Qatar Airways STPC: Free Hotel During Your Doha Layover
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If your connection in Doha lasts 8 to 24 hours and no earlier flight leaves for your destination, Qatar Airways can give you a hotel, transfers and, if needed, a visa application. Long known as the STPC, this program is now called Complimentary Transit Accommodation. You book it online at least 3 days before departure.
From Montreal or Toronto, Qatar Airways flies non-stop to Doha, and the connection to Asia, Africa or the Indian Ocean often falls in the middle of the night. I've been there: a real room changes the rest of the trip. We explain how to tell whether you qualify, and what to do if your ticket is not eligible.
Qatar Airways – STPC Program
The STPC program (Stopover paid by carrier) gives you a hotel during a long connection in Doha, as long as you meet specific criteria.
The STPC package includes :
- Hotel accommodation;
- Return transfers between the airport and the hotel;
- A visa application, if you need one.
Eligibility
Qatar Airways now calls the STPC program Complimentary Transit Accommodation. You will find the full terms and conditions on its official page. Here is a summary of the most important points:
- Your transit time in Doha is 8 to 24 hours.
- There are no flights to your next destination, marketed or operated by Qatar Airways, within 8 hours of your arrival in Doha. You therefore cannot voluntarily choose a later flight to stay longer.
- At least one flight in your itinerary is marketed and operated by Qatar Airways; the others can be marketed by Qatar Airways and operated by a partner airline.
- Transit accommodation, whether complimentary or paid, is not available to children aged 5 to 11 travelling alone, young passengers aged 12 to 15 travelling alone, or passengers who have requested special services.
Qatar Airways only provides this accommodation on select fare types, and fees may apply depending on the fare. Before booking, check whether your flight is eligible on its help page, with your booking reference and last name.
Hotel reservation
When you book, you choose your hotel from a selection of 4- or 5-star properties offered by Discover Qatar.
To book your package, you now go through the Qatar Airways transit accommodation page, at least 3 days before departure. If your flight booking is eligible, you receive a Transit Voucher that pays for the hotel, then you complete the booking online on the Discover Qatar website.
Have your booking reference (6 characters) and the passenger’s last name on hand. The Transit Voucher covers all eligible passengers in the same flight booking, and you can include up to 3 hotel rooms in one accommodation booking. If the cost of your accommodation exceeds the value of your Transit Voucher, the rest must be paid by card.
You then receive a confirmation by email. Within 3 days of departure, online booking is no longer possible: go to the transfer desk when you arrive at Hamad International Airport.
Once in Doha, you show your confirmation at the reception desk of the hotel you chose.
On a layover in Doha in August 2023, I was travelling with a friend. My ticket, paid with Avios, was not eligible for the STPC, but my friend's was. At the Qatar Airways counter, the agent could not change the accommodation to a double room.
However, at the check-in desk of the Oryx Garden Hotel, I was able to pay a supplement of QAR 200 (about US$55) to access the room. Money well spent so I didn't have to spend my night on airport benches!
With transit accommodation, your checked bags go straight to your final destination: you cannot collect them in Doha. Keep the essentials in your carry-on. To access them during the layover, Qatar Airways must reissue your ticket to include a Qatar Stopover, and additional fees apply.
Qatar Airways – Qatar Stopover Package (Discover Qatar)
The Qatar Stopover package, designed with Discover Qatar, puts you up for 1 to 4 nights in a 4- or 5-star hotel when your layover in Doha lasts 12 to 96 hours. It is aimed first at travellers who want to visit Qatar, but it also gives you a fallback when your ticket is not eligible for the STPC.
The price depends on the package and the number of nights. Keep in mind that Qatar Airways shows its prices per person, in US dollars:
| Package | Hotel | 1 night | 2 nights | 3 nights | 4 nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4-star | US$14 | US$23 | US$49 | US$76 |
| Premium | 5-star | US$24 | US$43 | US$77 | US$111 |
| Premium Beach | 5-star, access to Doha Sands Beach | US$31 | US$57 | US$98 | US$138 |
| Luxury | 5-star, breakfast included | US$83 | US$162 | US$255 | US$348 |
The package hotels are in Doha, from chains such as IHG, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and Accor. Plan for the trip from Hamad International Airport: you can add airport transfers as an option when you book.
You book the package together with your flight on the Qatar Airways website, at least 3 days before departure. You indicate whether you stop in Doha on the way out or on the way back and for how many nights, then choose your hotel and, if you like, tours.
The packages let you check in and check out at any time, 24 hours a day. This comes in handy when your flight lands in the middle of the night, or when your layover is during the day and you want to freshen up before your next flight.
- Annual fee
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- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $255
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- Up to 15,000 points
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Conclusion
Does your layover last 8 to 24 hours with no earlier flight to your destination? Check your booking with Qatar Airways: if it is eligible, Complimentary Transit Accommodation gives you the hotel, the transfers and, if needed, a visa application.
Is your ticket not eligible, or do you want to visit Doha? For a layover of 12 to 96 hours, the Qatar Stopover package puts you up from US$14 per person for one night. It is also the option to choose if you want to collect your bags in Doha.
Is your layover under 12 hours and your ticket not eligible? The Qatar Airways help page also lets you book a paid hotel for your transit, with the same booking reference.
Which credit card should you use to earn Avios?
You can use Avios to book Qatar Airways flights, in Qsuite as well as in economy, and to pay for part of the Qatar Stopover package. In Canada, the simplest route is American Express Membership Rewards points: you transfer them 1:1 to British Airways Avios, then to your Privilege Club account. The American Express Cobalt® Card mainly rewards groceries and restaurants, the American Express® Gold Rewards Card rewards travel, and the American Express Platinum Card® adds airport lounge access. To compare cards for your profile, use our credit card comparator or our selection of the best travel credit cards.
Also create your free member account: you will find member-only offers there and choose the newsletters that interest you.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $191.88 | |||
| $250 | |||
| $799 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must my layover be to get a free hotel from Qatar Airways?
Your layover in Doha must last 8 to 24 hours. There must also be no flight to your next destination, marketed or operated by Qatar Airways, within 8 hours of your arrival.
Does a ticket paid with Avios qualify for the STPC?
Nothing guarantees it. Qatar Airways only provides Complimentary Transit Accommodation on select fare types and does not publish the list. Check your booking on the Qatar Airways help page before counting on the free hotel.
How far in advance do I need to book the hotel?
At least 3 days before departure, online. Within 3 days, go to the transfer desk when you arrive at Hamad International Airport.
Can I collect my checked bags during the layover?
Not with transit accommodation: your checked bags can only be claimed at your final destination. To access them in Doha, your ticket must be reissued to include a Qatar Stopover, and additional fees apply.
How many rooms can I book with the Transit Voucher?
Up to 3 hotel rooms per accommodation booking. The voucher covers all eligible passengers in the same flight booking. If the cost exceeds its value, you pay the difference by card.
How much does a Qatar Stopover package cost?
It starts at US$14 per person for one night in a 4-star hotel. The 4-night Luxury package starts at US$348 per person. The package is designed for layovers of 12 to 96 hours.
Do I need a visa to leave Doha airport?
Canadian and French passport holders are among the nationalities that can enter Qatar without a visa, according to Visit Qatar. If you do need one, transit accommodation lets you request a visa application when you book.
Do I earn Avios on a Qatar Stopover package?
Yes. You collect Avios and Qpoints on the entire package, on top of those earned on your flights. You can also pay part of it with your Avios using Cash + Avios.