Author Topic: Travelling via Istanbul (Read 4030 times)

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

Scunner · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2009, 23:56:11 PM »

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.

Foosey · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2009, 00:30:39 AM »

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

col · « **Reply #3 on:** September 01, 2009, 07:40:03 AM »

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.

littlereddevil · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2009, 10:00:15 AM »

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.??

philrose · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2009, 10:14:26 AM »

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

KKOB · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:32:59 AM »

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.

Scunner · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:34:17 AM »

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

col · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:52:30 AM »

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

Scunner · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:59:53 AM »

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

Author Topic: Travelling via Istanbul (Read 4030 times)

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