Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

For information - anyone travelling Ercan/Stansted as 1/6/17

New security checks implemented as of 1/6/17

http://www.lgcnews.com/uk-authorities-i ... om-turkey/

Effectively this will mean disembarking from the aircraft and undergoing security checks at two airports in Turkey (see the link for further details)

Oh blimey, it's a long enough flaming journey as it is. On principal I've never flown via Larnaca but this is stretching my resolve, that's for sure!

Sophie, we used to do Pegasus (not keen on staff) but I didn't want to change planes or get off. But now I go to Kyrenia not Tatlisu & fly Heathrow, just a bus ride away into Larnaca, it is much better but probably not as cheap.

This is a rule implemented by the UK just like the ipad, laptop rule.

I am not sure there will be enough time to get through passport control, security and back on the plane. It once took me one and a half hours at Sab Gok just to get through passport control. Never used the South, but will certainly look seriously now.

Just had a look, tried going through the ticket booking process for dates after 1 June. They are saying 'connecting flight details' and the time allowed is now one and half hours from look of things, so not clear if you actually get back on the same plane or a different one, like Turkish Airlines. Problem with Larnaca is the way the talks are (not) going at the moment, that might not be an option in the future.

Just thinking if you have to go through passport control will that mean you have to have a Visa for Turkey just as if you were changing airlines??

sukicat, I wouldn't think so. With Turkish Airlines you have to change planes, but as you are not leaving the airport departure lounge, you don't need a visa.

mrsgee, yes, when you go with Turkish Airlines via Ataturk you do not go through passport control, just the security check before the departure lounge, ergo No Visa needed .
what puzzles me here is the stated requirement to go through passport Control, when I flew TA from Ercan to Sabhir Gucuk and transferred to TA flight to Paris only went through security - normal same airline transfer procedure.

Just travelled with Turkish Airlines and had a change of plane in Istanbul to another Turkish Airline flight. This meant we were in transit so only went through security. We were considering a change of airline which meant we would have to go through passport control, but we were told by the travel agent that once you pass through passport control you need a visa as you are entering Turkey albeit that you are not leaving the airport.

This is not good news for people who need special assistance. I take it the airport will be able to cope?

How does this make a flight from Stansted safer, am I missing something? I always find security very tight in the UK so once I've boarded the flight where am I going to acquire the means at 30,000 ft to bring a plane down?
I have thought for a long time though that Ercan security could do with tightening up a tad.

Yes Sally you are missing something it will make the flights TO Stansted safer! I would not be surprised if they let people still stay on the plane when flying back to Ercan.
A friend flew back to Stansted with Pegasus last week & the guy next to her had his tablet in his bag so much for security.
To be fair to Ercan every single flight is going to Turkey they do not know which passengers are then going on to UK so further security at the Turkish airports is really the only option.

It all may be inconvenient at all airports but it stops people like this. I'm glad the intelligence is there, who knows what this person would have gone on to do.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3485114/h ... -arrested/

ozankoys wrote:Yes Sally you are missing something it will make the flights TO Stansted safer! I would not be surprised if they let people still stay on the plane when flying back to Ercan.
A friend flew back to Stansted with Pegasus last week & the guy next to her had his tablet in his bag so much for security.
To be fair to Ercan every single flight is going to Turkey they do not know which passengers are then going on to UK so further security at the Turkish airports is really the only option.

Hi Ozankoys, just realised I misread the article and now understand it applies to flights originating from Ercan

Sorry to bring this old chestnut up again. I have been told today that you must store iPads in the hold on flights from Stansted and also have to get off the plane at Sabiha and go through security again when travelling on to Ercan? I had previously understood this to be on flights originating from Ercan to Stansted, is this correct? I fly out on the first day of this operating and am dreading the inevitable cock up if true. Hopefully I have been given duff info :]

Why not check with the airline concerned to get accurate information, rather than rely on expat opinion/views? You could then post fact to help other travellers.

It was the norm at one time to give you a boarding pass for Turkey and. Boarding pass from Turkey to UK on booking in at Ercan. An official,would board the plane in Turkey, check the passports and boarding passes and then the other passengers would board. Is that not simple instead of everyone getting off etc. not sure if this is with Pegasus , but anyone who shouldn't be continuing journey is escorted from plane, and we have seen it happen .

tomsteel wrote:Why not check with the airline concerned to get accurate information, rather than rely on expat opinion/views? You could then post fact to help other travellers.

Hi Tommy, to be honest I find speaking to Pegasus a pain in the bum but if all else fails I will gird my loins and give it a bash.

tomsteel wrote:Why not check with the airline concerned to get accurate information, rather than rely on expat opinion/views? You could then post fact to help other travellers.

This is an email from Pegasus sent recently:

==========================================================================================


Thank you for writing to us. In response to your enquiry, we kindly inform you that according to information we received from the authorities the passengers of the mentioned route (outbound and inbound) will need to disembark the plane for the security check even if the very same plane departs from Istanbul (also stopover can be in Izmir) to the final destination.

Sincerely,
Pegasus Airlines Guest Relations

===========================================================================================

Rang Pegasus today after receiving a garbled message from them in the early hours of the morning. I could not understand the message at all as it was in Turklish! Waited an age to speak with their UK call centre and was told our outbound flight on 1st June was cancelled. The conversation went something like this;

Me: Ok, what flights can you offer us.
PGS: Sorry?
Me: What Available flight can you change us to?
PGS: Silence
Me: Hello?
PGS: Yes yes
Me: What Available flight can you change us to?
PGS: one moment. (Wait) we have the 00.45 available.
Me: But that's the flight we are booked on??
PGS: Oh!
Me: Is the flight cancelled or not?
PGS: It has been confirmed. Please call us again tomorrow to confirm!!

After spending yonks on the phone we are none the wiser. We have also asked about disembarking the plane when landing at Sabiha for both outbound and inbound and were told that you do not leave the plane on either leg of the journey. I think the bloke doesn't know what he is talking about. We will try PGS again later and hopefully get through to someone who knows what they are talking about. In the meantime we have tried checking in on time from the email link they just sent and surprise surprise it just say error!

Arrived on the 1st June via PEGASUS. Did not have to get off at Sabiha but strangely they took all bags off? Onboard they checked our boarding passes 3 times and clearly something did not tally and this resulted in 4 people being asked to get off. Apparently these people had bought cheaper tickets that involved a stop over and change of flight. Total time on the ground was around 90 minutes. I spoke with a couple yesterday who had just arrived and they said they all had to get off and were rushed through security in an effort to get back on board and get away on the allotted slot.
I still do not understand how you can under go rigorous security at Stansted fly at 30,000 feet to an airport and suddenly become a security risk and need to be checked again?

always used this route , but this is the final straw for us , Larnaca flights have become more reasonable so we are going that way for the near future ,perhaps in a while common sense will prevail and things will change .

Could someone let me know if people requiring special assistance have this waiting for them in Turkey? It's bad enough for fit and able people but must be a nightmare for those with mobility problems and small children.