Originally Posted by
slickvik
Thinking of going to Barcelona for a few days, TK has the cheapest fare by fare but extra 7 hours transit time from IAH each way. Worth it?
It's the sort of question only you can answer. Just be sure to throw into the equation the extra miles earned as well as how you value 7 hours of your time.
The lounge in Istanbul is a delight, but it's a delight that wears off after an hour. Without the lounge, 7 hours in IST would be a challenge. It's an airport teetering on the edge of chaos.
You can get into the city by metro/tram - but you'd probably need to spend money on a visa.