bluemocha

Hey there, quick question guys/gals.
Have a chance to try out their business product in several months. Once I landed at IST, can I go to the lounge and grab some food before heading off to hotel? Or is this something you can do only when departinf from IST(assumed flying bus-class)? Plan to sightseeing for couple days in the city.
thanks.

PVDtoDEL

No, to access the lounge requires a departing boarding pass for the same day.

However, if you are arriving in longhaul business class in the morning, you can access the arrivals lounge.

bluemocha

I see. My flight plans to arrive at about 5pm. Oh well, i'll have to try their famous lounge another time.
Thanks.

docbert

Are you visiting IST, or connecting?

If you're connecting, even if your next flight is the next day, then you can still access the lounge. You'll potentially have to go through security (depending on where your inbound flight is coming from), and getting back out through immigration is a bit of a maze, but you will be able to access the lounge without issue.

I don't know exactly what the criteria is, but it's definitely not "same day". I've accessed the lounge on multiple occasions with overnight connections, including one that was around 20 hours long (entering the lounge at about 8pm if I recall using the boarding pass for a flight that left the following afternoon). The automatic gates happily accepted my boarding pass. My guess is it's "within 24 hours", but that's only a guess.

tobiashenry

I once had a connecting flight via IST with TK. I was trying different boarding passes as I was guesting my parents who dont have status with TK. I was able to enter with the landing boarding pass. Worth a try. Not sure if it is because I have onwards flights with TK.

tobiashenry

Plus, it was allowed by the gate. Instead of the gate agent. You can always try

shuly

You may have a problem to even reach the lounge. If your arrival requires going through transfer security, there will be personnel there who will request to see your onward boarding pass. Having said that, arrivals from the US are usually "clean", meaning you do not have to go through security and thus can proceed directly to the lounge. In which case I concur with the views above: it is probably not allowed but it's worth trying.

Shuly

bluemocha

Thanks, guys. That's good to know. I don't have a connecting flight so if the lounge is easily accessible after I pick up my baggage, I may just give it a try just for the heck of it. If not, it'll just be a lesson learned.

SK AAR

As stated above the airside lounge will not be accessible for you.

You can try the TK arrivals lounge (turn right after you leave the luggage belts and clearing customs) but IMO not worth it - I would proceed straight to you hotel and grab some Turkish food in the city (it is great and not expensive).

docbert

The arrivals lounge is only open mornings (through to about 1pm if I recall), so is not accessible for a 5pm arrival.

shuly

I didn't realize you were checing luggage. In that case, forget about the lounge.

Shuly

Granite64

They don't enforce this, I came in from AMS last year and flew to IAD the next day; decided to get a bite to eat and entered the lounge without any trouble.

ISTFlyer

PVDtoDEL meant that you need to have valid boarding pass for the following 24 hours ( not a calendar day ). Otherwise while arriving IST, you are directed to the arrivals hall. There is no access to the lounge nor the departure hall for passengers without a valid boarding pass.

Granite64

I guess I interpreted 'same day' wrong

ibmman69

This was not my experience on two flight from JFK to IST last year.