Turkish Airlines Customer Service Issues

My name is SF Ahmed, my ticket numbers range from [redacted][redacted] to [redacted][redacted]. Seven of us were traveling from Istanbul Airport to London Heathrow on 23/10/[redacted]. Airline Booking Reference: S5UH7F, travel agent reference: PGFBA919. Turkish Airlines denied us boarding despite having boarding passes as my daughter, FS, was unwell. I'm trying to claim money from the insurance company for the additional flight we had to book to return to the United Kingdom. The insurance company requires a letter from Turkish Airlines for compensation. Please send me a letter or email promptly. Contact me at Mobile [redacted] (0)[redacted] for further assistance. Thank you.

I had a flight from Dhaka to Istanbul at 9:55 pm. The connecting flight to Boston was delayed by 30 minutes and I missed the next flight due to immigration and luggage queues. I only received 2 out of the 3 boarding passes needed. In Istanbul, they advised me to collect my Boston to Pittsburgh boarding pass in Boston. I missed the flight and was rescheduled for one 13 hours later. The airline staff at the help desk were not able to assist me further. Due to the flight delay, I believe the airline should provide a hotel for the overnight stay which was not offered. I had to spend a total of 12 hours at Boston airport, with another 6 hours ahead. As a student, unplanned hotel expenses are difficult for me to afford. I am unhappy with the service provided in these circumstances.

Dear Sir, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the flight delays on November 20, [redacted], for the flights TK [redacted] from Oslo to Istanbul and TK [redacted] from Istanbul to Dhaka. Our booking references are UF247H for Rahman/Saima, UEHEII for Rahman/Majibur, UE6RYM for Khanom Mazeda, and UF247H for Rahman/Asik. Despite being informed 7 hours prior via email about a 25-minute delay on TK [redacted], upon arrival at the airport, there was further delay indicated on the departure board. Travelling with my wife, son, and 85-year-old mother, who are all Covid-19 survivors, any delay causes significant stress due to our health conditions. The short transit time we had in Istanbul was insufficient after missing the connecting flight due to the initial delay. Turkish Airlines did not offer assistance or guidance for our next steps. Furthermore, the lack of rest arrangements during the 7.5-hour layover and poor quality airport catering added to our discomfort. We were allocated separate seats on the plane, worsening our experience as we relied on each other for support. The delay resulted in us missing a significant event, our son's wedding, causing further distress. We seek compensation for the delays and hardships faced. Looking forward to your prompt response. Best regards, Rahman Majibur Hanaborgveien 51B [redacted] Fjelhamer Norway.

I wasn't able to board my flight on 12/01/22 due to a sudden health emergency that required immediate surgery. After being discharged from the hospital, I submitted a flight change request on the Turkish Airlines website with attached medical proof for a new outbound flight on 18/01/[redacted]. Despite assurances of a prompt response within 24 hours, the process has been delayed for over 65 hours. I have made multiple calls without resolution. I need to rebook my flight from Kyiv to Cancun via Istanbul departing at 8.40PM Kyiv Time. Please assist me promptly with ref # TK-[redacted].

Dear Turkish Airlines team, I would like to confirm the flight I have booked for Friday, January 28, [redacted]. The first flight is TK [redacted] departing from Berlin to Istanbul at 11:00 a.m. The second flight is TK [redacted] leaving Istanbul for Abu Dhabi at 7:45 p.m. My concern is regarding the PCR test requirement for Abu Dhabi, which needs to be taken within 48 hours of arrival. I have the option to do the test either on Wednesday, January 26, [redacted], or Thursday, January 27, [redacted]. I worry that Wednesday might be too early, and Thursday could be too late if the lab takes longer than 24 hours for the results. I am seeking clarification on whether a test taken on Wednesday morning would still be valid for my flight on Friday evening in Istanbul, considering it would be 58 hours old. Please respond to my query promptly. Thank you for your assistance. Best regards, M. Bentzien

Date: January 25, [redacted] To the Customer Care Officer, Turkish Airlines, Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to inform you that I purchased an economy class flight ticket for a flight to Los Angeles on January 21, [redacted], with your airline for business purposes. Unfortunately, our flight from Lviv was delayed, causing us to miss our connecting flight in Istanbul. This delay resulted in missing an important business meeting in Los Angeles as we arrived 25 hours later than scheduled. This was my first time flying with Turkish Airlines. Therefore, I kindly request a reimbursement for my tickets and a refund of my payment. As a frequent traveler, I hope to continue booking flights with your airline in the future. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Sincerely, Nataliya Booking Reference Number: VGZ7S2

