Hamad International Airport – It needs a passenger experience makeover.

Good morning? Yes, it is morning I suppose from Hamad International Airport.

Or as I’m calling it – “Hot Mess International”.

I’m sorry Hamad International Airport – Your cute bear lamp cannot save you from a hot mess of an airport.

I’m sure you’re aware of the mess I had of transit through here last time. Well, this time – I’ve had more fun this morning (and I’m sure I will have more fun before this is all over and done with.

• First up, Transit Security – yes, I was sent through transit security this time (indicating the plane that was coming in from Frankfurt from was at the wrong gate at arrival (for reference the FRA-DOH segment arrived at A1, NRT-DOH came into C7. Whilst the walking distance was tolerable, what wasn’t was the security lane – with one open, and people being rushed through. Oh, and one of the people who were meant to be monitoring the security arches were being more interested in their phone. Not an inspiring experience.
• Once through there, it’s a matter of finding the right lounge. As Qatar Airways is a oneworld alliance member, rather than obeying the alliance rules, it wishes to put its own elites in one lounge, and everyone else in a first and business lounge. Considering there are no lounge totems (which tell you who can access what lounge), it’s extremely poor signage.
• And the lounge I’m in. Who would design a lounge which had a honking great big LED Screen above it with no cover? Oh.

I do bang on about passenger experience these days a lot – both on the ground and on the air, because these experiences dictate if we are to fly an airline again or not.

And right now, if I was booking a flight on Qatar Airways or routing through Qatar, I’d be reconsidering it deeply  due to silly designs and issues at their home base at Hamad International Airport.

Qatar Airways maybe a high quality airline, but their home base of Hamad International Airport is nothing short of a hot mess, that needs decent signage, clear channels of where to go and attention to detail.

And seriously – it’s missing.

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