Oct 5, 2018, 9:18 am
Last edit by: ISTFlyer
Please note that this thread discusses only TK operations from the new airport. There will be no discussion of the politics involved. These can take place in OMNI PR. Anyone interested in general issue surrounding the new airport may find these in the "Europe" forum. The usual FT rules apply.
For a general discussion about the airport, not related to TK, please visit: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/europe/1955797-istanbul-new-airport-ist-isl-master-thread.html
Lounge questions have now a dedicated thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turkish-airlines-miles-smiles/1963594-tk-istanbul-airport-thread-2-lounges.html
starflyergold
TK forum moderator
-----------------
This is the list of all Istanbul Airport threads where you could find more details related to your question if it's discussed in one of the forums below.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #1 - General Discussion ( YOU ARE HERE )
This is the thread that you could ask your questions about the airport related to Turkish Airlines which doesn't have a dedicated thread. For example questions about check-in desks, the Miniport service, fast-track security, care points, etc... could be asked here if they are directly or indirectly related to TK.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #2 - Lounges
This is the thread dedicated for lounges and questions about the TK lounges at Istanbul Airport. Sleeping rooms in the lounge could be discussed in the third thread as it's mainly related to longer connections. Please do refer to the respective threads in the Europe forum for other contract lounges at Istanbul Airport and PriorityPass lounges.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #3 - Stopover Hotel, Touristanbul, Sleeping Rooms
This is the thread for passengers booked a long connection. The thread has a guide that would give basic information about the free city tour, the stopover hotel option for eligible passengers as well as the sleeping rooms in the lounges in Istanbul Airport. For issues onlyrelated hotel suggestions refer to the Europe forum.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #4 - Transferring/Transit at Istanbul Airport
This is the thread were you could ask your questions about any type of transfer at Istanbul Airport. Such as what to do within a xxx hour layover, or facilities at the transfer area directly related to transit issues. Also questions related to transfer security, immigration in single/seperate tickets could be discussed here. As well as what to do in case of misconnections. The transfer hotel where passengers could access by paying: YOTEL has a dedicated thread where you could find here.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #5 - Miles&Smiles Card Pickup at Istanbul Airport
If you want to pickup your Miles&Smiles card in Istanbul Airport, please consult this thread where you would be able to find the locations of the card print points for Miles&Smiles members.
There are also threads not only related to the TK pax but to all passengers traveling from Istanbul Airport. These take place in the Europe forum.
Istanbul Airport Master Thread
For any question related to the airport instead of TK ( facilities, pay-to-use services not related to TK, transportation, rental car services, hotel services, non-TK lounges ) please consult this thread in the Europe forum. Also please discuss, Flightradar24 related ADS-B issues, delays related to the airport here, unless it's a direct TK issue.
PriorityPass Lounges in Istanbul Airport
There is no PriorityPass Lounges at Istanbul Airport at the moment. However, I would update this thread when there is an available lounge for PriorityPass at the airport.
I (ISTFlyer) have removed the FAQ's as they are now all answered in the respective WIKI sections of the respective forums.
For a general discussion about the airport, not related to TK, please visit: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/europe/1955797-istanbul-new-airport-ist-isl-master-thread.html
Lounge questions have now a dedicated thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turkish-airlines-miles-smiles/1963594-tk-istanbul-airport-thread-2-lounges.html
starflyergold
TK forum moderator
-----------------
This is the list of all Istanbul Airport threads where you could find more details related to your question if it's discussed in one of the forums below.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #1 - General Discussion ( YOU ARE HERE )
This is the thread that you could ask your questions about the airport related to Turkish Airlines which doesn't have a dedicated thread. For example questions about check-in desks, the Miniport service, fast-track security, care points, etc... could be asked here if they are directly or indirectly related to TK.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #2 - Lounges
This is the thread dedicated for lounges and questions about the TK lounges at Istanbul Airport. Sleeping rooms in the lounge could be discussed in the third thread as it's mainly related to longer connections. Please do refer to the respective threads in the Europe forum for other contract lounges at Istanbul Airport and PriorityPass lounges.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #3 - Stopover Hotel, Touristanbul, Sleeping Rooms
This is the thread for passengers booked a long connection. The thread has a guide that would give basic information about the free city tour, the stopover hotel option for eligible passengers as well as the sleeping rooms in the lounges in Istanbul Airport. For issues onlyrelated hotel suggestions refer to the Europe forum.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #4 - Transferring/Transit at Istanbul Airport
This is the thread were you could ask your questions about any type of transfer at Istanbul Airport. Such as what to do within a xxx hour layover, or facilities at the transfer area directly related to transit issues. Also questions related to transfer security, immigration in single/seperate tickets could be discussed here. As well as what to do in case of misconnections. The transfer hotel where passengers could access by paying: YOTEL has a dedicated thread where you could find here.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #5 - Miles&Smiles Card Pickup at Istanbul Airport
If you want to pickup your Miles&Smiles card in Istanbul Airport, please consult this thread where you would be able to find the locations of the card print points for Miles&Smiles members.
