We are taking the Turkye tour in April 2026. Does anyone have info on the timing of a flight from Izmir to Istanbul and then a flight to the States (Chicago). Basically, I want to know if we need to allow an additional day after the tour.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3942 posts
The tour bus will take people to the Izmir airport for flights leaving roughly after 10:30 - check your tour materials this information should be included. If your flight leaves earlier, then you should make alternative arrangements, or the guide may help match you up with others needing to leave early and help you get a taxi. It's an hour drive from Kusadasi to Izmir airport.
The flight timing is the reason I chose to take a later flight from Izmir, then flew to Amsterdam to stay overnight and then onward home the next morning. As you are in Chicago you may have better flight options than I do on the west coast. Make sure you have at least 2 hours to transfer at Istanbul, especially if you have luggage. If you book a separate one way flight from Izmir to Istanbul (and it's not on the same ticket as your Chicago-Istanbul flights) then give yourself at least 3 hours as you'll have to collect luggage, check in, and go back through security.
Posted by
5 posts
I recently did this tour. The tour bus leaves Kusadasi at 8am, take a bit over an hour to get to Izmir airport. Most people from the tour were on the bus. There are many flights to Istanbul from Izmir, the earliest possible you could make would be at 10:30,maybe a bit later would give you a little room. Flight takes 1 hr 15 min, with long taxi to the plane parking place, then a bus to the gate so altogether 1:45 min to 2 hrs. Then check times from Istanbul to your destination. If you check bags all on Turkish air, they will send them to final destination. If you use different carriers,you will have to pickup your bags and recheck them for your next flight . There are flights from Izmir to other European cities, you might check those , too. Security is very tight, you go through a line to just get in the airport, then again later on, right now.Leave extra time., but you probably do not have to schedule an extra day
Posted by
1 posts
Here's another option to consider. We are flying from Izmir to Athens on Aegean Airlines at 19:15, staying overnight near the airport and taking American at 11:15 to Chicago.