Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Flights, Airlines and Airports => Flights to Dalaman and Turkey, Airlines and Airports => Topic started by: maureen on August 31, 2009, 23:22:30 PM
-
Hello All
We are thinking of flying to Dalaman via Istanbul in October. Can anyone tell me what happens when you connect flights - is it easy? Are signs in English directing you to the right place. Do you have to queue up and check in for the second flight etc. We aren't planning on staying overnight, just connecting in the airport.
Sorry if these questions are daft, but I haven't done the 'connecting flights' thing anywhere before let alone at IST!
Thanks
Maureen
-
Hi Maureen, it's all pretty straightforward, I assume you mean on Turkish Airlines? Your hold luggage goes straight through, so you don't need to collect it in Istanbul and check in again. You 'arrive' in Turkey at Istanbul so that's where your visa should be purchased and you go through passport control in Istanbul. Then just head of to the domestic terminal to get your internal flight from there to Dalaman. Boarding cards for this leg of the journey, in case you were wondering, are issued with the IST ones (so at Heathrow or wherever)
The only bit to stay alert for is when you come off the IST-DLM plane at Dalaman, most of the people are on a domestic flight and will be directed to the domestic terminal. You however are not a domestic arrival, you are an international transit arrival, and you will be split off (not just you, all transit passengers ;) ) either in a seperate bus or if no need for a bus, someone will shout for transit/international passengers to follow a different route. Unlike all the internal flight folk, you will end up at the international terminal.
I hope that doesn't sound too complicated, it might be in words but in reality it's pretty easy.
-
Just to add to the helpful info Scunner has provided, the flights with Pegasus to Istanbul then to Dalaman only seem to have an hour or so wait, not too long to hang around. We are doing the same in October, flying to Istanbul and then to Dalaman the following day as hubby has family in Istanbul.
Have a great holiday x
-
Keith
Thanks for this, as I should be doing the same in 2010. Can I just check....even with a residents visa, would I be directed to the Internationl Terminal at Dalaman? If so, of course the luggage will be there! but then unable to pick up the Havas Bus into Fethiye from the International Terminal?
Thanks for the posting
quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
Hi Maureen, it's all pretty straightforward, I assume you mean on Turkish Airlines? Your hold luggage goes straight through, so you don't need to collect it in Istanbul and check in again. You 'arrive' in Turkey at Istanbul so that's where your visa should be purchased and you go through passport control in Istanbul. Then just head of to the domestic terminal to get your internal flight from there to Dalaman. Boarding cards for this leg of the journey, in case you were wondering, are issued with the IST ones (so at Heathrow or wherever)
The only bit to stay alert for is when you come off the IST-DLM plane at Dalaman, most of the people are on a domestic flight and will be directed to the domestic terminal. You however are not a domestic arrival, you are an international transit arrival, and you will be split off (not just you, all transit passengers ;) ) either in a seperate bus or if no need for a bus, someone will shout for transit/international passengers to follow a different route. Unlike all the internal flight folk, you will end up at the international terminal.
I hope that doesn't sound too complicated, it might be in words but in reality it's pretty easy.
-
We often fly BA to Istanbul then buy a Turkish airlines ticket to Dalaman and we have never ever had to go to the international terminal, just straight out of domestic.??
-
quote:
Originally posted by littlereddevil
We often fly BA to Istanbul then buy a Turkish airlines ticket to Dalaman and we have never ever had to go to the international terminal, just straight out of domestic.??
That's because your international part of the journey ended in Istanbul and you would have been checed into the country there.
The Istanbul Dalaman leg of the journey would be on a seperate "domestic" ticket.
Regarding flying Turkish airways via Istanbul as has been pointed out the changeover at Istanbul is less than an hour which means that if the incoming flight is delayed you will miss your conection. On the positive side it does mean you get a free nights B&B in Istanbul before flying on in the morning ;)
-
Just make sure that you're arriving at Ataturk Airport, Istanbul (IST) and flying onto Dalaman (DLM) from there.
Don't forget that Sabiha Gokcen Airport is on the opposite side of Istanbul and, if for instance you're arriving by SleazyJet, you'll have to get a transfer from there to Ataturk Airport.
-
Hi Colin, yes the redirection to the International terminal isn't because of visas or residency, it is because you (actually your luggage) hasn't been through a customs check with you, as it wasn't with you at Istanbul. All the arrivals on your flight who's journey terminates at Istanbul will go with their luggage to clear customs there, you won't. It's as Phil says, you are only transit through the airport in Istanbul if you fly both journeys one after the other with Turkish Airlines. The second flight is a domestic internal flight but for you it is the final leg of your international flight. If you left via the domestic terminal on arrival at Dalaman, you could have 20kg of cocaine in your bag and never once walked through a customs channel. Not that you would of course ;)
-
Thanks keith,phil & other postings.
It's clear enough for me now.
