British Airways launches flights to second Istanbul airport

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• His Holyness says:

  5 Apr5 April 11:09

  Where did the slots come from at SAW?

• BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

  5 Apr5 April 11:15

  I’m going through LCY in an hour or so and I’ll report back.

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    5 Apr5 April 12:38

    Took literally seconds to go through. Though it was very quiet but the time from loading tray to picking it up was a minute a most

    Staffer telling people not to take things out of bags and several posters as well/

    The “new” scanner very quick and efficient.

    • NorthernLass says:

      5 Apr5 April 13:31

      I’m expecting MAN to ask for a delay in implementing the new technology while they come up with other reasons to shout at people. Or just decide they are keeping the old rules!

      • Bickers says:

        5 Apr5 April 19:17

        Spot on comment about one of the worst airports in the entire world

• louie says:

  5 Apr5 April 13:30

  As it seems we have Istanbul experts here…. I think (from brief research the other day) that the SAW metro line stops at the Asian side of the Bosphorus. How easy it is to get from the European side to SAW on public transport, with baggage (one 20k hold bag, one carry on)? I’m arriving at IST in June, spending three nights in the city and then flying internally. I have the choice of IST or SAW but am inclined to use SAW if possible as the journey to IST is such a pain and SAW is cheaper.

  On that subject, I know the metro from IST now goes much of the way and I think the next stop is due to open this month (still on target?). Is it easy to get from there to somewhere central (and handy to get to SAW)? I’m a bit reluctant to get a taxi after a rather unpleasant attempt by a taxi driver to rip us off on a trip from IST to the city a couple of years ago.

  Also, any suggestions for a good mid-range hotel somewhere central? I’m not as mobile as usual after recent surgery so can walk OK but not for miles at the moment.

  • louie says:

    5 Apr5 April 13:32

    Add: all leisure / tourism. Been several times before but happy to revisit some of the best sights.

    • lumma says:

      5 Apr5 April 13:48

      Probably easiest to stay near Sultanahmet. Tram nearby to get to other places. Tons of very cheap unbranded hotels

    • Aston100 says:

      5 Apr5 April 15:35

      Beyoglu and surrounds is where I’d choose to base myself for a city break.
      Sultanahmet is tourist / scam central.

    • Alexandra says:

      5 Apr5 April 17:04

      Stay in Sirkeci and you are steps away from Sultanahmet, which is way too touristy. It doesn’t get better for public transport inkluding ferries. Beyoglu is another area, but T1 Tram takes you there across the Galata bridge or you can walk. Do avoid the Taksim area for accommodation. Do explore the Golden Horn, the Balat und Fener Area, you are going to love it. As for the airport, SAW is great, lovely and lively airport. Many options to get there by public transport. HAVA buses to and from Taksim. If you arrive in SAW you can take the Hava Bus to Kadiköy, Asian side, then the ferry to Kabatas. It’s the most beautiful approach, with the late afternoon Sun, it’s nothing less than magical. From Kabatas you take the T1 again to Sirkeci. A must is the Istanbulkart. Enjoy.

    • johnny_c-l says:

      5 Apr5 April 18:24

      As you’ve been before I would recommend this time you try Doubletree Moda on the asian side. An easy route direct to the M4 Metro Kadıköy terminus from SAW with your luggage, and just a few minutes of flat non-cobbled walking to the hotel.

      It would be easy to spend three days around Kadıköy/Üsküdar (Moda shore, Kadıköy restaurants, Maiden’s Tower etc) but you’re an easy ferry ride to Karaköy or Eminönü where you can pick up the tram to Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) or the furnicular to Beğolu (Galata Tower, Taksim Square) if you want to revisit the classics.

      From Kadıköy you have a new area to explore, beautiful views over to Sultanahmet (especially from the higher floors or rooftop bar of the hotel) and complete access to public transport so you can flex to your mobility wants.

  • Michael Jennings says:

    5 Apr5 April 17:15

    To get to the European side, you just have to change from Metro Line 4 (which comes from SAW) to Marmaray, which is sort of an Istanbul version of Crossrail, which will take you on a tunnel under the Bosporus to Sultanahmet. You will need to change again if you want to get north or the Golden Horn, which may be annoying, but it’s easily doable.

  • Alexandra says:

    5 Apr5 April 17:45

    My God, there is even now the M4 from/to SAW all the way through Kadiköy . Incredible. The speed these people build their infrastructure is just breathtaking. Google Istanbul Metro network map.

  • louie says:

    6 Apr6 April 04:41

    You folk are great. Thank you very much for your responses.

• lumma says:

  5 Apr5 April 13:46

  In all fairness, for the people comparing Club Europe to Turkish business class. It looks like being around £900 return on Turkish v £450 on BA. I’m not sure I value a flat bed on a 3.5 hour flight at £450.

