Apr 4, 2019, 6:36 pm
Last edit by: Lefly
This thread is created for passengers with long connections in Istanbul Airport for TK.
PLEASE READ THIS WIKI CAREFULLY (especially the hotel fine print) before posting questions.
TRANSIT HOTEL (different from Stopover hotel):
TK will provide a free hotel to international transfer passengers at IST if:
- Economy Class ticket: connecting time is 12 hours or longer
- Business Class ticket: connecting time is 9 hours or longer
AND this connection must be the shortest possible option. If there is a 3-hour layover available, but you choose the 13-hour one, you are not eligible for the free transit hotel. This also applies if the shorter connection is fully booked: you still won't get the free hotel if there is a theoretical, but sold out, shorter connection.
If you need a visa to enter Turkey, you need to secure it at your own expense.
TK have a pool of hotels that they contract with, it is unfortunately not possible to know which hotel you'll end up at until you are sitting on the bus. Business class passengeres generally get five star hotels and Economy Class passengers get four star hotels. See the list on the bottom of this wiki for usual locations.
Hotel Desk E-Mail Adress: [email protected] - it's generally not necessary to email them, you can just show up
click here for Hotel Desk location
Click here for full Transit Hotel terms/conditions
STOPOVER HOTEL (different from Transit Hotel):
If you are on a round-trip ticket to-from certain cities/countries (click here for the list) and choose a connection longer than 20 hours, TK will provide one night at a four star hotel for Economy Class tickets and two nights at a five star hotel for Business Class tickets (three nights if traveling to/from USA).
At least 72 hours before your first flight, you must send an e-mail to the address that corresponds to your departure point on the list on this page (click here) and include your
full name
reservation code (PNR) or ticket number
date range for the anticipated accommodation
preferred room type (single, double or triple)
telephone and e-mail address
Visas and transfer to/from the airport are not covered by TK.
Click here for eligible origins/destinations and FAQ
TOURISTANBUL:
If you are on an international connection through IST and your connection time is 6-24 hours, you can take a free guided city tour. You must arrive at the hotel desk at least 30 minutes before the tours are scheduled to depart. After clearing immigration and leaving the baggage claim hall, turn right and go to the hotel desk (for location click here).
Touristanbul schedule and FAQ can be found here.
SLEEPING ROOMS:
Business Class and Elite Plus passengers on connections between 4 hours and 9 hours can get a private sleeping room at the M&S and Business lounges. One of the flights must be longer than eight hours and both need to be on TK, codeshare flights are excluded.
-----------------
Please list the hotel that you were provided, travel class, the Miles&Smiles or Star Alliance status of the passenger, the date, your username below and the post # that you have shared in the thread ( you could find the number at the top right side of your posts ) to create a database of passenger experiences.
For example: XXXXXXX Hotel, Business Class, M&S Elite, DD/MM/YYYY, ISTFlyer, #1
April 2019:
Renaissance Polat (Atatürk Airport), Business Class, M&S ELPL, reported by dabee69 in post #54
Renaissance Polat (Atatürk Airport), Business Class, TG*G, reported by bmi_Barry in post #79
May 2019:
Green Park Hotel ( Pendik ), IRROPS, reported by zing2istanbul in (post #753 in the TK ops from IST thread)
Crowne Plaza Aqua Florya, Business Class, TG*G, reported by bmi_Barry in post #91
June 2019:
Westside Arjaan by Rotana, Business Class, M&S ELPL, reported by finlandokie in post #169
PLEASE READ THIS WIKI CAREFULLY (especially the hotel fine print) before posting questions.
TRANSIT HOTEL (different from Stopover hotel):
TK will provide a free hotel to international transfer passengers at IST if:
- Economy Class ticket: connecting time is 12 hours or longer
- Business Class ticket: connecting time is 9 hours or longer
AND this connection must be the shortest possible option. If there is a 3-hour layover available, but you choose the 13-hour one, you are not eligible for the free transit hotel. This also applies if the shorter connection is fully booked: you still won't get the free hotel if there is a theoretical, but sold out, shorter connection.
