Atlasjet, baggage, BRS etc

[Jonnie]

Has anyone travelled Atlasjet to UK recently. I am going Monday and taking an unusually heavy bag (for me) back. It is a couple of KGs over and hand luggage is borderline too. I am a BRS member though yet to renew for 2013.

Does anyone know how tight they are at Ercan checking in.

[mrsgee]

Travelled with them a couple of weeks ago to the UK and back. 8 kilos of hand luggage allowed which they did not check at Ercan....in fact have never had hand luggage checked by any airline at Ercan which is probably why people manage to get HUGE pieces of heavy hand luggage on board. I was under on the normal baggage allowance of 20 kilos so can't help you on that one, as to whether or not they charge excess.

Coming back a different matter, hand luggage was weighed as well as the baggage. Again, slightly under, but very slightly over on the hand luggage, I think it was 8.4 kilos. I don't think that they mind as long as you do not go one kilo over, then they may start to charge.

I would double check the times of your flights though with them. We were supposed to change planes in Istanbul but when we checked in at Ercan they gave us two boarding passes each, both for the same seat numbers, which I thought was a bit of a co-incidence. Then noticed that the time of the plane leaving Istanbul for Stansted had been brought forward by almost an hour. When we landed at Istanbul we were told to stay on the plane, which explained the same seat numbers. So, almost 2 hours sitting on the plane, and the same coming back.

[Deniz1]

Well next week Atlas are stopping the stanstead ercan run altogether so its irrelavent really.

[Jonnie]

Well next week Atlas are stopping the stanstead ercan run altogether so its irrelavent really.

Well that is a nice and pleasant response. I am flying Monday (as stated in OP) so I am terribly sorry if you feel your time is wasted but it is relevant to me.

[Jonnie]

Travelled with them a couple of weeks ago to the UK and back. 8 kilos of hand luggage allowed which they did not check at Ercan....in fact have never had hand luggage checked by any airline at Ercan which is probably why people manage to get HUGE pieces of heavy hand luggage on board. I was under on the normal baggage allowance of 20 kilos so can't help you on that one, as to whether or not they charge excess.

Coming back a different matter, hand luggage was weighed as well as the baggage. Again, slightly under, but very slightly over on the hand luggage, I think it was 8.4 kilos. I don't think that they mind as long as you do not go one kilo over, then they may start to charge.

I would double check the times of your flights though with them. We were supposed to change planes in Istanbul but when we checked in at Ercan they gave us two boarding passes each, both for the same seat numbers, which I thought was a bit of a co-incidence. Then noticed that the time of the plane leaving Istanbul for Stansted had been brought forward by almost an hour. When we landed at Istanbul we were told to stay on the plane, which explained the same seat numbers. So, almost 2 hours sitting on the plane, and the same coming back.

Thankyou mrsgee, never had any probs at ECN but just checking, normally go back with just hand luggage

[Deniz1]

I wasnt referring to your journey as its on Monday just for future reference. My daughter went back to UK on Atlas last Sunday and her hand luggage was not weighed.

[sophie]

I'm very disappointed in Atlasjet. They were supposed to be the "great white hope" for TRNC, with a huge promotion event at Mercure, loads of free food, attended by all the travel agents and masses of potential customers, with a glossy presentation by the CEO, President and MD of the company. There were huge cheers from Expats when it was announced that a deal had been done with BRS and other organisations, if you were members of these orgs. then there would be no cancellation charges, a greater allowance in hand luggage and longer leg room. I said at the time "this all seems too good to be true" and needless to say it has been. IMHO the BRS and others were well and truly conned and the management of Atlasjet in the UK and here should be ashamed of themselves. But I doubt that they are.

[cyprusishome]

Atlasjet are not to blame for what has happened, it is the government of TRNC who have dropped Atlas in the clarts over the CTA farce. Atlas management put themselves out to bail out CTA clients then the government renaged on their agreement at end of 2010.

Because Atlas put their name to an agreement for bailing out CTA, 2/3 months ago a court action naming Atlas resulted in an aircraft being impounded at Stansted with all passengers etc on board, the court demanded a lot of money to cover cta debts.

So why should a company continue routes that are not the most profitable with a risk of the above happening again. If I were in charge of a company I would think at least three times before bailing out this country via agreements with the government. I am sure Pegasus only continue the flights without changing aircraft because they can fill them in Istanbul.

