Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Looking for all over reviews on flights from Uk to Ercan via Istanbul ? All comments points much appreciated.

We have used them for years. Almost on time every flight, good leg room, drinks and food all in, pleasant crews. Communication with the company itself though is shocking, no replies to e mails.

Overall a good experience flying with them.

Brilliant, always fly from Birmingham via Istanbul to Ercan with them.

New aircraft, Food, Drink all included and never seem to bother about the weight your carrying.

There is a flight from Gatwick that uses a TK flight code but its an airline called Sun Express, a charter division of Turkish and Lufthansa.. Not as Good.

If you book direct with Turkish they will confirm if it is or not a Turkish Airlines aircraft.

Staff always seem happy, I think this is against company rules with Pegasus.... Sorry all you Pegasus supporters.

Regards

Dave L

Have used Turkish Airlines a few times both from Heathrow and Gatwick via Istanbul to Ercan.

All flights have been on time, clean aircraft. Choice of food on board, free drinks etc. Transfer times between flights have often only been 50mins to 1hr 15mins but have always managed to change aircraft no problem. Even on the short leg from Istanbul to Ercan we got a snack and drink. Good entertainment available and on our last trip had individual consoles - have not had on all flights.

On one occasion we managed to make the transfer but luggage did not (We chose the flight and transfer time was a bit tight at 50mins so knew there could be a possibility luggage may not make it across), but these things happen - luggage arrived next morning. There is often a bit of a walk once the incoming flight lands at Istanbul around to the departure gate for the Ercan flight - you have to go thro security again. If time is really tight we have often been escorted round by TA staff.

Overall a great experience and if you are able to book well in advance the charges are very reasonable. Booked to fly with them next May and will do so for Sept as well.

We fly out with Pegasus in a few weeks (Stansted is closest airport to my Dad who is coming with us and no change of aircraft for him...thats the only reason why) - but TA is our first choice preference.

We have flown TA and agree with everything said, comfiest seats and everything included would fly TA every time. Having said that we fly from Manchester and looking at flights for beginning of October prices are very very expensive ie £1500 for the two of us return!!! We paid £500 return for the two of us last October. Now looking at going from Stansted with Pegasus at just under £500 for the two thats a BIG saving even if we park the car.

Brend

6th to 19th Octber £972 for 2 with Turkish from Manchester

Just found London Gatwick return TA £482 for the two of us Sept 30th -Oct. 22nd Why the big price differance?
Brend

I use TA to fly back to UK for Christmas and new year.
If you book well in advance,it is much cheaper than trying to get a last minute deal.
It is costing me about £220 return to Manchester this Xmas(booked In Feb ) which,given the good service,I think is a bargain.
However,I was checking out prices for my brother in law to come out this October, and I was getting silly prices like £650 return from UK.
Booking well in advance seems to be the way to go as far as I can see.
All in all,in answer to original question,Ithink TA are excellent.

Philoz is spot on. We go back to the UK next March, £252 return each, good value.

Turkish are superb but you must book in advance, like most airlines, to get best deals. Also avoid potential holiday, woodspeckie for example your booking falls around half term in UK and Kurban Bayram 14th - 18th October hence higher price.
Booked about 6 months ago ECN - MAN for first week of October 680TL return. (about £240 at rate at time) which was cheaper than ECN - STN with Pegasus.

We have always tried to use TA as their service and comfort is far superior to other airlines....however, this is mostly due to how few options we have as we fly from Dublin.
However over the past 6 months or so,TA schedules and customer service have taken a serious dip! We now have a 6 hour delay in Istanbul, and also the cheaper TA flights seem to include ridiculous journeys via Ankara or even an airport swap from Ataturk to SG.......which requires baggage pick up and visa. Not really feasible, and I agree with the previous post that it's impossible to get any kind of satisfactory response from emailing customer service
Consequently we're back to Ryanair, Monarch/Pegasus and a greater chance of travelling via Larnaca......plus VERY long journeys

I had to cancel 2 Turkish Airlines flights today, phoned to cancel them at 11am sent e-mail to the Manchester office asking for a confirmation of the cacellation for insurance purposes and by 11.45 I had the confirmation e-mail and notice of a refund of underused taxes the rest I claim from my insurance. The flights for Nov were £513 for 2 now in December £709 for 2 from Manchester.