I'll also be flying BA to Istanbul, (not Turkish Airlines for the whole journey) waiting a few hours for the Turkish Airlines domestic flight to Dalaman. So no problems with luggage etc at Dalaman & I can then depart thru the domestic termianal to catch the Havas bus to Fethie.
Your help/clarification is much appreciated.
quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
Hi Colin, yes the redirection to the International terminal isn't because of visas or residency, it is because you (actually your luggage) hasn't been through a customs check with you, as it wasn't with you at Istanbul. All the arrivals on your flight who's journey terminates at Istanbul will go with their luggage to clear customs there, you won't. It's as Phil says, you are only transit through the airport in Istanbul if you fly both journeys one after the other with Turkish Airlines. The second flight is a domestic internal flight but for you it is the final leg of your international flight. If you left via the domestic terminal on arrival at Dalaman, you could have 20kg of cocaine in your bag and never once walked through a customs channel. Not that you would of course ;)
-
Yes that's right. If you arrive to Istanbul with BA that is your international arrival over as you will collect your luggage there. You will clear customs with your luggage etc there, and the flight to Dalaman will be a domestic flight for you and you will appear from the Dalaman domestic terminal :)
-
Many thanks to all who replied, particularly Scunner for a very clear and concise explanation! I feel happier now :).
Maureen
-
Same goes for me, many thanks keith and others
quote:
Originally posted by maureen
Many thanks to all who replied, particularly Scunner for a very clear and concise explanation! I feel happier now :).
Maureen
-
Hi all
We, I, have to do the Istanbul then Dalaman flight now as I am living in Qatar. No problems at all the Turkish flights ara great ( especially as most of mine are business class)
However we did find that on Jackies last flight over, the airlines changed in Istanbul and she was not allowed to check her luggage right through.
Had to collect and then re-check in.
Rgds
-
Just to clarify further, what about those starting their journey from Dalaman with Turkish Airlines but changing in Istanbul for the international flight to UK (same airline) - I know we've done this but it was so long ago I've forgotten!
-
If you've done it a long time ago it's all changed anyway :)
Somewhat strangely, you check in at the domestic terminal who obviously arrange for your luggage to go straight through to the UK airport. Once again you will be greeted as you enter the terminal at Istanbul by a THY employee who will be calling out for any Dalaman arriving passengers who are transit to UK. You are sent through in the correct direction and clear passport/visa control and from there it's laugh at the prices time till your gate is called.
One of discoveries of joy on the round trip this way is that if you leave your car in the long term car park you are very handily positioned for entering the domestic terminal to start your epic journey. Knowing you and Pete you will be taking fairly empty suitcases here, and rather fuller ones back. What a pain in the neck it was for me to arrive back at Dalaman, ham and cheesed to the hilt, to appear from the international terminal and drag my case and bags all the way back to the domestic terminal, where the car was!
So get a transfer or someone to take you and collect you :D
-
Thanks Keith. We have a transfer from the recent Promises Auctions so will make use of this when we go :).
-
Foosey / all,
Is it cheaper to travel like this not direct?
-
If you book well in advance it can be much cheaper. We had problems when trying to book direct getting flights back especially in the winter season.
-
Can I just make sure I understand this thread ,as next spring we want to fly from Gatwick to Istanbul [arriving Ataturk?] stay 3 nights then fly on to Dalaman and then back to Uk from Dalaman.
I assume Ataturk is best airport for ease into Istanbul[so which airline is best?] any hotels recommended,and can we buy tickets for the Istanbul to Dalaman leg out there, or best to buy in Uk before flying, then assume a one way ticket home from Dalaman.
Does that all make sense?
-
Andrew it may be better to buy the tickets in advance for the internal flight.
We are flying to Sabiha Gokcen airport with Pegasus and then the following day flying with turkish airlines to Dalaman from Sabiha Gokcen, my husband prefers this airport because its nearer to where his family lives.
Last year we were going to fly from Dalaman to Istanbul as a surprise visit to see my husbands family at the last minute but the flights were very expensive.
Hope you get sorted.
-
quote:
Originally posted by Foosey
the following day flying with turkish airlines to Dalaman from Sabiha Gokcen,
Are you sure that THY fly from Sabiha Gokcen to DLM ?
-
quote:
Originally posted by KayaKoyuOldBoy
quote:
Originally posted by Foosey
the following day flying with turkish airlines to Dalaman from Sabiha Gokcen,
Are you sure that THY fly from Sabiha Gokcen to DLM ?
Damn you had me in a bit if a panic there for a minute. Just checked the ticket print out and yes the flight is from Sabiha Gokcen to Dalaman.
-
Wendy thanks for that, for us, is Sabhina better than Aturturk for the city centre and do you know if Pegasus [or easyjet?] fly there.
-
Ataturk is nearer to the city centre, but saying that there is a regular Havas bus service from both airports to Taksim Square.
Easyjet and Pegasus both fly in and out of Sabhina but if you are hoping to connect flights here you do need to check the dates carefully to ensure a match and even then you could be set with a long wait between flights.
-
thanks for all your help