Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Has anyone flown Manchester/Istanbul/Ercan recently? Sad I know, but have been monitoring departures recently and am amazed how many are leaving very late, making it impossible for passengers to arrive in Istanbul in time to catch their onward flight to Ercan. We're flying in a couple of weeks would appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this route recently.

I came back a week ago. Yes it was 45 minutes late leaving Manchester and a rush to get to the departure gate in Istanbul on time as it was a good 15 minute walk from one end of the terminal to the other. One thing I did not have to do though was go through security at Istanbul, sometimes you do and sometimes you don't!

No use worrying as TA would have to put you on the next flight out to Ercan IF you were unfortunately too late.

Good luck travelling.

Thanks Rubyroo. Will post feedback after our flights.

Out of interest - my mate flew out of Birmingham with TA today 35 mins late - arrived in Istanbul smack on the ETA time as it should be. They must factor in lots of spare or they have some kind of "Turbo Boost" on some of these aircraft - lol.

W e flew from Manchester to Istanbul and as it was October 2016 the weather had been bad in Ins bul and we had to wait a slot to land so had to circle for almost 35minuteand therfore missed ou hr connection to Ecran. We had to hand in our passport to an office and eventually after two hours we had to .pay for a visa 20 pounds to enable us to leave the airport and go through passport control and then was taken by minbus to a hotel for the night.When we arrived at the hotel their was a long wait has they only had two people on reception and by the time we got our bedroom key it was 3am in the mornin We got breakfast next morning and then a mini bus took us back to the airport at 10am for our flight at 12.30. As we were only go on holiday for a week it spoilt our holiday and since the we have flown to Larnaca by Jet 2. We never received no compensation for having to purchase a visa and we were totally ignored even after several phone calls to Turkish Airlines.

Same problem from Edinburgh, last couple of years? What is going on?

Oh dear, not boding well. Today's flight was just short of two hours late departing. Have to expect the worst and hope for the best! Larnaca here we come!

We have always used TA from Manchester and never had a problem but this year in December the price was £580 for 2 of us, checked out Liverpool to Larnaca with EasyJet 12th Dec to 6th March £245 for 2, extra leg room 60kg luggage included.

Wow, thanks woodspeckie, will def bear that in mind if we come a cropper with TA. Been flying with them twice a year for a while. Had a few near misses over the years and one complete miss, also sons lost luggage that didn't turn up for two weeks, by which time he had flown back to UK. Last chance TA, goof up this time and we are x customers.

Until my flight back last week I have never had a problem with TA, listening to all the remarks I hope they get their act back in gear as I like flying with them and it does not bother me changing in Istanbul.

One disappointment was the food last week. On the lunchtime flight from Manchester we had Scrambled eggs with a quarter of some toasted sandwich, not a choice of a meal which is usually what is on offer.

Travelled yesterday morning from Manchester, the flight was supposed to be 15mins behind schedule but due to some further issues, the delay was more like an hour. I told them at the gate in Manchester that I inly had 1 hour 25 between flights. After a telephone call, he told me that Istanbul are aware of the delay in Manchester and the connecting flight would be held. Apparently this was because 23 people would be making this connection. I've never ever needed to go through security again, just showed my boarding pass when following transit so no issues there. Just after this point a member of the airport staff was shouting out Ercan gate 712, obviously trying to reduce the time that this plane was to be held back for. No problem here and the flight that was supposed to leave around 6.25pmdeparted just after 7pm.

Together with TA's sometimes crazy prices, they are cutting costs as much as possible. You never get offered Turkish delight anymore whilst waiting for take off- no big deal really tho. I prebook a vegetarian meal and really it wasn't enough to feed a mouse, I've always thought that TA's meals were ok but not anymore. On arrival in Ercan I was starving, told my wife that next time I'll also be taking my own food or get something in Manchester.

Thanks for the update finchy, will now take extra sustenance for my TA Flight next week.

Thanks for update and feedback Finchy, really helpful. We fly out 23rd hope any delay is minimal and if need be the Ercan flight waits for us.

Forget it, go to Larnaca, at least it's only 4 hrs 15, no food needed !

how do we get turkish airlines to read these type of conversations?

