I'm planning on flying in June to Georgia. JFK to Istanbul but flights I'm looking at only have a 1 hr 15 min time between the flight landing time then the connecting flight on to Batumi, Georgia. I've not booked tickets yet because Im nervous about having enough time to get through passport control then to my gate to make the connection. I've watched several YouTube videos on this airport as it is massive. It seems if I don't take this flight, then the other option is a 10-12 hr layover... any advice from someone who has been in roughly the same position?
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2350 posts
75 minutes is definitely not enough time as a safe buffer for an international flight transfer. IST is physically one of the largest airports in the world. It can take 15 minutes for jets to just taxi to their gates. Add another 10 minutes to disembark and another 15-20 minutes for passengers to walk to the airport’s hub where you can begin to make your way to your next gate. There are very few moving sidewalks to get you between gates. You may need more time to visit the lavatory after a transatlantic flight.
Even assuming you don’t have to collect any luggage and re-check it. I wouldn’t be comfortable with less than 2 hours for an international flight transfer at IST.
Posted by
Wengen
2679 posts
If it is on one ticket this can work. The new Istanbul airport is huge, but it is setup to make quick transfers possible. I have had a few short transfers there myself.
And while the airport is massive, the longest walk you could have is still only about 15 minutes...
What you need to do is follow the "short connection" signs. They have shortcuts between the arrival and the departure levels all over the terminal, with their own dedicated security checkpoints. So you do not need to walk all the way back to the "hub".
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21241 posts
I have done 1 hour connections on several occasions. Not fun, but never missed a connection.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12195 posts
If it is on one ticket this can work.
If you are looking at booking with Turkish Air ( Flt TK12 connecting to TK392) as a single ticket, you should be OK. Airlines are not going to book connecting flights unless they have confidence of success. If it fails it is the airline that foots the bill to make it right, so they won't 'plan to fail'.
No personal experience; just looking at it from a business sense.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9059 posts
IST airport is one of the nicest I have ever been in. Turkish Airlines is also quite efficient.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
801 posts
I have missed connections from international to domestic with a 2+ hour window in the new Istanbul airport. I will say, however, that they are always good about getting me on a later flight. I don't how Turkish is flying out of JFK, but it can be prone to delays flying out of Atlanta. (I still love flying Turkish.)
Posted by
Olympia, WA, US
40 posts
I missed a 90 minute international to international connection in Istanbul but my flight departing the states was 90 minutes delayed. We landed right as the connecting flight was departing. If you are on a single ticket with Turkish Air you won't need to go through passport control and Turkish will take care of you if you miss the connection. There are several care desks and in my case we were rebooked for the next day and provided meals and a hotel. It was fairly seemless. You can check how frequently your flight is delayed by inputting the Flight No. On Flight Aware. That might help you decide if your tight connection is worth the risk. I personally wouldn't risk it and won't do anything under 2 hours in Istanbul again.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
21241 posts
Stuff happens. Do the 1 hour connection if there is another flight within a few hours or if the next flight out is the same or earlier than your next booking option. The key here is Turkish Air. First class in customer service in such situations (i missed a connection on Turkish in Kuala Lumpur last year - Iran's fault -and they treated me like royalty .... I am, but they didn't know)