On my last trip to the US, I opted to use Qatar Airways, mainly because of the affordable ticket promos....BIG MISTAKE!
The officials at the Point of Connection (POC) in DOHA are unfriendly and unreasonable to Black Africans travelling via Doha, as I observed.

If you are Algerian, Egyptian, Tunisian or can speak Arabic, you get preferential treatment. If you are a black African, you are made to wait before you are attended to.

The issue is the short visit/stop over immigration. Flights to the US usually have waiting or connecting times of up to 14 hours at a go. I was aware of this before the purchase and made a request for a stop over transit visa and accommodation (STPC) so I could rest before continuing with the flight the next day. This attracted even more money to the ticketing fees itself which I obliged.

On getting there, my transit visa request was refused and I was given food stamps instead and ended up staying in the airport all through the 14 hours. To make matters worse, I had to face the same ordeal on my return flight back.

My question and argument with them is that if you knew you were not going to issue any transit visas to non Arabic speaking black Africans, why did you take our money in the first place? Its called advance fee fraud.

My advice, not all that glitters is gold. And if something looks too good to be true, it usually is so don't go for it.
For the ordeal I went through, and the time, discomfort and money I suffered at Qatar Airways, I would have just added little more money like N20,000 extra and fly direct to the US on Delta or United and feel refreshed instead.

Don't get me wrong oh, the Qatar Airways flights were smooth and cozy but if you have time to burn/waste, don't mind sleeping in the airport, don't mind being treated with racial discrimination and/or you're looking for a cheap bargain, then you can fly with them.

In fact, instead of flying with them, fly with Emirates and Etihad instead, they are more friendly and have shorter stop over times.

Thnk u 4d advice. Noted. Una fit move am to front page.

but the leg room in economy is everything though plus u could have used the lounge at the airport. Etihad will squeeze u like sardine, i was sleeping and nodding on an etihad flight because i couldnt recline my chair, there was a pregnant woman behind me and she begged me not to. my worst flight to date. Emirates is not so bad too

It is very hard to get a transit visa in any GCC states for a Nigerian. The best option is the lounge. You can rest comfortably, use free wi-fi, eat, sleep in a spacious bed, get a good hot shower and drink as much beer as your stomach can handle (beer is hidden, you have to specifically ask the staff). All this comfort, you only pay $40! There is a time limit but most don't care to look for you.

Thanks guys for the new info, most especially about the 40USD Lounge.
Its just that I was so upset and in so much disarray, I vowed never to go via Doha again.

Makes two of us who just made that vow...lolz.

I had a similar flight too; when I called their office to inquire about that STPC and it wasn't standard procedure for my ticket class, I just boned and used the money shop somethings (not at duty free, of course!).
I used my few Qmiles buy DF sha since I don vow.

I had 8hrs layover going and 14hrs returning; I just camped at the airport staring at those metal statues- as if one of them would move

Meanwhile, even the Dubai officers have their noses stuck in the air as well (must be a Middle Eastern thing, no?!)
My own vow now is avoiding the whole M.E.- except as a last resort. It's actually a boomerang journey if one checks it well.

And then, their carryon weight tolerance is way stricter than emirates- or maybe I was just unlucky (both ways )

Thank God for the free wifi though!

One World status over colour of your skin...just saying

thegreengooner:
One World status over colour of your skin...just saying

Exactly!!! they won't treat a gold or platinum card holder anyhow

All I know is qatar new transit airport is beautiful and their crew members are very friendly...I am always entertained with both white and red wines anytime I asked.

blessedfavoured:


Exactly!!! they won't treat a gold or platinum card holder anyhow

I spent 14 hours in the lounge in January....even got me a private room

blessedfavoured:
but the leg room in economy is everything though plus u could have used the lounge at the airport. Etihad will squeeze u like sardine, i was sleeping and nodding on an etihad flight because i couldnt recline my chair, there was a pregnant woman behind me and she begged me not to. my worst flight to date. Emirates is not so bad too

Etihad is d best for me tho

It's nothing personal. Most countries have little respect for a Nigerian passport holder. The few thugs have ruined the reputation of many.

The launge is a God-Send for citizens of countries with restricted passports. Instead of going crazy for 14 hours at the airport, you can eat, sleep, use free wifi and drink as much as you want for very little money.

It is in fact cheaper than some European airports. The hotel inside Schipol Airport in Amsterdam charges nearly $100 for 12 hours of rest in their cubical and you might not even get the room!

Meeehn, thank God for the free WIFI oohh! That was the only thing that kept me sane...and the food stamps too! Lol!

jukeblam:
Makes two of us who just made that vow...lolz.

I had a similar flight too; when I called their office to inquire about that STPC and it wasn't standard procedure for my ticket class, I just boned and used the money shop somethings (not at duty free, of course!).
I used my few Qmiles buy DF sha since I don vow.

I had 8hrs layover going and 14hrs returning; I just camped at the airport staring at those metal statues- as if one of them would move

Meanwhile, even the Dubai officers have their noses stuck in the air as well (must be a Middle Eastern thing, no?!)
My own vow now is avoiding the whole M.E.- except as a last resort. It's actually a boomerang journey if one checks it well.

And then, their carryon weight tolerance is way stricter than emirates- or maybe I was just unlucky (both ways )

Thank God for the free wifi though!

thegreengooner:
One World status over colour of your skin...just saying

How does one get this one world status?
I have my flying blue on delta-airfrance-klm and skywards on emirates but not this one world stuff.

Details pls. Thanks.

avoid quatar airways. I had the same terrible experience with them. Him who have ears , let him hear.

Etihad POC is worse. Especially when you're going to the States.

Better buy direct ticket to the States to avoid
stories that touch.

Etihad? Nah Nah Nah!!!

Etihad has been the best for me...I don't agree that it's poc jus bad.......I have always had better experience with etihad whenever am going to the states....very quorteous set of people....

''Transit accommodation is up to the discretion of Qatar Airways. Not all fares are eligible for this stopover service, please contact your local Qatar Airways office to confirm whether this service is available for your journey, charges may apply.''--http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/transit-accommodation.page

It does say on their website that this service is not provided to all who may be eligible for it. I have traveled with Qatar Airways in the past and I have not experienced anything negative about them. The in-house smokers lounge at their Doha Airport fills me with nostalgia, unlike most airports where smokers have to exit to light up.