BeyondTheBeach

My family of four is flying from Dalman to Istanbul at the end of our two-week visit in June. We fly on a Saturday and, for logistical reasons, must fly into Ataturk, and not Sabitha Gochen. Unfortunately, at least on Expedia, all flights into Ataturk are three times more expensive ($300+ - all Turkish Airlines) than into Sabitha Gochen ($100+ - all Pegasus). OUCH!

Am I missing some other option for this flight from Dalman to Ataturk? I am really depressed at the prospect of paying about $1,300 for my family to make this one hour and fifteen minute flight. Please help!

otherchelebi

I just checked the THY site for May 15, the prices range from 106 TL ($45) to 350TL ($165) with business seats between $165-220. June is not going to be any more expensive at this date.

You are either looking at broker sites or thinking that the local flight prices are in USD instead of TL. (current rate is about $1 = TL2.1

BeyondTheBeach

Thanks, Otherchelebi! Expedia does aggregate flights from different airlines. They do quote their prices in USD. I will go to the THY site immediately. I assume THY is an abbreviation for some airline, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know which one. Could you please provide the link?
You may have saved me!

BeyondTheBeach

By the way, I hope everything has been safe and quiet for you on this May 1 in Istanbul!

otherchelebi

Thanks BeyondTheBeach,

I wrote of our day on my thread.

THY is Turkish Airlines. Here's the site :

http://www.turkishairlines.com/en-tr/

try Atlas, Anadolu and Onur Air also.

BeyondTheBeach

Alas, changing the date from May to June causes the price to jump to $347/person. And now Turkish Airlines has sold out all mid-day flights from Dalaman to Ataturk.

So, we have booked a Pegasus flight, leaving Dalaman at half past noon, to Sabitha Gochen. The good is it only cost $121/person. The bad is, upon arrival, we must travel from Sabitha Gochen to near Ataturk because we will be staying at an airport hotel Saturday night (we have a very early departure from Ataturk back to US Sunday morning).

Otherchelebi, can you recommend a good hotel and restaurant near Ataturk for dinner Saturday evening?

Many thanks!

otherchelebi

I just checked for 18 or 19 June. There are lots of flights and the prices range from $100 to $170 Business on turkish airlines.

00:05 01:25 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Atatürk TK2561 THY Not Applicable 198 362
04:00 05:20 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Atatürk TK2573 THY Not Applicable 198 362
08:35 09:55 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Atatürk TK2553 THY Not Applicable 198 362
09:25 10:35 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Sabiha Gökçen TK2953 THY Not Applicable 225 389
13:15 14:35 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Atatürk TK2557 THY Not Applicable 198 362
18:55 20:15 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Atatürk TK2559 THY Not Applicable 198 392
23:10 00:20 19.JUN Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Istanbul / Sabiha Gökçen TK2957 THY Next Day Arrival Not Applicable 225 389
12:35 13:50 Muğla ( Dalaman ) / Dalaman Ankara / Esenboğa TK7175 AJET Not Applicable 220 Not Applicable
15:00 16:05 Ankara / Esenboğa Istanbul / Atatürk TK2151 THY


are you sure you are checking the Turkish airline site?

Do not trust expedia!

Pegasus has low luggage allowance and will charge exorbitantly for excess.

Did you reserve with Pegasus on the Pegasus web site?

otherchelebi

I believe you mistaked the Turkish Lira price as US Dollar price.

In any case the Pegasus price is quite a bit lower, especially if your luggage does not weigh much.


"BEYTI" restaurant at Florya, only 15 minutes from IST airport is terrific if you are not vegetarians. I strongly recommend their lamb chops which are the best i have ever eaten anywhere in the world. Beyti is specifically a meat restaurant, but they have decent sides they bring with the meats, a mushroom pilav and a good salad of great northern white beans.

Tell the waiter you would like to share a "Kunefe" for two or if you have a sweet tooth one each for dessert, as it takes 20 minutes to prepare.

Also about 15 minutes away, at Yesilkoy there are a number of decent fish restaurants near the seaside, but I do not know which ones should be preferred.

BeyondTheBeach

Thanks so much, Otherchelebi. I apologize for my delay in responding - I've been traveling.

Assuming we can easily travel from Sabiha Gökçen to IST, I believe we will be OK with our Pegasus flight. I believe the difference may be for our exact day of travel, which is Saturday, June 14. That day seems particularly busy.

And thank you for the restaurant recommendation. We will definitely eat at Florya, as we all love lamb chops!

Less than four weeks until our visit to your wonderful country. We are all very excited!

John

otherchelebi

John, check www.ido.com for fast ferry from Bostanci to Yenikapi orBakirkoy to find out if you can find one that fits your scheduled ETA at SAW, especially if you're not overly burdened with large suitcases.

Taxi to bostanci ido landing is reasonably quick and the ferry to Yenikapi and to Bakirkoy is extremely fast.

Enjoy your trip.

Try Radish greens (turp otu), thistle and samphire (Deniz Borulcesi) salads at Selcuk, possibly at restaurant of Bella hotel.