IST turnaround
Mar 26, 2005 | 1:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 39
IST turnaround
OK, so I'm in the FIRST lounge at T1 with boarding pass in my grubby mitt. Thanks to OLCI I snagged 4C on BA 676 so hopefully I should be at the front of the immigration queue to buy my visa / get into Turkey, giving me maximum time to pick up my ticket + check in to get back here in about 9 hours. Full report from LHR on my return (today if it works, tomorrow if not...)
Wish me luck!
CT
Wish me luck!
CT
Mar 26, 2005 | 7:52 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SCL, MCT, LGW and a variety of 1W lounges in between.
Programs: BA Mucci (Seigneur et Ingenieur des Appareils Volants (Gold)), QF (WP and LTG), AA EXP, GF Gold
Posts: 3,931
You missed me by a day.
I am doing this run on Sunday, at least outbound. What a shame I did not have enough money in the piggy bank for the US 3800 business fare via LHR to SYD, but that is life. So the N class specials rule the roost.
I hope you enjoyed the trip and did not get caught needing a visa for the run around.
Spottie
I hope you enjoyed the trip and did not get caught needing a visa for the run around.
Spottie
Mar 27, 2005 | 12:17 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 39
Success!
OK, so it is possible, nay relatively straightforward. If only connecting through BTOpenZone were so easy, or I would have reported back yesterday!!
It breaks down like this:
Arrive, dock at jetbridge in new terminal building, run to passport control (4 mins) -- there are two visa purchase windows, only the one on the left was open. Slap down 10 quid, get sticker, get in queue for passport control.
Wait (5 mins)
Proceed through baggage claim to arrivals, go to the right when through the door, head to the end of the terminal and go upstairs. At this point you will be directed outside the building, as all departing passengers get screened when they enter the building. Go through, bearing in mind that the Turkish magnetic machines make the US ones look inefficient and weak. I think the studs in my jeans set the machine off
(5 mins)
BA check in is at G11, right next to Swiss. I actually went there first, and they directed me to a window at the end of the line. The gentleman behind the window heard my name, reached into the drawer and flipped me an envelope with the magic 16 coupons in it. Not even asked for ID!! Went back to check in where the agent had already printed my BP while I picked up ticket. (3 mins)
Back through passport control, return to the gate where I left (5 mins) and boarding hadn't even begun. Looked around in vain for the lounge (apparently it's down some stairs just past passport control, but I'm damned if I could find it -- get GOOD directions, and PAY ATTENTION, unlike me
)
The whole roundtrip took a little over 25 mins (I messed around in the middle a little) so I sat back in 2C and came home again. Very enjoyable -- the new terminal is very cool, and so much better than the scrum which I went through last time I was out there.
So for those short on time, it's not that big a deal. I'm sure it gets busier than when I was there, but even so there's a lot of margin for error. The fact that my flight was 10 mins early ^ ^ helped a lot.
Cheers all,
Chris
PS spottie -- sorry I missed you by a day -- I'm flying up to GLA so they won't let me in to see you on your way out. Have fun (I hope you actually get to spend some time there...) CT
It breaks down like this:
Arrive, dock at jetbridge in new terminal building, run to passport control (4 mins) -- there are two visa purchase windows, only the one on the left was open. Slap down 10 quid, get sticker, get in queue for passport control.
Wait (5 mins)
Proceed through baggage claim to arrivals, go to the right when through the door, head to the end of the terminal and go upstairs. At this point you will be directed outside the building, as all departing passengers get screened when they enter the building. Go through, bearing in mind that the Turkish magnetic machines make the US ones look inefficient and weak. I think the studs in my jeans set the machine off
(5 mins)BA check in is at G11, right next to Swiss. I actually went there first, and they directed me to a window at the end of the line. The gentleman behind the window heard my name, reached into the drawer and flipped me an envelope with the magic 16 coupons in it. Not even asked for ID!! Went back to check in where the agent had already printed my BP while I picked up ticket. (3 mins)
Back through passport control, return to the gate where I left (5 mins) and boarding hadn't even begun. Looked around in vain for the lounge (apparently it's down some stairs just past passport control, but I'm damned if I could find it -- get GOOD directions, and PAY ATTENTION, unlike me
)The whole roundtrip took a little over 25 mins (I messed around in the middle a little) so I sat back in 2C and came home again. Very enjoyable -- the new terminal is very cool, and so much better than the scrum which I went through last time I was out there.
So for those short on time, it's not that big a deal. I'm sure it gets busier than when I was there, but even so there's a lot of margin for error. The fact that my flight was 10 mins early ^ ^ helped a lot.
Cheers all,
Chris
PS spottie -- sorry I missed you by a day -- I'm flying up to GLA so they won't let me in to see you on your way out. Have fun (I hope you actually get to spend some time there...) CT