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
#541
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sao Paulo
Programs: Mileage Plus, BA Executive Club, HH Diamond, A3 Gold, ALL Gold
Posts: 210
Which Hotel
Hi everyone, it seems that after some entry change rules my upcoming trip will be able to benefit from the transfer hotel.
as we are flying business class I saw the wiki with the Renaissance Polat, however, after searching I realized there are two Renaissance Polats:
Renaissance Polat Istanbul Bosphorus
Renaissance Polat Istanbul (by the Aegean Sea).
Would anyone be able to tell me which is mos
commonly used?
Thanks a lot!
as we are flying business class I saw the wiki with the Renaissance Polat, however, after searching I realized there are two Renaissance Polats:
Renaissance Polat Istanbul Bosphorus
Renaissance Polat Istanbul (by the Aegean Sea).
Would anyone be able to tell me which is mos
commonly used?
Thanks a lot!
#542
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
Hi everyone, it seems that after some entry change rules my upcoming trip will be able to benefit from the transfer hotel.
as we are flying business class I saw the wiki with the Renaissance Polat, however, after searching I realized there are two Renaissance Polats:
Renaissance Polat Istanbul Bosphorus
Renaissance Polat Istanbul (by the Aegean Sea).
Would anyone be able to tell me which is mos
commonly used?
Thanks a lot!
as we are flying business class I saw the wiki with the Renaissance Polat, however, after searching I realized there are two Renaissance Polats:
Renaissance Polat Istanbul Bosphorus
Renaissance Polat Istanbul (by the Aegean Sea).
Would anyone be able to tell me which is mos
commonly used?
Thanks a lot!
The Aegean sea has nothing to do with Istanbul.
#543
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sao Paulo
Programs: Mileage Plus, BA Executive Club, HH Diamond, A3 Gold, ALL Gold
Posts: 210
Great, thanks for the response and for the geography addition! The Aegean Sea is actually connected to the Marmara Sea by the Dardanelles, right?! Hope Ive learned and once again, thanks ISTFlyer
#544
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
Yes, you are correct in the part that the Aegean Sea is connected to the Marmara Sea by the Dardanelles.
#545
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
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?
#547
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: AF FlyingBlue Gold and AZ FrecciaAlata for ST, O6 Amigo for *A. Formerly AB Gold and TK Elite
Posts: 16
Absolutely against 1hr connection before transatlantic - unless one had nerves of steel and good personal practice in collecting evidences and then pressing charges against airlines. First, not sure if 1hrs connection OK for extra security and visa checks usual for US-destined flights. Second, TK have habit to delay long haul flights (for hour or so) for collect connecting passengers from delayed flights, without showing that on the tables. So its "rush, you still have time they will wait!" but that is unofficially. And that is stress. Third, it could end with answer "No, you had enough time for reach gate despite of delay of first leg - your mistake, common rules charges applied" and fight for your rights. Luckily new IST have carts and shortcuts service and lot of attendants, its much much much easier than running 15 minutes into unknown heading for longhaul gates 20x in old airport. And finally I definitely prefer to relaxe, hidratate body well and take a shower before transatlantic and avoiding short intervals like 1-2 hours between landing and next takeoff. Witnessed pressure crysis and other unpleasant effects with young healthy people after such exersizes...
Last edited by Plastipups; Dec 9, 2021 at 3:32 am
#548
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: EK Gold, TK Elite, Marriott Rewards, Global Entry, MileagePlus
Posts: 264
Route is VNO>IST>IAD. There is a flight that would create 1 hour connection but I don't see it ever being offered. Contacted the layover hotel desk and they claim I don't qualify because of this shorter connection being available. I've replied back and we will see what they come back with...but has anyone experienced this before?
TK Response:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Unfortunately your connection is not eligible for accommodation service. This service is not applicable when there is a shorter connection available within the time frame mentioned above. There is a shorter one below,18DEC SAT 1000 VNO - IAD WASHINGTON.DC.US NTE
1 VNO IST 18-1110 18-1445 CDZKJIRYBMAH TK1410 N78 0E
2 IST IAD 18-1545 18-1855 CDZKIRYBMAHS TK 007 77B 0E 504
CTY TML ARR DEP GRND AIR CABINS C Y
VNO - 1110 - 02.35
IST 1445 TOTAL TIME VNOIST 2.35
IST CONNECTING TIME 1.00
CTY TML ARR DEP GRND AIR CABINS C Y
IST - 1545 - 11.10
IAD 1855 TOTAL TIME ISTIAD 11.10
TOTAL ELAPSED TRAVELLING TIME VNOIAD 14.45
Edit: I see that it is bookable on other dates so must just be sold out I guess we will try our luck with the sleeping rooms in the lounge.
Last edited by vytas315; Dec 15, 2021 at 1:36 am
#549
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Stopover Length?
Hi, I haven't been able to find this info specifically. Is there a limit to the stopover length? For example, if I'm flying CAI-JFK via Istanbul on Turkish, can I stop in Istanbul for 7 days? I'm not concerned about the free nights, just wondering if this is possible to do one ONE award ticket, or if I'd have to make a separate booking. Thanks!
#550
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
Hi, I haven't been able to find this info specifically. Is there a limit to the stopover length? For example, if I'm flying CAI-JFK via Istanbul on Turkish, can I stop in Istanbul for 7 days? I'm not concerned about the free nights, just wondering if this is possible to do one ONE award ticket, or if I'd have to make a separate booking. Thanks!
#551
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,843
Hi, I haven't been able to find this info specifically. Is there a limit to the stopover length? For example, if I'm flying CAI-JFK via Istanbul on Turkish, can I stop in Istanbul for 7 days? I'm not concerned about the free nights, just wondering if this is possible to do one ONE award ticket, or if I'd have to make a separate booking. Thanks!
#554
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite Plus, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
Thanks! Have a 12 hr layover, is it easy to get a room, then return back and check in for my flight? With covid testing requiremetns, do I need a test (will have one from boarding the flight from LA to Istanbul, and retake a test again to board my other flight out of Istanbul?