transfer time at Istanbul - is it enough?

[journey1]

Hi
I wonder if anyone has recently done the flight from Edinburgh to Ercan with the change at Istanbul recently as I now see that the flight times have changed and only allow an hour for the transfer.
I am not so worried about coming in as there is no need to go through the second immigration routine but going home to Edinburgh is a different story. I have done that trip many times now and there can be a considerable hold up waiting to get a wee sticker for immigration purposes on the back of your passport at Istanbul.
many thanks.

[JBA]

Firstly, unless you change carriers, you don't need to go through immigration - the airline will transfer your luggage for you and you only need to go through the transit gate. To achieve this just check-in for both flights at the beginning of your journey.

If you do need a visa then buy it online before you start out. After 11/04/2014 you will have no choice in the matter because they are stopping the sale of visas on arrival. see:-

http://www.kibkomnorthcyprusforum.com/v ... =8&t=12268

[eagleyemonkey]

If your flight is on time into Istanbul, an hour shouldn't be a problem. Find out which gate the next flight is from and head straight there.
Don't think you will need a visa as you are not stopping in Istanbul you are in transit.
Would an airline sell tickets where it was not possible to meet your connecting flight?
Hopefully the flight will be on time.

[JBA]

Eagleyemonkey

The way Istanbul is laid out then you must go through passport control (with a visa) if you need to collect your luggage to then check-in for the next flight. You cannot use the transit desk unless you have only hand luggage or your luggage will be transferred for you - i.e. your onward journey is with the same airline and you checked in for both flights at the original airport.

[Mollie the cat]

We fly from Manchester at least 4 times a year to Istanbul. Our change over is also 1 hour, we manage it no problem if the in bound flight lands on time of course. The only bug bear is that you have clear security again even in transit in the airport which is a pain!

[libby]

we have just doen this flight - it was easy - with enough time - we even had to walk for miles - but still - no worries.
it was great - best flights ever - great service and food!

[eagleyemonkey]

JBA .......... they will collect their luggage at Ercan. Putting it on at Edinburgh for a flight from there to Ercan, they will collect their luggage from Ercan and pass through the transit lounge at Istanbul and forward to the gate for the Ercan flight.
Well that's my multiple experience - perhaps you have had different. I never had a visa and passed through the immigration at Istanbul - they put a little sticker on the back of your passport.

Anyway to answer the original question, I would say if the flight is on time, an hour should be OK, but I would head to the next departure gate as quickly as I could.

[KWAKERT4]

the small sticker is for security, it only takes a few minutes. I try to book a flight with a 50 minute wait, I've not seen one shorter. Istanbul Airport is not one you'd want to be in any longer than is necessary.

K

[MrA]

What would be the problem with Istanbul airport for a longer wait KWAKERT4 ?

[journey1]

Thanks for all the replies . Maybe I did not make it clear - I have done the Edinburgh - Ercan flight many times and know the systems in place but usually have much more than an hour in transit - so I am familiar with with all of the processes in place. However on the flight back to the UK in my experience, there has often been a delay in obtaining the 'wee sticker' on the back of your passport. So its that transfer that interests/concerns me.
However I need to say again - so many thanks for all of replies. This forum is jus the best for information and support - long may it continue!

[Terri299]

We flew Turkish via Istanbul on our last trip. We were told by a couple of people we needed a sticker when we went through transit on the way home. We eventually found the Turkish Airlines desk and asked for a sticker/stamp and was waved away. They just looked at our boarding cards and said we didn't need anything else.

[Ailsa]

I fly from Edinburgh to Ercan with Turkish Airlines and have never heard of any stickers!!!!! I find the long wait on the outbound journey really tiring as there is about 5 hours between flights. When did they change to a shorter transit time? As I am booked for April and still have that really long wait at Istanbul before my flight to Ercan!!!!!

[Col]

What would be the problem with Istanbul airport for a longer wait KWAKERT4 ?

Any wait in an airport is too long for me. Also the costs of drinks etc. I have used the HSBC lounge though briefly which is free if you have a premier credit card. Problem is I was with others that did not and despite it saying you could take a guest on the website they said not at the lounge.

[Erkin]

If you purchased your ticket correctly and is a through ticket from Point A to Point via transit in Istanbul you do not need to clear passport, at point A you should be given 2 Boarding passes and checked directly through, at Istanbul Airport there is a transit desk just report to them and they will guide you to your next flight.
Turkey does not require a Transit visa for E.U nationals. If you are a national that requires a Transit national then either you can get from the embassy in London or via the new online service via the Turkish Foreign ministry web site.

[journey1]

Ok thanks for all of the replies.
i have done this 'run' many times and it is usually a 5 hour wait on the way out from UK at Istanbul but recently it is now only just a few minutes over 1 hour - so hey ho I don't need to use a lounge (although the comfort lounge was only 18 euros and had everything you could possibly want and very comfortable) Lots cheaper than anything available in the various outlets throughout the airport and so quiet and comfy.
The 'hold up' if you could call it that, is on the way back to Edinburgh. When you arrive at Istanbul, I have always had to go to the 'clearance ' passport check prior to going through the security area, and obtain a 'sticker' on the back of my passport. Having tried to go through security without one (most recent last November) I have always been sent to obtain the sticker particularly if my final destination is Edinburgh. I have asked why it is necessary and was told it was a 'Government ' ( UK they said) requirement.
So, really in the high season it can take some time and hence my question if 1 hour would be enough time to get to my flight home.
I do apologise for any confusion I may have caused but huge thanks for taking the time to answer and share your experiences.