If you need a visa to enter Turkey, you need to secure it at your own expense.
TK have a pool of hotels that they contract with, it is unfortunately not possible to know which hotel you'll end up at until you are sitting on the bus. Business class passengeres generally get five star hotels and Economy Class passengers get four star hotels. See the list on the bottom of this wiki for usual locations.
Hotel Desk E-Mail Adress: [email protected] - it's generally not necessary to email them, you can just show up
click here for Hotel Desk location
Click here for full Transit Hotel terms/conditions
STOPOVER HOTEL (different from Transit Hotel):
If you are on a round-trip ticket to-from certain cities/countries (click here for the list) and choose a connection longer than 20 hours, TK will provide one night at a four star hotel for Economy Class tickets and two nights at a five star hotel for Business Class tickets (three nights if traveling to/from USA).
At least 72 hours before your first flight, you must send an e-mail to the address that corresponds to your departure point on the list on this page (click here) and include your
full name
reservation code (PNR) or ticket number
date range for the anticipated accommodation
preferred room type (single, double or triple)
telephone and e-mail address
Visas and transfer to/from the airport are not covered by TK.
Click here for eligible origins/destinations and FAQ
TOURISTANBUL:
If you are on an international connection through IST and your connection time is 6-24 hours, you can take a free guided city tour. You must arrive at the hotel desk at least 30 minutes before the tours are scheduled to depart. After clearing immigration and leaving the baggage claim hall, turn right and go to the hotel desk (for location click here).
Touristanbul schedule and FAQ can be found here.
SLEEPING ROOMS:
Business Class and Elite Plus passengers on connections between 4 hours and 9 hours can get a private sleeping room at the M&S and Business lounges. One of the flights must be longer than eight hours and both need to be on TK, codeshare flights are excluded.
-----------------
Please list the hotel that you were provided, travel class, the Miles&Smiles or Star Alliance status of the passenger, the date, your username below and the post # that you have shared in the thread ( you could find the number at the top right side of your posts ) to create a database of passenger experiences.
For example: XXXXXXX Hotel, Business Class, M&S Elite, DD/MM/YYYY, ISTFlyer, #1
April 2019:
Renaissance Polat (Atatürk Airport), Business Class, M&S ELPL, reported by dabee69 in post #54
Renaissance Polat (Atatürk Airport), Business Class, TG*G, reported by bmi_Barry in post #79
May 2019:
Green Park Hotel ( Pendik ), IRROPS, reported by zing2istanbul in (post #753 in the TK ops from IST thread)
Crowne Plaza Aqua Florya, Business Class, TG*G, reported by bmi_Barry in post #91
June 2019:
Westside Arjaan by Rotana, Business Class, M&S ELPL, reported by finlandokie in post #169
August 2019:
Akgun Istanbul, economy class, per post 217
November 2019:
Polat/Renaissance, business-class E+ post 285 (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31699696-post285.html)
December 2019:
Polat/Renaissance again, business-class E+ post 285
December 2020:
Polat Renaissance, business class E+
January 2021:
Polat Renaissance, business class (No Status)
November 2021:
Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport, economy class (No Status), #537
May 2022 Stopover hotelPolat/Renaissance again, business-class E+ post 285
December 2020:
Polat Renaissance, business class E+
January 2021:
Polat Renaissance, business class (No Status)
November 2021:
Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport, economy class (No Status), #537
Sheraton Istanbul Ataköy Hotel, business E+
May 2022
Westside Arjaan by Rotana, Business,*G, Sandy Hopper
Centro by Rotona (transit hotel), Business, *G, Nacho
Sheraton Istanbul Ataköy Hotel (stopover hotel), business, *G, Nacho
July 2022
Pullman, Business,*G, Sandy Hopper
July 2023
Polat Renaissance, business class, TK-E, iamaho
Sheraton Otel Esenyurt - with dinner included, business class, TK-E, iamaho
September 2023
Pullman, Business, *G, SEA-Flyer
Pullman, Business, no status, SEA-Flyer
LaQuinta by Wyndham, Y E+, DaveS
Sheraton Esenyurt, Business, E+, Jaenks, assigned by my request
October 2023
Ramada Plaza Tekstilkent, Business, TK E, Lefly
TK in IST: Thread #3 - Transit and Stopover Hotel, Touristanbul, Sleeping Rooms
Oct 27, 2021, 5:55 pm
#526
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LAX_AMS_MNL
Programs: AS MVP, AA EXP - 1MM, BAEC BRZ, BVY GLD, Hilton DIA, Hyatt GLB
Posts: 749
So have a J award ticket from NCE to LAX via Istanbul. booked on TK dot com/
Departing NCE @ 11:10am and then on to LAX the next day at 08:25am
The only other flight out of NCE is at 18:25 to connect on the LAX for the next day.