  The counter argument is that Turkish economy is way less than Club Europe and it is possibly a better experience, especially on the 777 or A330

  • vlcnc says:

    5 Apr5 April 14:39

    Yeah I think that’s what is crucial, BA Club Europe is not that good while Turkish Economy with their excellent food is for this flight length and A LOT cheaper. I wouldn’t bother with Turkish Business Class for a flight this short. And BA economy on a flight that long is frankly just laughable at those cash prices because it isn’t even that cheap and is a very low-cost and uncomfortable experience.

  • Alexandra says:

    5 Apr5 April 17:11

    Turkish Aiways TK has the best economy service. Full stop. Best food, Good IFE. Check out their Discover Turkiye series.

• Greg Vose says:

  5 Apr5 April 14:23

  As a frequent traveler from LHR to Ankara I welcome the SAW option. The new IST is gorgeous but just so big. You routinely get the “Go to gate” warning an hour before departure. I’ll have to make sure there is convenient SAW-ESB flights. From IST it is almost hourly.

  As a side note, due to business at the airport I have departed SAW to London. At SAW Fast Track would be very needed.

  But good news.

• JumpingJames says:

  5 Apr5 April 17:06

  This might seem like an odd destination but I suspect the number of British people wanting to fly to mid-haul destinations which are not a part of Schengen has probably increased since the restrictions imposed by the EU following Brexit.
  People who used to spend a lot of time in Europe for trips now have to find alternative destinations outside of Schengen for some of their trips.
  Simple as that.

  Hopefully we see the Sharm route continued through the year and not just winter and more flights being put on to (perhaps better located) Turkish airports.

  That said, when BA offer Club Europe on a 5+hr flight that is a serious turn off. Not used their Cairo service since they got rid of the old BMI thrones and whilst I’d definitely consider using CW for that route I’m not using CE so they don’t get my money !
  Dreadful offering.

  • Catalan says:

    5 Apr5 April 17:11

    @JumpingJames. What exactly are these “restrictions imposed by the EU following Brexit.”?

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

      5 Apr5 April 18:37

      That would be the 3rd country rules that now apply to us.

      The current Schengen limits are more than adequate for most people and if you want longer then apply for a proper visa / permit or whatever they are called

      • Catalan says:

        5 Apr5 April 18:58

        Those rules always applied. They were not imposed upon the UK. The UK chose to leave the EU and it follows that the UK now falls under the already existing “3rd country rules”.

  • DaveJ says:

    5 Apr5 April 20:38

    I suspect the number of British people wanting to fly to mid-haul destinations which are not a part of Schengen has probably increased since the restrictions imposed by the EU following Brexit.

    “I suspect”

    Hmm

    • Nick says:

      5 Apr5 April 20:48

      As someone whose days (via stamps) are counted every time… honestly I can see the attraction. Brexit is a stupid dumb thing that we shouldn’t have done and it’s embarrassing to be counted in and out every time. Non-Schengen trips do have a certain appeal in this context.

      • Londonsteve says:

        8 Apr8 April 13:32

        How long do you find it’s taking to process your passport when entering/leaving the Schengen zone? I don’t mean the waiting time as clearly that’ll depend on multiple factors, it’s the actual time at the booth dealing with an immigration officer I’m interested in.

• ADS says:

  6 Apr6 April 13:48

  Presumably BA will pick up a certain amount of connecting traffic from SAW for their transatlantic routes

  Maybe BA liked the prices that Pegasus/SmartLynx/AndoluJet are charging to SAW

  If SAW is a lower cost option than IST, maybe BA saw this route as an opportunity to beat TK on the Heathrow-Istanbul cheap flight rankings!

  • Londonsteve says:

    8 Apr8 April 13:39

    The subsidies are likely to be the main motivation for BA to try the route. The enormous Istanbul catchment area and a large Turkish diaspora in London for whom landing in SAW to access Istanbul or connect on to elsewhere in Turkey will be further factors. Being able to offer cheaper fares than TK to/from London will also be appealing. It’s only a matter of time before TK start their own flights LHR-SAW and torpedo BA out of the water.

• Alan says:

  9 Apr9 April 08:30

  I booked LHR-SAW seats for July, great option for me as my focus on this trip is the Asian side of Istanbul. Am a little puzzled though. BA booking now shows Marquette as my destination, not Istanbul. Marquette is a city in Wisconsin, US and its airport FAA code is SAW which is the same with Sabiha airport’s IATA code, SAW.

  How can BA systems get it SO wrong and collect the FAA data rather than IATA? Shocking and rather embarrassing for BA.

  I took a screenshot and will sue BA if it flies me to Istanbul rather than to Wisconsin! 🤣🤣🤣

  • Alan says:

    9 Apr9 April 08:38

    On reflection, perhaps Wisconsin tier points and avios for a flight to Istanbul may work in my favour! 🤣

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