Hi Woodspeckie, may I ask if you booked direct with TA. As I booked last November for this September with TA via edreams and it wasn't till I had paid that it showed there was a plane change at Istanbul. I immediately emailed edreams that I wanted a no change plane option to which I never received a reply, I managed to get over half refunded through B'card but I will not be going with them again.
I have in the last month received an email in I have no idea what language but from what I can gather it is not only a plane change but airport change. I think I will stick to Pegasus.

Cally - I may be wrong, but I think there is normally a change of flight at Istanbul with TA.

If I am wrong, I am sure someone can put me right.

Kaiserphil - I had only flown with Pegasus and Atlas Air(I think) before so was not aware of plane change. I was annoyed as on the site when I was booking it was not until I had paid that all the details were shown ie change of plane. As we both have dodgy knees going up and down the stairs is a pain so would not have booked if I had known so for us it will be Pegasus.
Thank you for heads up.

cally, you can always book 'Special Assistance' through the airline. I know someone who did this and she said the wheelchair was waiting for her when they arrived at Istanbul and she was transported to the other plane with no hassle at all.

I booked online with TA, after you have chosen your flights the price comes up then the next page shows you the details of the flight, 1hr to change at Istanbul we have never had any trouble with this,you leave the plane walk to transit no steps board plane to Ercan, last time it left early because it was fully boarded. You can request aid at the airport on the website infact some were transferred by electric chairs, choose the type of meal you want from a long list, it is so easy to do yourself, then print the tickets. Drinks both alchol and hot drinks are included.2 hr transfer at Istanbul to Manchester on the way back. You do not have to pick up your luggage at Istanbul. 23kg hold &10kg cabin luggage allowance.
Who are e dreams surely they should have told you about the plane change, you would have been ok. I have knee trouble in fact that is why I have had to cancel the flights as I am having surgery to put right a knee replacement that has slipped out of joint when I tripped..

Thank you for the extra info Woodspeckie, I might look at it again to book direct as the facilities seem good, "edreams" is a booking agent based in Switzerland I think. That is why I was so cross because they did not show there was a plane change until after I had paid. We are not quite geriatrics yet but we both have dodgy knees and can be quite slow on the steps. I printed it all off and after they would not acknowledge my emails I got in touch with B'card, they sympathised with me but after trying for over 4 months they could not get the money back from a Turkish bank but they did reimburse me over 50%.

cally - Having read your posts ,and not knowing from where you are flying from, but you need to know that if you are flying from outside Turkey, you cannot (under normal circumstances) fly direct to the TRNC ,full stop.
I know there are some charters that stop in Istanbul and then continue to TRNC, but I don't think any scheduled airlines will do that.
I think TA and Pegasus are regarded as scheduled,I am sure others will put me right on that If I am wrong.

Turkish Airlines flights from Manchester are scheduled flights., they have always left on time.

Ta are wonderful.
Except the transfers at Istanbul.
A nightmare of misinformation and lack of continuity.
Never again !!!

Is this a problem ??
The change of plane to Ercan ? Has any one experienced missed connections ? Or any other probs ?

If you fly to Manchester generally there is either a 4 hour lay over between flights or one hour. The problem with the one hour is that by the time the plane lands from Manchester, you get on a bus to the terminal, find the security (again) queue up for that, then find your next gate the time flies by.
We do it about 4/5 times a year and have not missed a flight yet, once we did get the flight but our luggage did not. With Turkish Airlines however they do deliver to you home, Atlas jet don't, you have to go to Ercan to collect it!

Never had a problem with the change at Istanbul 1 hr followed the transit signs passport check at the entrance granted there was a queue but had plenty of time then hand luggage check and through to the gate. The best airline we have ever been anywhere with.

We have flown once with TA and loved it. We were late arriving at Istanbul from Manchester but were ushered through and had no problem at all.
By the way price of flights are coming down for end of September, now only £680 for the 2 of us! Looking promising.

Brend

£680!!! I would have a fit paying that price.

We've used Turkish Airlines regularly since 2008. No bad experiences really. Last flight from Istanbul to Manchester in July was great as the two of us had 3 seats to ourselves. We have also used them for trips to Ercan from Muscat, Oman (via Istanbul of course!). Main problem, when flying Economy, is the cost of having food and drink at Ataturk Airport if you are unable to get into one of the lounges.

