Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Flights, Airlines and Airports => Flights to Dalaman and Turkey, Airlines and Airports => Topic started by: Rimms on October 10, 2011, 09:29:57 AM
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After 3 cracking weeks away with wall to wall sunshine all but for one afternoon, we awoke yesterday to grey skies and that sinking feeling knowing that the transfer is going to take you off to that place!
We decided to take bottles of water in our hand luggage and to our amazement we sailed through both of the scanner checks en route to the departure lounge, which in itself is a bit worrying. We noted lots of people buying water and canned drinks followed by the inevitable look of horror on their faces as they relayed the price paid back to their partners.
Although the skies were grey yesterday, the temperature was still up in the high 20s and very humid, it was sweltering inside the airport but absolutely no sign of any air conditioning in use.
We had mooch around duty free and for the life of me I fail to understand why a Country who is not even part of the EEC chooses to price everything in Euro? the cynic in me thinks that it that its a very good way of ripping you off in the exchange from Lira or GBP to Euro. This theory was borne out by an argument that broke out between the Turkish seller and an English couple when I heard the Turk saying " This is Turkey, we do not know your exchange rates ! "
Anyway, we were happy to see they had now dispensed with the third security check into the departure gate, all now decked out with those lovely but really uncomfortable wooden benches, all of which are designed to sit 5 people comfortably or to squeeze on 6 people and further increase the overheated conditions.
I know this sounds harsh and picky, but it such a great shame that people leave the county with such a negative experience.
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quote:
Originally posted by Rimms
I know this sounds harsh and picky, but it such a great shame that people leave the county with such a negative experience.
I understand exactly where you are coming from, but if it is any consolation there is another storm brewing ;)
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The good point about Dalaman is landing there & knowing you're not far from home now!
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I can think of no redeeming features for Dalaman Airport at all. Not just the outrageous prices that give people such a contrasting bitter taste at the end of their holiday. The staff on arrival are not exactly welcoming. The building is drab, poorly lit and grey (I call it 'unfinished', they call it something like 'radical'). The layout is ridiculous for departures - your departure gate may be more or less below you if you are sitting upstairs but the escalators are at exactly the other end of that floor so to get to something 10 metres below you, you have to do two lengths of the building. The double security check is stupid too, but marginally better than the recent security check on arrival then the queues to do the same again at the gate. The total lack of any system in calling people to board shows just how amateur the place is - a few words is all that is needed to allow boarding to take half as long and half as stressful - who's idea was the aircon free glass walkways that we all get snarled up in while waiting an age for the first passenger of 300 to put his bag in the overhead locker and sit down? Then there are the charged for luggage trolleys. The rip off taxis. Even duty free is more expensive than a Morrisons/Tesco special offer. I could go on (and on).
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quote:
Originally posted by Rimms
Anyway, we were happy to see they had now dispensed with the third security check into the departure gate, all now decked out with those lovely but really uncomfortable wooden benches, all of which are designed to sit 5 people comfortably or to squeeze on 6 people and further increase the overheated conditions.
Or 1 selfish git who gets there early and lay down taking up the whole seat.
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If too much queueing and nowhere to sit are two of your airport pet hates, Dalaman has nothing on Rhodes Airport - that is hellish!
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i have to say i am always impressed at the speed of the baggage people at Dalaman, Bags are normally out by the time you have cleared the visa and passport control
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If it's speed you want, try Alicante. We flew into there last month. Landed 11.15 am, private transfer (through ResortHoppa) 25 minute journey, checking into hotel 12.15! :)
And while Dalaman has nothing to my mind to recommend it, it is far better than the old terminal! I HATED that place with a passion!! :-\
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on arriving at dalaman and leaving dalaman to quote a well known phrase or saying as im sure many football fans can relate too .
" welcome to hell". maybe ott but im sure many of u think the same. such a shame that dalaman shows up a bad of image of turkey.
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The only time it was worse than it's normal level of welcome was during the swine flu outbreak where the first Turkish people that arriving holidaymakers saw were dressed in white overalls and wearing masks over their mouths. Wonderful first impression that was!
