Transferring/Transit at Istanbul Atatürk airport

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Feb 22, 2015, 9:32 am

#196

vicarious_MR'er

Join Date: Apr 2006

Location: BOS-TLV

Programs: Lots of them, no status

Posts: 1,318

Quote:

Originally Posted by krxstxn

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!

That's not a risk I would take. If you have these two flights as separate tickets, I think you'd be SOL if (and when) you don't make the domestic leg.

Feb 26, 2015, 7:03 pm

#197

aulrik

Join Date: Feb 2011

Programs: TK E+

Posts: 602

Quote:

Originally Posted by krxstxn

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...

Since you are traveling in J, you will get access to fast-track at the immigration in IST, and I think there is a good chance you will get BP's for the entire trip during check-in, so it could work. However, there is little room for delays so it's going to be very tight.

Quote:

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?

If both legs are on the same PNR, TK will re-book you (you might have to fight for it though).

Quote:

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...

I think the arrival lounge closes at 1pm, so you will have to use the dreadful domestic CIP lounge.

Feb 26, 2015, 11:13 pm

#198

Ferhat777

Join Date: Jan 2014

Posts: 110

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicarious_MR'er

That's not a risk I would take. If you have these two flights as separate tickets, I think you'd be SOL if (and when) you don't make the domestic leg.

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

Feb 27, 2015, 12:30 pm

#199

chicagogrk

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!

Feb 27, 2015, 2:49 pm

#200

QP12990

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

Mar 1, 2015, 3:52 pm

#201

Supermarios73

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 ?

Mar 2, 2015, 12:38 am

#202

starflyergold

Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: BRU

Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum

Posts: 7,581

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supermarios73

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 ?

Welcome to FT Supermarios73

While not exactly a luxurious connection time the minimum connection time at IST is 60 minutes.

Mar 2, 2015, 5:53 am

#203

UAPremExecflyer

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

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turki...-istanbul.html

Mar 2, 2015, 6:33 am

#204

GRUflyer

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....

Mar 2, 2015, 12:01 pm

#205

starflyergold

Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: BRU

Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum

Posts: 7,581

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRUflyer

No mater how many time it's been repeated it doesn't get become any truer. I never had any problems with TK's FAs understanding English.

If TK is not your cup of tea I'd recommend that bastion of mediocrity: BA.

Mar 2, 2015, 12:57 pm

#206

GRUflyer

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil and Porto, Portugal

Programs: AA Executive Platinum, LH FTL, FB Gold, LATAM Black Signature

Posts: 554

Quote:

Originally Posted by starflyergold

I will stick to SQ, thanks.

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.

Mar 2, 2015, 5:01 pm

#207

swiss_global

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagogrk

Elazig has, to my knowledge, no customs facilities. So you need to pick up your luggage and clear customs at IST. If Elazig was a customs airport, LX might or might not check the bags through ...

No experience with domestic check-in 6 hrs before.

Mar 3, 2015, 12:14 am

#208

chris19992

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?

Mar 3, 2015, 8:05 am

#209

MichaelBaku

Join Date: Jul 2013

Location: GYD

Programs: Azerbaijan Airlines Gold, Turkish Miles and Smiles, IHG Plat

Posts: 663

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris19992

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?

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.

Mar 3, 2015, 10:41 am

#210

L_D_M

Join Date: Jan 2015

Location: around the bend

Posts: 399

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.