IST
I arrived into IST and transit pax headed through security screening. This was interesting as when I arrived from PRG there was no screening in or out of IST. Maybe the Schengen thing comes into play from there. And as I posted earlier, PRG were very thorough.
Technically I wasn’t transiting as I was planning to take advantage of TK’s hotel policy, but I wanted to visit the lounge briefly. I had a quick drink and got changed. I then put my suitcase into the storage area and headed back to the passport control area with just my backpack, where I was quickly processed. I had previously got a Turkish visa to make sure this step was possible.
Once pat immigration and through the luggage area I exited airside. At this point turn right and keep walking to the TK hotel desk.
I handed over my boarding passes (TK345 just flown and TK60 about to fly). They checked that I was in-fact eligible and then asked me to wait until my name was called. To be eligible you need to have a J connection of more than 7 hours or a Y connection of more than 10. And this must be the shortest time possible, as if there is another flight departing earlier, reducing the transit time, then the hotel is not permitted. There is a lot of info in the
FlyerTalk TK hotel thread.
I chatted to a Spanish gentleman while we waited for our names to be called. His flight had been cancelled, so he had a 24 hour wait! Half an hour later and I was being escorted to a minivan which was to take me to the Polat Renaissance Hotel, about 15 minutes from the airport. I checked in and was given a club twin double room, with full club lounge access. This is part of TK's arrangement with the hotel.
I spotted a few shops on the way to the hotel that I intended to visit, but by the time I had showered and had a bit of a nap, the lounge was open for dinner. A pleasant lounge with a reasonable selection of things to eat and drink. I stayed for about an hour and then back to my room. The van was due to collect me at 2300 so I had another snooze in front of the television. This is a very civilised way to while away the hours between flights.
Just before 2300 the van arrived and we headed back to the airport. I had a great discussion* with the driver about the merits of TK's hotel policy and that he had been working for them for ages. At one point we paused as he showed me the little shop where he used to work, and now his wife and daughter work. We would have stopped in to meet them, but the shop was closed and his house was a bit too far away.
He dropped me at the departure area and we said our farewells.*
I already had my BP so it was straight through passport control and the security screening and back to the lounge to have a sample of the food on offer (their grilled chicken is fabulous) and to collect my suitcase. The gate TK60 was to depart from was 303. I know from previous experience that this a bus departure gate, so I headed there an hour before departure time. I was there but a few minutes before the bus pulled up and the scrum formed to board. When there is a plane at the gate in IST, PB works a treat; when it is a bus, decorum goes out the window.
Once the bus was crammed with pax we set off for the aircraft. Now I have bussed to planes before, but this seemed to go for such a distance I think our plane was actually in Greece. We had to wait awhile on the bus until there was staff at the bottom of the stairs before we were let out. But soon enough I was climbing the front steps in order to turn left!
*I cannot speak any Turkish and the driver could speak not a word of English, so the conversation content is all speculation.
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