Jul 27, 2021, 5:36 am
Last edit by: starflyergold
This thread is strictly for information and experience sharing of the COVID-testing facilities at IST, it is NOT for any broader theorising about PCR or other tests' effectiveness or their limitations, COVID conspiracies or the like. Any posts falling into the latter category will be summarily deleted. Please familiarise yourself with the FT Rules https://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules#stayontopic before posting. Repeated violations will be dealt with in line with the FT rules.
starflyergold
TK forum moderator
starflyergold
TK forum moderator
Covid PCR Test at IST Airport
Dec 27, 2020, 7:55 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Have TK sent out any emails about the PCR test requirement? I have not received anything. We are not due to fly through until the 3rd and know about the issue from FT. I think there will be a lot of denied boarding for the 03:35 TK371 flight out of here on the 30th. Unless people here go for the PCR test tomorrow morning and prey, they will not get the result in time.
Dec 28, 2020, 4:01 am
#93
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Dec 29, 2020, 2:55 pm
#95
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Dec 30, 2020, 9:55 am
#97
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Dec 30, 2020, 1:00 pm
#98
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It's up to you to determine when to go or not. There could be no wait and your results could come in 2 hours, there could be a long wait and you might need to wait for your results for 8-10 hours. It's safer to go earlier as possible.
Jan 2, 2021, 2:49 am
#99
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
Thanks for your answers. Am a bit confused now: I did read the TK site again carefully and it says: passengers arriving to Turkey from abroad are required to have taken a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours prior to their scheduled flight departure as of December 30, 2020 (at midnight) in the country of departure. What does in the country of departure mean here? I will take the PRC test in Milan & then fly to Istanbul from Zurich the day afterwards. You see any issues here?
Jan 2, 2021, 3:17 am
#101
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Thanks for your answers. Am a bit confused now: I did read the TK site again carefully and it says: passengers arriving to Turkey from abroad are required to have taken a PCR test with a negative result within 72 hours prior to their scheduled flight departure as of December 30, 2020 (at midnight) in the country of departure. What does in the country of departure mean here? I will take the PRC test in Milan & then fly to Istanbul from Zurich the day afterwards. You see any issues here?
You could take the test in Italy and fly from Switzerland to Turkey, there is no issue with that.
However, a reminder that if your MIL-ZRH and ZRH-IST tickets are on separate tickets, the sample must be taken at most 72h before the ZRH-IST flight; I would highly suggest not to risk it as outsourced TK staff at ZRH might deny boarding.
Jan 2, 2021, 3:46 am
#102
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
The term "country of departure" is used as an alternative world as the local time of the departure airport.
You could take the test in Italy and fly from Switzerland to Turkey, there is no issue with that.
However, a reminder that if your MIL-ZRH and ZRH-IST tickets are on separate tickets, the sample must be taken at most 72h before the ZRH-IST flight; I would highly suggest not to risk it as outsourced TK staff at ZRH might deny boarding.
You could take the test in Italy and fly from Switzerland to Turkey, there is no issue with that.
However, a reminder that if your MIL-ZRH and ZRH-IST tickets are on separate tickets, the sample must be taken at most 72h before the ZRH-IST flight; I would highly suggest not to risk it as outsourced TK staff at ZRH might deny boarding.
Jan 2, 2021, 2:31 pm
#103
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
Do you / does anyone have any experience with (average) waiting times to take the PRC Covid-19 test at Sabina Gokcen airport instead?
Jan 2, 2021, 3:28 pm
#104
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Just be sure that the test sample is collected at most 72 hours before your departure out of your ZRH-IST flight then. That should be your only concern.
Jan 3, 2021, 11:22 am
#105
Join Date: Mar 2020
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Posts: 127
Chose SAW 2 times.because testing is so convenient - arrivals level - waiting time between 5 and 20 minutes. They sort of guarantee tests results within 4 hours. First question you will be asked about departure time of your flight... My test results were in in less than 2 hours. However, picked up results next morning , stayed overnight near SAW.