Will I still be able to get a free hotel room?
Another question Im arriving with Singapore Airlines in J into IST with a separate J ticket on TK for a domestic flight. The connection time right now is 80 min. Is this doable? We have luggage.
Departing NCE @ 11:10am and then on to LAX the next day at 08:25am
The only other flight out of NCE is at 18:25 to connect on the LAX for the next day.
Will I still be able to get a free hotel room?
Another question Im arriving with Singapore Airlines in J into IST with a separate J ticket on TK for a domestic flight. The connection time right now is 80 min. Is this doable? We have luggage.
Oct 27, 2021, 11:26 pm
#527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
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
So have a J award ticket from NCE to LAX via Istanbul. booked on TK dot com/
Departing NCE @ 11:10am and then on to LAX the next day at 08:25am
The only other flight out of NCE is at 18:25 to connect on the LAX for the next day.
Will I still be able to get a free hotel room?
Another question Im arriving with Singapore Airlines in J into IST with a separate J ticket on TK for a domestic flight. The connection time right now is 80 min. Is this doable? We have luggage.
Departing NCE @ 11:10am and then on to LAX the next day at 08:25am
The only other flight out of NCE is at 18:25 to connect on the LAX for the next day.
Will I still be able to get a free hotel room?
Another question Im arriving with Singapore Airlines in J into IST with a separate J ticket on TK for a domestic flight. The connection time right now is 80 min. Is this doable? We have luggage.
For the second question, it depends on the SQ agent through checking bags and if the domestic airport that you would fly to has or has not customs facilities. Not all domestic airports have customs facilities so you might need to pick up bags at Istanbul and recheck if this is the case even if the SQ agent manages to through check baggages on their end.
Of course, if the SQ flight is delayed or there are long lines at immigration/transfer security, etc... that would be your problem so if you are connecting to a destination served multiple times per day such as Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, etc... do consider a longer connection.
Oct 28, 2021, 3:22 am
#528
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 5
Unsure if I'm misunderstanding this, but I am looking at a MXP - SAW (Sabiha Gokcen) internal transfer to IST - BOS flight with a 20 hour overnight layover. Do flights that land at SAW also qualify for the transfer hotel or should I book a slightly more expensive ($50) ticket to just fly directly into IST without the internal transfer so I can take advantage of the overnight transfer hotel?
Oct 28, 2021, 4:50 am
#529
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Unsure if I'm misunderstanding this, but I am looking at a MXP - SAW (Sabiha Gokcen) internal transfer to IST - BOS flight with a 20 hour overnight layover. Do flights that land at SAW also qualify for the transfer hotel or should I book a slightly more expensive ($50) ticket to just fly directly into IST without the internal transfer so I can take advantage of the overnight transfer hotel?
That means that once you have ascertained that there's no connection below the limit, you are NOT free to select from the available combination of flights on the basis of convenience or price: if you want free accommodation you're restricted to that shortest connection.
I don't know if airport changes are options that must be or can be included in the assessment. But I know a man who does know
(cue @ISTFlyer 
).but if flying through IST gives you the shortest time on the ground, that is the way to being given hotel accommodation.
