Transferring/Transit at Istanbul Atatürk airport
#196
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
Hello Everyone! I love reading the advice on this site and this is my first time posting!
In Oct I'm looking to fly SFO-IST-DLM. DLM is a domestic Turkey airport.
I've book SFO-IST on TK (J class using UA miles) and will either book the IST-DLM directly with TK or by using UA miles (depends on which flight you suggest). My flight arrives IST at 5:05pm. There's a TK flight that departs for DLM at 6:30pm and another that departs at 9:45pm. I know the safe thing to do would be to book the 9:45pm flight. Is it crazy to try and make a 1 hour and 25 minute connection? I'm hoping our bags will be checked all the way through and I'm not sure if we'll get BP for DLM in SFO or if we'll have to get it in IST...
If I did book that and missed it, would I have to purchase new tickets or would they re-book on the later flight if there's availability? I'm trying to avoid the 5 hour layover but I guess I could use the TK arrivals lounge for a bit and then the domestic CIP lounge...
Thanks for your advice!
In Oct I'm looking to fly SFO-IST-DLM. DLM is a domestic Turkey airport.
I've book SFO-IST on TK (J class using UA miles) and will either book the IST-DLM directly with TK or by using UA miles (depends on which flight you suggest). My flight arrives IST at 5:05pm. There's a TK flight that departs for DLM at 6:30pm and another that departs at 9:45pm. I know the safe thing to do would be to book the 9:45pm flight. Is it crazy to try and make a 1 hour and 25 minute connection? I'm hoping our bags will be checked all the way through and I'm not sure if we'll get BP for DLM in SFO or if we'll have to get it in IST...
If I did book that and missed it, would I have to purchase new tickets or would they re-book on the later flight if there's availability? I'm trying to avoid the 5 hour layover but I guess I could use the TK arrivals lounge for a bit and then the domestic CIP lounge...
Thanks for your advice!
#197
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 602
If I did book that and missed it, would I have to purchase new tickets or would they re-book on the later flight if there's availability?
I'm trying to avoid the 5 hour layover but I guess I could use the TK arrivals lounge for a bit and then the domestic CIP lounge...
#198
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 110
The turn around time on the ground at SFO is very tight. There is no room to make up any delays. So if the aircraft comes in late the aircraft will depart late. So I would rather book the flight that departs at 9.15
#199
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
Hello,
I'm travelling from ORD-IST on Swiss Air, then flying to Elazig on Turkish with a separate ticket. My layover is 6 1/2 hours.
Should I have Swiss check the baggage through to Elazig from Chicago? Or should I pick up my bags in IST and then check in again for Elazig?
My concern would be the likelihood of my bags not getting checked through to Elazig, and if I would be able to check into a domestic Turkish flight 6 hours before departure.
Thanks!
I'm travelling from ORD-IST on Swiss Air, then flying to Elazig on Turkish with a separate ticket. My layover is 6 1/2 hours.
Should I have Swiss check the baggage through to Elazig from Chicago? Or should I pick up my bags in IST and then check in again for Elazig?
My concern would be the likelihood of my bags not getting checked through to Elazig, and if I would be able to check into a domestic Turkish flight 6 hours before departure.
Thanks!
#200
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
Hi all,
I will be transiting through IST in the near future, arriving 1835 departing 0050, and have a couple questions:
1. Will I have time to visit Istanbul downtown comfortably (even for a couple hours)?
2. I have *G, can I visit the TK lounge (and possibly leave my bags there), then pass through immigration to go to the city?
Thanks in advance for your replies
I will be transiting through IST in the near future, arriving 1835 departing 0050, and have a couple questions:
1. Will I have time to visit Istanbul downtown comfortably (even for a couple hours)?
2. I have *G, can I visit the TK lounge (and possibly leave my bags there), then pass through immigration to go to the city?
Thanks in advance for your replies
#201
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1
Flying London - IST -Tokyo
Anybody done this journey before? Found a reasonable price and looking to go for it!
I currently am unsure, the transfer time is an hour and five minutes. Will this be sufficient? As a newbie I'm fairly scared that my bags might not make it or something will go wrong in transit having never done a transfer before.
