Originally Posted by
ISTFlyer
Yes, you would need to go back downstairs and leave the departure hall in order to enter Turkey. So, you would need to;
- Clear transfer security after arrival
- Go to the lounge
- Leave the lounge when you are ready and follow signs to gate F1. Go in towards the secret door which would take you to the arrivals level.
- Clear passport control and leave the baggage claim area
When arriving back at the airport, you would take the same process as a passenger originating in IST.
Hi, I had a follow up question to this please. I'm planning to do the same with my wife, visit the Turkish Airlines lounge on arrival, and then go to immigration to head to the city (we have a 26 hour stopover, and the arrival lounge doesn't seem to be open yet). We will have checked in bags with us, which I doubt we'll be able to through check in till JFK (due to the stopover). Any clue what happens to our bags in this case, if we decide to go to the lounge first airside for a shower and quick breakfast? Do they leave them lying at the carousel or they're taken somewhere else? Thanks!