Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles - INTL-INTL connection at Ataturk

If I have a INTL to INTL connection at IST, lets say flying ARN-IST-LAX and return do I have to clear turkish immigration or can I go from gate to gate without clearing immigration/security again?

You miss passport control, but as security at IST is at the gates, you have to do that.

You miss passport control, but as security at IST is at the gates, you have to do that.

Oh, okay. So no stamps in the passport?

Oh, okay. So no stamps in the passport?

No immigration.

Thank you guys.

On first flight, you will not be allowed in the departure/transit area before you clear special security check for US-bound flights.

Workaround: go through passport control, get out of airport, go up to Departures level and go back in, as you already have a boarding pass for your next flight. Depending of the time of day (queue at passport control in both directions), you can save even ~40 minutes.

On return flight there is no more special check, you go with boarding pass to Transit area, where there are shops and lounges.

On first flight, you will not be allowed in the departure/transit area before you clear special security check for US-bound flights. .


What kind of special security check is that?

What kind of special security check is that?

jsut extra security for flights to the US. i like extra security. just some basic questions that someone heading to the US for a good reason can answer.

jsut extra security for flights to the US. i like extra security. just some basic questions that someone heading to the US for a good reason can answer.

You mean like gems such as "Did you pack your own bags?", "Were you given anything by anyone else to carry on board?", and "Have your bags been in your possession the whole time?" as I was asked earlier this week?

Exactly those! After the "interview" you get a sticker on your passport. If you choose the workaround you will get same interview and sticker before boarding, no worries.

Important notice: I think you can't have liquids (duty free) in your carry on at this stop, except if purchased (and sealed) at IST.
Security officers don't trust other airports duty free shops...

This rule should apply only for EU airports where liquids purchased at another airport will not be categorised as Duty Free and will have to be either checked-in or confiscated :(

What I do not know is when IST turned into an EU airport, hence why would this rule apply there.

Hi,

I was thinking of getting a separate ticket when I arrive in IST for a flight to FRA. I will arrive at 5.30 am with TK and depart at 6.30 am with LH. I should be able to check my bag all the way in to FRA as both are *A. However, I was wondering will I be able to make my connection to FRA?

Cheers.

btw: I have been monitoring the arrivals of my flight and so far seems to be arriving 1 hour ahead of scheduled time.

I recall that IST has now instituted the normal pre-airside security checks rather than a check at every international departure gate. I cannot recall, however, if there is a security check for arriving transiting passengers or we just go up into the main departures hall? I'll be arriving from YYZ and have a 5-hour connection to TXL. I'd rather not check my bag through, but will have scissors which are legal for carryon in NAmerica but not necessarily other parts of the world, and don't want to risk getting them confiscated.

I recall that IST has now instituted the normal pre-airside security checks rather than a check at every international departure gate. I cannot recall, however, if there is a security check for arriving transiting passengers or we just go up into the main departures hall? I'll be arriving from YYZ and have a 5-hour connection to TXL. I'd rather not check my bag through, but will have scissors which are legal for carryon in NAmerica but not necessarily other parts of the world, and don't want to risk getting them confiscated.

Now all arriving transit passengers have to go through a security check enroute to the departure hall. There are 5-6 security lanes in the main arrival area right before the elevators up to the departure hall. If you arrive on a shorthaul narrow body, you'll probably be bussed to the main terminal, and there is also a security check as soon as you get off the bus and enter the terminal building.

Now all arriving transit passengers have to go through a security check enroute to the departure hall. There are 5-6 security lanes in the main arrival area right before the elevators up to the departure hall. If you arrive on a shorthaul narrow body, you'll probably be bussed to the main terminal, and there is also a security check as soon as you get off the bus and enter the terminal building.

I noticed this "new" security area at your right side when you arrive by bus.
Can anybody tell me if i can use this one instead the big transfer security in the middle of arrival hall?
I do INTL to INTL transfer and have my boarding cards.

