There are certain things many are overlooking.
It is a habit within some cultures especially from the east that several people go the airport "see off" or to receive someone. I noticed this in S Arabia among the Pathans. I once saw eight of them present at the Riyadh airport to receive a colleague returning from vacation. The "crowd" disappeared once they person arrived. One could "feel the space" that was created after their exit. There was another trend and that was among the Egyptians who would arrive at the airport around eight hours before the flight departure time. I witnessed the authorities sending them back home. This trend I guess has gradually died. It is these unwanted people who just want an evening out or some place to spend away the free hours who are the problem creators.
Having said that, yes there are genuine cases and people at the gates manning the security do listen, understand and act accordingly. I have never been refused entry whenever I went to see off my family. I was stopped though, but when I explained, I was allowed to enter the airport. Lastly, it is usually during the rush seasons that airport authorities become a bit strict and allow "genuine" passengers to enter the airport lounge. This is due to the rush present at airports during these seasons. One can see the same rule applied at other airports in the Middle East and possibly across the world and not just at HIA, Doha.
The steps taken by authorities are just for the convenience of passengers.
As for the post by mallethead, I simply fail to understand why a person would go all the way to the airport to buy a ticket for his wife who will be visiting "next month." Surely, the ticket could have been purchased that day or even a day two later from a travel agent at better rates than directly from Qatar Airways at the airport.
Some posts don't make sense at all.
There are certain things many are overlooking.
It is a habit within some cultures especially from the east that several people go the airport "see off" or to receive someone. I noticed this in S Arabia among the Pathans. I once saw eight of them present at the Riyadh airport to receive a colleague returning from vacation. The "crowd" disappeared once they person arrived. One could "feel the space" that was created after their exit. There was another trend and that was among the Egyptians who would arrive at the airport around eight hours before the flight departure time. I witnessed the authorities sending them back home. This trend I guess has gradually died. It is these unwanted people who just want an evening out or some place to spend away the free hours who are the problem creators.
Having said that, yes there are genuine cases and people at the gates manning the security do listen, understand and act accordingly. I have never been refused entry whenever I went to see off my family. I was stopped though, but when I explained, I was allowed to enter the airport. Lastly, it is usually during the rush seasons that airport authorities become a bit strict and allow "genuine" passengers to enter the airport lounge. This is due to the rush present at airports during these seasons. One can see the same rule applied at other airports in the Middle East and possibly across the world and not just at HIA, Doha.
The steps taken by authorities are just for the convenience of passengers.
As for the post by mallethead, I simply fail to understand why a person would go all the way to the airport to buy a ticket for his wife who will be visiting "next month." Surely, the ticket could have been purchased that day or even a day two later from a travel agent at better rates than directly from Qatar Airways at the airport.
Some posts don't make sense at all.