Flew into IST with a few hours layover, connecting to TK 2170 to Ankara (ESB).

Sat in the domestic CIP lounge, waiting for ~original boarding time / boarding announcement*

TK flies to ESB almost hourly, with #2166, 2168, 2170, 2174, 2178, etc

Heard TK2168 announcement come and go. Heard the following announcements for Bodrum, Anatalya, etc etc etc. Meanwhile, I'm refreshing flight status obsessively on Google which shows 1hr delay*

When lounge monitor flashes TK2170 "boarding" but w/o announcement, I walk to the 3 departing podiums to inquire and was quickly rebuffed "we not boarding you can sit down and wait"

Other flights are announced. Monitor flashes TK2170 "last call". I anxiously walked to an emptying podium "is this flight delayed? when does it board". Guy looks at my boarding pass. Grabs the boarding pass down to keyboard level. Punches some keys. "No, it is not delayed. We will call to board probably 5 minutes".**


I get back to my seat, compulsively switching between staring at lounge monitor and refreshing phone screen. 30 minutes later without nary an announcement, I walked to the podium a last time. A girl looks at it "what, what do you want me to do with this. is gone.".

I go over to the same guy on the same podium from 30 minutes earlier. "What do you want. The airplane left. Youre not on it." ..... "but i just saw you 30 minutes ago and you said it hadnt boarded". "it doesnt matter. the flight left 1 hour ago."

He points me to see his screen, apparently showing J18 Y32, "look 50 people go. only you still here. what do you want. Im quite a bit confused. "Im sorry, but i've been waiting and listening and this flight wasnt boarded". He pulls up a different screen showing me that 250 people checked-in. "What about the other 200 people?" "you need talk someone else. not me


No help from him, I ran around and eventually got rebooked on TK2174 for a 100EUR fee change. Dont blame anyone for deficiency in language but what disappointed me the most was a very clear and abject refusal to want to help. Every interaction seems like a nuisane...and this happens time and time again