TK awards unusual availability
 

If this is already known or has been discussed, I apologize.

When looking for award availability on TK, one gets different results if IST is a connection, rather than origin or dest.

This is evident on ExpertFlyer and on TK's own website as well.

Plug in a route to your intended destination with IST as origin. Check award availability. Then set another origin, route it through IST to your intended destination. The award results often change.

They are bookable.

That is inventory / married segment control.

They might offer award inventory for e.g. LHR IST and IST BKK, yet not be willing to sell LHR IST BKK as a through ticket.

On other days LHR IST might have no availabilty for award tickets, yet LHR IST BKK can be booked as an award.

Same is true for revenue tickets.

THey do married segments on awards as well? That sucks... do other airlines do as well?

Regarding married segments -

I tried to use my E+ vouchers for JFK-IST-XXX and upgrade only JFK-IST.

However, at IST the lady said only TK4 is available for upgrades (despite looking at flightstats.com and JFK-IST J is widely available on all 3 flights [4,2,12]). Rechecking flight availability using JFK-XXX and yes, only TK4 was available for TK.

Question is, if I purchase just JFK-IST now, will I be able to use the vouchers? I'll just purchase IST-XXX seperately later. I'll try this later next month and report back.

Actually, you could burn only one voucher for JFK-IST-XXX route, don't spend your second one. But if you stay in IST more than 24 hours they might be a problem. You're supposed to be able to use one of your voucher on whole JFK-IST-XXX route.

Call CS for booking IST-JFK leg for J and C/D class for IST-XXX leg then request to waitlist of second leg for J. But do not seperate your PNR, it's important.

Stand-by on waitlist for J. AFAIK J class are valid for waitlist 2-60 days before departure. It’s not possible to waitlist for award seat (I) but possible for J.

If you try to purchase just JFK-IST now and purchase IST-XXX leg seperatly, you have to burn two vouchers for entire flight instead of one.

If you aren't lucky and TK won't release a J bucket for second leg, call CS agent and request for seperate your PNR, burn your voucher for first leg, go to the lounge in IST when you arrrive and explain your sitation to the front desk officer and try to chance for upgrading last segment.

BTW TK4 flight is A333 instead of 77W and they've different C seat configuration. TK2 and TK12 are 77W.

2-2-2 on the A333 compared to 2-3-2 on the 77W, while the seat is the same.

I still prefer the 77W for having biggger restrooms and the wider cabin which feels roomier, despite the cabin featuring middle seats.

Will the factory fresh 77Ws TK gets this year have the same C seats or will they finally go for direct aisle access for all C pax?

What's the implication of 2 seperate tickets? I just need upgrades for JFK-IST and IST-JFK, IST-XXX and XXX-IST aren't important. I know this will cost a little more but if it's easier and gives reassurance in upgrades (rather than standby). As for connection at JFK TK is cool with tagging bags all the way to final destination with 2 PNR if both are TK, returning I'll be in Istanbul for 3 days so connection isn't an issue.

I don't understand this. I have booked ARN-PVG (via IST) several times in Comfort. I have right after booking called up and asked for an upgrade using miles or voucher on the IST-PVG leg without any problems. The vouchers aren't SWU, even though there are plenty who have managed to get them applied like that, but the rules state they are for one leg only.

For me one leg per voucher is what I'm looking for (not trying to milk the system but just getting the benefits I'm entitled). IST-XXX are regional flights and J is most likely empty middle seats. In theory, I could hold off until 2 months before travel dates but my first membership year is about to end and I have to use those vouchers NOW.

I'm even OK with upgrades from econ to Comfort but there's so much uncertainty next year so I'll try to get J, confrimed altogether at once.

Just to update anyone who may be interested.

I was able to book just 1 leg of a "married segment", using points, by phone. I had to have the rep look up the "married segment" itinerary, which I knew had award availability, and go from there.