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at least you can drop people off for free! at Bournemouth you have to enter the car park to do that, minimum charge £2.50!
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I dont know how you managed that Rimms, I have tried many times and got through the first security and stopped at the second....so its very hit and miss, which as you say is not particularly good.
Bewva - I totally agree with you, there is always someone asleep on the seats, obviously dont think anyone else is tired [:(!]
Scunner, I remember going over at the height of the swine flu and seeing those white clothed people sitting by the table, there apparently was a scanner that read your temperatures as you went past and they hauled you in if you had a temperature...I was dreading passing it...but a daunting sight on arrival as you say....
Dalaman is a complete rip off in every way but as it usually is so warm....No Air con on purpose....drink more !!..we usually have to buy a rip off bottle of water....and I really object to it...
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We recently used the Domestic Terminal (the old International Terminal) and although it had its faults back in the day (queues at the height of season back out of the terminal doors) it seems much lighter, more comfortable and more welcoming than the new terminal which always reminds me of a multi storey car park without the cars! A deeply depressing dump.
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I was thinking about that too - even with the queues all the way out the main doors into the baking sun and heading back towards the ramp - and the chaotic snaking queues when you got inside where you could join the back of completely the wrong queue - it was a much better terminal. Your flight always seemed to board from one of only two gates - was it 1A on the left and 1B on the right :D
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It might have been a better terminal when it's empty! ;)
I seem to recall all the queues getting mixed up when they'd been called to their gates and no-one having a clue where to go! It's a wonder we ended up on the right planes!
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Not to mention the tiny area where you had to go for a visa & then fight your way back out again
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quote:
Originally posted by johnboy1967
i have to say i am always impressed at the speed of the baggage people at Dalaman, Bags are normally out by the time you have cleared the visa and passport control
Thats nothing to do with the handlers speed and everything to do with the customs queues being so slow!
Agree with everything thats been said I dislike Dalaman airport with a passion though I do think its preferable to the old terminal. Our last encounter was easy, all on time & few queues. Saying that we always take our own refreshments and never venture to the duty free rip off shop.
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Same here cavfan, admittedly we don't come out at peak times though it's still pretty busy but we bring own food, don't venture into shops and can always find somewhere to sit while we wait.
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I agree totaly.
The new terminal is drab and boring, manned by people with attitude issues it would seem.
However I do remember arriving some years ago at the old terminal from Gatwick and the visa queues being so long that by the time we got to baggage collection the carousel was blocked by a jammed bag and all bags were being spat off and ending in a heap on the floor with no dalaman staff helping out, a nightmare!!
The only saving grace is that once out of Dalaman airport good times are only about 40 minutes away. 8)
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Is my memory playing tricks or was there also a time when they first started charging for the transfer buses to use the car park that the exit payment machines were placed on the opposite side to the driver? :D
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I have to agree with johnboy 1967. The time from plane to carousel is always miles quicker at Dalaman than Manchester even though there is no Visa to purchase at Manchester. Additionally at Dalaman your cases are often circulating on the carousel by the time you get there whereas there's always a wait at Manchester.
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It might have someting to do with the fact that Manchester handles about 19 million passengers a year and Dalaman about 4 million ?
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Always baffles me that amount of people, mainly women, who buy perfume and make up at the Duty Free in Dalaman. It's really expensive. I priced a Dior make up I use and buy in Debenhams or Boots. It's £1.50 more at Dalaman and this is just one example. I am afraid we just go straight in at the customs and straight to the CIP Lounge until our flight is called. Dalaman is a dreary place with very unhappy staff. However, Aberdeen Airport is worse. Far to small for the amount of people using it. We notice the amount of people in the cafe there who cannot get a seat after paying outrageous prices for food and drink. The Servisair Lounge is not good, although they serve alcohol, the only food offered is bags crisps and small cakes.
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It was so dark in there one time no lights on, I went into the mens loo didn't realize until I went to wash my hand, there was a man standing at what should have been the wash basin,nodded politely and made a quick exit !!!!!!!!!