Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles - IST Congestion

Due to runway limitations IST is prone to heavy delays as some of you might have experienced this week. The slightest adverse weather condition (such as a strong lodos wind) causes havoc. With the introduction of the summer schedule the strain on the already clogged infrastructure will get even worse. It was suggested that we might need such a thread to share our experiences. Feel free to rant:D Let's hope for a easy summer in using or transiting IST:cool:

Together with the disappearing awards + transit chaos I got a slight hunch if it'll be rather a rant or not :D

19-Mar flight QRXXX IST-DOH scheduled at 12:30. We stayed for about 65 minutes in the queue for take-off, no explanation other than "heavy traffic". Luckily I had a longer connection time in DOH.

Should we add here that most of the time flights to LAX leave 40-70 minutes late?

Morning departures: had over an hour delay resulting missing my connection and overnight stay. No apologies from FA's or captain. Heavy congestion and i think it's only getting worse.

Seems like between the seemingly traffic problems almost everyday and the disastrous decision to do "open gate" (especially the way they are handling transfers) that they have taken the last ten years of hard work turning the airport into a real hub, and TK into a "big" airline, and throwing it all away.

I had over 30 mins waiting on the taxiway after landing, this was on top of s 4 hour delay due to the plane being delayed taking off in Istanbul. Then over a hour while departing. They must know how many flights an hour the airport can handle why try and squeeze extra in. There was over 20 aircraft waiting to take off queing on the taxiway. Almost all were Turkish aiways. I'll try my hardest never to fly with them or through Istanbul again!

Yes you should definately make such a decision, because such things NEVER EVER HAPPEN at LHR, DXB, CDG, FRA, JFK or other major airports worldwide.

Yes you should definately make such a decision, because such things NEVER EVER HAPPEN at LHR, DXB, CDG, FRA, JFK or other major airports worldwide.

I think we all share the concern that occasional delays at IST are becoming a daily routine rather than occasional mishaps. They are adding more traffic and on the same time they are doing nothing(?) to ease up the load.

joorinainen, While what you say is fully correct, I experienced significant delays four times in the last ten days alone, this person seems to be piling on based on ONE TK experience, which is not a fair basis of judging any airline, let alone throwing out all of ones toys and saying that they will never fly one again.

joorinainen, While what you say is fully correct, I experienced significant delays four times in the last ten days alone, this person seems to be piling on based on ONE TK experience, which is not a fair basis of judging any airline, let alone throwing out all of ones toys and saying that they will never fly one again.

Yes, i share your opinion. TK shouldn't let passengers down so easily with things that they could easily do better. Example the recent security hassles could have been avoided by simple planning and organizing and i really can't wrap my brain around the fact that why they have failed so miserably.

I dont think there has been a time in the last year I've flown out of IST, and we havent been #20-something for take off or more.... IST-LAX 3 weeks ago, we were #24.... luckily only 40 minutes late to LAX that day.

joorinainen, While what you say is fully correct, I experienced significant delays four times in the last ten days alone, this person seems to be piling on based on ONE TK experience, which is not a fair basis of judging any airline, let alone throwing out all of ones toys and saying that they will never fly one again.

I travelled to and from IST last Sept and I had long delays in both directions I put this as just a busy Monday and Friday.

Then it happened again last week and looking at other peoples experiances It wasn't just an isolated experience. So if I can travel on another airline to get to my destination I will fly with another airline.

We have an IST-JNB flight at 00:55 (It was 23:45 but they pushed it out).
We only have an hour to connect to the next flight upon arrival in JNB so i'm wondering if we'll make it - any thoughts?


Additionally, how are the security queues? Reading some of these threads it sounds like the airport is very busy - we have 1 domestic flight and 1 international flight - usually we tend to get to the airport at the minimum recommended time but perhaps that doesn't apply to IST?

thanks!

We have an IST-JNB flight at 00:55 (It was 23:45 but they pushed it out).
We only have an hour to connect to the next flight upon arrival in JNB so i'm wondering if we'll make it - any thoughts?


Additionally, how are the security queues? Reading some of these threads it sounds like the airport is very busy - we have 1 domestic flight and 1 international flight - usually we tend to get to the airport at the minimum recommended time but perhaps that doesn't apply to IST?

thanks!

you should make it just don't hang around. Are your bags checked in all the way? or do you have to pick up your bags and checkin again?

Security for my transiting flight took around 20 minutes to que up. They only had 2 xray machines working. they had another 2 for domestic flights.

you should make it just don't hang around. Are your bags checked in all the way? or do you have to pick up your bags and checkin again?

Security for my transiting flight took around 20 minutes to que up. They only had 2 xray machines working. they had another 2 for domestic flights.

I checked flightstats and it says this particular flight tends to be 30 mins late so i'm a little concerned, but we have changed our minds and are doing carry-on so perhaps that will help with the connections.