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Reissuing tickets on partner airline with Turkish Airlines

I just wanted to share my experience in case someone else will benefit. I am flying from Ohio to Istanbul through Chicago. The flight from my home airport to Chicago is with United Airlines. Both flights are on one ticket. My original flight to Chicago was cancelled. I was placed on an earlier flight the same day. However, I could not confirm the change on the website so I called them. The agent stated that in order to get the ticket from Ohio to Chicago issued I would have to go in person to a Turkish Airlines Sales Office. The nearest office is in Chicago 6 hours by car. : )
I was then instructed to send emails to Chicago office and fill out an online request at Turkish Airlines website.
I did that but then I was able to find the phone number to the office in Chicago and I called them. A very pleasant agent was able to issue the ticket electronically. She advised me to call United and confirm with them that I am on the flight. I did, and I am.

Just in case this happens to you, don't get anxious. Call the appropriate local sales office and they will help you.

Posted by
6733 posts

Glad it worked out for you.

It's worth noting that sometimes you get a customer service agent who is either unmotivated, clueless, or maybe just having a bad day. If you get a response that seems crazy, nonsense, or unacceptable (which is how I would have reacted to the message that you needed to go to a Turkish Airlines office in person), thank them politely, hang up, and call again, so you can speak with someone who can give you a better answer.

Your ticket was issued by United. So you should have a United confirmation number. But part of your trip (the most important part, in fact) is on their partner Turkish Airlines; Turkish will have their own (different) confirmation number. You should have both of those numbers handy for if/when something goes sideways. United should certainly be able to confirm your leg on the United flight. For the leg on Turkish Airlines, you will almost always need to deal with them (Turkish); I know that some things with Turkish (a great airline generally) get complicated (picking seats on their website, for example). You definitely need the Turkish confirmation number for things like that.

Anytime you book through one airline and have one or more flights on a partner, always have the confirmation code/number for each airline (since mosts airlines' systems can't talk to their partners).

Have a good trip!