Latest info on non Visas at Ataturk Airport Istanbul

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 12:56

OK if my friend is flying into Istanbul from Seoul on Turkish Airlines,

By the Visa desk is there nor a stairway on the left sighposted something like "Domestic Departures"that

you use for flights to Ercan?so that a Visa is not obtained until Ercan





Thanks for the information



Mike

baldy


Joined: 18/11/2008
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 13:03

Correct. The entrance for onward transit is on the left next to the visa counter and just before passport control.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 13:04

Mike Msg 1 - I think that you are talking about the transit desk area and when the friend has seen security they can then go into "transit" for a while (as long as they do not try to leave the airport)

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 13:38

The passenger will be checked through from seoul to Ercan, the passenger does not need to anything just follow the te transit sign and that will take you back up to the depatures terminal area, sit have coffee and wait for the flight.

it is just over 2 hours waiting time.



why panic about nothing.





Departure: 23:55 Seoul, Korea (Republic of) - Incheon International

Arrival: 05:00 +1 day(s) Istanbul, Turkey - Ataturk, terminal I

Airline: Turkish Airlines TK91 e

Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A340-300



Change of plane required. Time between flights : 2:15.



Departure: 07:15 Istanbul, Turkey - Ataturk, terminal I

Arrival: 08:50 Ercan, Cyprus - Ercan

Airline: Turkish Airlines TK960

Aircraft: Boeing 737-800

dippersgirl



Joined: 04/05/2010
Posts: 795

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 14:08

This is right, I did it in the summer coming from Cologne with Turkish Airlines, all fine, no problems

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 14:46

Ercan is international departures.

As stated, follow transit signs, show boarding card and up the stairs to departure lounge.

Normal visa on arrival at Ercan

Happy Hussar


Joined: 01/10/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 15:01

If one is in transit from Ercan to Birmingham via Istanbul is it OK to buy Duty free at Ercan?

Tony

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 15:17

Thanks everyone.Very useful advice.Will pass on to my friend tonight.



Erkin,very knowledgable.My friend is starting from Cebu City,Pgillipines.



I cannot find a flight without an 8 hour wait in Seoul.



Be grateful if you help



Cok merci



Mike

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 15:56

why does it need to be from Seoul, Turkish airlines has many different flight from Asia.?

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 15:59

msg 7:



Yes you are able to but duty free at Istanbul as a transit passenger, but be advised it is not the cheapest duty free shop. You are better off buying at Ercan for cheaper or buy from the shops in TRNC before departure and wrap it nicely in the suitcase, even cheaper

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 16:11

Checked a few routes and all seem to be 7-8 hours waiting time as THY flights are all around 22.00 - 23:00



arriving istanbul around 5am.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 16:35

Mike - Erkin is correct that it is not a great route.

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 16:57

My friend starts in Cebu,Phillipines.



I have been there twice this year,but with a UK passport ,I go Larnaca-Dubai-Manilla-Cebu.

My friend has a Filipina passport,so must enter TRNC via Turkey.

As an amateur on the internet,I cannot see an alternate route.than Cebu-Seoul-Istanbul-Ercan.Emirates have a monoply of flights from Dubai,and,of course,she must land in Istanbul on Turkish Airlines

Any other suggestion,for faster route would be investigated.



Thanks again



Mike

a UK

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 17:25

Msg 7 - no problem with cigarettes but liquids could be difficult i.e. booze, perfume and the likes.

Buy at Ataturk then problem solved

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 17:26

Depending on dates -



15:25

CEB Cebu

SilkAir

MI588

18:55

SIN Singapore Changi

3h 30

 

 

Connect in airport

4h 40

 

23:35

SIN Singapore Changi

Turkish Airlines

TK67

05:45

IST Istanbul Ataturk

12h 10

 

 

Connect in airport

1h 30

 

07:15

IST Istanbul Ataturk

Turkish Airlines

TK960

08:50

ECN Ercan

1h 35



4 hours in Singapore isn't that bad

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 17:56

Thanks Tania,that looks great !!!



Got 3 or 4 days to get the right flight



Mike

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 19:02

Msg 7, 10, 14 - Duty free - If your duty free fluid's or pastes are not in an airport sealed bag they might confiscate it at the gate so be careful and make sure it is including on the way from Ercan via Turkey. (This is to do with hand/cabin baggage and does not apply if in hold baggage which has gone through examination on departure and is not handled by you till your final destination.)

ChesterSue1


Joined: 02/11/2008
Posts: 67

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 20:49

Happy Hussar and anyone else who may want to buy at Ercan Duty Free and then use Istanbul as Transit en route UK or Worldwide - Do not buy liquids or creams of any description, they are confiscated by Istanbul Customs, unless security sealed at Ercan!



Friends had a bottle of Bombay Gin taken off them at Ataturk while enroute to Heathrow that was purchased at Ercan Duty Free - they were not offered the sealed bag system at Ercan and felt pretty fed up for loosing the booze!



Sue

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 20:53

Hey,this is about Visas or non Visas at Ataturk,NOT duty free purchases !!!!



Mike

Ed1957


Joined: 03/09/2011
Posts: 377

Message Posted:
09/12/2011 21:39

But even so, booze is cheaper her than duty free anyway, so why worry?

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
10/12/2011 08:25

Glad to help. The waiting times seem a bit better. Hope you can get booked

billlfc



Joined: 04/11/2008
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
10/12/2011 12:19

REMBER THIS ONLY WORKS IF U USE TURKISH AIRLINES ALL THE WAY.

IF TWO DIFFERENT AIRLINES THEN YOU HAVE TO GET A VISA TO GET YOUR CASES , THEN CHECK

IN ANOTHER AIRLINE.

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
10/12/2011 12:34

billfc - don't think so.

Have flown to Istanbul with Air France and Emirates - cases through to Ercan from departure point ( UK and elsewhere ) and never had to pick them up in Istanbul. Just did the transit as above - no problems. Picked up boarding card for Ist - Ecn leg at Turkish Airlines desk beside transit area.

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
10/12/2011 13:03

Msg 23; you can do that if you have hand langguage but if you have suitcases and have 2 different airlines involved and not link then you will need to go out of passport control and return back in again to recheck-in.



but with mosy airlines are now in groups, like Turkish airlines that they can check you in.

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
10/12/2011 13:07

Erkin - I have done what I stated quite a few times - suitcases booked right through from one end to the other. AF and TA are not part of the same group and never had a problem. Never done passport control at Istanbul ( either airport )