Originally Posted by
ISTFlyer
This is because of the request of the US authorities rather than TK themselves, and based on the departure country of the flight.
When United and Delta was flying to IST, they had the same procedure. Such as QR and AA flights of Qatar having the same extra security checks, albeit with X-ray machines as they could afford paying those devices while Gözen Aviation Security is trying to cost-cut by doing those searches via hand.
Yeah I think that must be it - but it seems that TK does it for flights to Canada too.
It's always like that when flying to the US and Canada (except from CPH - got a SSSS once but that's about it - it was super seamless), somehow in a lot of European hubs they have a first checkpoint either by the gate or by an area with all flights to the US checking ESTA (even though it was already checked at check-in), and we had been asked questions like what we are doing in the US and where we are planning on going to at LHR.
Is it something new that we can't bring liquid on board to US bound flight with TK or it's a random thing?