Worth flying through IST to go to western europe?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
Worth flying through IST to go to western europe?
Thinking of going to Barcelona for a few days, TK has the cheapest fare by fare but extra 7 hours transit time from IAH each way. Worth it?
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
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The lounge in Istanbul is a delight, but it's a delight that wears off after an hour. Without the lounge, 7 hours in IST would be a challenge. It's an airport teetering on the edge of chaos.
You can get into the city by metro/tram - but you'd probably need to spend money on a visa.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TLV
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Posts: 217
#5
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
IMHO 7 hours is not really enough to get to the Old Town. Traffic is bad (if you take taxi), metro takes up to 1 hour and to get to Hagia Sophia/Blue Mosque you need to change for tramway.
#6
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Location: London
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Now serious business: we went from no Istanbulkart machine at the airport to (I think) one, and occasional long queues with tourists on steep learning curves: are there any more machines, or are any of the retail outlets selling the card?
#7
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Sorry for the confusion, by 7 hours extra transit time I meant to say that the total time of the journey from IAH-BCN via IST is 19 hours as opposed to 12 hours if I went through LHR, CDG, etc.
#8
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I wouldn't go to IST for BCN, not for 7 hours/backtracking
Unless
- you're flying in J
- you really want to see the lounge
- there's no other award availability (but you are buying cash?)
FYI I've tried TK J (on 777 & A333) and IST lounge (twice), myself (Transit in Y) and with family (in J) for a week in Turkey
Unless
- you're flying in J
- you really want to see the lounge
- there's no other award availability (but you are buying cash?)
FYI I've tried TK J (on 777 & A333) and IST lounge (twice), myself (Transit in Y) and with family (in J) for a week in Turkey
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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If you are going from IAH to IST, the arrival time is like 5pm. Then going out is not a good option as it's getting dark unless it's summer that you get more daylight.
The IAH flight leaves at 13ish which means that your BCN flight is either a midnight departure or early morning departure which doesn't give you much time to go out anyway.
Like the others said, go for it if you need the miles and if you have lounge access
The IAH flight leaves at 13ish which means that your BCN flight is either a midnight departure or early morning departure which doesn't give you much time to go out anyway.
Like the others said, go for it if you need the miles and if you have lounge access
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
BTW... TK offers really competitive J class fares to/from IAH. We still are not sure which class of service we are talking about here. For J class the fare difference may be huge. For my travels to IAH I end up on TK because the fare difference between TK and BA or UA is the range of 1-1.2k EUR.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
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BTW... TK offers really competitive J class fares to/from IAH. We still are not sure which class of service we are talking about here. For J class the fare difference may be huge. For my travels to IAH I end up on TK because the fare difference between TK and BA or UA is the range of 1-1.2k EUR.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 145
I've done this before and would do it again.
PRO
- Much cheaper fare in Business and Economy
- Almost always 125% status miles in Business
- IMO good food, service, seats, AVOD, hard/soft product on board
- if TK J, ease of facilities/customs/etc. at IST
CON
- transit times of 2 - 18hrs (but I think gives free transit hotels?)
- IST can be chaotic is not *G or flying Business
This has often been the cheapest option I've seen, even factoring in the costs for an overnight hotel. There are worse places to transit that IST or places to overnight than Istanbul!
PRO
- Much cheaper fare in Business and Economy
- Almost always 125% status miles in Business
- IMO good food, service, seats, AVOD, hard/soft product on board
- if TK J, ease of facilities/customs/etc. at IST
CON
- transit times of 2 - 18hrs (but I think gives free transit hotels?)
- IST can be chaotic is not *G or flying Business
This has often been the cheapest option I've seen, even factoring in the costs for an overnight hotel. There are worse places to transit that IST or places to overnight than Istanbul!
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
((Higher fare - cash values of miles earned with higher fares) - (TK fare - cash values of miles earned with TK fares))/7= what's it worth.
Cash values depend on a lot of things. If you do need status miles the cash values will be much higher as opposed to only bonus miles. In most cases with TK, it's definitely worth it even if you lose 1/2 day each direction. I often ignore outbound going to Europe since you'd be jet-lagged first day regardless.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
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I've done this before and would do it again.
PRO
- Much cheaper fare in Business and Economy
- Almost always 125% status miles in Business
- IMO good food, service, seats, AVOD, hard/soft product on board
- if TK J, ease of facilities/customs/etc. at IST
CON
- transit times of 2 - 18hrs (but I think gives free transit hotels?)
- IST can be chaotic is not *G or flying Business
This has often been the cheapest option I've seen, even factoring in the costs for an overnight hotel. There are worse places to transit that IST or places to overnight than Istanbul!
PRO
- Much cheaper fare in Business and Economy
- Almost always 125% status miles in Business
- IMO good food, service, seats, AVOD, hard/soft product on board
- if TK J, ease of facilities/customs/etc. at IST
CON
- transit times of 2 - 18hrs (but I think gives free transit hotels?)
- IST can be chaotic is not *G or flying Business
This has often been the cheapest option I've seen, even factoring in the costs for an overnight hotel. There are worse places to transit that IST or places to overnight than Istanbul!
Then ALL our bags were deeply searched and padded from top to toe - this happens to EVERYONE with kids. We were stuck at the gate to wait for Mr. to get checked before we can go on board.