There are also threads not only related to the TK pax but to all passengers traveling from Istanbul Airport. These take place in the Europe forum.
Istanbul Airport Master Thread
For any question related to the airport instead of TK ( facilities, pay-to-use services not related to TK, transportation, rental car services, hotel services, non-TK lounges ) please consult this thread in the Europe forum. Also please discuss, Flightradar24 related ADS-B issues, delays related to the airport here, unless it's a direct TK issue.
PriorityPass Lounges in Istanbul Airport
There is no PriorityPass Lounges at Istanbul Airport at the moment. However, I would update this thread when there is an available lounge for PriorityPass at the airport.
I (ISTFlyer) have removed the FAQ's as they are now all answered in the respective WIKI sections of the respective forums.
TK operations from "Istanbul Airport" aka Istanbul New Airport (ISL/IST)
Jan 22, 2019, 2:40 pm
#271
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Need some advise, all of the below is of course provided the move will not be postponed further.
I have TK1908 ZRH-IST booked for 2MAR. I've had a look at the IST>ISL handover chart and it seems that both airports will be closed for commercial traffic for 12 hours from 23:00UTC 01MAR till 11:00UTC 02MAR, after which ISL will reopen for TK commercial flights (and for all flights from midnight 03MAR). My TK flight is due to arrive to IST at 16:15 02MAR, so technically the arrival time is within ISL operational hours for TK flights, but I'm thinking if the aircraft can't depart IST to ZRH, it can't come back :-).
To make the matters worse, I have an SQ flight from IST to SIN on 03MAR at 14:15.
The TK flight is amendable but I cannot leave Zurich earlier than 02MAR. SQ flight is non-amendable.
Should I panic now? :-) Is it worth to contact any of the carriers proactively or just sit tight?
I have TK1908 ZRH-IST booked for 2MAR. I've had a look at the IST>ISL handover chart and it seems that both airports will be closed for commercial traffic for 12 hours from 23:00UTC 01MAR till 11:00UTC 02MAR, after which ISL will reopen for TK commercial flights (and for all flights from midnight 03MAR). My TK flight is due to arrive to IST at 16:15 02MAR, so technically the arrival time is within ISL operational hours for TK flights, but I'm thinking if the aircraft can't depart IST to ZRH, it can't come back :-).
To make the matters worse, I have an SQ flight from IST to SIN on 03MAR at 14:15.
The TK flight is amendable but I cannot leave Zurich earlier than 02MAR. SQ flight is non-amendable.
Should I panic now? :-) Is it worth to contact any of the carriers proactively or just sit tight?
Edit: They might ground the aircraft of the evening flight on 01 MAR from Atatürk Airport and it could operate your flight on 02 MAR. Probably TK operations team would announce cancelled routes within a month.
Last edited by ISTFlyer; Jan 22, 2019 at 2:44 pm Reason: stated it
Jan 22, 2019, 4:16 pm
#272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,351
I really would not worry about it. Very little chance of the full move happening in five weeks.
Jan 22, 2019, 11:42 pm
#274
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,351
Really? Because the last two times they also looked "serious" go back and read all the big words from everyone involved, regarding the record breaking move that would be accomplished in late October or early January, etc. It is exactly the same...........
Jan 23, 2019, 3:00 am
#275
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 59
Thanks everyone for the feedback and ISTFlyer for the detailed response! I think I will sit tight for now, the only thing I've done so far is ask LH (who issued the RTW ticket that ZRH-IST leg is part of) is to ensure my TK M&S (Elite) number is recorded on the ticket, as I hope it will give me a somewhat higher priority in case of rebooking. If they put me on TK1912 on 03MAR I will still have a chance of making my SQ flight, but it will be tight. And it will be very tight if I can't check in online for SQ flight, which is a distinct possibility as its a one way ticket, and they usually check documentation such as if you have a return ticket during check in, hence Online Checkin often is not available. I am curious, if that would be the case, whether SQ will be able to perform those checks and issue a boarding pass in ZRH rather than in the departure airport, but I guess its off topic for TK forum.
Jan 23, 2019, 3:18 am
#276
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
In case the connection in IST is not possible you will be rebooked in ZRH to get directly to SIN.
