Change at Istanbul - Whast it like?

silverfox1


Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 21:30

On my next trip to TRNC I am flying Easy Jet and connecting to Pegasus. Can anyone tell me the routine at Sabiha Gökçen (istanbul) for making a connecting flight? All help appreciated.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 21:44

Make sure you've got £10 (exact note) in your pocket for visa charge.



Richard

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 21:51

No need for £10 if your staying in the airport Brins ?



The last time I did this flying to Ercan was very smooth with only a 20 min wait, but coming back there was a 3 1/2 hour wait..............no good !

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 21:56

Turtle



Only if in transit lounge not when changing carriers.



Richard

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 21:58

Brins, I flew Turkish Airlines then transferred to CTA cost me nothing ?

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 22:00

flightholiday is on line and I'm sure he'll clear things up.



Richard

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 22:03

I've flown Easyjet into SG then connected to Pegasus and it didn't cost anything.

silverfox1


Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 22:37

is it easy to catch a connecting flight...well signposted? etc

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 23:00

Msg 6 Richard, Thank you in your confidence in me. Tom



I have never changed airlines in SAW so have no direct experience. The comments that follow are general so Silverfox you need to confirm with the airport and your carriers.





If you have to collect your baggage’s and check in then I would assume you can’t do that within the Transit areas.



If you need to leave transit you might need to “exit” the airport and then if you are a UK passport holder you would need to purchase a Turkish visa (£10.00) for other passport holders different rates apply. For certain nationalities you might even need to buy a visa before travel.



As I recall SAW airport is reasonably well sign posted



If you had bought a CTA, Pegasus or Turkish direct flight you might not have all these issues; may I suggest next time you contact us at IAH and buy a direct flight (www.flightholiday.co.uk )



Please tell us what transpires on this thread later.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
06/09/2009 23:17

As far as I'm aware Easy Jet are 'A' to 'B' port carriers so would need to disembark pass passport control, baggage reclaim and check in again with the second carrier, be it all in the same airport! Pain I know, but best keep a tenner on hand just in case! Get a Kiwi passport and it's free!



Richard

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 00:15

if yo have to wait at the airport have plenty money or credit cards its expensive xxx

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 00:22

I've been thinking about this and it just occurred to me that when we flew Easyjet via SG we actually did it from Ercan to UK and back again and we DID have to get the Turkish Visa. We also had about 6 hours to kill between flights so hired a car and spent the day in Istanbul as there is nothing to do at the airport. On the flight back from Luton by Easyjet to SG we only had 30 minutes to get the connection but it is a very small airport and we were able to collect our baggage very quickly and still made the check-in.

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 02:17

Brinsley, aka Richard, is correct. You will need to get a Visa. But on your return journey you won't as your Turkey Visa is valid for mulitple entries and exits within a 90 day period.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 12:53

Msg 12 joandjelly



You were lucky with your 30 minutes Pegasus say that transit will be at least 50 minutes which is why they will not auto book connections with less than 55 minutes to change from one aircraft to the other.



Pegasus generally move your hold baggage from plane to plane for their own flights which can't be done with different carriers.

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 13:07

Yes, my brother took this route any he definitely had to pay. He only had Euros on him and was not given any change from a 20 (the guy at the desk told him he had no change) so as Brins suggests, make sure you have a exactly £10 with you. Also I have on a number occassions heard that they try to charge you again on entry back in to Turkey. make sure you remind them that the visa is valid for 3 months and for mutiple journeys (they tend to forget!)

Dawnie1


Joined: 27/09/2008
Posts: 217

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 13:20

Im sure I read somewhere on here that the visa had gone up to £15, anyone confirm?

numpty


Joined: 20/05/2009
Posts: 554

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 13:25

Hi my daughter just did this on friday,you just have to follow signs for transit transfer,no visa needed.luggage automatically transferred.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 13:54

Msg 17 - I am not sure that there would be an automatic transfer of luggage between Easy Jet and Pegasus as you can't check in for both at the start of your journey. Did your daughter travel all the way with one airline?

