Qatar Airways' online checkin facility has come as a "boon" to many passengers who are flying out of Doha during the peak holiday season.
Many passengers using the online check-in service are "avoiding hassle and long queues" at the Doha airport, travel industry sources said.
Doha Airport has been witnessing "heavy traffic", mostly outbound, since late June, with many nationals and expatriates flying out on summer vacation.
Recently, Doha International Airport issued guidelines, ahead of the summer holiday rush, under which only travelling passengers are given access to the departure terminal to avoid check-in hall congestion.
Most outbound flights to Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and India are booked to capacity these days, sources said.
Qatar Airways' passengers departing from Doha can check-in online at www.qatarairways.com.
This service is available for all passengers flying with the airline out of Doha International Airport and all Qatar Airways operated flights departing from many destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe, MENA and North and South Americas.
The online check-in service, accessible on the airline's website allows passengers in all classes of travel to most of the destinations to check-in between 36 and one and a half hours prior to departure.
They can choose a seat, print a boarding pass or have a bar-coded boarding pass sent to a mobile phone in "simple and convenient easy-to-use steps".
Passengers with baggage that needs to be checked-in, can use the dedicated "Fast bag drop" counters located in the departures hall of the main terminal. Those with carry-on bags can proceed directly to the gate after completing the necessary immigration and security procedures.
Boarding pass scanners are installed at the airport to ensure a faster service for online check-in passengers.
First and business class passengers, who use the online check-in service and are departing from Qatar Airways' Premium Terminal in Doha, can use the check-in counters there to drop off their luggage.
A "popular feature" of the service is the ability to select seats up to 36 hours in advance, ensuring passengers sit together at the seats of their choice.
© Bahrain Tribune 2010
