Joshb18

Has anyone done a same day return to Tirana? If so did you have any issues?
I am planning on staying at the airport and making use of the lounge, whilst there is about 6 hours between flights, is the lounge fairly decent?

Flumps

I'm unsure if BA provide lounge access at Tirana, but the airport and lounge aren't the best experience from memory - OK is how I'd class it. I'd think 6 hours would likely prove interminable.

polochick

There is a lounge but it doesn’t really have much natural light and it’s not one I would really want to spend 6 hours in. If flying BA you will need to check in at the desk at Tirana for the return flight so unlikely to be able to go through security until a couple of hours before your flight unless there are 2 BA flights that day and you get to the counter before they close the desk for the first flight and they are willing to check you in for the later flight. Lots of ifs!

Unless you have to work perhaps take a taxi out to bunk art or the cable car instead?

corporate-wage-slave

Unless this has changed recently, TIA is not on FLY along with DBV and SPU in that region. Which means check-in has to be local and thus generally infeasible for B2B. That said, hotels are fairly inexpensive and Tirana makes for an interesting overnight stay. See main B2B thread for more details.

Nikko5

Can even the desks at LHR not print a return boarding pass if the destination is not on FLY? (I realised OLCI is not available at such locations).

corporate-wage-slave

​​​​​​LHR cannot print boarding passes for non FLY locations.

Nikko5

Thanks for the useful info, don’t think I had ever realised this before!

jerry a. laska

Various reports about TIA in the turnaround thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...tinations.html

mmogdan

as of a few weeks ago it’s still non FLY with no online checkin. Curiously the airport appears to have a BA station manager and a BA branded ticketing desk.

BA or bust

That is just because the BA cost cutting bean counters have not got round there yet!

LCY8737

If you have 6 hours I would at least try to go into town and have a wander around. It is one of the more fascinating destinations in the BA route network. Still lots of the old communist architecture to see, as well as a lot even older history. Decent food (unless you're vegan). Decent night life (if you were to decide to spend the night).

Butts

I visited in late 2021 and remember the Lounge as being a cute little "bunker" with a limited selection.

I stayed in a Hotel walkable from the Airport and encountered a load of "Taxi Touts" whilst on my way to it.

There was a Minibus from the Airport into town that was about 3 Euros each way (they take Euros in a lot of places).

When I was there signs of "westernisation" were being prominently advertised - ie KFC and McDonalds opening soon so it's third world ambience may have now gone.

My biggest disappointment was they didn't stamp my Passport with the eponymous double headed eagle.

Charentedame

I’ve just spent a couple of weeks travelling through Albania. It’s a fascinating country. I can’t comment on the lounge at TIA as we didn’t leave by air.

if you have 6 hours free, I would definitely leave the airport. Go to Skanderbeg Square and walk around. Go to Bunkart. If wet, there’s the National Historical Museum. You won’t get lost, as the bright yellow cladding on the IC being built can be seen from all around. The sign on top is now illuminated at night. There are lots of places to eat near the Square. We ate outside at the Piazza close by. The house red was very drinkable. They took credit card, Euros and Lek. We went up the cable car and had lunch looking over the city. You could always get taxi to Kruje. Walk through the bazaar up to the castle. Lots of places to eat in the area. Low denomination Euro notes and credit cards will be accepted in most places in the city. If not you can change Euros for Lek in any of the Exchange offices.

However long you are there, you will wish you stayed for longer.

melanddave

We were there in April and agree you need to check in for boarding pass Note there are e-gates for EU and UK passports which saved us a long queue.
I say go to Biloku and have some some Italian/Albanian food in Era restaurant and maybe a beer in Radio bar next door. The architecture is brutal but interesting

Henmar

Sorry, but what does FLY mean in this context?