Any words of advice or encouragement ?
I currently am unsure, the transfer time is an hour and five minutes. Will this be sufficient? As a newbie I'm fairly scared that my bags might not make it or something will go wrong in transit having never done a transfer before.
Any words of advice or encouragement ?
#202
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,601
Anybody done this journey before? Found a reasonable price and looking to go for it!
I currently am unsure, the transfer time is an hour and five minutes. Will this be sufficient? As a newbie I'm fairly scared that my bags might not make it or something will go wrong in transit having never done a transfer before.
Any words of advice or encouragement ?
I currently am unsure, the transfer time is an hour and five minutes. Will this be sufficient? As a newbie I'm fairly scared that my bags might not make it or something will go wrong in transit having never done a transfer before.
Any words of advice or encouragement ?
While not exactly a luxurious connection time the minimum connection time at IST is 60 minutes.
#203
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
#204
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil and Porto, Portugal
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, LH FTL, FB Gold, LATAM Black Signature
Posts: 554
Just make sure to restrict your English to the bare minimum.
TK FA's say that Brits have a "very strong accent", hence they claim they cannot understand much.
Ditch the formality and politness, and just shout "CHICKEN" and "RED WINE" at them....
TK FA's say that Brits have a "very strong accent", hence they claim they cannot understand much.
Ditch the formality and politness, and just shout "CHICKEN" and "RED WINE" at them....
#205
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,601
If TK is not your cup of tea I'd recommend that bastion of mediocrity: BA.
#206
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil and Porto, Portugal
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, LH FTL, FB Gold, LATAM Black Signature
Posts: 554
TK does have issue with English. Specially compared to the ME3, who hire all nationalities to work for them.
With TK I have ever only seem Turkish FAs. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, as long as they speak English.
They do understand "wine" and "beef", but don't try to ask them anything else or you are in trouble. I find that the Chefs speak fairly well, and usually the Purser. Anyone else comes down to luck....
Edit: I see major English skills lacking in many carriers. But AZ, TP and IB never claimed to operate the "best and most destinations served in the world" operation.
#207
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,647
Hello,
I'm travelling from ORD-IST on Swiss Air, then flying to Elazig on Turkish with a separate ticket. My layover is 6 1/2 hours.
Should I have Swiss check the baggage through to Elazig from Chicago? Or should I pick up my bags in IST and then check in again for Elazig?
My concern would be the likelihood of my bags not getting checked through to Elazig, and if I would be able to check into a domestic Turkish flight 6 hours before departure.
Thanks!
I'm travelling from ORD-IST on Swiss Air, then flying to Elazig on Turkish with a separate ticket. My layover is 6 1/2 hours.
Should I have Swiss check the baggage through to Elazig from Chicago? Or should I pick up my bags in IST and then check in again for Elazig?
My concern would be the likelihood of my bags not getting checked through to Elazig, and if I would be able to check into a domestic Turkish flight 6 hours before departure.
Thanks!
No experience with domestic check-in 6 hrs before.
#208
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Scotland
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 476
First time in IST, will have around 5 hours to wait. I recently got sent a dragonpass and can access the comfort lounge for £15, is it worth it? or is there anything better?
#209
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: GYD
Programs: Azerbaijan Airlines Gold, Turkish Miles and Smiles, IHG Plat
Posts: 663
If you have 5 hours to wait in IST, the lounge pass is worth having. IST can be heaving at certain times of the day and it's not easy to find anywhere to sit. Once you've done the shops and had a bite to eat, you'll have killed all of an hour so the lounge is a def advantage. Sometimes with long transit times, I go through immigration and get some fresh air outside the terminal. It kills time and it's a change of scenery - you might need an e-visa though.
#210
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: around the bend
Posts: 400
I have a BOM-IST-LIS round trip scheduled in April. Both ways, the transit time is 90 minutes. From what I've read here, that sounds sufficient, but I see Expertflyer says the flight from BOM is delayed 28 minutes on average. And the last and only other time I flew into IST (not connecting to elsewhere) from BOM, the flight was about an hour late and it was a melee of people sprinting through the terminal hoping to make their connections. Which brings me to my question: will I need to go through immigration or only security? Thanks.