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 14:39

Numpty,

Are you sure you are talking about Sabiha Gokcen Airport and not Ataturk? If it was Ataturk then, yes, you get automatic transfers and a transit lounge.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 14:46

Numpt I think your daughter was at Ataturk hence transit passenger

My son did it Easy jet Luton to SG Pegasus SG to Ercan

return Pegasus to SG then Easy Jet Gatwick on the return not such a long wait the did charge him £15 for the visa it was spring Bank holiday

He is doing in in November and he is a student Gartwick SG having two days in Istanbul flying out of Ataturk to Ercan CTA and return Ercan Pegasus to SG Easy Jet to Gatwick under £100 the whole set of flights no hold luggage

How cheap is that !!!!

silverfox1


Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 16:12

no one seems to be sure about the Visa, or the transit of luggage for connecting flights at SG so if anyone does know what really hapens please let me know. Thanks.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 16:25

Silver fox @SG arrivals you get your luggage and go to the right have £10 0r £15 ready depending how much they are charging on the day and have your passport stamped with the visa move to the left go through passport control and into the public side of the airport bear left and on the left is the pegasus checkin in luggage and go through passport control to airside departures

que and obtain your pegasus seat and check in your luggage

On the return journey at SG if its less than 90 days get luggage passport control left and left again to Easy Jet check in luggage and go through passport control to airside departures

Allow an hour and a half between flights as you are doing the luggage As I said son has done it once and is doing it again easy job and cheap if you can afford the time

The only transit passengers are with connecting flights by Turkish airlines at Ataturk does not happen at SG with two separate anilines

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 17:12

As far as I am aware no airline will transfer your bags from one flight to that of another airline - if for no other reason of who has responsibility in case of any claims.



If you have to pass passport control at SAW then you will need to buy a visa to Turkey.

This could be to collect your bags in "transit" due to the change of airline (I can't remember if you need to or not but would assume you would need to).

The other point is that to check-in to Pegasus or easy Jet on the other route you might need to go to the public concourse in which case you will have had to "exit" the airport (unless since my last journey through Pegasus have put an internal check-in desk in the transit areas.)



With luck someone else will have to do this in the next few days and can report back for you.

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 17:23

It sounds like a long and complicated way to get to NC, you could have just taken an Easy Jet flight directly, non-stop to Larnaca, or the old fashioned way, with CTA with a short stop in Turkey and keep the £10/£15 in your pocket.

kaiserphil


Joined: 14/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 17:56

I had to pay £10 at SAW last year, unless things have changed, there is no transit area.

When I landed there from Ercan the visa office was shut, and of course it took me a long time and many shrugs before I persuaded someone to call them and get someone down!

It is correct that you do not have to pay when you return as the visa is valid for several trips.

iankb


Joined: 03/09/2009
Posts: 32

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 21:29

I think the confusion over the Visa cost maybe because Brit.Passport Holders should pay 10 GBP's or you can pay 15 Euros.The price has not changed for over 10 years.Anybody transferring at IST or SAW from one airline to a different one will have to collect there bags and check in again.You will therefore have to pay the Visa charge even though you do not leave the airport.If, say, you are with Turkish from Manchester to Istanbul to Ercan then your bags are automatically transferred and you go through the Transit Passenger route paying no Visa charge.Hope this helps.



Ian

jfoggy


Joined: 23/12/2006
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 21:49

Thanks Ian just what I wanted to know, we fly out in a couple of weeks TA/MAN/IST/ERC have always used CTA before, more than ready for a change and hopefully a bit more leg room.

Julie

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 22:07

This thread is getting stupid. Just take three £5 notes just in case and if your holiday money budget is so tight you'll be in a desperate situation financially when trying to enjoy yourself in TRNC. Certain bars/restaurants are up to West End London prices!