15:55 – 22:10
Edinburgh (EDI) – Istanbul (IST)
Turkish 1346 · Boeing 737
Average legroom (76 cm)
Often delayed by 30+ min

just found this on the google flight search facility- if you hover over the "often delayed by 30 + minutes " it says delayed 23 % of the time if you do the same for manchester it says 22% of the time

I fly Turkish through IST at least twice a month and always go through Security (not customs or immigration) and seldom have a problem with delays. Delays can happen on all flights, even those going through Larnaca believe it or not. Fly to ECN and support the Turkish Cypriots, not the GCs who will effectively try to block the lifting of embargoes.

Well said Jonnie I have lived here over 30 years and never flown and do not anticipate flying from Larnaca .
What would people have done if the boarders hadnt opened .Maybe they wouldnt have come here However they have and like you Ibelieve they should support Ercan flights delays or not .

Jonnie I understand where you are coming from, after 15 years flying into Ercan (until recently) I thought I was supporting the Turkish Cypriots, after all these years, they actually don' care, it's business and now they are suffering, because Pegasus and Turkish continue to charge extortionate prices. Example, recent, Blue air, Birmingham to Larnaca, social hours, £72, Turkish £370 ! Flight with Turkish, change at Ataturk, always a problem, flight time 7 hours, Blue air 4hrs 10 mins, free food. Turkish, they just run out, they may offer you a sandwich. All the best if you want to put up with it, don't even mention Pegasus. By the way all the airlines have a look at this forum !

I just did a check.

THY to LGW or LHR 182 Euro (163 GBP) 40Kgs, drinks and food on board

Cobaltair/Easyjet or Cobalt/Cobalt or Cobalt/Blueair with 1 change 140 GBP. I should imagine that includes no luggage?


I go through IST twice a month, never missed a flight, never lost my luggage. THY every time for me.

Who wants to go to Heathrow, you must have shares in THY !

Sorry you get 30K with Blue air !

Manchester - Ercan = change in Turkey = total flight time ? plus ~50min transfer to Karsiyaka.... (we won't even start talking about cost....)
Manchester - Larnaca = direct = ~5hrs plus 1h30m transfer to Karsiyaka...... (fairly) reasonable prices...
Time/ease of travel/cost? Is there any logical, SANE, justification for me to choose Ercan?
The second that there are direct flights to/from Ercan at a reasonable cost (i.e. not exorbitantly more than Larnaca!), that will be my choice - I have done one trip to the UK from Ercan with a change at Istanbul which went smoothly, so I would like to travel that way (without changes) - but.......
Please scrap the stupid, biased embargo and introduce direct flights.....
(but then this relatively peaceful side might get swamped.... )

jofra, you asked

...Is there any logical, SANE, justification for me to choose Ercan?...

- and then went on to say

Please scrap the stupid, biased embargo and introduce direct flights...

thereby answering your own question! - because by using Larnaca instead of Ercan, you are in fact supporting the "stupid, biased embargo".

I'm not saying that I invariably use Ercan in preference to Larnaca; like most people, I suffer from a degree of selfishness, self interest (an unhealthy interest in the level of my bank balance ) and a desire to minimise my own personal inconvenience, all short-term considerations, of course...

The "logical, SANE" thing for me to do would be to take the long-term view, and to refuse to support the regime in the South in any way at all, either by using their airports, or their supermarkets, and to try to persuade everyone that I know to do the same, but Human Nature being what it is, that just ain't gonna happen, is it?

Does that answer your question?

i fly Turkish Airlines almost exclusively for work (not often to UK i must add) and it is not always the airlines fault that a departure is late (especially out of UK), it is airport traffic control. my general rule of thumb - since i always transit Istanbul Ataturk, is that if the connection in IST is 75 min or less, then a 30 min departure delay is almost always absorbed into the planned flight time., and I'm happy not to stress out in transit. Any later and it can be an issue. In Istanbul airport - it is 5% or less times that you will avoid security check. most people may not be aware that there are two security areas in the main concourse and the one further to the right (with your back to the aircraft gates) is often easier and much quieter. This can also help you get to your next gate quicker - if you know your way around the airport. Turkish airlines are quite a delight to fly with and i have almost never had cause for complaint over the past 7 years, flying at least 30 flights a year or more. Only ever had delayed baggage twice and never lost baggage also.

