Jul 21, 2015, 8:54 pm
Last edit by: ISTFlyer
It's strange this thread has no Wiki, so here it is, created 7/21/2015
PLEASE READ THE OP Post first
For case related questions ( ex: Am I eligible, etc... ) contact[email protected] first before posting your question here.
TK free hotel room rules:
Note:
- You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Tour website is at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
There are 3 tours offered (Schedule)
A Bosphorus cruise, with food and drinks, is available for business class passengers of more than 7 hour layover (€183 as of Nov. 2017)
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor – most common)
Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common – far from the airport)
Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common - very close to airport)
DoubleTree
Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel
PLEASE READ THE OP Post first
For case related questions ( ex: Am I eligible, etc... ) contact[email protected] first before posting your question here.
TK free hotel room rules:
A complimentary hotel accommodation (maximum 2 nights) will be provided to our valuable passengers when there are more than 10 hours (for economy cabin passengers) and 7 or more hours (for business cabin passengers) waiting during their international connecting flights due to Turkish Airlines’ schedule structure. However, if your destination can be reached by an alternative flight to your first flight and the waiting time is less, you cannot take advantage of the hotel service. This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above. The first and the connecting flights must be with Turkish Airlines. All passengers must hold a confirmed reservation for the first and the connecting flights. Complimentary accommodation will be arranged with Turkish Airlines’ corporate partners and will be provided through the “Hotel Desk” located after the customs’ check point at the arrival. Passengers must check for any visa requirements when entering Turkey. In the event where a visa is not granted, Turkish Airlines assumes no responsibility for providing complimentary hotel accommodation.
Note:
- You still need e-VISA to enter Turkish for a Tour or Hotel. The prices vary by countries ($60 USD for Canadian, $20 for USA, etc...)
You can apply here at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Tour website is at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
There are 3 tours offered (Schedule)
- Tour 1 8:30am - 11am - Sightseeing Tour
- Tour 2 9am - 3pm - Tour
- Tour 3 9am - 6pm - Tour
- Tour 4 12pm - 6pm - Tour
- Tour 5 4pm - 9pm - Cultural Walk Tour
A Bosphorus cruise, with food and drinks, is available for business class passengers of more than 7 hour layover (€183 as of Nov. 2017)
Here's a list of the common hotels that are reported in this thread:
Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel (72% TripAdvisor – most common)
Akgün Istanbul Hotel (44% TripAdvisor–common – far from the airport)
Wow Airport Hotel (56% TripAdvisor–common - very close to airport)
DoubleTree
Wyndham İstanbul Petek (92% TripAdvisor)
Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel (53% TripAdvisor)
Hilton Garden Inn
Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
Gonen Hotel Istanbul
Pullman Istanbul Airport Hotel
FAQ 8: Free hotel/tour/cruise when connecting at IST
May 21, 2016, 2:53 pm
#496
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
How is this enforced if there is a shorter connection (later first flight), but the shorter connection would still qualify for a hotel?
OSL-IST-SFO.
IST-SFO is once per day, 1:05pm departure.
OSL-IST is twice per day, arriving 4:05pm or 10:55pm.
The later arrival clearly qualifies, but does the earlier arrival qualify? I'm guessing that the phrase "However, if your destination can be reached by an alternative flight to your first flight and the waiting time is less, you cannot take advantage of the hotel service" means that the answer is no, but there's at least one example higher up in the thread that says yes. Any recent experience?
OSL-IST-SFO.
IST-SFO is once per day, 1:05pm departure.
OSL-IST is twice per day, arriving 4:05pm or 10:55pm.
The later arrival clearly qualifies, but does the earlier arrival qualify? I'm guessing that the phrase "However, if your destination can be reached by an alternative flight to your first flight and the waiting time is less, you cannot take advantage of the hotel service" means that the answer is no, but there's at least one example higher up in the thread that says yes. Any recent experience?
May 22, 2016, 12:56 am
#497
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,454
If you are on the earlier flight you cant use it. You might be able to do the free city tour instead. Hotels in Istanbul are cheap anyway..