Jan 23, 2019, 6:41 am
#277
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 59
I'm not sure about that. Sorry should've clarified - those are on 2 completely separate, unrelated tickets. I don't think TK would pick a bill of flying me all the way to BKK (as my SQ flight is x/SIN to BKK) just because they closed the airport... I think if connection isn't possible I'll be screwed :-(.
Jan 23, 2019, 7:37 am
#278
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Ahh... I though this was part of the RTW ticket. Then you are sadly SOL. SQ will not wait for you in ISL/IST and TK normally doesn't give a rodents behind if you have any further travel plans. SQ in ZRH cannot check you in for a flight leaving IST.
Jan 23, 2019, 9:23 am
#279
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 59
Looks like it... Well, then I just hope TK will delay the airport move, or will not cancel ZRH-IST flight, or SQ will cancel their flight on 03MAR, or that online checkin works....
Jan 23, 2019, 12:45 pm
#280
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Thanks ISTFlyer for the explanation on the airport code. I sincerely hope the planned move on March 1st and 2nd would happen, once and for all as there were already 2 postponements.
Jan 23, 2019, 2:22 pm
#281
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,351
Funny how its people who look at it all as perhaps a philosophical exercise, or who transfer through IST maybe once in a blue moon or even aviation geeks that want it open as soon as possible, while those that are frequent fliers and live or frequent Istanbul, either don't want it open, or at least want it done when it is all operating properly. Isn't it?
Jan 24, 2019, 7:41 am
#282
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 59
Based on significant uncertainty about that I've got myself a fully refundable Pegasus ticket to SAW which only costs 12CHF to cancel, before they skyrocket in price in case TK flights really get cancelled. Not much money to pay for an insurance and def better than trying to sort out alternative routing to BKK at the last minute.
We will see...
We will see...
Jan 26, 2019, 8:51 am
#283
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bombay
Programs: EC Blue, EB Silver, FB Gold
Posts: 551
I’ll be passing through Istanbul in early May. I’m entitled to a free hotel based on current schedules- are there any hotels near the new airport, or should I simply hope for the old airport to remain open?
Jan 26, 2019, 9:09 am
#284
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: zurich
Programs: Miles&Smiles Gold
Posts: 509
YOTEL inside the terminal building with almost 500 rooms, should be enough, no?
Jan 27, 2019, 12:24 pm
#285
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Istanbul
Programs: QR Privilege Club
Posts: 137
Regarding the move on March 1-2: this time they really look serious. In better explanation, they are serious as they have been somehow "ordered" to be serious. There still be a long list of missing, unready things and these will be rectified in the due course of the next 4-12 months; i.e. by beginning of 2020.
So take my friendly advice: try not to use ISL (to become IST) by that time, at the least for March 2019. It will be crowded (but the big terminal will partly overcome this) but a lot of things may go haywire on the operational side.
A few things concerning the passengers are now already put in order, as they should have been right at the opening date. Now the arriving pax can reach the parking lot and to the taxi stands, when they leave the terminal through the Arrivals Hall: finally the usual practice started after 2+ months (Previously all arriving pax had to climb up to the Departures Hall, to get transportation...) . They call the Arrivals Floor, "The Plaza Floor" in IGA terminology. Baggage trolleys are now available at the baggage delivery halls. If the arriving pax want to take the AirIst or Municipality busses, they have to go down one floor where the new bus stands are relocated. Most of the stores in Domestic Terminal have not opened; in fact quite a few of store areas don't seem to be hired. That's not surprising, as we have been hearing about very high rental fees/terms, imposed by IGA. And who can really earn money on these stores in the Domestic Terminal side; where even the F & B ones may hopefully break even.
So take my friendly advice: try not to use ISL (to become IST) by that time, at the least for March 2019. It will be crowded (but the big terminal will partly overcome this) but a lot of things may go haywire on the operational side.
A few things concerning the passengers are now already put in order, as they should have been right at the opening date. Now the arriving pax can reach the parking lot and to the taxi stands, when they leave the terminal through the Arrivals Hall: finally the usual practice started after 2+ months (Previously all arriving pax had to climb up to the Departures Hall, to get transportation...) . They call the Arrivals Floor, "The Plaza Floor" in IGA terminology. Baggage trolleys are now available at the baggage delivery halls. If the arriving pax want to take the AirIst or Municipality busses, they have to go down one floor where the new bus stands are relocated. Most of the stores in Domestic Terminal have not opened; in fact quite a few of store areas don't seem to be hired. That's not surprising, as we have been hearing about very high rental fees/terms, imposed by IGA. And who can really earn money on these stores in the Domestic Terminal side; where even the F & B ones may hopefully break even.