Transit through the new Istanbul Airport

[PapaBravo]

We recently chose to fly AtlasGlobal from Ercan to Stansted via the new Istanbul Airport. We usually fly Pegasus stopping at Sabiha Gokcen.

We were concerned by the apparently limited time between landing, and departing on the second leg of each journey (around one and a half hours). We found that actually there was no problem. As some have already advised, on the UK bound journey it takes 15 - 20 minutes after landing to taxy to the disembarkation point, with a further 10 minutes or so to disembark the aircraft. Then follow the red signs to 'International Transfer', where you go through Security (plenty of security desks so very little delay). Then look for your Gate No and head off. It took us around 30 minutes from disembarking the aircraft to reaching our gate; it is a fair way, but there were many 'moving walkways' which made the walk quicker and easier. We arrived at the Gate with plenty of time in hand.

Similar experience on the return to TRNC, except that the walking distance was shorter with only one 'moving walkway' and it took us around 10 minutes after disembarkation to reach our gate. On both journeys we had plenty of time (we walked very quickly because we did not know how far we had to go!). If you have difficulty walking, I would advise asking for wheelchair assistance.

Part of the reason were were not pushed for time is, I think, the fact that they inflate the flight times for both legs. For example, they quote 1hr 50mins from Ercan to Istanbul, when it takes around 1hr 20mins, and our flight from Stansted left 20mins late but we landed at Istanbul 15mins early. So that was our personal experience. We found Istanbul Airport much more efficient and user friendly than Sibiha Gokcen, but that is just our opinion.

Now to the reasons we will choose Altasglobal rather than Pegasus in future:
It was around £135 cheaper (for 2 people with return flights).
The staff were more welcoming.
Slightly more legroom.
On line check in both ways was much easier, and you can choose your seats for all 4 flights for no extra cost. We could never manage to check-in on line with Pegasus for the return journey to TRNC.
You get a warm snack and a drink on the short flights, and a meal and a drink on the long flights at no extra cost. It is not haute cuisine, but quite acceptable.
If you book early enough I think you can get 30Kgs, or even 40Kgs og luggage at a minimal extra cost. Not sure of the details as they had only the standard 20Kgs option left when we booked.

The only disadvantage we found with Atlasglobal - when booking on line, our credit card would not be accepted. This may have been because of something I did, or did not do (I am not very good with computers). So we went to a local travel agent who booked for us at no extra cost. I was considering travelling via Larnaca because of the hassle we have had at Sabiha Gokcen on our last few trips, but will now continue to use Ercan with Atlasglobal.

Hope this is of some help to future travellers.

[Keithcaley]

I've been both ways through the new Istanbul airport twice, and agree with PB, although I used Turkish Airlines rather than Pegasus.

A word of warning, though...

Turkish Airlines flights from Ercan do seem to be rather more prone to 'delays in departure time' than one would expect, and sometimes the flight is so delayed that it is consolidated into the next scheduled flight, and your connecting flight is then also automatically rebooked (along with your luggage).

This does have the effect of prolonging the journey time, so that your onward travel arrangements at your final destination are disrupted - necessitating 'phone calls to friends or relatives who are waiting for you at the other end, or rebooking coaches/trains/taxis...

A recent journey to Wiltshire took me well over 14 hours, and that was on a flight advertised as lasting under 7 hours! Fortunately, I do pay an extra £5 or so when booking a National Express coach so that I can hop on any coach without having to pay a penalty, although that does not make up for the inconvenience!

Flights from the UK to Ercan seem to run much more smoothly and on time as far as I can tell.

I am inclined to suspect (on the basis of no further knowledge whatsoever ) that the 'delays' in departing Ercan could be due to half-empty aircraft, and the desire of TA to save money by consolidating two flights - if anyone 'in the trade' has any other thoughts on this, I would be pleased to hear them!

[meldy]

Thanks for sharing your experience Papabravo. We have family coming out in a couple of weeks, with 8 & 11 year old boys and they have 1 hour 20 minutes on the way here. I had wondered if they would have enough time but you have put my mind at rest - here's hoping there are no other type of delays.

[Mozgor]

I recently travelled via Istanbul Airport and my word of warning is the distance between gates!

From when we landed, coming from Edinburgh, it took nearly 30mins to taxi to the terminal. When we finally got off the plane, I had just less than an hour to get to my other flight before it left, there was 1.5 hours when I booked, but taxi time clearly wasn’t taken into account.

So I then set off at a fast pace with my hand luggage etc in tow, it took me 30 mins of steady walking fast to reach my connecting gate, by which time I was soaking, face like a beetroot and exhausted. I arrived with 25 mins to spare before the scheduled departure.

This was at 12:30 at night and the airport wasn’t busy, it also takes into account the moving walkways. So for anyone who wouldn’t have been able to walk at the at pace, it would have been impossible.

[13roman58]

I recently travelled via Istanbul Airport and my word of warning is the distance between gates!

From when we landed, coming from Edinburgh, it took nearly 30mins to taxi to the terminal. When we finally got off the plane, I had just less than an hour to get to my other flight before it left, there was 1.5 hours when I booked, but taxi time clearly wasn’t taken into account.

So I then set off at a fast pace with my hand luggage etc in tow, it took me 30 mins of steady walking fast to reach my connecting gate, by which time I was soaking, face like a beetroot and exhausted. I arrived with 25 mins to spare before the scheduled departure.

This was at 12:30 at night and the airport wasn’t busy, it also takes into account the moving walkways. So for anyone who wouldn’t have been able to walk at the at pace, it would have been impossible.

This is the flight that I was on, it took 34 minutes to come to a stop so I missed the connection I claimed €600 for the delay.