May 24, 2016, 12:31 am
#498
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Posts: 56
Another scenario that's relevant for me: There are multiple flights from Cairo to Istanbul, then two flights that day from Istanbul to Sofia. If I take the 3am out of CAI to IST, I can make it in time for the 7:50am connection to Sofia, but I'm taking the 9am and thus have to wait until 7:45pm (~7h30). When I arrive in IST, no earlier departures to SOF will be available. However, a shorter connection is possible if I had taken a completely different schedule. Do I qualify? (C Class)
May 24, 2016, 12:56 am
#499
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,454
You qualify, as long as there isn't any later flight from CAI which still would make the SOF connection (and there is no earlier flight to SOF, which seems to be the case)
However, you'll only have about 8 hours (during the day) in that case, and none of your flights will be overnight (ie, you get out of bed in CAI in the morning, and reach SOF by night) so maybe using a hotel wouldn't make THAT much sense unless you are still in a different time zone.. please be advised that you'll have to get landside, wait for the shuttle after registration, take the ride, checkin, checkout, taking ride back, etc. - and pickup for the ride back being several hours before departure, meaning you'll most probably only have a few hours in the hotel.
However, you'll only have about 8 hours (during the day) in that case, and none of your flights will be overnight (ie, you get out of bed in CAI in the morning, and reach SOF by night) so maybe using a hotel wouldn't make THAT much sense unless you are still in a different time zone.. please be advised that you'll have to get landside, wait for the shuttle after registration, take the ride, checkin, checkout, taking ride back, etc. - and pickup for the ride back being several hours before departure, meaning you'll most probably only have a few hours in the hotel.
May 24, 2016, 4:17 am
#500
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IST, LHR
Programs: TK E+, AA PLAT
Posts: 481
I actually don't think you would as you could take an earlier flight in and there by make your connection. But please correct me if I am wrong. I hope I am as I could save a small fortune in the future.
May 29, 2016, 8:13 am
#501
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
5 minutes at the hotel desk and I was given the Polat Renaissance. At check-in (as a Marriott Gold) I was given club access and an upgrade to one of their garden rooms by the pool.
All up a good result!
May 30, 2016, 11:10 am
#502
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS
Programs: TK Elite (*G), DL Gold (MM)
Posts: 121
To answer my own question, no issues at all getting a hotel despite the fact I could have had a shorter (but still overnight) connection by coming in on a later flight.
5 minutes at the hotel desk and I was given the Polat Renaissance. At check-in (as a Marriott Gold) I was given club access and an upgrade to one of their garden rooms by the pool.
All up a good result!
5 minutes at the hotel desk and I was given the Polat Renaissance. At check-in (as a Marriott Gold) I was given club access and an upgrade to one of their garden rooms by the pool.
All up a good result!
Jun 9, 2016, 9:09 am
#503
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Flying a CDG-IST-IAH in J. My CDG flight is in the afternoon and it creates about a 20 hr layover in IST. Will I get the free room still or no because in theory could have booked the morning CDG flight to connect to IAH the same day?
Jun 9, 2016, 9:56 am
#504
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,454
No, you can't.
Shorter connection available = no free hotel
Not that hotels cost a lot in Istanbul those days anyway..
Shorter connection available = no free hotel
Not that hotels cost a lot in Istanbul those days anyway..
Jun 10, 2016, 7:33 am
#505
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Recent experiences...
Flying in J:
2 x Renaissance Polat (early departure, nice hotel)
1 x Doubletree by Hilton (later departure, great hotel)
1 x Radisson Blue (later departure, AVOID this hotel - outdated rooms, Front Desk employees treating you like the 2nd class citizen)
All shuttles for transfers back to the airport were on time.
Wait time at Airport Hotel Desk - between 2 and 15 minutes.
All in all - great experience.
2 x Renaissance Polat (early departure, nice hotel)
1 x Doubletree by Hilton (later departure, great hotel)
1 x Radisson Blue (later departure, AVOID this hotel - outdated rooms, Front Desk employees treating you like the 2nd class citizen)
All shuttles for transfers back to the airport were on time.
Wait time at Airport Hotel Desk - between 2 and 15 minutes.
All in all - great experience.
Jun 13, 2016, 6:13 am
#506
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Berlin
Posts: 171
How strict they are with "minimum possible connection" when it takes to a free tour? Same limitations as for the hotel or just appear at the desk and if they have free seats you can be there? Any experience?
