Hi;

Turkish is one of my favorite airlines to move around the GCC, and of course Turkey. The funny thing is they are a more or less discount airline, but have better service than the American companies, food, staff, lounges etc. I have used them for 15 years and you get miles, if you are on Star Alliance. No other FF program let's you get up the levels as fast, and get upgrades.

However, all that is the bright side. I wanted to make sure everyone knows about a experience I had 2 weeks ago. I was coming out of Bodrum, on my way vis Istanbul to Frankfurt. I had a business meeting in Germany the next morning. I go to IST 1 hour before my connection in the International terminal. By, the time we got to the gate and departed, that was down to 45min.

As anyone knows, moving from Domestic to International is a small journey, and then you go through customs. THere are two areas for customs, facing the booths, in the center of the terminal, and then one to the far left, near the Turkish Airlines lounge. Do not use the center customs, if there are lines. Its the largest area for queue, and most people do not know about the other spot.

I go unlucky and got behind a futbol team on its way to Europe from Turkmenistan. I was 10min from departure when I was cleared, and of course by the time I go to the gate, myself, and about 10 others missed the plane. OK, not the end of the world, I figured I miss the meeting, loose the hotel, but OK, we can go down to Taksim and have some fun.

Wrong.....

I got told by the service desk, that 2 people on my Bodrum flight made it to the connection, and therefore it was our fault in missing that plane. I never heard of this, where people that do not get through the customs in time are put into blame for the queue or whatever.

Needless to say, I had to buy 2 new tickets for the next day to go home in France, and we had to find a hotel.

Only good thing was that we did have fun on Taksim that night :~)

Regards,

Jon