Complimentary Hotel or day tour for Transit Pax?
Jul 21, 2008, 9:22 am
#1
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Complimentary Hotel or day tour for Transit Pax?
Hi,
Could somebody please confirm that TK provides free of charge hotel accommodation for economy class pax in transit at IST with an international connection? Some freinds of mine have transit of 10 hours and 40 minutes and the hotel would be very useful as the connection is overnight. If so, what is the procedure for securing the room?
Many thanks for any advice.
Could somebody please confirm that TK provides free of charge hotel accommodation for economy class pax in transit at IST with an international connection? Some freinds of mine have transit of 10 hours and 40 minutes and the hotel would be very useful as the connection is overnight. If so, what is the procedure for securing the room?
Many thanks for any advice.
Jul 21, 2008, 11:45 am
#2
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I have never heard of any such thing for economy pax. Perhaps its a market based thing.
Jul 21, 2008, 12:08 pm
#3
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"THY offers its transit passengers the opportunity to rest at a hotel or tour the historical places of the city with a guide while waiting for their connection flights in Istanbul.
In order for the transit passengers to benefit from this opportunity, passengers travelling in business class should have an at least 7-hour waiting period prior to their connection flights, while those flying in economy class should have a waiting period of 10 hours minimum, THY officials said."
Jul 24, 2008, 5:01 am
#4
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In fact, I did call TK sales in London but sadly could barely understand the lady that answered the phone - she seemed to indicate that it could be sorted by my freinds at the airport of embarkation, but was not entitrely clear......any real experience out there that someone could share...anyone......
Jul 25, 2008, 1:10 pm
#5
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I participate in a couple of forums specifically on Turkey and we frequently get questions from international travelers with long lay-overs at Ataturk Airport. I have never heard of this offer, and I am, frankly rather skeptical that they would do this. If you get any additional information, please share it with us. It would certainly be a great perk!
Jul 25, 2008, 7:45 pm
#6
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I have done a bit more research on this issue and it appears that Turkish Air does offer the choice of a hotel or a tour of Sultanahmet. If you have a long layover at Ataturk this would be a terrific alternative to wandering about the airport terminal.
Here is the link...Which can be found on the Turkish airline pages under announcements;
thy.com/en-INT/…index.aspx
Announcement
Turkish Airlines offer a free Istanbul tour for transfer passengers
Historical and mystical Istanbul awaits you! In line with our mission of offering the best to our customers as Turkish Airlines, we are proud to introduce a new service.
Passengers that arrive at our Istanbul terminal on connecting flights and have a layover for their outbound flights on the same day can either obtain a voucher for a complimentary daily stay in a hotel room or benefit from our new spectacular Istanbul tour accompanied by a special guide.
To take the advantage of the İstanbul tour, all connecting flight tickets must belong to Turkish Airlines international flights. In addition minimum waiting time for business class passengers has to be 7 hours or more while for economy passengers has to be at least 10 hours. If you meet those requirements, Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk in İstanbul Airport will arrange the İstanbul tour for you.
Passengers will have a chance to visit numerous historical landmarks during the complimentary tour program we have prepared for them. The tour, escorted by a professional guide, will take off twice daily from İstanbul Atatürk Airport and is scheduled to cover Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Caria Church, Hippodrome Square, and Archaeological Museum.
For additional information please contact with Turkish Airlines ticket sales offices, agencies and Hotel Desk in İstanbul Airport.
Thank you again for choosing Turkish Airlines.
Tour Programme with Guide
On Mondays:
09:00 - 10:00 Caria Museum
10:30 - 11:30 Hippodrome Square
12:00 - 13:30 Lunch* time
13:30 - 16:30 Topkapi Palace
16:30 – 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 Back to the airport via costline.
On Tuesdays:
09:00 - 10:30 Caria Museum
11:00 - 12:00 Turkish Islam Works Museum
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch* time
13:00 - 14:30 Hagia Sophia Museum
14:30 - 16:30 Archaelogy Museum
16:30 - 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 - 18:00 Hippodrome Square
18:00 Back to the airport via costline.
On Wednesdays:
09:00 - 10:30 Turkish Islam Works Museum
10:30 - 12:00 Archaelogy Museum
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch* time
13:00 - 15:30 Topkapi Palace
15:30 - 16:30 Hagia Sophia Museum
16:30 - 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 - 18:00 Hippodrome Square
18:00 Back to the airport via costline.
For other days:
09:00 - 10:30 Caria Museum
11:00 - 12:00 Archaelogy Museum
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch* time
13:00 - 15:30 Topkapi Palace
15:30 - 16:30 Hagia Sophia Museum
16:30 - 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 - 18:00 Hippodrome Square
18:00 Back to the airport via costline.
(For the half day tour programmes, the departure time is at noon.)
*Lunch is not included in tour
Here is the link...Which can be found on the Turkish airline pages under announcements;
thy.com/en-INT/…index.aspx
Announcement
Turkish Airlines offer a free Istanbul tour for transfer passengers
Historical and mystical Istanbul awaits you! In line with our mission of offering the best to our customers as Turkish Airlines, we are proud to introduce a new service.
Passengers that arrive at our Istanbul terminal on connecting flights and have a layover for their outbound flights on the same day can either obtain a voucher for a complimentary daily stay in a hotel room or benefit from our new spectacular Istanbul tour accompanied by a special guide.