[Jonnie]

If it is the flight I think it is they hold the Istanbul Ercan flight so the Stn passengers can join. They do this because it is the last leg of the day and the aircraft overnights in ECN therefore there is no knock on effect.

[Sukicat]

My friend and I just had our first time through the new airport out 2 weeks ago and back Thursday night. Although we had plenty of layover time each way for our flights to and from Brazil we figured that gates were a very long walk. We asked about getting a buggy ride, normally only costs 6Euros each, but as we are over 70 got them for free. There are plenty of buggies so well worth asking even if you have to pay a small fee.

[Alisun]

Literally just arrived home after overnight flight with THY through transit at Istanbul - on the way out we exited through one of the departure lounges and our onwards flight to Ercan was the gate opposite so no huge walks and no additional security checks - return journey last night was the full transit experience - long walk to security although heaps of moving walkways - shortish queues at security and then another long walk to new gate - but as above there are plenty of “golf type buggies” to be hired/requested. The airport is huge - the shopping mall immense both in term of size and cost! Unfortunately no lounge available if travelling cattle class even with a card (we use dragon pass - although discovered last night Ercan don’t accept it either) In summary we’ve decided Larnaca will be our preferred option in future - we travel 3-4 times a year and have been doing for 15 years so quite a big decision for us but instanbul was “intense” and that was the quiet time!

[waddo]

Alisun, Good luck with Larnaca post Brexit - No, I don't know anything new or more than anyone else but I don't really think I would trust the South to allow non-EU (unless they have a visa) to go spend their money in the North. I hope I am totally wrong!

[Kanonier]

Alisun, Good luck with Larnaca post Brexit - No, I don't know anything new or more than anyone else but I don't really think I would trust the South to allow non-EU (unless they have a visa) to go spend their money in the North. I hope I am totally wrong!

Why would there be a problem travelling to Larnaca?

[Alisun]

Thanks Waddo - fortunately being originally from the Emerald Isle myself and my family will have no Brexit issues if they do arise!

[kerry 6138]

Alisun, Good luck with Larnaca post Brexit - No, I don't know anything new or more than anyone else but I don't really think I would trust the South to allow non-EU (unless they have a visa) to go spend their money in the North. I hope I am totally wrong!

Why would there be a problem travelling to Larnaca?

https://www.lgcnews.com/japanese-academ ... a-airport/

https://www.lgcnews.com/south-refuses-e ... ound-trnc/

http://en.protothema.gr/tourists-wantin ... a-airport/

[sophie]

I have a friend who has an Isle of Man passport and according to her she will have no problem either.

[helendj]

I travelled from Manchester airport on Saturday. 6 hour flight delay - not impressed - will NEVER be travelling with TA again, total disappointment

[tomsteel]

Seems like a case for a claim of €600 per traveller then.

[Leither]

Turkish Airlines are easily one of the worst,after years of being so good they have gone downhill dramatically,try and claim they fob you off even though you are entitled to compensation they still get away with it,never ever if you can help it travel with that bunch.

[13roman58]

Seems like a case for a claim of €600 then.

the member is getting good advice

[tomsteel]

Turkish Airlines are easily one of the worst,after years of being so good they have gone downhill dramatically,try and claim they fob you off even though you are entitled to compensation they still get away with it,never ever if you can help it travel with that bunch.

sic

If an airline attempts to 'fob you off' seek help via a claim company who will take on your case at a % of the claim if successful.

[13roman58]

Turkish Airlines are easily one of the worst,after years of being so good they have gone downhill dramatically,try and claim they fob you off even though you are entitled to compensation they still get away with it,never ever if you can help it travel with that bunch.

sic

If an airline attempts to 'fob you off' seek help via a claim company who will take on your case at a % of the claim if successful.
You don't need to use a claim company. They will take 30% you can do it yourself with the free app ADR After you have taken all reasonable steps direct at first with TA

no need to use a claim company.

[Lovelife]

Getting back on topic.

I quite like the new airport, yes it's big, but it's light, and has a spacious feel to it and no human dodgems!
My travel experience was good.

Flying from Ercan via Istanbul to the uk was, Ercan flight left on time landed 'early' ( I think papabravo comments about the timings was certainly correct for my flights) taxing to a gate took 15 mins, as I was a business class passenger I was off the plane quickly. I was fortunate to have a few hours transit as I was worried about navigating my way around the airport, however I found the signage excellent, going through security was easy as there were so few passengers. I went to the business class lounge, (gate E1) nice, same format as Ataturk. When my UK flight was indicating time to move and get going, my gate was D5 I walked at a steady pace, I did not use the moving walkways, my walk took me around 10 mins to get to my gate.

Return journey from UK,.. again landed 'early', taxing around 15mins, got off plane to a waiting bus, took 5 mins to arrivals. Through a gate straight into the departures level. As it was a weekend slightly more busy than my midweek journey. Walk to the lounge took 10mins, when my Ercan flight was ready at F8A I set off at a steady pace took me just over 10 mins. Flight took off a little late but landed at Ercan on time.
All in all an ordinary journey for me.

[Saintsfan]

I travelled from Manchester airport on Saturday. 6 hour flight delay - not impressed - will NEVER be travelling with TA again, total disappointment

Was this Saturday 22nd June at Manchester? We had 6.1/2 hrs delay with Thomas Cook to Izmir because the check in system was down, although I had checked in on line we couldn’t check in the baggage, all flights were delayed with all airlines. Because we landed 3hrs 5 minutes late we have been told to claim compensation.

[helendj]

No this was 29th June. Had checked with TA day before, said flight was on, no problems. Found out when I got to Manchester that they had put me on the 6.15 flight meaning a wait of 6 hours. Another passenger told me the 00:05 flight was cancelled entirely. So no technical problems.

[13roman58]

Go get your €600 compensation.