Arrive early at airport and use e-gates, official advises travellers

The authorities concerned have advised travellers to reach Hamad International Airport (HIA) early in view of the expected summer rush.Lt-Col Abdullah Mohamed al-Jasmi, head of the Airport Passports Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), told Qatar Radio that all parties concerned need to co-operate to prevent any crowding or congestion at HIA in the coming period.The official shared a set of tips for travellers, including using facilities such as online check-in and using e-gates at HIA. "Arriving early is one of the most important tips for passengers to follow in order to save time, especially in case they have any visa or other issues,” he said. "It is possible to rely on the Metro to reach HIA faster."He noted that the most prominent recurring problems pertain to passports nearing their expiry date as some countries set certain conditions to allow foreign travellers to enter their territories. "The traveller must make sure that the passport is valid for at least six months in order to avoid any problems. This is because some countries refuse entry to travellers if the validity period of the passport is less than six months,” he explained.The MoI has set up e-gates for passengers to reduce the pressure on manually controlled immigration counters as part of the smart passenger project. The facility enables passengers to complete the entry or exit process through self-service terminals, which use smart technology, without the need to approach the counter staff.The activation of the electronic gates for residents has contributed to quick completion of their travel procedures without standing in long queues and waiting for passport control officers to verify their personal data and put the departure or arrival stamp on their passports.