I am a customer who recently booked round-trip air tickets from Bodø to Kht and back. While the first leg of my journey went smoothly, my return trip encountered significant challenges in Istanbul. On January 27, [redacted], our flight was scheduled for 1:35 a.m., but the plane arrived three hours late, causing us delays. Upon arrival in Istanbul at 9:00 a.m., I faced difficulties at your ticket transfer desk, where five staff members seemed disorganized and focused on their own tasks rather than assisting customers. Despite spending hours trying to resolve the ticket issue, it took speaking to a senior staff member before a resolution was reached. Though I appreciated the accommodation at a nearby hotel, I found the overall lack of professionalism and communication skills amongst your staff troubling. The presence of corruption within your team may impact your flight services and reputation. I hope you consider my feedback to improve the qualifications and service of your airport staff, particularly in their communication with international travelers.

I am requesting a refund for my canceled Turkish Airlines flight. The representative at the Houston sales office did not assist me properly and failed to acknowledge that I could contact the travel agent who issued my ticket. This service experience was extremely disappointing, and I will no longer choose Turkish Airlines. The behavior of the ticketing agent and the manager on duty, named Sam, was unacceptable. I am planning to report this to the BBB. I have been exchanging emails regarding this issue and would appreciate better customer service in the future.

Hello, I received a notification on your site informing me of a change in my flight date and time, instructing me to contact you via a specific number. I am currently in Turkey where my phone is not functional. I had made reservations for two flights through your service, one from Thessaloniki to Istanbul on February 2nd, and then from Istanbul to JFK on February 4th (FLIGHTS: TK1882, TK3). The first flight was rescheduled from February 3rd to February 2nd, and I managed to board without any issues. Now, I am concerned about my upcoming flight from Istanbul to JFK (TK3) and I received a notification to confirm it, but I am unable to reach out via phone. Can we handle this matter through email since I am traveling tomorrow? My name is Aikaterini Rigaki, and my reservation code is UPJFKV. If phone communication is not possible, please provide an email contact for further assistance. Thank you, Aikaterini Rigaki.

Hello, I received a notification from Turkish Airlines on your website informing me that my flight date and time have been changed, and I need to contact a specific number. I am currently in Turkey, and my phone does not work here. I booked two flights with you, one from Thessaloniki on February 2nd to Istanbul, and then from Istanbul to JFK on February 4th. The first flight was rescheduled from the 3rd to the 2nd, which I managed to board without issues. Now, my next flight is from Istanbul to JFK (TK3), and I received a notification to confirm, but I cannot reach you by phone. Could we handle this via email since I am flying tomorrow? My name is Aikaterini Rigaki, and my reservation code is UPJFKV. If you are unable to assist, please provide an email address for further contact. Thank you, Aikaterini Rigaki.

Subject: Issue with Airline Ticket Booking To whom it may concern, I am reaching out to address an incident I encountered with my recent airline ticket purchase. I had booked a flight from Istanbul to Sulaymaniyah and arrived at the airport on 03/02/[redacted]. Unfortunately, I was unable to board the flight due to a slight misspelling in my surname on your system. Additionally, there was confusion about the flight date as the booking indicated departure on 03/02/[redacted] at 00:30. This issue arose on 3/02/[redacted], and despite being a loyal Turkish Airlines customer, I was disappointed by the treatment I experienced from your staff. I kindly request Turkish Airlines to rectify this situation and provide a refund for the inconvenience caused. I anticipate a timely resolution to this matter and appreciate all assistance. Please communicate via this email for further correspondence. Sincerely, Kaiwan A. [redacted] The Gamecock, Boundary Lane Manchester, M15 6GE

Dear Turkish Airlines, I am writing to address the changes to my upcoming flight schedule to Capetown. I had originally booked to depart from Manchester on August 8th at 16:45 and return on August 21st. However, I received notification that my flight from Istanbul has been rescheduled for August 10th at 01:50, leaving me stranded at the airport for over 26 hours with my children. Additionally, my return flights from Capetown were moved to Monday afternoon, causing uncertainty about my arrival time in Manchester. Booking number: SRVD7D. Amount paid: £[redacted].48 plus £[redacted] for seats. As these changes greatly impact my travel plans and inconvenience my family, I kindly request confirmation of the new flight dates and times. Considering the extended layover, I believe Turkish Airlines should provide a complimentary hotel room for me and my family during this delay. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response and resolution. Best regards, Chris Brand

Dear Turkish Airlines, I am writing to inquire about my account. I have tried to update my personal information to match my passport details, specifically my date of birth which should be [redacted] instead of [redacted]. However, I encountered difficulties while trying to make these changes. Could you please assist me in resolving this issue so that I can successfully manage my booking and utilize my miles? I appreciate your help in this matter. Thank you for your attention to this request. Sincerely, Soraya Devy Syamsuddin