Keithcaley I found your reply to Jofra, insulting and condescending, and actually wrong. You may wish to be, the' voice of reason' but Jofra was making a reasonable point which you chose to in effect to rubbish. Having read some of your entries on this forum, you remind me a bit of Tony Blair, just get off your ego and let others express their views, without sardonic comment.

By using Larnaca at least you are actually helping the local taxi drivers in the North, so can't see this argument about 'wont use Larnaca' because its on the side of the GC and putting money in their pockets ...

Lezana, I suspect you are with THY, what you are saying may have a different interpretation !

Mufflet wrote:Keithcaley I found your reply to Jofra, insulting and condescending, and actually wrong. You may wish to be, the' voice of reason' but Jofra was making a reasonable point which you chose to in effect to rubbish. Having read some of your entries on this forum, you remind me a bit of Tony Blair, just get off your ego and let others express their views, without sardonic comment.

Mufflet, just because I explain my point of view in detail, point-by-point, doesn't make it condescending, or insulting or sardonic - I was merely expressing my own opinion in a logical manner - in response to a question posed by jofra. As the post was in answer to the question asked by jofra, I would think that it is up to jofra to respond, not you...

All members are free to express their own opinion, within the rules of the forum, I just can't understand why you think that I should not be allowed to express mine!

As has been said to you before - "If you don't like it, then don't read it!" - and don't launch personal attacks on other posters!!

Mufflet,
Thanks for your "defence" of me, but actually I personally did not consider Keith's reply to be insulting or condescending in any way - he does raise valid points relative to what information I provided. For example - I don't know where Keith travels to/from in the UK; I (and several of my Cyprus neighbours) travel from the north of England - try as we may, we cannot find air fares anywhere near as low as those that seem to exist in the south-east of England - hence my comment regarding airline costs - BUT I did not mention this point! The TC friends who introduced us to this lovely place advised us that Larnaca is the better choice, and after the one Ercan/change at Ankara trip, we concurred (that they said 'because of my "age and infirmity"' was strongly rebutted!).
I would maintain that I am reluctantly complying with/acknowledging the "stupid, biased embargo" - but support? Definitely not (IMO); the only thing I use in the south is their airport - to pass through; I don't even buy anything at the airport! I joined Embargoed two or three years ago, I (and my OH) have signed Soner's petition and added it to Facebook....

Geroff,
I like your comment re. helping taxi drivers in the north - are you by any chance a creator/analyst of fine print clauses or a lawyer? Tiny details like this are the way claims/cases are won or lost....

Keith,
all I can say is keep up the good work - I have rarely found anything that I disagreed with in your comments, and your advice to everybody has helped many on this forum.

jofra, I too found the 'taxi ' point a valid counterthrust! - at least, enough for it to be entered on one side of the debit/credit account!

The whole situation is lamentable, and we all make our own choices, driven by our own circumstances - as I made clear, I don't pretend that mine are any more honourable or credit-worthy than anyone else's, but I couldn't resist answering your direct question!

It doesn't do any of us any harm to analyse the extent of our 'blind spots' - i.e. those things that we would rather not think about because it suits us not to do so - and that comment is most definitely not directed at you!

...and if you had never found anything to disagree with, then I would say that -

a) I would have been disappointed, and

b) You weren't looking hard enough!

im not with THY haha ... for a start im english through and through, and ex-British Army.. i just work overseas thats all.

Jofra, are you saying that the taxi drivers from the North are picking up passengers which is illegal from the South?

Not sure what you are trying to say ...

geroff wrote:Jofra, are you saying that the taxi drivers from the North are picking up passengers which is illegal from the South?

Not sure what you are trying to say ...

?? Errr - you mentioned the taxi drivers..... Now I'm not sure what you're trying to say....
Incidentally, is it illegal? I've never seen or heard any comments regarding this, but I suppose (given the antipathy) there may well be some such statute on the books in the South....even if it's never (or rarely?) enforced...