Mollie thats come down £800 from a week ago!!!
Brend

Flew with Turkish Airlines from Manchester to Ercan via Istanbul(admittedly no choice 3/4 times a year since 1992.always had good food, service,and friendly pleasant staff.Upgraded to Business Class on several occasions at no charge,we did use our Miles and Smiles to upgrade every so often. Apart from the Champers,an extra course and after dinner liquor,there is not a lot of difference,no more leg room.Certainly not worth PAYING the business class charge.I have not been back to the UK for nearly 6 years and at present do not intend to,however I would definitely fly TA if I had to, any time.

Hi Jayceebee

Some family members are flying to Ercan via Istanbul with a 6 hour stopover and as they are flying economy they will have no free access to the lounges. Would you know the cost of the lounges and which would you suggest they go to and what is available once inside. Also are they able to access these lounges from transit because if they have to go outside they would have to get a visa

Many thanks

Naas 26

Cheers for all replies. Looks like a thumbs up for Turkish airlines.

From leaving the plane, i have heard you have to rush ??? What is the actual procedure to get the connection flight to Ercan ?

Just follow the transit signs.

woodspeckie wrote:Turkish Airlines flights from Manchester are scheduled flights., they have always left on time.

Turkish Airlines are good and beat the others hands down but we have missed our flight to Ercan twice because of delay leaving Manchester, if the flight leaves on time it's great but any delay over thirty minutes and you are likely to miss the ongoing flight.

Philoz, been away and just catching up. We fly from Stansted and I know we have to go into Istanbul (or other) but on balance we prefer to stay on the plane and not change. It is good reading everybody's experiences though.

Oh dear don't know what to do now. I hate Larnaca airport BUT flights return for the 2 of us with one case is just £240!!! Thats a saving of £440 less taxi from Larnaca which costs us about £30 each way more than from Ercan so we still save £380. Thats a big saving.

Brend

I think it really does come down to personal preference, convenience and cost as to which airline you will use. For us we have to really travel to use a London airport as not a lot of choice from the West Country.

We have used BA and Easyjet into Larnaca and TA and Pegasus into Ercan. We even looked at getting flights from UK to a turkish airport (Istanbul/Ankara/Antalya etc) and then a local flight to Ercan but have yet to find anything that really offers a saving/convenience.

BA used to be our first choice as they were a scheduled carrier and flights were available almost 11 months in advance and prices good but flight times changed and overnight flights not a favourite. However we have recently noticed you can get some bargains at good flight times especially if you only have hand luggage so we will keep looking. Booked Easyjet for next March 2014 - booking made in May this year and cost was £270 return for 3 of us (Hand luggage only) - which is a bargain even with the cost of transfer.

For the summer months having looked at all the above airlines plus Monarch and a few others we find that TA is the better option. Flown with them a few times they do provide a better in flight service/experience. If you can book well in advance i.e. 10/11 months the prices are competitive - the transfer at Istanbul can be very short but not had a problem. Plus flying into Ercan we pick up a car at the airport and are in our place in 30 mins - so no transfer fee involved.

The key for us is booking as far in advance as possible to get a good price and we do like a challenge to find a good deal - appreciate not everyone able to do this tho!

Agree with PoshinDevon, the key really is booking as early as possible if you can.

I would love to be able to book well in advance but unfortunatly we don't have a job that we can, so we have to make the best of the situation.

Brend

Dublin--Ercan late May with TA £227 return

I would just like to add if anyone flies regularly with Turkish airlines it may be worth signing up for their miles and smiles card, it costs nothing and when you have accrued enough miles you get a free flight (only paying taxes)

We have been with their Miles and Smiles program for years but recently experienced a glitch. We booked our last flight to the UK with a company called E bookers, now Turkish Airlines won't acknowledge or credit us our air miles, they say it was a free flight!!! It was nothing of the sort, we paid over £500 for them.

Despite numerous phone calls and several E mails, the situation remains the same. They are the worst company I have ever dealt with on the communications side of things, beware!

When I joined Miles and Smiles I understood you only got credits when you booked direct with Turkish Airlines, I have had to recently cancel 2 flights had no problem with communication I had confirmation of cancellation by e-mails the same day and the unused taxes where refunded on to my credit card within three days, I can't fault the service at all and the flights are excellent.

I had a problem getting Miles & Smiles using Ebookers at first

E bookers reference your name with first name/ last name, but my miles & smiles account had my name as on my passport, i.e also with a middle name.
After some tooing and froing, got my Miles & smiles account changed to match my ebookers name and now no problem