Go Turkish Airlines to Save Heaps?

GordonR on 08/02/2017 - 11:09

Aiming for Europe in July, high season and fares are already nudging $2000 return.

Except for one combination - MalIndo to KL and then Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and on to many other European capitals - which is hovering around $1200-1300. The timing is awesome too with good connections.

So for a family of 4 we'd be saving $3000 at least to spend on accommodation and activities.

BUT, and its a big but - Turkish has Europe's second worst safety record (beats Aeroflot) and Turkey is so politically volatile that DFAT says "reconsider need to travel to Istanbul", but then maybe transiting in the airport is not exactly "visiting".

Anybody have any experience / thoughts / airline knowledge etc?

Travel

Comments

  • penguin286 on 08/02/2017 - 12:40
    +1

    I've no experience of Turkish Airlines

    But I've always felt driving is more dangerous than flying just about virtually everywhere in the world if we look at death rates.

    It'll be hard to think about stats for reassurance if the plane gets turbulent though!

  • oldm8 on 08/02/2017 - 12:48

    Given the instability in Turkey extends to and has involved an attack at the airport, I'd steer clear for a while.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 08/02/2017 - 13:38

    With a DEFAT warning, I would investigate the potential impact on travel insurance. I think that IF there is a warning it can void your insurance .. worth checking!.

  • altomic on 08/02/2017 - 13:46

    I flew with them from Istanbul to London in 1998. Plane was virtually empty and I had 5 rows to myself. It was the olden days and smoking was still permitted on airplanes so I spent the flight chain smoking. Though at Manchester they pulled me off the plane for having a hookah pipe (brand new and unused) in my bag. And then at Heathrow I had the most thorough search of my luggage ever.

    • GordonR on 08/02/2017 - 14:28

      In 1982 I flew Pakistan Airlines from London, on a narrow body plane with a 3-3 seat configuration.

      The smoking seats were all the ABC seats on the left of the aisle, and the non-smoking seats were all the DEF seats on the right of the aisle.

      As a non-smoker, you can imagine how awesome that was!

  • Ryanek on 08/02/2017 - 13:52
    +1

    I heard they're delightful.

  • Sheila Dealer on 08/02/2017 - 13:56

    Flew Turkish Airlines Dubai/ Istanbul return in mid 2014. Full service airline. Service and cabin space were fine. Plane was full both ways. Also flew Istanbul/ Zagreb on the same trip with them from memory.

  • 2jzzzz on 08/02/2017 - 14:21

    Flew with them 2 years ago and they were great. Went Singapore to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, 4hr connection in airport lounge, then Turkish Airlines to Athens. Good food, good cabin crew, clean plane etc etc. Flew back with them the same way too.

    Then the attack happened the same day a year later where we were. I wouldn't be going back through there again. I'm flying KLM (Etihad codeshare) this year. Got return in peak Europe Summer and Victorian school holidays for $1300return.

    • GordonR on 08/02/2017 - 14:24

      When did you book for the $1300? I'd take KLM for sure.

      • 2jzzzz on 08/02/2017 - 16:11

        About 1 month ago. The deal was posted.

  • spacemansam on 08/02/2017 - 15:05
    +1

    Flew with them over a year ago and loved them. Staff were friendly, food was yummy (well as yum as airline food can be) and seats were comfy.

    Would certainly fly with them again.

  • inherentchoice on 08/02/2017 - 17:50

    Well there has been rapid growth of Turkish Airlines and billions of investment in the airline and their Istanbul Airport hub. That alone suggests they're doing something right, even if they may be compromising on quality. It will surely be better than Malindo?

    http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/emirates-qatar-a…

    I do notice that there's only about an hour between the PER-KUL flight arriving on Malindo and the KUL-IST flight departing on Turkish, so you would need a 25 hour layover. But at least a stopover will help break up your trip and may help with jet lag. You probably need a hotel night on the way back too, unless you fly with AirAsia.

    • GordonR on 08/02/2017 - 20:27

      On my dates, it's 2hr40m and 1hr50m in KL out and back respectively, so not a problem. Total time around 24 hrs

      • inherentchoice on 08/02/2017 - 23:53

        Okay that's not so bad I guess their schedule is different in June. But will 50 minutes be enough time for your travelling party to get all your bags, clear customs and immigration, navigate through a massive and busy terminal (or two) and then find the check in counter before it closes? I think it's a big risk. If the inbound flight to KUL is late or you miss the onward flight your insurance won't pay, and nor will the airlines if it was separate bookings.

        • GordonR on 10/02/2017 - 00:31

          1 hour 50 minutes should be ok.

          I literally don't know how connections work on multiple airlines if the ticket is bought in one transaction from someone like zuji; obviously would need to check that there is no point in the trip at which one airline can say "you've finished your trip with us" and another airline "you haven't started your trip with us" and hence both wash their hands of you if something's gone wrong…

        • inherentchoice on 10/02/2017 - 04:19

          @GordonR: The check in counter closes 1 hour before departure time, so I think you will only have 50 minutes.

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