All purpose ‘Going to Qatar’ thread

[JamboAl]

2 hours ago, Cadeau said:

On my Hayya app, theres a place where it says 'show your match tickets' and clicking it takes you to Google Play store and to the Lusail Super Cup app...So I take it, an app for the World Cup tickets will be available soon enough.

I heard the tickets will actually be on the Hayya app.  But they won’t appear until at least next month or even November.  

[Free kick]

Yeah it makes me wonder now why I bothered installing the app.  It might be better just to get a physical copy of the Hayya card and use that instead.   

[ShaneC06]

I assume most people on this thread have booked their flights and tickets, but I was scrolling through the internet and saw there are a lot more flights to Qatar now than there were a couple months ago. Toronto to Doha is $1300. A lot cheaper than if you're flying from Edmonton which is asking for $2700!!! 

[Free kick]

Qatar finalise beer policy for 2022 FIFA World Cup (insidethegames.biz)

[Free kick]

13 hours ago, ShaneC06 said:

I assume most people on this thread have booked their flights and tickets, but I was scrolling through the internet and saw there are a lot more flights to Qatar now than there were a couple months ago. Toronto to Doha is $1300. A lot cheaper than if you're flying from Edmonton which is asking for $2700!!! 

That $1300 must be for a one way ticket.   I bought my airline ticket back in the spring and had continued to check for weeks and months afterwards,  I didnt see much movement in price

[Free kick]

On 9/11/2022 at 11:43 PM, ShaneC06 said:

I assume most people on this thread have booked their flights and tickets, but I was scrolling through the internet and saw there are a lot more flights to Qatar now than there were a couple months ago. Toronto to Doha is $1300. A lot cheaper than if you're flying from Edmonton which is asking for $2700!

Yup  its a lot cheaper now,  I just checked.   However, what I found has lots layovers.   if you are willing to endure 30 hours of travel and two stop overs,  you can get the price you mentioned for a round trip. 

That is still darn good.  Had I seen that back then,  it would have impossible to pass up on.   

 

Edit.:  upon further review,  the prices your quoting are for flights with 2 stops and 30 hr travel time.  No thank you.   you always end regretting taking those kind of travel routes with stops or multiple stops

 

 

Edited September 20, 2022 by Free kick

[red card]

For those who want to know what they can bring to the stadium, here's FIFA Qatar Stadium Code of Conduct as of July.

Only small bags allowed up to 75cm or something that can be stored under a seat. Thankfully, vuvuzelas are banned.

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/33ad3969e51a407b/original/Stadium-Code-of-Conduct.pdf

[Free kick]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/ca.sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/world-cup-2022-qatar-opened-its-massive-lusail-stadium-and-the-reviews-were-not-great-134801410.html
 

Fortunately, i dont have any tickets to games at Lusail stadium.   But here are some not so good reviews of Stadium

[An Observer]

Hey guys, just a bump for the WhatsApp group for those going to Qatar.  I will be off grid from 28 Sept to 9 Oct so if you want to be added during that period, DM either @Terminder Sumbal or @Arasottawa to add you.  Otherwise, I can do it between now and 28 Sept and again after 9 Oct

btw, there are 88 participants on that group so it will be a good way to communicate with each other around things like meet ups when people are in Qatar which is it’s main purpose. 

[SthMelbRed]

I'm not going to Qatar, but there was a guy called Terminder Sumbal who grew up in the same neighbourhood as me in Burnaby. Wonder if it's the same guy.

[DrunkenGoon]

Just booked flights a couple of days ago... Montreal/London(change of airport)/Doha same on the way back Nov 23-29, under 2300 total for two people on British Airways. Best I could find with AC was around 4400 for same dates.

[SthMelbRed]

2 hours ago, DrunkenGoon said:

Just booked flights a couple of days ago... Montreal/London(change of airport)/Doha same on the way back Nov 23-29, under 2300 total for two people on British Airways. Best I could find with AC was around 4400 for same dates.

Which London airports? I hope you've given yourself sufficient time to travel between. Realistically, you'll want to give yourself half a day between flights to ensure you can make the transfer.

[JamboAl]

If it’s Gatwick/Heathrow, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have at least 6 hrs.

[SthMelbRed]

10 minutes ago, JamboAl said:

If it’s Gatwick/Heathrow, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have at least 6 hrs.

It'd be worse if either of them is one of Luton or Stanstead. Heathrow/Gatwick is probably the most doable, and I agree, I'd want at least 6 hours. I don't think there's flights out of London City for either Canada or Doha.

[theaub]

Seats are assigned for all matches now in the portal

Can someone remind me which sections were the 'supporter' ones for the Canada matches?  Curious how close the TST's are to them.

[DrunkenGoon]

10 hours ago, SthMelbRed said:

Which London airports? I hope you've given yourself sufficient time to travel between. Realistically, you'll want to give yourself half a day between flights to ensure you can make the transfer.

5:45 in between going out (transfer Heathrow to Gatwick) and 10:50 coming back (Gatwick to Heathrow).  I have friends and family there, so enough time to transit and maybe, well definitely have a pint.