Jul 19, 2016, 7:19 am
#507
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 173
Couple of questions about the tour option.
I'm arriving from CDG on one of two flights, either getting in at 9 PM or at midnight. Flight leaves to TLV the next evening just after 8, so between roughly 20-23 hours layover.
1. I self-booked a hotel overnight. In the morning, can I just go back to the airport and find the tour desk, or are there restrictions on entering the arrivals area? I've seen that at airports in India and Mexico, for example - once you leave, you can't get back in. I emailed the link on the tour page, and got an answer that seemed to be in the affirmative, but they didn't really answer the question directly and I was hoping to get a definitive answer.
2. Does anyone know if Turkish will check bags through with such a long layover? I'd greatly prefer to stop over with carry-ons only. I'm traveling with the family and will have more luggage than I'd like to deal with for less than a day.
I'm arriving from CDG on one of two flights, either getting in at 9 PM or at midnight. Flight leaves to TLV the next evening just after 8, so between roughly 20-23 hours layover.
1. I self-booked a hotel overnight. In the morning, can I just go back to the airport and find the tour desk, or are there restrictions on entering the arrivals area? I've seen that at airports in India and Mexico, for example - once you leave, you can't get back in. I emailed the link on the tour page, and got an answer that seemed to be in the affirmative, but they didn't really answer the question directly and I was hoping to get a definitive answer.
2. Does anyone know if Turkish will check bags through with such a long layover? I'd greatly prefer to stop over with carry-ons only. I'm traveling with the family and will have more luggage than I'd like to deal with for less than a day.
Jul 19, 2016, 7:52 am
#508
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IST, LHR
Programs: TK E+, AA PLAT
Posts: 481
Couple of questions about the tour option.
I'm arriving from CDG on one of two flights, either getting in at 9 PM or at midnight. Flight leaves to TLV the next evening just after 8, so between roughly 20-23 hours layover.
1. I self-booked a hotel overnight. In the morning, can I just go back to the airport and find the tour desk, or are there restrictions on entering the arrivals area? I've seen that at airports in India and Mexico, for example - once you leave, you can't get back in. I emailed the link on the tour page, and got an answer that seemed to be in the affirmative, but they didn't really answer the question directly and I was hoping to get a definitive answer.
2. Does anyone know if Turkish will check bags through with such a long layover? I'd greatly prefer to stop over with carry-ons only. I'm traveling with the family and will have more luggage than I'd like to deal with for less than a day.
I'm arriving from CDG on one of two flights, either getting in at 9 PM or at midnight. Flight leaves to TLV the next evening just after 8, so between roughly 20-23 hours layover.
1. I self-booked a hotel overnight. In the morning, can I just go back to the airport and find the tour desk, or are there restrictions on entering the arrivals area? I've seen that at airports in India and Mexico, for example - once you leave, you can't get back in. I emailed the link on the tour page, and got an answer that seemed to be in the affirmative, but they didn't really answer the question directly and I was hoping to get a definitive answer.
2. Does anyone know if Turkish will check bags through with such a long layover? I'd greatly prefer to stop over with carry-ons only. I'm traveling with the family and will have more luggage than I'd like to deal with for less than a day.
Regards your luggage I think the question should be if you feel comfortable leaving it in the care of TK for that long. Seems to be it is just inviting trouble.
Jul 20, 2016, 8:13 pm
#509
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 173
Getting into the arrivals area has not been a problem in the past but I don't know what the situation is now in light of recent events.
Regards your luggage I think the question should be if you feel comfortable leaving it in the care of TK for that long. Seems to be it is just inviting trouble.
Regards your luggage I think the question should be if you feel comfortable leaving it in the care of TK for that long. Seems to be it is just inviting trouble.
Re: arrivals - Turkish indicated that it wouldn't be an issue, but wouldn't say it in those terms. I guess we'll find out.
Re: luggage - it's really just clothes. Would be nice not to drag a bunch of suitcases around, but I can see your point
Jul 20, 2016, 8:17 pm
#510
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 173
Also - the FAQ says they'll run the tour even for one person, or run an extra tour for one extra person, so there doesn't seem to be a capacity issue. I'm guessing that not a whole lot of people show up for any given tour, but I haven't yet gone so have no personal experience.