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 2, 2017, 4:28 pm
#631
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA MP, Delta Sky Miles, AA Advantage
Posts: 163
Flying DLM-IST-LED, arriving IST at 9 PM and leaving for LED at 11 AM next day (connection time is 14 hours). There is only one daily IST-LED flight but there are several DLM-IST ones, including a later one, which I could have taken, which would have made the connection time less than 10 hours.
Am I eligible for the free hotel in there were other INCOMING flight options with shorter connection time? I am also a it confused about "international flights" angle. Do both flights have to be international or just one?
Am I eligible for the free hotel in there were other INCOMING flight options with shorter connection time? I am also a it confused about "international flights" angle. Do both flights have to be international or just one?
Last edited by GREAKLY; May 2, 2017 at 6:38 pm
May 2, 2017, 6:13 pm
#632
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
Maybe someone knows the answer -
Flying into IST in Business Class from Italy but flying out to Germany 8 hr 35 minutes later via Economy (Due to award travel structure) on TK. Would I qualify for hotel voucher or lounge sleeper area based on inbound class of service or outbound? Next leg - connecting to Lufthansa in Business.
Flying into IST in Business Class from Italy but flying out to Germany 8 hr 35 minutes later via Economy (Due to award travel structure) on TK. Would I qualify for hotel voucher or lounge sleeper area based on inbound class of service or outbound? Next leg - connecting to Lufthansa in Business.
May 2, 2017, 7:37 pm
#633
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,220
Looking at the site, tour ends at 1100 and my IST-VCE is at 1150.... too risky to go on the tour? Who's responsible if for whatever reason tour is late and I don't make the flight?
May 2, 2017, 11:19 pm
#634
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,591
Just some data points for the hotels what I have gotten recently:
Flying J longhaul, Classic Plus status, received Mercure@Pullman (not listed in WIKI)
Flying J longhaul, Classic Plus status, received Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel
Flying Y international shorthaul, Elite status, received Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel
Flying J longhaul, Classic Plus status, received Mercure@Pullman (not listed in WIKI)
Flying J longhaul, Classic Plus status, received Marriott Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel
Flying Y international shorthaul, Elite status, received Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel
May 6, 2017, 6:11 am
#635
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IST, LHR
Programs: TK E+, AA PLAT
Posts: 481
Flying DLM-IST-LED, arriving IST at 9 PM and leaving for LED at 11 AM next day (connection time is 14 hours). There is only one daily IST-LED flight but there are several DLM-IST ones, including a later one, which I could have taken, which would have made the connection time less than 10 hours.
Am I eligible for the free hotel in there were other INCOMING flight options with shorter connection time? I am also a it confused about "international flights" angle. Do both flights have to be international or just one?
Am I eligible for the free hotel in there were other INCOMING flight options with shorter connection time? I am also a it confused about "international flights" angle. Do both flights have to be international or just one?
May 9, 2017, 11:55 pm
#636
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,076
Hello All,
Really interested in doing the 0900 - 1800 Istanbul tour.
Anyone know of list of flights inbound to IST from somewhere in Europe that arrives early enough to catch this tour? Currently only ones I've found are the AMS-IST and ATH-IST routes.
Thanks!
Really interested in doing the 0900 - 1800 Istanbul tour.
Anyone know of list of flights inbound to IST from somewhere in Europe that arrives early enough to catch this tour? Currently only ones I've found are the AMS-IST and ATH-IST routes.
Thanks!
May 10, 2017, 12:18 pm
#637
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
Flying business class VNO-IST-EZE in Business.
From the time I got to the hotel counter to when I got dropped off at the hotel (Renaissance Marriott), 35 mins went by. I had to wait with the other pax but once everyone was ready, I got scurried to the side in my own shuttle bus. 10 min drive later & here I am.
Room is nice, sea view, sadly twin beds, nothing else available.
From the time I got to the hotel counter to when I got dropped off at the hotel (Renaissance Marriott), 35 mins went by. I had to wait with the other pax but once everyone was ready, I got scurried to the side in my own shuttle bus. 10 min drive later & here I am.
