Transferring/Transit at Istanbul Atatürk airport
#151
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 64
I'm considering booking a J class TK-TK transit that arrives in IST at 22:15 and departs for PRG at 16:40 the next day. My plan is to overnight in the lounge, hopefully in a sleeping room, and then take advantage of the free Istanbul tour. Would I be able to get to the lounge when I arrive, or would I find myself forced through immigration because my flight is the following day. Thanks!
#152
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: GYD
Programs: Azerbaijan Airlines Gold, Turkish Miles and Smiles, IHG Plat
Posts: 663
I'm considering booking a J class TK-TK transit that arrives in IST at 22:15 and departs for PRG at 16:40 the next day. My plan is to overnight in the lounge, hopefully in a sleeping room, and then take advantage of the free Istanbul tour. Would I be able to get to the lounge when I arrive, or would I find myself forced through immigration because my flight is the following day. Thanks!
#153
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,865
Transited IST yesterday with a 60 minute layover at around 11pm. That was more than enough time as one security person at the jetway was asking disembarking passengers to show boarding passes for connecting international flights, and directed those who had one to the right hand side, where the jetway simply opened up to the transit area - in total 3 minutes to get transit.
On the other hand, arriving at 6am everyone had to go through security which was chaotic. Just take your boarding pass and go to front of queue to agent and show the boarding time on the pass. They will direct you straight to the front if there is very little time left to boarding.
On the other hand, arriving at 6am everyone had to go through security which was chaotic. Just take your boarding pass and go to front of queue to agent and show the boarding time on the pass. They will direct you straight to the front if there is very little time left to boarding.
We don't have a tight connection, it's about 3 hours but this is probably the only chance we will get to experience the lounge.
Is there a priority security line for J class? (Don't laugh, we have such things in Australia).
#154
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 602
The last few months the transfer security has been almost deserted in the morning, when I have arrived on TK69 from BKK/SGN (4 or 5 trips), it has only taken a few minutes to get through. There is a fast track for C pax/*G but it's not always staffed at this time of day (though it's perfectly possible to pass the counter anyway)
#155
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HH Gold, Marriott Gold, PC Plat, Emirates Silver
Posts: 2,676
How is it arriving in J at 6:30pm from US and connecting to Greece?
#156
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monaco
Posts: 317
Was in transit from Douala to Munich on a mid-Sunday-morning and missed my connection flight due to ENORMOUS queues at IST transit security, both in the general and in the priority line. Will avoid IST for transit in the future.
#157
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
Anyone know the on-time performance of TK 21 from PEK to IST? I have a 3 hour connection which ought to be enough to make it to the next gate if my bags are checked all the way through, but not sure how much the flight will be delayed...
Last edited by drzoidberg; Jul 11, 2014 at 8:56 pm
#158
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,559
#159
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 4,396
It appears to have a habit of arriving early http://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/THY21
#160
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
How did things pan out for you? I am afraid of this happening to us. :/
#161
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monaco
Posts: 317
BTW: I missed my flight although I completely jumped the queue at central security. Just the bus gate plus the walkways - and the confusion at security - took too long. With the old security at the adjacent gates, I would have made my flight though. So, naturally, I am not yet a fan of the new system.
#162
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monaco
Posts: 317
I'm considering booking a J class TK-TK transit that arrives in IST at 22:15 and departs for PRG at 16:40 the next day. My plan is to overnight in the lounge, hopefully in a sleeping room, and then take advantage of the free Istanbul tour. Would I be able to get to the lounge when I arrive, or would I find myself forced through immigration because my flight is the following day. Thanks!
You will make it to the lounge without immigration.
There is also a decent transit hotel inside the terminal (no immigration either).
#163
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
I took the next flight ca. 4 hours later and in the meantime very much enjoyed the shower, food, etc in the IST lounge.
BTW: I missed my flight although I completely jumped the queue at central security. Just the bus gate plus the walkways - and the confusion at security - took too long. With the old security at the adjacent gates, I would have made my flight though. So, naturally, I am not yet a fan of the new system.
BTW: I missed my flight although I completely jumped the queue at central security. Just the bus gate plus the walkways - and the confusion at security - took too long. With the old security at the adjacent gates, I would have made my flight though. So, naturally, I am not yet a fan of the new system.
Even though I've traveled extensively, the chaos of IST has me a little anxious since I'll have my husband and kids with me. The thought of waiting in a huge line to miss our flight and then have to fend for ourselves (and keep track of kids) in the chaos I hear about the service center for rebooking and everything else has got me a bit
Thank you!!
#164
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 40
So apparently there is a Turkish Arrivals Lounge and the Turkish CIP Lounge.
Which one should I go to if I am connecting in IST for another flight to IAH?
Which one should I go to if I am connecting in IST for another flight to IAH?
#165
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,559
The arrivals lounge is for pax terminating at IST, the CIP lounge is in the departures area and the one you want to head towards.