Oct 28, 2021, 5:17 am
#530
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
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
Unsure if I'm misunderstanding this, but I am looking at a MXP - SAW (Sabiha Gokcen) internal transfer to IST - BOS flight with a 20 hour overnight layover. Do flights that land at SAW also qualify for the transfer hotel or should I book a slightly more expensive ($50) ticket to just fly directly into IST without the internal transfer so I can take advantage of the overnight transfer hotel?
They are sticklers for the shortest connection rule - so if ALL connections are longer than the qualifying duration, to get the hotel you must still be on the shortest of those connections.
That means that once you have ascertained that there's no connection below the limit, you are NOT free to select from the available combination of flights on the basis of convenience or price: if you want free accommodation you're restricted to that shortest connection.
I don't know if airport changes are options that must be or can be included in the assessment. But I know a man who does know (cue @ISTFlyer )
.but if flying through IST gives you the shortest time on the ground, that is the way to being given hotel accommodation.
That means that once you have ascertained that there's no connection below the limit, you are NOT free to select from the available combination of flights on the basis of convenience or price: if you want free accommodation you're restricted to that shortest connection.
I don't know if airport changes are options that must be or can be included in the assessment. But I know a man who does know
(cue @ISTFlyer ).but if flying through IST gives you the shortest time on the ground, that is the way to being given hotel accommodation.
Also there is no hotel desk at SAW, so even if you arrive at SAW on the shortest possible connection, you would need to make your own way to IST ( either by bus, taxi or a rental car ) on your own expense to go to the hotel desk which is only located at Istanbul Airport. The terms&conditions of the program doesn't state any bullet point for airport changes, however, as I could imagine the shortest IST -> IST transfer is counted as the shortest possible connection.
Oct 28, 2021, 5:35 am
#531
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 5
I'm looking to fly from MXP to BOS on either January 4th of 5th. So by what you two are saying, I would HAVE to buy the ticket with the shortest layover on either day (15h55m on the 4th, 16h45m on the 5th) to get the free hotel? which both also happen to be the most expensive tickets that day LOL
Oct 28, 2021, 6:54 am
#532
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I'm looking to fly from MXP to BOS on either January 4th of 5th. So by what you two are saying, I would HAVE to buy the ticket with the shortest layover on either day (15h55m on the 4th, 16h45m on the 5th) to get the free hotel? which both also happen to be the most expensive tickets that day LOL
Do the maths - you can always fix up your own hotel - Istanbul isn't an expensive city. If you select a convenient and well-priced connection you can probably get a good rest in a comfortable city hotel for EUR60: the HAVAIST bus is around EUR5 each way, taxi considerably more.
Oct 28, 2021, 8:57 am
#533
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LAX_AMS_MNL
Programs: AS MVP, AA EXP - 1MM, BAEC BRZ, BVY GLD, Hilton DIA, Hyatt GLB
Posts: 749
No for the first question, you strictly need to take the shortest possible layover to benefit from the transit hotel.
For the second question, it depends on the SQ agent through checking bags and if the domestic airport that you would fly to has or has not customs facilities. Not all domestic airports have customs facilities so you might need to pick up bags at Istanbul and recheck if this is the case even if the SQ agent manages to through check baggages on their end.
Of course, if the SQ flight is delayed or there are long lines at immigration/transfer security, etc... that would be your problem so if you are connecting to a destination served multiple times per day such as Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, etc... do consider a longer connection.
For the second question, it depends on the SQ agent through checking bags and if the domestic airport that you would fly to has or has not customs facilities. Not all domestic airports have customs facilities so you might need to pick up bags at Istanbul and recheck if this is the case even if the SQ agent manages to through check baggages on their end.
Of course, if the SQ flight is delayed or there are long lines at immigration/transfer security, etc... that would be your problem so if you are connecting to a destination served multiple times per day such as Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, etc... do consider a longer connection.