Room is nice, sea view, sadly twin beds, nothing else available.
May 11, 2017, 7:14 am
#638
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,591
Flying business class VNO-IST-EZE in Business.
From the time I got to the hotel counter to when I got dropped off at the hotel (Renaissance Marriott), 35 mins went by. I had to wait with the other pax but once everyone was ready, I got scurried to the side in my own shuttle bus. 10 min drive later & here I am.
Room is nice, sea view, sadly twin beds, nothing else available.
From the time I got to the hotel counter to when I got dropped off at the hotel (Renaissance Marriott), 35 mins went by. I had to wait with the other pax but once everyone was ready, I got scurried to the side in my own shuttle bus. 10 min drive later & here I am.
Room is nice, sea view, sadly twin beds, nothing else available.
Anytime the layover is 7-8 hours, I would just go to the lounge and not even bother the immigration&hotel
May 11, 2017, 8:48 am
#639
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
Maybe I got lucky?
I landed at 2PM & hung out at the lounge til 8PM point at which I went to the counter. There were approximately 15 people, most going to Lagos, I was the only J pax. Hopefully I get as lucky on the way back!
PS: Hello from TK15 cruising over the Atlantic, almost at the equator level
I landed at 2PM & hung out at the lounge til 8PM point at which I went to the counter. There were approximately 15 people, most going to Lagos, I was the only J pax. Hopefully I get as lucky on the way back!
PS: Hello from TK15 cruising over the Atlantic, almost at the equator level
May 11, 2017, 3:55 pm
#640
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BC, Canada
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium Elite, VSE/MVC Chairman's Club
Posts: 539
Transit hotel with family
Any recent experiences with the transit hotel for a family?
We'll be three travelling in J. Email to the hotel desk at TK with our itinerary confirms we qualify in both directions, but really no details after that in terms of the actual accommodations, etc.
We'll be three travelling in J. Email to the hotel desk at TK with our itinerary confirms we qualify in both directions, but really no details after that in terms of the actual accommodations, etc.
May 11, 2017, 5:46 pm
#641
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Accra
Programs: Skywards Gold, TK Elite +, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 221
Be grateful you got that much from them. I don't think there's ever been a case where TK has told a passenger in advance the details of their actual STPC accommodation. You find out at the hotel desk, and if the agents are in a good mood they will accommodate specific hotel requests.
May 19, 2017, 2:25 am
#642
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
Flew the return leg yesterday of my flight in business from Buenos Aires. Mariott Polat Renaissance.
arrived at the hotel Transit desk at 10:10 p.m. and we were at the hotel at 10:45 p.m. so I rather short wait.
The only issue is that the hotel was completely booked out so I'm not sure why Turkish sent us there. Our choices was either to accept a Garden Room (which I did) Or get booked into another hotel.
Overall on the inbound and the outbound the transit experience was quite positive for business class with less than 15 min wait at the airport both times.
arrived at the hotel Transit desk at 10:10 p.m. and we were at the hotel at 10:45 p.m. so I rather short wait.
The only issue is that the hotel was completely booked out so I'm not sure why Turkish sent us there. Our choices was either to accept a Garden Room (which I did) Or get booked into another hotel.
Overall on the inbound and the outbound the transit experience was quite positive for business class with less than 15 min wait at the airport both times.
May 19, 2017, 6:45 am
#643
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
Im not familiar with the priority pass lounge situation, but for a layover would recommend just booking a room at a nearby hotel, especially if traveling with others. Rates are low and taxi rides cheap.
May 19, 2017, 1:29 pm
#644
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,445
Let me tell you something. The reason why Switzerland works so well is because rules are rules indeed here. If Turkey wants to improve, hardly a surprise they copy Swiss efficency.
If you dont like rules, feel free to fly your own airline and make your own rules.
May 19, 2017, 5:21 pm
#645
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
I find the TK Transfer hotel offer smart and generous and don't have a problem with the rules.
Sorry if I've offended you with my joke.
The Germans get worldwide bad rap for being so square and lacking a sense of humor, but compared to the Swiss Germans they are practically Brazilians.
Fact. Own it.
