was for transit visa?
Hi i have my parents travelling on the 8th April from Mumbai to doha and then to JFK on the 9th April . they are all travelling Business class .
1. Indian Passports holders do they need a transit visa since your website tends to give us an error code of “YOUR JOURNEY COMMENCES IN MORE THAN 28 DAYS. PLEASE APPLY FOR YOUR QATAR VISA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF TRAVEL”.
2. Are they applicable for for a free hotel transit time is 20 hours .