Richard

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
07/09/2009 22:26

Hi, We stopped in Istanbul 2 weeks ago and in March. We reported to a transit area (escorted at high speed) When there we were sent to another man who wrote on our boarding card. We were then able to go through the transit checkin, up an escalator and into the airport. The airport is very large with loads of shops/bars etc. We had a a stop over of 4hrs 40 mins but our plane was late. We were there for 2 hours then the Ercan plane was late so from Leaving Mancester at 8.30am we got into Ercan at approx 1.15 am. You see some very intersting sights on both occasions we have seen a lot of european men in flip flops and bath towels with there prayer mats (a 100 or more). Warning!!!!!!! do not go to the bars to buy a drink unless you check the prices first, We stayed in the Hilton Hotel in Manchester the night before and it cost $11+ for a brandy & coke and a beer - in Instanbul it was £14+. If you leave the airport gate/departure area you will be charged. we paid nothing

rosieposie


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 08:59

I am flying from Ercan to Istanbul Ataturk with CTA and then to Barcelona with Turkish Airlines.



I think somebody mentioned that there is a transit lounge in Ataturk, so that I can go straight there without exiting the airport and paying the visa, is this correct? Will I still have to collect the luggage and check in again? Just to confirm I am going to Ataturk airport and not the other one.



Thanks

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 12:46

Msg 30 If I'm correct (unlikely) - You will need to collect your baggage’s that means "exiting" the airport UNLESS you can arrange to check-in for your onward flight at Turkish Airlines desk in Ercan And if they transfer your hold luggage PROBABLY NOT & you might still need to "exit" so you would not be in a transit area (outside “Transit” you will need a visa)



Two options:

1] Extend your stay in Istanbul - do a day trip or stay overnight for one or two days (we can help you with either if you want)

2] Arrange that you get a refund on your CTA ticket and extend your Turkish with a flight from Ercan to Ataturk (which is what we at IAH would have offered) It might cost a little more or might not but the convenience of not having to check-in twice is a boon. - If I ask our Turkish Airlines consolidator they might be able to assist, for a fee but I would go back to the agent who sold you this complex route and ask for their help



Tom

info@flightholiday.co.uk Skype flightholiday

rosieposie


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 13:02

ok thanks for your reply Tom. I don't have long to go now before the trip so I will stick to the current airlines and collect the baggage by hand and check in again. I will ask at Ercan though to see if it is possible to transfer it, but I would worry that they wouldn't understand and I would lose my luggage!!!



Next time I have a trip I will try to use the same airline.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 14:01

Rosie, Have a good trip and next time see if we can help your from IAH we like to and don't charge anything for trying.



Tom

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 14:03

Haven't been myself, but some friends booked into the Executive Lounge there for I think about £30 each and it was like the first class lounges at home. Comfy chairs, snacks and tea/coffee/soft drinks all in the cost.

Would be worth it if you have a long wait between flights.

rosieposie


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 17:16

ok thanks for your reply Tom. I don't have long to go now before the trip so I will stick to the current airlines and collect the baggage by hand and check in again. I will ask at Ercan though to see if it is possible to transfer it, but I would worry that they wouldn't understand and I would lose my luggage!!!



Next time I have a trip I will try to use the same airline.

rosieposie


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 17:20

Oops sorry for the repeat message - silly computer!!!

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 19:08

We flew with Turkish air into Istanbul and waited an hour for the connecting TA flight over to Ercan, my only complaint is that I couldnt enjoy a fag while waiting ..smoking now banned. :(

iankb


Joined: 03/09/2009
Posts: 32

Message Posted:
08/09/2009 21:19

In Turkey and if you bank with HSBC and have more than 75,000 TL in your account then you are classed as a Premier Customer.As long as you have a Premier Credit Card you can use the HSBC Courtesy Lounge which is located above the Food Hall area in the International Departure lounge at AtaturkEverything is free, Booze, wine ,newspapers and food.Also, HSBC issue to it's Premier Customers a Priority Pass Card which can be used in numerous airports all over the world.Same as the HSBC Card, everything is free.This can be used in the Wings Lounge in Domestic Departures at Ataturk.Not sure if HSBC TRNC do the same but worth you finding out.



Ian