To take the advantage of the İstanbul tour, all connecting flight tickets must belong to Turkish Airlines international flights. In addition minimum waiting time for business class passengers has to be 7 hours or more while for economy passengers has to be at least 10 hours. If you meet those requirements, Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk in İstanbul Airport will arrange the İstanbul tour for you.
Passengers will have a chance to visit numerous historical landmarks during the complimentary tour program we have prepared for them. The tour, escorted by a professional guide, will take off twice daily from İstanbul Atatürk Airport and is scheduled to cover Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Caria Church, Hippodrome Square, and Archaeological Museum.
For additional information please contact with Turkish Airlines ticket sales offices, agencies and Hotel Desk in İstanbul Airport.
Thank you again for choosing Turkish Airlines.
Tour Programme with Guide
On Mondays:
09:00 - 10:00 Caria Museum
10:30 - 11:30 Hippodrome Square
12:00 - 13:30 Lunch* time
13:30 - 16:30 Topkapi Palace
16:30 – 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 Back to the airport via costline.
On Tuesdays:
09:00 - 10:30 Caria Museum
11:00 - 12:00 Turkish Islam Works Museum
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch* time
13:00 - 14:30 Hagia Sophia Museum
14:30 - 16:30 Archaelogy Museum
16:30 - 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 - 18:00 Hippodrome Square
18:00 Back to the airport via costline.
On Wednesdays:
09:00 - 10:30 Turkish Islam Works Museum
10:30 - 12:00 Archaelogy Museum
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch* time
13:00 - 15:30 Topkapi Palace
15:30 - 16:30 Hagia Sophia Museum
16:30 - 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 - 18:00 Hippodrome Square
18:00 Back to the airport via costline.
For other days:
09:00 - 10:30 Caria Museum
11:00 - 12:00 Archaelogy Museum
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch* time
13:00 - 15:30 Topkapi Palace
15:30 - 16:30 Hagia Sophia Museum
16:30 - 17:30 Sultanahmet Mosque
17:30 - 18:00 Hippodrome Square
18:00 Back to the airport via costline.
(For the half day tour programmes, the departure time is at noon.)
*Lunch is not included in tour
Jul 26, 2008, 3:56 am
#7
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Great offer by TK and great find flyingfran ^
Jul 27, 2008, 1:33 am
#8
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Jul 27, 2008, 2:09 am
#9
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I do not believe anything TK states!
Good luck in getting TK to honor their own statements as I've unfortunately found out that notwithstanding what they state in writing that they will not provide the benefit upon arrival.
Well, turkishpress.com has.....I was hoping to gain further details here so if anyone has anything further on this, it would be useful
"THY offers its transit passengers the opportunity to rest at a hotel or tour the historical places of the city with a guide while waiting for their connection flights in Istanbul.
In order for the transit passengers to benefit from this opportunity, passengers travelling in business class should have an at least 7-hour waiting period prior to their connection flights, while those flying in economy class should have a waiting period of 10 hours minimum, THY officials said."
"THY offers its transit passengers the opportunity to rest at a hotel or tour the historical places of the city with a guide while waiting for their connection flights in Istanbul.
In order for the transit passengers to benefit from this opportunity, passengers travelling in business class should have an at least 7-hour waiting period prior to their connection flights, while those flying in economy class should have a waiting period of 10 hours minimum, THY officials said."
Jul 30, 2008, 3:16 am
#10
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In fact, I did call TK sales in London but sadly could barely understand the lady that answered the phone - she seemed to indicate that it could be sorted by my freinds at the airport of embarkation, but was not entitrely clear......any real experience out there that someone could share...anyone......
Jul 31, 2008, 9:40 am
#11
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I agree wholeheartedly with Zeynel's assessment.
Jul 31, 2008, 12:27 pm
#12
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Jul 31, 2008, 9:28 pm
#13
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Wish you luck in getting this upcoming Defendant (yes, I WILL be suing these incompetents once I return to the US this coming November) to honor what they say, but my experience with them regarding providing business class seats for paid tickets (they switched flights to a Y-only plane); lounge access in IST for my wife & I (I'm *G, my wife *S, and I was on C-ticket, but they said no access for Mrs); ever crediting miles (waiting since April) ; offices arguing whether senior discount is at 60 or 65 SHALL be litigated.
Aug 1, 2008, 1:04 am
#14
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Wish you luck in getting this upcoming Defendant (yes, I WILL be suing these incompetents once I return to the US this coming November) to honor what they say, but my experience with them regarding providing business class seats for paid tickets (they switched flights to a Y-only plane); lounge access in IST for my wife & I (I'm *G, my wife *S, and I was on C-ticket, but they said no access for Mrs); ever crediting miles (waiting since April) ; offices arguing whether senior discount is at 60 or 65 SHALL be litigated.
Jan 23, 2009, 1:07 am
#15
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Well, all of the doubters were......wrong! My freinds flew MAN-IST-BKK in Y during December and got their complimentary hotel in IST on a B&B basis, including transfers
They did have to be quite firm with the transit desk/customer services - probably took an hour to sort out but they got there in the end. They could not remember the name of the hotel but it sounded 2*/3* at best.
Better than 10 hours on the airport floor though
They did have to be quite firm with the transit desk/customer services - probably took an hour to sort out but they got there in the end. They could not remember the name of the hotel but it sounded 2*/3* at best.
Better than 10 hours on the airport floor though
Last edited by NoY; Jan 23, 2009 at 3:11 am