Hi,

So, I have planned a ex-IST to PEK and the return, HKG-IST (via LHR).
I have run into a few issues in the process and it would be great if some of you could help me clarify a few things:

My feeder (ET) from LHR to IST arrives at 23:15 the night before I leave from IST for PEK (CW) the next morning.

1.) Although there is essentially a night between the two flights (more like 8 hours), will BA check my baggage through automatically or will I have to do this "manually" by going airside at IST?

2.) As my feeder is ET and the long-haul is CW, the two have been booked separately online, so I have two tickets etc.
Will I still have the higher baggage allowance (i.e. 3 bags at 32kg each) already from LHR to IST?

3.) The return flight (HKG-IST) is via LHR, where I plan on getting of, forgoing the last leg to IST and instead boarding a plane from LHR to CDG, two hours after my arrival at LHR.
How can I make sure my baggage arrives in CDG instead of travelling on to IST? What is the procedure for this / to whom do I have to talk?
It would of course be nice if they could check it through (i.e. unload it at LHR and put it in the CDG) but this seems even complicated for me and I can't imagine explaining this at check-in in HKG - or do you think this will work?
Bear in mind that LHR-CDG will again be ET (so it's again a different booking/ticket), while the HKG-LHR-IST will have been CW.

4.) After my initial feeder to IST (see 1.) I hope to catch a few hours sleep at IST and I hear the BA lounge there is closed overnight (although some other lounges are open 24/7).
But they seem to have an airside hotel: www.airporthotelistanbul.com/eng.asp
Has anyone got any experience with that? Is it worth its (rather steep) prices (~£150 for 6 hours)?


Yeah, I know, I have certainly not chosen the most uncomplicated way for this travel (at least it seems to me that way now). But I do hope you can help me with some of those issues...

Thank you very much!
FT