Dinersclub.com.
Doha Hamad International opened in 2014 and has one terminal with five concourses.
Qatar Airways does offer hotel accommodation for its customers who face extended transit times (between 8 and 24 hours) in Doha, depending on the fare and route purchased.
If you are not eligible for the complimentary hotel accommodation, you may still qualify for the paid-transit accommodation service. For economy-class passengers this is $125 per person and children pay the same rate as adults.
To find out if you qualify for either, call the airline on 0861 861 868.
Regardless of your airline, transit passengers with a valid boarding pass for an onward flight can check into the Airport Hotel, which is in the terminal so you won’t go through immigration or need a visa. However, for two adults and one child, this will cost you about R4 000 — so that’s cheaper than the Qatar Airways paid-accommodation option.
The hotel does accept walk-ins but if you want to be guaranteed of a spot, book online at bookings.com or expedia.com.
Your other option is to check into an airport lounge, either the Al Maha Transit Lounge or the Oryx Lounge. The former has a maximum four-hour stay and children under five are admitted free. It has a family room, showers, a comprehensive à la carte menu, alcoholic drinks and a business centre but no sleep facilities.
They sometimes turn walk-in passengers away when the lounge is too busy, so, if you like, you can book your access in advance at sleepinginairports.net. The online rates are £58 (up to three hours) or £70 (up to six hours) per person.
The Oryx Lounge charges $55 per person — children under five get in free. It has no sleeping facilities and the food is a cold buffet and basic but it does have a gaming lounge for kids.
Finally, if you’ve got the stamina, you could kill the time in the airport itself.
There are Family & TV areas at Gates A3 and Concourses B and C. More in the central terminal are limited couches but are fine to use — some travellers say they are by far the best option, unless you are an adult in search of a nap.
There are five children’s play areas in the airport with televisions, toys, mini-rides and climbing frames. You will find them airside in concourses A, B and C.
Also, you can’t miss it but you should prime your son to look out for the airport’s giant teddy bear, an artwork called Lamp Bear by Swiss artist Urs Fischer. It takes centre stage in the grand foyer leading to HIA’s duty-free hall. It is a 7m tall, canary yellow art work sculpted from bronze. It was previously displayed in New York and was reportedly bought by a member of the Qatar royal family from Christie’s for just over $6.8-million.
Whatever you decide to do, remember to carry what you will need with you (toiletries in little bottles) as you won’t have access to your checked luggage until you arrive at your final destination.
It’s also worth knowing that there are only British power outlets in the airports, so take an international adaptor should you want to charge things.
Some people complain that the air-conditioning can be quite cold, so carry something warm.
I know Diners International offers its cardholders free lounge access at many airports but I’m curious about the conditions under which one would qualify. Could you find out?
Diners International in South Africa tells me the conditions are as follows: R15 000 spend on your account in the quarter of your visit. If this spend is not achieved, fees will be applicable. These are R219 per visit (in domestic lounges) and R390 per visit (in international lounges). Your account must be in good standing and each card holder must swipe at the lounge to avoid charges. You can find a list of the Diners lounges at airports across the world at