Why cheap fares to IST are long gone?
Nov 24, 2022, 10:57 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BCN/SIN
Programs: SEN**, Ex TK Elite+, Ex IB Sapphire, Hyatt Gold, Bonvoy, Meliá Platinum
Posts: 649
Why cheap fares to IST are long gone?
Why there are no cheap fares available (ever) to IST ex EU anymore?
Flights to IST were always considered as intra-EU fare basis tickets. (78€ in K o/w, 188€ in P.) However I am unable to find low eco fares on this route for any date, even for next year until November the fares are high...
Does anyone know what is happening? Why LX, OS and SN stopped flying there years ago? Why this rout has never been reinserted? LH is the only one that still has 2 daily flights X FRA. If you manage to get a reasonable fare out, the return is always triple.
why LH does not add more frequencies or larger planes? The New IST airport has a huge capacity.
Sometimes a good alternative was TK, but their prices are even higher!
Has IST become new Middle East regarding the pricing policy?
Flights to IST were always considered as intra-EU fare basis tickets. (78€ in K o/w, 188€ in P.) However I am unable to find low eco fares on this route for any date, even for next year until November the fares are high...
Does anyone know what is happening? Why LX, OS and SN stopped flying there years ago? Why this rout has never been reinserted? LH is the only one that still has 2 daily flights X FRA. If you manage to get a reasonable fare out, the return is always triple.
why LH does not add more frequencies or larger planes? The New IST airport has a huge capacity.
Sometimes a good alternative was TK, but their prices are even higher!
Has IST become new Middle East regarding the pricing policy?
Nov 24, 2022, 11:05 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Athens, Roscoff, Helsinki, Kerry or Tromso
Posts: 446
I think the answer is that they can't compete with TK on either fares or service standards and have therefore walked away from IST. Of course M&L members earn a lot less on TK than they will with others in order to disincentivse flying with them but then LH don't offer anything as competition. Other European hubs are not so different, BA offer two service from LHR against about seven TK services, AF similar from CDG presumably for the same reasons.
Nov 24, 2022, 1:48 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,621
Apparently Istanbul has been taken over by hordes of Russians which has pushed hotel prices up to stupid levels. Same issue with the flights, a lack of choice and stupid prices. But if that lot are prepared to pay those prices to get into the EU then they're here to stay. Recently, to get away from Istanbul, I used miles on AnadoluJet (TK subsidiary), a one way for 17,000 miles and €74 taxes, saving me €800. Another option is Pegasus Airlines (PC) which still seems to have reasonable prices. I am disgusted at Turkish Airlines and how they have profited from this.
Nov 25, 2022, 2:55 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: LH SEN (*A Gold}, BA Silver, All Accor Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 20
Can confirm, the major reason for price inscrease on LH group flights between IST and EU (both directions regardless of place of origin ex-EU to IST or vice versa) these days are Russians flying via IST to Europe. Turkey did not placed any restrictions for Russians and IST is one of transfer gateways for them. Second is e.g. Beograd, SRB, flying AirSerbia - prices increased on they flights as well, but so significantly as to/from IST.
Nov 25, 2022, 3:10 am
#5
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,166
TK flies widebodies multiple times a day to all major LH group hubs and D/A/CH airports mainly to feed their hub. The traffic to Istanbul itself is now focused on LoCos serving SAW.
Nov 25, 2022, 3:55 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,842
Can confirm, the major reason for price inscrease on LH group flights between IST and EU (both directions regardless of place of origin ex-EU to IST or vice versa) these days are Russians flying via IST to Europe. Turkey did not placed any restrictions for Russians and IST is one of transfer gateways for them. Second is e.g. Beograd, SRB, flying AirSerbia - prices increased on they flights as well, but so significantly as to/from IST.
I can understand if fares between Russia/Belarus and Turkey have gone through the roof, but for TK routes to destinations where Russians cannot fly??
Nov 25, 2022, 4:35 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
I think only Lithuania/Latvia/Estonia/Finland/Poland (plus maybe Czech Republic?) placed restrictions for Russian nationals. I believe other Schengen countries welcome Russians with open arms (provided they have Schengen visas, of course).
I just checked TIMATIC (https://www.emirates.com/english/bef...t-information/) and do not see any restrictions for Russians traveling to e.g. DE.
I just checked TIMATIC (https://www.emirates.com/english/bef...t-information/) and do not see any restrictions for Russians traveling to e.g. DE.
Visa
Visa required.Additional Information:
Valid visas in full or expired travel documents are accepted if accompanied by a new travel document. However a new travel document is not required when the valid visa is in a full but still valid travel document.Warning:
Visitors not holding return/onward tickets or sufficient funds to purchase a ticket, could be refused entry. .
Nov 25, 2022, 3:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,722
It's far from "most" states. Spain alone issued more than 100k visas to Russian citizens this year. Germany is also actively issuing tourist visas.