BA's move from Ataturk to the new Istanbul airport
Apr 2, 2019, 2:55 pm
#152
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
I have a flight on BA from Istanbul to LHR on April 8. Could anyone tell me if the previous security restrictions regarding tablets and laptops will apply at the new airport? I looked through the thread but didn't see any mention of it. Apologies if I overlooked it.
Apr 3, 2019, 3:27 am
#153
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
The restrictions mercifully ended in September last year.
Apr 4, 2019, 9:10 am
#155
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,941
Apr 4, 2019, 7:15 pm
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,185
Apr 5, 2019, 7:22 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold (thanks to BOB), UA, Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles, Amex BAPP & Platinum
Posts: 392
Not that it had one to shut, it was the only lounge open - the others adjacent (bothPP eligible) having packed up and gone! It really was one of the worst lounges anywhere and BA will have to try really hard do do any worse at the new airport (I'm sure someone will try).
Apr 5, 2019, 10:39 am
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,345
Unfortunately it showed the contempt with which BA treated its IST customers over the years. As a reminder, for the first decade or so at IST, BA had its own lounge, then they cut costs and moved to the Millennium lounge, then to the better downstairs lounge and then cut costs again in recent years and then used the Millennium lounge again.
Apr 5, 2019, 10:50 am
#159
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge UK
Programs: BA silver,
Posts: 254
The old airport was well served by train+tram into the city. I seem to remember reading sone time ago that transport to the new airport is very limited. Does anyone know what is happening? Trip planned for late May so hope sorted by then.
Apr 5, 2019, 11:19 am
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,185
Unfortunately it showed the contempt with which BA treated its IST customers over the years. As a reminder, for the first decade or so at IST, BA had its own lounge, then they cut costs and moved to the Millennium lounge, then to the better downstairs lounge and then cut costs again in recent years and then used the Millennium lounge again.
In addition, I would like to add that due to the pressure of the taxi lobby. Late night bus services were cancelled at Atatürk Airport; followed by the cancellation of municipality buses that served 3-4 different areas of the city, and leaving the only option to a crowded metro line that serves some of the areas of Istanbul and a bus to Taksim that may take 2 hours because of traffic.
Apr 5, 2019, 11:39 am
#161
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
The Millennium Lounge was in a great many ways not a great lounge but fortunately while the hand baggage restrictions were in place, one never had much time to actually use it.
On those fleeting visits, the wall at the rear of the lounge always fascinated me in a slightly comical way. I likened it to a dynamic art installation, thinking of Klein Dytham's imaginative Gallery Toto kenetic wall treatments at Haneda and Troika's "All the Time in the World" electroluminescent art wall at T5's lounge lobby. This particular wall had none of the technical sophistication or artistic merit of those purpose built examples, it was merely a translucent glass window that separated the lounge from the smoking room next door. Still, while modest, it was an interesting spectacle whenever the sun was shining.
On those fleeting visits, the wall at the rear of the lounge always fascinated me in a slightly comical way. I likened it to a dynamic art installation, thinking of Klein Dytham's imaginative Gallery Toto kenetic wall treatments at Haneda and Troika's "All the Time in the World" electroluminescent art wall at T5's lounge lobby. This particular wall had none of the technical sophistication or artistic merit of those purpose built examples, it was merely a translucent glass window that separated the lounge from the smoking room next door. Still, while modest, it was an interesting spectacle whenever the sun was shining.
Last edited by Prospero; Apr 5, 2019 at 11:51 am Reason: Typo
Apr 5, 2019, 1:27 pm
#162
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,941
One time I was in there a family allowed their young child to kick a football against that wall repeatedly for about an hour. And it was still not the most irritating thing about being in there. By last month, virtually every power socket was broken and even the public toilets nearby had closed.
I only wish I'd have been on the final flight to swat the last flies out of the fresh food and take a ceremonial pee in the "meat soup" container.
I only wish I'd have been on the final flight to swat the last flies out of the fresh food and take a ceremonial pee in the "meat soup" container.
Apr 5, 2019, 1:54 pm
#163
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
An open bottle of Bacardi, placed precariously on a carpet of scattered paper wifi slips... The perfect accelerant 
Apr 5, 2019, 2:15 pm
#164
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,164
I predate you all. I make no exceptions. I’m an old BAag, but God help those who call me that.
I remember the old airport in 1975. It was dreadful. Beyond dreadful it was dire. We were taken on holiday to Alanya and we spent a few nights in Istanbul. We then flew to Antalya. Frankly, looking back the whole experience felt like you were cheating death. People fighting over seats (TK both ways).and going on the tarmac to select your luggage so that it was put in the hold. They did this in London as well. Delays were chronic and constant. Not one flight left on time. That was then.
I went back in 2010. Nothing prepared me for what I would find. I found a modern well functioning airport in a dynamic and progressive place. I have huge respect for the people who have brought this airport into being. There will be problems. Of course there will. For heavens sake will the new Berlin airport ever open? It will be less convenient as Narita is to Haneda at first as like many of these projects, it probably needs a year to bed in. I loved the old Ataturk. It had everything. This is in the middle of nowhere. For now. Let’s be generous and let this airport get going.
I have very dear friends in Izmir who I want to visit. I’ll probably transit the airport to go there.
I remember the old airport in 1975. It was dreadful. Beyond dreadful it was dire. We were taken on holiday to Alanya and we spent a few nights in Istanbul. We then flew to Antalya. Frankly, looking back the whole experience felt like you were cheating death. People fighting over seats (TK both ways).and going on the tarmac to select your luggage so that it was put in the hold. They did this in London as well. Delays were chronic and constant. Not one flight left on time. That was then.
I went back in 2010. Nothing prepared me for what I would find. I found a modern well functioning airport in a dynamic and progressive place. I have huge respect for the people who have brought this airport into being. There will be problems. Of course there will. For heavens sake will the new Berlin airport ever open? It will be less convenient as Narita is to Haneda at first as like many of these projects, it probably needs a year to bed in. I loved the old Ataturk. It had everything. This is in the middle of nowhere. For now. Let’s be generous and let this airport get going.
I have very dear friends in Izmir who I want to visit. I’ll probably transit the airport to go there.
Apr 5, 2019, 7:07 pm
#165
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I'm not sad to wave good-bye to the domestic arrival area at IST though. The baggage hall smelled like a bunch of unclean loos for quite some time which bothered me rather immensely.
What amused me recently was the huge new terminal at DLM, to/from which BA will shortly be operating (I hope they finish the works before the season starts). It's right next to the old one, which looked rather dwarfed by the big new terminal.
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Apr 5, 2019 at 7:13 pm