[ESG Shawn]

3 hours ago, theaub said:

Seats are assigned for all matches now in the portal

Can someone remind me which sections were the 'supporter' ones for the Canada matches?  Curious how close the TST's are to them.

I got mine through Canada RedGold, I am in: 

Belgium: Block 119 

Croatia: Block 322 

Morocco: Block 135 

 

[SthMelbRed]

1 hour ago, DrunkenGoon said:

5:45 in between going out (transfer Heathrow to Gatwick) and 10:50 coming back (Gatwick to Heathrow).  I have friends and family there, so enough time to transit and maybe, well definitely have a pint.

11 hours on the way back is easily enough time. Less than 6 on the way there might be tighter than you think, though. Considering that you probably have to be at Gatwick 2 hours before your flight, you're giving yourself 3 hours to get through immigration/customs at Heathrow and travel to Gatwick. If you're taking the train, you can get the fast train to Paddington in about half an hour, then you're probably looking at 20-30 minutes getting from Paddington to Victoria, followed by another 30-40 minutes on the Gatwick Express. It it's me, I'm holding off on the pint that day, unless it's at Gatwick, after you've checked in for your flight and cleared security. Gatwick is a long way from London. 

[JamboAl]

The other thing to add to @SthMelbRed’s comment is that with all those morning flights coming in from North America and Asia, getting through immigration can be a lengthy process; part of the reason why I always choose to grab a day flight over that lands at night.  Drink when you get to Gatwick or on the plane…you won’t be able to often when you get to Qatar.

[DrunkenGoon]

I appreciate the feedback gents... We will probably uber between airports and that should avoid the hassle of changing trains and waiting for the next one to show up, etc. Also going carry on only on the way in, to avoid other airport type of delays.

[Andyc]

2 hours ago, DrunkenGoon said:

I appreciate the feedback gents... We will probably uber between airports and that should avoid the hassle of changing trains and waiting for the next one to show up, etc. Also going carry on only on the way in, to avoid other airport type of delays.

There are specialist car companies that do the run between Heathrow and Gatwick at fixed rates. They monitor your flight and meet you in arrivals. I looked at this when I was considering these flights. Might be a good insurance policy if time is slightly tight....

[theaub]

4 hours ago, ESG Shawn said:

I got mine through Canada RedGold, I am in: 

Belgium: Block 119 

Croatia: Block 322

Morocco: Block 135 

 

The TST I saw has Belgium in 119, Croatia in 322 and Morocco in 330 so that is fantastic news.

[CanadianTraveller]

10 hours ago, SthMelbRed said:

11 hours on the way back is easily enough time. Less than 6 on the way there might be tighter than you think, though. Considering that you probably have to be at Gatwick 2 hours before your flight, you're giving yourself 3 hours to get through immigration/customs at Heathrow and travel to Gatwick. If you're taking the train, you can get the fast train to Paddington in about half an hour, then you're probably looking at 20-30 minutes getting from Paddington to Victoria, followed by another 30-40 minutes on the Gatwick Express. It it's me, I'm holding off on the pint that day, unless it's at Gatwick, after you've checked in for your flight and cleared security. Gatwick is a long way from London. 

You don't have to be at Gatwick 2 hours prior unless Border Force badly understaffs the midday. Was through security in the South Terminal in under 10 minutes last week. Check in wasn't bad, although you want to avoid the day prior to an England match to be on the safe side.

National Express bus - if the timing is right - is a reasonable transfer choice. Less so @ 4 PM on a weekday w/ traffic on the M25, but an hour w/o transferring w/ checked luggage seems reasonable to me. Wish the wifi was more consistent. Of course if your plan is to meet up with someone for a pint, it probably won't be on the side of the freeway. 🙂 

And the eGates allow a pretty swift passage through Immigration. Can't speak to baggage handling @ the airports, but it can't be as bad as in the summer. Baggage collection could be the biggest wildcard...and in this case doesn't matter.

In 6 hours and 55 minutes I was able to land, taxi, disembark, pass security all in 40 minutes; visit a pub in Houndslow and return, get to Gatwick, check-in, clear security, and spend 3 hours in the lounge. World Cup may drive a bit of airport congestion, but not enough to eat through 3 hours IMO.

4 is tight w/o a $100 taxi. 5 is usually good. 6 is plenty.

[DrunkenGoon]

I was hoping to pick up some additional tickets today with the last minute sale phase opening... spent 4.5 hours in the queue, nothing was available when I finally got in. Anybody got anything in this phase?

Crossed the T's and dotted the I's with accommodations and Hayya card approval.  As far as the physical Hayya card, do they mail that out or is it something that happens on entry into Qatar?

Thanks for all your feedback/help.

[JamboAl]

1 hour ago, DrunkenGoon said:

I was hoping to pick up some additional tickets today with the last minute sale phase opening... spent 4.5 hours in the queue, nothing was available when I finally got in. Anybody got anything in this phase?

Crossed the T's and dotted the I's with accommodations and Hayya card approval.  As far as the physical Hayya card, do they mail that out or is it something that happens on entry into Qatar?

Thanks for all your feedback/help.

Physical Hayya is sent by DHL but you have to ask for it.