Hi there, I am from Iran and looking to purchase a ticket from Tehran to Toronto for the dates between April 28th and October 1st. I have come across a ticket with two layovers. The journey consists of flying with Turkish Airlines from Tehran to Istanbul, then continuing with a flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam, and finally with Air Canada from Amsterdam to Toronto. I hold a Canadian visitor visa. I would like to know whether I require a transit visa for Amsterdam considering the layover time is less than 4 hours. Thanks, Ramin

Dear forum members, My wife, Sara, and I recently flew from Istanbul on the 8th of February on Flight No TK1969 and wanted to share our disappointing check-in experience with Turkish Airlines involving a particularly rude staff member. We encountered issues regarding the Passenger Locator Form for re-entering the UK, even after quickly filling it out. The staff then demanded confirmation of our PCR test bookings in the UK, which we provided, but it was not accepted. We were ultimately forced to pay an additional £[redacted] for new tests. The staff member proceeded to rudely handle my phone, checking personal and work emails, causing a prolonged delay which nearly caused us to miss our flight. Sadly, this incident occurred as we were returning from Turkey after my wife's surgery. As seasoned travelers who have never faced such disrespect from any other airline, we are reconsidering our future plans with Turkish Airlines. It's disappointing when the face of the airline's service falls short. We hope for better experiences in the future. Thank you for reading, John M.

I'm writing on behalf of three passengers who were traveling to Cyprus on February 16th. They were transiting from Accra to Cyprus. Unfortunately, during check-in in Accra, they were informed that they didn't have valid tickets, even though they all had valid return tickets. Consequently, they were denied check-in and boarding, had to spend the night at the airport, and as of now, their issues remain unresolved. We are part of the Secure Travel Services Group of Companies, and the tickets were issued by our agency. Please assist with the following passengers' PNRs: 1. ALLISON/PRINCE - KSPPBS/KXPCXV 2. MONDAYE/BERNICE BLESSED - IDNZFQ/GALSWA 3. TUJAH/CYNITHA BLESSING - WRLUOE/VLSNMF We kindly request your help in addressing this matter promptly as our passengers are still stranded at the airport without any communication.

Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to bring to your attention a situation where we missed our flight due to your staff's partiality regarding our PCR test. We had two tests – one from the NHS and one from a private company, both within the required timeframe, yet the airport staff deemed one test unacceptable, leading to our luggage not being checked in. Despite explaining our situation as a couple working in the NHS, the staff member was disrespectful and unhelpful. This experience has been frustrating and disheartening. I urge you to address this matter promptly. Upon my return to the UK, I will seek legal recourse for compensation. Best regards, Fariba

Hello, I am Michael David Kendrick. I flew back to Ercan Airport with my daughter and granddaughter on October 17, [redacted], from London Heathrow via Istanbul. My passport number is [redacted]08. I have a stamped entry in my passport showing my arrival in Ercan. I am experiencing issues renewing my residency as there is no police record of my arrival at Ercan. Despite visiting immigration and the Police in Lefkosa for assistance, I was directed to Turkish Airlines' help desk at the airport. However, they mentioned that their system does not go back to [redacted] and advised me to contact the head office. My daughter Michelle Claire Kendrick and granddaughter Clara Dorothy Hubbert also traveled on the same flight and had no issues. I am seeking help to retrieve the flight number and my reference number for that journey to resolve the problem with Lefkosa police. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Michael Kendrick.

Hello, My name is LarsHarold Bohnke, and my booking reference is U52D88. I recently booked a flight from Düsseldorf, Germany to Antananarivo, Madagascar. The itinerary includes 4 flights with connecting flights in Istanbul. My ticket number is [redacted][redacted]. The flights to and from Madagascar have been canceled, leaving me uncertain about what to do next. I am eager to know if there are alternative flights to Madagascar on those dates or if I should cancel my current bookings. Additionally, I am wondering if changing the destination is an option and where else I could fly on those specific dates. I have tried reaching out to Turkish Airlines without success, as you may understand. Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Lars Tel: [redacted] (also available on WhatsApp) Email: [redacted] Skype: weselslars

I recently received notification that my Turkish Airline flights home in June [redacted] have been unexpectedly cancelled. Unfortunately, their website is not allowing me to book alternative flights, and being in Cambodia is proving to be a barrier to communication with the airline. After reaching out to Turkish Airlines, they directed me to their agent, who has now requested a €30 handling fee. It's frustrating to encounter this obstacle when I would likely be charged a cancellation fee if the situation were reversed. I am now waiting for the agent’s response and will pursue compensation for this inconvenience in the future.