[Jonnie]

Despite having to move days and having now to change planes in IST I would prefer Atlas over Pegasus any day of the week. Just a shame you cannot do THY to Stansted any more. it is my understanding that Atlas are trying to sort out the problem with the UK and hope to resume flights as before at some point. As a BRS member I have managed to secure additional baggage thanks to the co-ordinator there and she has requested forward seating but as I am late in the day it is too late to guarantee. So this member of the BRS has NOT been conned!

[mrsgee]

Jonnie, so glad that you have been happy with whats gone on with Atlas jet......time/date changes, and some uncertainty on our behalf as to what date we were actually going to get back here from UK given the change in dates going. Have to say, unlike you, we would never travel with Atlasjet again.....it will always now be Turkish Airlines or Pegasus.....in fact, I have to say just because you are a member of BRS should not give you any special rights, and I am even more annoyed if that is the case....we all pay the same price, so should get the same service. And don't assume that you have to change planes in Istanbul, as I said earlier, we expected to change, but were told to stay on the plane for almost 2 hours.....hope that you have a good journey..

[Ozangirl]

I found Atlasjet far better than Pegasus, much more friendly and professional and much better value for money. A real shame they don't fly to the UK now. As to the original question, I have never had luggage weighed at Ercan, but most definately from Stansted. They even let you take water bottles through at Ercan ! Security is diabolical.

[cyprusishome]

All hold luggage at Ercan is weighed and if you are over you WILL pay for it. Hand luggage is a different issue, I have seen people get their hand luggage weighed at check in and then collect more bags as they go through security. Hopefully when the place is upgraded all this will stop. Because of the ease of taking hand luggage at Ercan some expect the same at Stansted and I have stood and watched the results, the passengers are not happy bunnies!!!!!

The thing with water is still a debatable point. Ercan will allow small bottles of water but others I have seen confiscated. The experts are still split on this topic and I believe that shortly all except USA are telling the instigators of the laws - USA - that they are going to be more reasonable. Obviously flights to USA will probably still be subject to OTT security checks.

[woodspeckie]

We returned to UK from Ercan via Istanbul last Friday with Turkish Airlines, we had to change planes and going through transit our boarding passes were checked and we were sent back out to a desk, when we asked why we were told anyone going on the Manchester flight with a US or UK passport had to have a security check, the passports were checked on a computer then stamped, we were then allowed to pass through tansit. There was every nationality you could mention on the flight but only US & UK passengers had to have the extra check! Anyone else had this experience?

[Deniz1]

i was thinking about booking my daughter a ticket on Turkish Airlines next time she comes but changing planes is a lot of hassle for her as she has MS also it means coming from Gatwick which is a lot further for her to travel. Pegasus seats cause her a problem as they are so small. Its not getting any easier to get here is it? No I dont use Larnaca.

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

We returned to UK from Ercan via Istanbul last Friday with Turkish Airlines, we had to change planes and going through transit our boarding passes were checked and we were sent back out to a desk, when we asked why we were told anyone going on the Manchester flight with a US or UK passport had to have a security check, the passports were checked on a computer then stamped, we were then allowed to pass through tansit. There was every nationality you could mention on the flight but only US & UK passengers had to have the extra check! Anyone else had this experience?

Sounds a bit racist to me

[andrew4232]

' I am a BRS member though yet to renew for 2013.'
am a little confused by this part of the original post what's it got to do with atlas jet ?

[JeanW]

Mesage 16 - read message No. 7.

[woodspeckie]

Sounds a bit racist to me [/quote]
Exactly what we thought especially when we got on board and we where outnumbered!

[Owl Lady]

re Woodspeckie posting on security checking at Istanbul,this is nothing new.I have not flown back to the Uk for nearly 5 years but even then Turkish Airlines were checking passports for anyone going to Manchester, London or USA.I used to fly 4 times a year and was checked on every flight at Istanbul.

[woodspeckie]

What I am trying to say is not everyone on our flight to Manchester was checked people going in front of us were on the same flight but not sent back to the desk for checking!!!! 250 people on the plane we were the only ones at the desk, some where on the same flight coming in from Ercan went straight through, others were from other flights arriving.