IST Airport
Sep 19th, 2023, 03:26 PM
#1
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IST Airport
My husband and I will be traveling to Tel Aviv in 2024 and would like to fly Turkish Airlines (best open jaws itinerary for our trip). Is 90 minutes long enough for a layover in Istanbul on our way to Tel Aviv?
Sep 19th, 2023, 06:36 PM
#2
The minimum connection time international to international is 60 minutes but I wouldn't be happy with that. Especially with the sometimes extra security for Israel flights. But if its all on one ticket I'd feel OK with 90 minutes (only IF there are later flights the same day) since I'd be protected. If there are no later same day flights I wouldn't be happy w/ 90 mins.
Sep 20th, 2023, 02:22 PM
#3
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Turkish Airlines does have many flights to TLV, and it would all be on one ticket/reservation, so that is not a worry.
There are just some airports that are more difficult to navigate than others. And I am not sure how large IST is, or how organized.
There are just some airports that are more difficult to navigate than others. And I am not sure how large IST is, or how organized.
Oct 3rd, 2023, 08:28 AM
#4
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Update: We have been watching a lot of YouTube videos on IST airport, so when I booked our tickets I chose the 2 hr 50 minute layover.
IST is a single, large terminal with several concourses. If we land at one end and our connecting flight is at the other end, it will be a real hike to get to our flight to TLV. They do have moving sidewalks, but they don't help much. If you have mobility problems and have a tight connection you will want to arrange for assistance to your gate.
Since we are flying Business Class we'll have access to the lounge. If we have time between all the walking and passport control, then we can hang out in the lounge between flights.
IST is a single, large terminal with several concourses. If we land at one end and our connecting flight is at the other end, it will be a real hike to get to our flight to TLV. They do have moving sidewalks, but they don't help much. If you have mobility problems and have a tight connection you will want to arrange for assistance to your gate.
Since we are flying Business Class we'll have access to the lounge. If we have time between all the walking and passport control, then we can hang out in the lounge between flights.
Oct 3rd, 2023, 10:34 AM
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I've transited thru IST many times, it is a big old (its not old!) airport. I'm sure they make you walk from one end of it to the other so you can see it in all its glory. You were wise to choose the longer layover time.
Nov 8th, 2023, 07:22 AM
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IST is huge and on our trip to Turkey this past June flew in and out of there a few times. We had a domestic connecting flight from Kayseri to Izmir, connecting through IST and our arriving gate was pretty much literally one floor above our departing gate. We were initially pleased as we had a pretty tight connection time of only 40 minutes and we thought it would be relatively quick to get to our gate. We were so wrong lol - we had to hoof it all the way to the end of the terminal, go down the escalators and then backtrack all the way where we had come from. You see airport staffers riding Segway type scooters and figure they need it because of how huge the airport is.
Nov 9th, 2023, 07:09 AM
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IST is huge and on our trip to Turkey this past June flew in and out of there a few times. We had a domestic connecting flight from Kayseri to Izmir, connecting through IST and our arriving gate was pretty much literally one floor above our departing gate. We were initially pleased as we had a pretty tight connection time of only 40 minutes and we thought it would be relatively quick to get to our gate. We were so wrong lol - we had to hoof it all the way to the end of the terminal, go down the escalators and then backtrack all the way where we had come from. You see airport staffers riding Segway type scooters and figure they need it because of how huge the airport is.
But we may need this information in the future.
