About to book tickets for a trip to Tanzania next year. Steve Turner sent me another option to think about via Turkish Airlines.

A few good things I see about this option are: -direct flight from LAX to Istanbul, then onto DAR.
-From what I've read they are somewhat firearm friendly.
-I can get a comfort class ticket for the same price as an economy ticket via KLM.

The layover in Istanbul is only 1 hour, but I was planning on going a few days early anyways just to give us a buffer in case we miss the connection, or problems with luggage.

From what I've read Turkish Airlines gets reviewed very well.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Anyone flown this route?

Know nothing about the airline or that particular airport, but common sense says 1hr layover is not near enough time to get from one plane to the next (read terminal to different terminal) much less immigration/customs.

Maybe a one day layover for a sampling of the local fair then a flight out the next AM...but what about your firearms?

I know, the layover is pretty short. It does make me nervous. I wouldn't need to clear immigration or customs, just proceed to the next departure. BUT worse case scenario, there is another flight after that arrives in DAR still a day before my charter. And staying over in Istanbul doesn't seem like a bad thing to me either if it came to that.

No reason to have to go through Customs and Immigration in Turkey if you are not leaving the airport, to the best of my knowledge. I agree though, it could be a potential problem with the luggage making the transition smoothly that quick. I am watching this one closely as my initial reaction to T/A is negative based on never hearing of them before and taking a chance with firearms on a special trip! Having made the trip to Dar from Houston on KLM, I am with you on the upgrade though, I damn near got claustrophobic on the flight over and back in coach! You get to be close and personal with everyone around you!

The only time I flew through Istanbul, they took my rifles and bow off the plane and kept them for 6 weeks. Fortunately for me, I had already taken my hunt. Repeated calls 4 times a week to the service personnel for Turkish Airlines finally got them off their backsides and I did get my rifles and bow back, 7 weeks later. Good luck

Wow that doesn't sound good. I've heard many people use this airline when going on to kyrgyzstan and tajikistan and have no problems with rifles. Did they ever give you a reason why?

No, they just called and said that I must believe in miracles because they had found them. THAT didn't sound good to me. And it only cost me for a new bow because archery season had started here and I had no bow. All's well that end's well.

two times i had friends that got their firearms delayed due to short time connection ...

one hour is not enough and they got their firearms within one week ....

I'm looking at options of staying in Istanbul a couple days and having the guns stored at the airport (with local assistance). It'll break up the long trip, plus why not view a new place instead of holed up in DAR for those days.

I would never bet on making a successful one hour international connection, particularly when flying with firearms.

I flew quite a bit in Turkey and they were fairly efficient, but I simply would not do it if a one hour layover was all I had.

Just a quick follow up to this.

Just got back from my 21 day hunt in Tanzania. Just want to highly recommend this route to anyone considering it in the future.

Here was my route
LAX direct to Istanbul (12.5 hrs) - Comfort Class
2 day stopover in Istanbul
Istanbul to Dar (7 hours) - Economy (no comfort class available)

Cost $2450

IMO Turkish Airlines seems to be very firearm friendly. Service on the flights was excellent. Comfort Class is woth every penny. I thought I was still walking thru business class when all of a sudden there was my seat. Huge amount of leg room (i'll post photos in my hunt report). Made the 13 flight a breeze.
Stayed in Istanbul for a few days. The idea was to break up the flights, as to make sure guns showed up along the way. Also since Istanbul is in the same time zone, work getting over the jetlag in a nice tourist friendly place.
Steve Turner arranged a rep from Shikar Safaris so help with storage of the guns for the few days we were there.
The rep, Shenol, was right there waiting for us. Got the rifles and ammo, went to police station in the airport, filed out a few documents, got our receipt, and boom done. We had arranged a ride to the hotel, but Shikar was ready to provide this as well.
They even sent a guide with us the next day to show us the city, at NO COST. Needless to say Shikar Safaris went above and beyond. The cityw as great, food was great! The hotel, The Sirkeci Konak, was perfect. I booked it directly after reading reviews from Trip Advisor.
On the last day, Shenol picked us up. Showed us around a few other places we hadn't seen, and then off to the airport. Rifles and ammo were taken care of, and boom we were off. Arrived in DAR along with us, and off we went into the bush.

Anyways just thought I would share this info in case someone is thinking about flying turkish at some point.

I'm working on my hunt report now and hope to have it up in a few days.

Bobby,

I'm going to remember that one. Sounds like a great alterantive. And the tour in Istanbul? Too cool.

Mark

Istanbul is a wonderful place to spend a few days, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, the market place, tons of history to see.

For sure, if you have the chance, spend a couple extra days in Istanbul.

Great food, decent wine, and history like none other on this planet, truly where east meets west. I've got four favorite cities, outside the US, and Instanbul is one. I sent one of my business partners there for his honeymoon, they had a great trip, started/finished in Instanbul, hit the beach in Ibiza, three weeks, no worries.

Mike E