Through-check bags? IST transit on 2 separate TK tickets
#32
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: IST, TR
Programs: TK*G EP
Posts: 487
Check-in agents are not TK Staff. They are employees of airport ground service companies. They have experienced supervisors and sometimes one TK staff / airport manager is around.
Although SQ is *A, my personal experience tells me that they don't connect luggage to other airlines in normal circumstances.
Good luck!
Although SQ is *A, my personal experience tells me that they don't connect luggage to other airlines in normal circumstances.
Good luck!
#33
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: IST, TR
Programs: TK*G EP
Posts: 487
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,635
If you ask nicely there is a fair chance that they will tag bags to final destination to save you from entering Turkey to pick-up your luggage for re-check-in with SQ at IST.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,180
Also a remark that,
If the OP manages to check his bags all the way to SIN
The OP should go to the SQ transfer counter to link the baggages in the SQ system. Otherwise, SQ would not see any of the OP's bags. This would involve an extra transfer security.
If the OP manages to check his bags all the way to SIN
The OP should go to the SQ transfer counter to link the baggages in the SQ system. Otherwise, SQ would not see any of the OP's bags. This would involve an extra transfer security.
#36
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 643
HI everyone,
I will be flying TXL-IST with Turkish Airlines and IST-SIN with SQ on 2 separate tickets. Is it possible for me to have through check in and checked baggage? I've read some reviews that since it's of the same Star Alliance they actually can do it if they want to. But the strict rule is that this isn't possible
I will be flying TXL-IST with Turkish Airlines and IST-SIN with SQ on 2 separate tickets. Is it possible for me to have through check in and checked baggage? I've read some reviews that since it's of the same Star Alliance they actually can do it if they want to. But the strict rule is that this isn't possible
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,180
What you should do first is go to the Turkish Airlines office at TXL which, I believe, is situated around Gate 6. This is normally staffed by 2-3 very competent and helpful TK employees. Explain your problem to them and ask them if they could possibly link the two tickets - the SQ flight also operates as a TK codeshare. Behave humbly and apologise for not booking the onward leg on TK and they will most probably bend the rules. Once the tickets are linked, the agency staff at check-in will have no problem in sending your baggage to SIN. But, as noted above, you do need to go as early as possible to the SQ gate at IST to ensure that your baggage is loaded.
#38
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 643
I did not suggest that TK would convert two separate tickets into a single ticket, but merely link them in the system. I have done this many times, including on the two flights cited by the OP. TK do not, however, like doing this with cheap domestic flights as it reduces the airlines' revenue and is considered a scam.
#39
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,637
Flying ESB-IST-ADD on TK with an onward connection from ADD-BLZ on ET with a separate ticket.
Ankara airport check-in was an absolute zoo with no priority check-in lanes so after nearly 45 minutes in a slow moving line it was right at flight closing time when we finally reached the counter. The agent was singularly unhelpful and kept insisting that we had to collect and recheck baggage in Istanbul and if we didn't agree then we would miss the flight. Fortunately a supervisor showed up and once he saw we were Elite Plus in Business Class sorted it out in literally 30 seconds. Baggage checked through all the way to Malawi with no further questions asked.
As a separate issue, I can't believe that TK doesn't have any sort of Priority ground services at a big station like Ankara. No Business Class check-in desk, no lounge and no priority boarding was a huge disappointment.
Ankara airport check-in was an absolute zoo with no priority check-in lanes so after nearly 45 minutes in a slow moving line it was right at flight closing time when we finally reached the counter. The agent was singularly unhelpful and kept insisting that we had to collect and recheck baggage in Istanbul and if we didn't agree then we would miss the flight. Fortunately a supervisor showed up and once he saw we were Elite Plus in Business Class sorted it out in literally 30 seconds. Baggage checked through all the way to Malawi with no further questions asked.
As a separate issue, I can't believe that TK doesn't have any sort of Priority ground services at a big station like Ankara. No Business Class check-in desk, no lounge and no priority boarding was a huge disappointment.
Last edited by B747-437B; Jan 14, 2022 at 6:16 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,180
Indeed, the lounge at Ankara has a separate entrance which is not linked to the main terminal.
#42
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,637
Seriously? How do you access the lounge then? There was zero signage (in English at least) to indicate this and the TAV staff at the info desk told us that these were the only check-in counters for Turkish. Even the supervisor who sorted our bags out didn't mention it. In fact, we even asked at the boarding gate (flight was delayed 40 mins) if there was a lounge and they said no. We eventually used the PrimeClass Lounge using Priority Pass.
#43
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
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Posts: 14,180
Seriously? How do you access the lounge then? There was zero signage (in English at least) to indicate this and the TAV staff at the info desk told us that these were the only check-in counters for Turkish. Even the supervisor who sorted our bags out didn't mention it. In fact, we even asked at the boarding gate (flight was delayed 40 mins) if there was a lounge and they said no. We eventually used the PrimeClass Lounge using Priority Pass.
#44
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,637
Wow! There was zero signage indicating this all the way from rental car return to departures. How are passengers supposed to know about this?
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,180
The main idea of this concept was for these people to avoid congestion and long lines at the regular terminal so that they could have a better experience.
At least in IST and ADB, the respective lounges also have another airside entry point but for ESB and SAW it's not the case.