Hi,
I´ve usually flown to SA from Finland with SAS, Lufthansa, Aor France etc but now I have the option of using Turkish Airways! This way I can save 400E on the round trip.

Anyone out there flown TA?

Old THY! I used to live in Sinop, Turkey in the early 1970s and flew all over Europe with them. While some of the fellow passangers were unpleasant, (back then many Turks smoked a cigarette called Bafra which makes the smoker smell like the exhaust from a sewer treatment plant.), I had no problems with the airline or their equipment.

Four hundred Euros is a lot of money. I would not hesitate to save that money and use it for an extra trophy fee.

Go THY!

Hi,
Thanks for the info, looks like I might book with them just for the adventure!
Cewe

cewe,

I've flown Turkish Airlines a number of times from FKT-Istanbul & return, for the same reason as you are considering them - better fares. No issues whatsoever.

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for the feedback! I´ll be booking with them for next May.

Cewe

The only issues I've had flying TAL at least twice a year (besides those cigarettes) were the combat takeoffs and landings they'd sometimes practice. Service, etc., was good.

I'm flying Turkish from JFK to Instanbul, on to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) Saturday. I'll let you know if I don't make it.

Have a good flight and check back if you don´t make it! LOL!

Anyone heard from Brice? I just booked my trip with TA for May....

cewe
I have flown Turkish Airlines twice; Last year when I went to Azerbaijan for a Tur Hunting, I traveled from Madrid-Istambul-Baku round trip and recently for a Mid-Asian Ibex Hunt, Istambul-Bishkek-Istambul.
Everything is good enough and firearms friendly.
Regards

Honey, I'm Hoooooooome. Returned 11/20 from Bishkek. The Turkish flights JFK to/from Istanbul were fine. The Istanbul airport is very pleasant, and there is an airport hotel on the grounds, although my layover was too short to use it. The Airbus was comfortable. The Instanbul-Bishkek flight was a little tougher. They use 737's with six across, so seats are narrow. It's five hours. VIP service is available in Bishkek for an extra $60, and it is very nice. I recommend it. We got socked pretty hard for extra babbage on return, $680 for two of us. They want it in cash, but get a receipt. In Istanbul they wanted to charge us again. We had three extra pieces ncluding trophies, and some were over 50#. I believe they will not accept a piece over 32kg (70#). They will want to check your rifle going out. Be sure you keep the rifle permit issued by Kyrg. government. You must have your 4457 upon entering US.

The baggage rules are different leaving US vs returning. Read Turkish Air rules.

You might want to have some Euros for use in Istanbul airport. Credit cards are accepted, but you pay a fee for each use, and for small purchases it's a high percentage. The duty-free store is very large. I suggest you pick up smokes for gifts to guides and camp staff, but put them in the bottom of duffle bags.

Ther shopping is Bishkek is awesome. Look for rugs, chess sets, wool (nice shawls), prayer rugs, felt slippers, amber jewelry. Go to Zum, a 4 story collection of shops, near Dostuk Hotel. At the Dostuk, you will want to unplug the telephone so you cn sleep: Ring Ring. Helloooooo, how are you? Grump. Would you liek massage? This happens 2-3 times a night.

And the girls!!!!!The women in Bishkek are gorgeous and friendly.

Welcome Back Brice

Sounds like you had a good one Brice -and welcome back! I´ll be flying Helsinki-Istanbul-Johannesburg so I´ll probably be checking my luggage through to the destination.

What´s hunting in Turkey like? Expensive?

Hi cewe,
I haven't hunted Turkey. I was in Istanbul on the way to Kyrgyzstan for Marco Polo. The hunt cost was 23,500 inc. Ibex. However, due to very limited import permits, you can expect to pay quite a bit more now. I hear that MP is over 30K in Tajikistan.

Brice: Sounds pretty expensive, hope you got your moneys worth

I´ll stick to African hunting for the time being but one never knows...