The Qatar Airways Travel Boutique at DOH Is Worth a Few Minutes of Your Time

Between premium check-in and heading up to Al Mourjan, I made a quick detour into the Qatar Airways Travel Boutique - the airline's merchandise shop inside Hamad International Airport. If you have a few minutes to kill before the lounge, it's an easy stop and more interesting than the standard airport retail.

The shop carries the range of things you'd expect: Qatar Airways branded t-shirts, hats, snow globes, toys, and general travel-themed keepsakes. But there are a couple of things that make it worth a look beyond the souvenir mugs.

Aircraft models are front and center, and they're decent quality. I held off on buying one, having already picked up a JAL A350 model in Tokyo earlier in the trip. Even though they had a gorgeous one in F1 livery, at some point you have to draw a line on how many aircraft models you're transporting home in carry-on. If you don't have that problem, this is a good place to find some really unique models.

There's also a dedicated PSG section - jerseys, accessories, and the usual football merchandise - no surprise given Qatar Airways' shirt sponsorship of Paris Saint-Germain. The selection was solid and the branding ties the two together in a way that actually feels coherent rather than just a licensing display.

The standout piece is a full first class seat on display in the shop, which you can sit in. It's a simple touch but an effective one - the seat is the real product, and letting people experience it before they fly (or while wishing they were flying it) is a smart move. It reminded me of some of the seating on display at the JAL Sky Museum.

Nothing in here is going to derail your travel budget, and the lounge is a short walk away when you're done. If you're an AV geek or just passing through, it's well worth a stop.

Part of the Around the World on Miles series.