[Ailsa]

Hi journey ,when did it suddenly change to an hour on flight from Edinburgh?! I have my ticket booked for flight on 5th April and it is still the horrendous 5 hour wait. So please tell me how you now think, or know that it is only an hour!!! I am intrigued. As for this sticker thing I have never had a sticker so don't know what that is all about at all!!!!! Looking at flights from Edin to Ercan this week for flights in June and July it is still a 5 hour wait!!!!! So where did you find out that the waiting time is now only one hour!!!!!

[journey1]

Ailsa - I have been looking at flights earlier than you - so for March /April there are shorter transfer periods. All found on TA website.
As for the 'sticker' - well unlike you I have never managed to enter the Istanbul security area for transit passengers without first obtaining the said sticker. I wish I could!
cheers

[Ailsa]

I booked my flights on 13th January so get in to Istanbul at 18.05 but don't leave for Ercan until 23.20!!!!!!! Do you think if they have changed it since my booking that I will be able to get anearlier flight to Ercan???? Maybe I should phone my travel company with whom I booked to enquire ? Or do you mean that the flight from Edinburgh leaves later????? I am now totally confused!!!!!!!

[journey1]

Hi Ailsa, I meant to say that when the flights are later in the year - high season , as you may be booked , the flight times are reverted to the long stop over in Istanbul. The shorter waiting times appear to be for flights earlier in the year. I hope this clarifies.
Its a pity that the shorter times don't apply to the high season, but I think it could perhaps be that the airport is extremely busy in comparison and there would not be enough time to manage with a short transfer slot - maybe .

[Yoshee]

The schedule for Edinburgh flights has been changed so check Turkish airlines website. The flights are operating at different times each day and they are offering 2 flights daily in the summer.
I had booked flights back in November for May and had not been notified by T.A of the schedule change. I ended up phoning them and the sorted it out over the phone.
A thing to be careful of as well is when you are booking quite often the cheapest flight goes to Istanbul - Ankara - Ercan

[journey1]

Yes Yosheen - totally agree with you on that - particularly be cautious about the internal change over in Turkey - avoid the 'tourist' trip of Turkey by air ! LOL!

[Ailsa]

I'm not going to Ankara as well!!!!! Thank God!!!!! Maybe when I book for beginning of July I might be lucky and get a flight out of Istanbul to Ercan without that horrible 5 hours. I just hate it! I'm going to look at a reasonably priced airport lounge, as I don't have enough Miles and Smiles points yet to use the Turkish Airlines one! Unless I could creep in pretending that I was a guest of some random person!!!!!!!

[journey1]

Ailsa - I use the 'comfort lounge' (CIP) which is open to anyone, no need for any privilege cards etc. and it costs usually around 18 euros which entitles you to all the expected comforts - showers, all kinds of food, drinks ( including alcohol) newspapers, tv. wifi etc - all in all a far better way to spend 5 hours in relative peace and quiet away from the chaos and horrific prices to be found in the general airport outlets. You don't need to book it either - just walk in.
I'll be using it in a few weeks time so will be able to give a more current account as I last used it in November 2013.

[meldy]

Re the shorter changeover times, as far as I understand it that is only on certain days. I have friends coming out in May and they are doing the short changeover, but there are still flights with the longer one. Wish they had a flight to Ercan at around 9pm to shorten the incoming wait.

[Ailsa]

Meldy agreed!!!!! Wish they did do that!!!!!!

[journey1]

well of course there is always the option of flying to Istanbul via TA and then changing airlines from Istanbul to Ercan as I know there are flights other than the long wait for the TA connection but, (there is always a but) I am pretty sure you cant book your luggage straight through from Edinburgh to Ercan if it involves different airlines - so that in itself could be a challenge.
Well it all makes life interesting!

[Hippocampus]

Beware of short transit times if it is vital that your luggage stays with you. We had a 2 hour transit in Istanbul with TA en route to a far eastern holiday destination, with an onward flight at the other end that only went every 3 days. There was a flight delay out of Ercan, our luggage did not make the next flight, and we went 4 days with no luggage at our journey's end. It was a miracle that we got it at all with such a complicated journey.

[journey1]

Thanks for your reply Hippocampas - I did worry about the trip back from Istanbul - re the sticker thing - but hey ho maybe in low season it will be less chaotic, however the trip from Edinburgh with a check in taking the baggage through to Ercan and only a 1 hour change over is a concern. Don't really fancy going back and forward to Ercan to pick up missing luggage!
However I will try it early March and report back
cheers

[shamrock]

I flew from Edi on Wednesday on the 16:00 flight, yes the connection time was adequate.
Never had to get a sticker for my passport at IST have always gone straight throughout security.
Done this journey three times now with the new flight time from EDI, so far no problem.