I sometimes go past the big security check if there is too many people there and use the other one at the end. It's no problems.

Thanks, guess I'd better check my bag through. I hate the inconsistencies that still exist at various airports/countries. Short tipped scissors (4cm max) are now permitted in NAmerica and in the EU, but other countries still outlaw them. Even though the EU site says they're okay, had an argument at CDG and still lost a pair.

Workaround: go through passport control, get out of airport, go up to Departures level and go back in, as you already have a boarding pass for your next flight. Depending of the time of day (queue at passport control in both directions), you can save even ~40 minutes.

I don't understand your logic that this would save time. Under your scenario, you have to go through arrivals passport control, which can be very long (though there is a line, on the right-hand side if you are facing the passport control booths, for business class and Star Alliance Gold members), and departures passport control. You also have to buy a visa (assuming that you don't already have one), which can be long -- I waited nearly half an hour last Saturday afternoon.

It's true that the security from landside is generally much shorter than the transit security, but, with all of these steps, it's not clear that it will be faster to go through immigration.

Agree that going landside is no option if you need a visa and/or have no access to priority immigration. But for those who are eligible to enter without visa getting hold of a fast track card it's a different story ...

Can you use now the new security area on your right side when you arrive by bus at the terminal, in case you have your connecting BP. In this case i could avoid the main transit security area and go straight to departure level.

Can you use now the new security area on your right side when you arrive by bus at the terminal, in case you have your connecting BP. In this case i could avoid the main transit security area and go straight to departure level.

I believe as a transit passenger, you are actually directed to go through security check there when you get off the bus.

I believe as a transit passenger, you are actually directed to go through security check there when you get off the bus.
Not that i know of, Until now i had to go up the escalator and proceed to the main transit security area.
Only the last time i noticed the "new" security area on your right side when you enter the building when arriving by bus.
If possible i could use this new security area and go then up the escalator at the 300 gates to go to the departure level.

I believe as a transit passenger, you are actually directed to go through security check there when you get off the bus.

The bus transit security checkpoint was closed this morning and all transit passengers were being sent upstairs to the main checkpoint.

The bus transit security checkpoint was closed this morning and all transit passengers were being sent upstairs to the main checkpoint.

Thanks for the info, This confirms that their is a transit bus security point.
Hopefully it will be open when i arrive next time.
But knowing them i don't expect so. :(

Now all arriving transit passengers have to go through a security check enroute to the departure hall. There are 5-6 security lanes in the main arrival area right before the elevators up to the departure hall. If you arrive on a shorthaul narrow body, you'll probably be bussed to the main terminal, and there is also a security check as soon as you get off the bus and enter the terminal building.

Yes, I regularly do JNB-IST-JFK. There are security checks in the main arrival area before going up the escalators. In the early morning with all of the arrivals, this can take an hour or more. Seems like there are a couple of checks, and pure pandemonium is the norm. Plan for some time. Then there is also security at the gate

Thanks for the info, This confirms that their is a transit bus security point.
Hopefully it will be open when i arrive next time.
But knowing them i don't expect so. :(

The other day when I was there the security at the bus drop-off point seemed chaotic -- people were spilled out onto the sidewalk. Of course, it's hard to predict whether that would be faster than going inside, up the escalator, and to the main transit security checkpoint. It is helpful that posters are reporting their experiences so we can guess which option to try; it's a crapshoot I guess.

Of course, the number of passengers arriving by bus is increasing all of the time (in my case, it was the IAD flight; I would have hoped that larger aircraft would get a jetway) due to the horrific congestion at IST. It's only getting worse, with no end in sight. They're saying that the new airport (which will be able to handle more passengers than any other in the world) will be open in 2017 (http://www.todayszaman.com/news-314366-local-bidder-wins-tender-for-new-istanbul-airport.html). Before then, I will add IST to the list of airports to avoid transiting.