We booked a paid J ticket so the only thing if we miss it we could probably get on the next flight albeit with fees? (Flights are for June) The next flight to ASR is at 12:50 pm so its close to a 4 hour wait. I understand there's a lounge but will have two kids with us. *Does IST immigration have any special lines for families with children?
So assuming ASR has custom facilities, and SQ arrives in time, is 80 min doable? how is immigration at 8am?
Thanks
Oct 28, 2021, 12:15 pm
#534
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 5
Sorry for another question - I have two choices of flying out of Venice to Boston (I'm fine with either). The shorter one has a 1hr layover in Istanbul, the longer one has a 16hr layover in Istanbul. I'm ok with potentially missing my connecting flight to Boston if my flight from Venice gets delayed, but my understanding is the airline is then obligated to put you on the next flight possible. Would the airlines then provide me with a hotel room in that instance, if I had to stay overnight?
Oct 28, 2021, 5:35 pm
#535
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Sorry for another question - I have two choices of flying out of Venice to Boston (I'm fine with either). The shorter one has a 1hr layover in Istanbul, the longer one has a 16hr layover in Istanbul. I'm ok with potentially missing my connecting flight to Boston if my flight from Venice gets delayed, but my understanding is the airline is then obligated to put you on the next flight possible. Would the airlines then provide me with a hotel room in that instance, if I had to stay overnight?
Oct 28, 2021, 11:33 pm
#536
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Cork, Ireland
Programs: BAEC Gold, TK Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 259
I've missed IST connections twice. TK were helpful, although I had to push just a little to get the solution i wanted. The automatic response was an overnight hotel, but in the end they had no problem re-routing me (via Frankfurt and Lufthansa to get me to Manchester, and Jakarta and Malaysian to get me to Kuala Lumpur). So i reckon you won't have a problem if there's a delay on the first sector of your trip.
Nov 12, 2021, 1:17 pm
#537
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 610
Had a 15h overnight transfer at IST the other day, flying in Y. Got a room at Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport, close by Mall of Istanbul. Perfectly adequate hotel. Took just 30 min between arriving at hotel desk and being on the shuttle to the hotel (~30 min ride). No dinner provided.
My flight out was at 9:10am and I had to take the 5am (!) shuttle from the hotel. Apparently my only other option was paying for my own taxi which I wasn't feeling like this time. With bags checked through, I had 3.5h at the airport which was at least 1.5h too long.
Is there any way to get put on a later shuttle, perhaps request it when arriving at the hotel desk? And what about dinner/breakfast - I see conflicting reports in the thread?
My flight out was at 9:10am and I had to take the 5am (!) shuttle from the hotel. Apparently my only other option was paying for my own taxi which I wasn't feeling like this time. With bags checked through, I had 3.5h at the airport which was at least 1.5h too long.
Is there any way to get put on a later shuttle, perhaps request it when arriving at the hotel desk? And what about dinner/breakfast - I see conflicting reports in the thread?
Nov 12, 2021, 7:08 pm
#538
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
I have been only in other hotel, where the breakfast was provided and as a status quest access to lounge. TK wants to be sure that everyone is arriving to airport enough time before the flight regardless of the morning traffic or any possible accident. Therefore the pickup times is not flexible, but assigned. Use TK shuttle or take the taxi, simple as that.
Nov 13, 2021, 8:00 am
#539
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
My flight out was at 9:10am and I had to take the 5am (!) shuttle from the hotel. Apparently my only other option was paying for my own taxi which I wasn't feeling like this time. With bags checked through, I had 3.5h at the airport which was at least 1.5h too long.
Is there any way to get put on a later shuttle, perhaps request it when arriving at the hotel desk? And what about dinner/breakfast - I see conflicting reports in the thread?
Is there any way to get put on a later shuttle, perhaps request it when arriving at the hotel desk? And what about dinner/breakfast - I see conflicting reports in the thread?
Nov 13, 2021, 8:37 pm
#540
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
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
You could take a taxi or use public transportation options at a later time but catching the flight would be on your own responsibility.