Starting to get worried about my VKO-IST-HKG flight
Nov 24, 2015, 12:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: BOS
Posts: 550
Starting to get worried about my VKO-IST-HKG flight
I've got a trip booked for early May and was about to start looking at Airbnb options, but today's events are very concerning. The tickets are for VKO-IST (2 day stopover) -HKG - IST - VKO and Russian gov't / media is talking about blocking all commercial air traffic between Russia and Turkey. Since they already did just that with Egypt a few weeks ago I'd not be too surprised if the do ban flights to Turkey. Might be a bit too soon to start worrying, but I am just curious how airlines handle things like this. Do they just tell you that you're SOL if the ticket is non-refundable? Refund the ticket price? Try to route through different airports?
Last edited by DiMAn0684; Nov 24, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Nov 28, 2015, 1:38 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, TK*G E+, ALL/Accor Plat
Posts: 644
I have flown several times recently on flights that are normally full like TXL-IST and IST-BKK. Some flights operated at 40% capacity. Clearly, many passengers are now avoiding transiting IST and TK will lose much of its traffic to and from Eastern Europe. This should be good for still loyal TK passengers as it should help reduce the arrogance of the airline and force an upgrade of ground services.
Nov 28, 2015, 4:05 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
Well, looks like I will now need a visa...and Medvedev has not officially announced his anti-Turkey measures yet.
Moreover, I have just heard that Russia cancelled the visa waiver programs for Turks.
I did not read that Turkey has cancelled the reciprocal program, as well.
Nov 29, 2015, 12:24 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TLV
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles Elite Plus
Posts: 217
Yes, but this is not your standard cancelled flight. If Russia stops the air traffic from Turkey, SU won't be able to fly to IST either. That's exactly what is going on with Egypt now.
Nov 29, 2015, 12:33 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TLV
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles Elite Plus
Posts: 217
Ok, so the sanctions were announced, for now we're OK:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/1...112138694.html
It also ordered the end of chartered flights from Russia to Turkey, and for Russian tourism companies to stop selling vacation packages that would include a stay in Turkey.
Putin's decree also ended visa-free travel between Russia and Turkey and ordered the tightening of control over Turkish air carriers in Russia "for security reasons".
Dec 1, 2015, 9:41 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Of course it's too early to say anything about May, but TK could re-route you via a lot of options - SVO-HEL-BKK on AY (though AY is OW, less chance of that) or MOW-Europe with a European carrier and further Europe-IST-HKG or even MOW-Europe-HKG on an European carrier all the way.