Turkish Airlines wants you to connect through Istanbul. To encourage this, Turkish provides free hotel rooms for transit passengers with long layovers. But be careful: the rules for who can and cannot receive a hotel room are confusing.
Criteria to receive a free transit hotel from Turkish Airlines
To receive a free hotel room from Turkish Airlines, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be in transit from a Turkish Airlines international flight to a Turkish Airlines international flight
- Minimum transit time is 7 hours for business class and 10 hours for economy class
- The connection must be forced by “Turkish Airlines’ schedule structure”
While the first two points are self-explanatory, the last point requires clarification. I’ll use an example.
Let’s say you are flying from San Francisco to Zurich via Istanbul on Turkish and you have the choice of the following two connections—
or
If you chose the second one, giving you a 15-hour overnight connection in Istanbul, you would not be eligible for a free hotel room because your connection time is unnecessary. Even if your connection was due to fare price or award space availability (i.e., award space only on the morning IST-ZRH flight and not the evening before, thus “forcing” you to remain overnight) this would not count and you would be denied a hotel room.
Here’s another example. Say you need to get from Paris to Chicago and book a flight leaving Paris in the evening to take advantage of the free hotel before connecting to Chicago the following afternoon:
That also will not work because you could have booked an early morning Paris to Istanbul flight instead to connect same day to Chicago.
In other words, the overnight was voluntary, not forced by the schedule. Consequently, you would not be eligible for a complimentary hotel room.
Note that even though you might not have access to a complimentary hotel accommodation, you would have access to the 24-7 CIP Lounge, which is relatively comfortable for an overnight stay.
Steps to Get a Free Transit Hotel Voucher from Turkish Airlines
If you do qualify for a free transit hotel voucher, you will not see clearly-marked signs or other advertisements for this amenity.
First, you must clear immigration and customs. That means your hotel is not technically free if you are transiting because you will have to pay for your visa, which is currently $30 for U.S. passport holders (with a three-month validity).
After clearing customs, proceed out past baggage claim into the arrivals hall. Take a left and across from the Turkish Airlines’ Arrival Lounge is the Hotel Transit Desk.
If you qualify, a voucher will be given to you. To avoid wasting $30, you can stop at the international transit desk before passport control and an agent there can verify if your ticket qualifies. You can also call the Hotel Transit Desk at +90 212 4440849.
All hotels in this program have complimentary shuttles, so you will not have to worry about finding your way to your hotel. The Hotel Transit Desk will provide specific instructions where you can catch your shuttle.
CONCLUSION
Turkish has a generous transit hotel policy for its passengers, but familiarize yourself with the rules to avoid the unpleasant surprise of being denied a free hotel room during your next long Istanbul transit.
No mention of TK’s free transit tours? I’d rather see the city than the inside of a hotel room.
Have you ever seen this sh!thole? I’d definitely not leave even an airport if it’s possible.
Turkish people are super disrespectful and are a bit insane. When you hop in a taxi, it’s possible that you will not leave it alive, because they drive like crazy…
I’m in Istanbul now, and I got Turkey’s relatively new eVisa before departure (vs on arrival). It was only ~$20.
Good post but I would add the free tour aspect at http://www.istanbulinhours.com/ that Turkish offers.
Good point, though I think I’ll do a separate post on this.
Excellent post Matt, If you did a post on the free transit tours referenced above could you supply a link? Recently discovered your site, Its fantastic…Thanks!!
Hi, please could tell me should I get visa if transit more 27 hours in Turkey…my fight from Manchester to Istanbul and to Tunisia the more than 27 hours
Thanks
I would.
There is a trick that Turkish Airlines uses to bypass “Free Transit Hotel” policy.
In case if they are aware of long delays (more than 10 hours) they just break down 1 big delay into multiple short delays. It’s an easy cheat and they use it a lot!
So it’s just a marketing trap. Please don’t rely on this service.
Thanks for your comment. My sister-in-law had a different experience, but that is only one datapoint. I appreciate yours.
I friend of mine took it, in June coming back from Brazil, São Paulo to Dublin!
He said it was easy and true, you just pay for the Visa and thats it.
Perhaps worth noting that they use different hotels for business class and economy class passengers.
Traveling business class, I was given the Radisson Blu. Breakfast included – though no where near as good as the lounge. Still, the staff was very helpful. Overall it was a pretty seamless operation.
Would be much easier if they had an air-side hotel they could offer. There is one at IST however the cost for 10 hours of use is 175€ which is pretty steep.
For Indian passport holders if they are eligible for free hotel from Turkish airlines for 21 hours layover, what about the visa? What type of visa is required and who bears the cost??
Thanks for the info. Is there any rule that the ticket must be bought from turkish airlines agent only inoder to be eligible for the ticket? For exemple if i buy turkish airlines ticket from x or y websites.
There’s no such rule, so you will be eligible if your itinerary meets the criteria in the article, provided it is a single booking with a transfer in IST rather than two separate bookings (one to and one from IST).
“Take a left and across from the Turkish Airlines’ Arrival Lounge is the Hotel Transit Desk.”
I had to take a right to get to the hotel desk, not a left. They put me in the Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel.
How was the hotel?
Thank you for a great article! Do you happen to know how it works when for the second leg of your flight there are several options to reach the destination? Is a direct flight (i.e. Istanbul – Porto, which means a 12 hours transit time) eligible when there is the possibility of taking two flights to reach the same destination (i.e. Istanbul – Lisbon, Lisbon – Porto)? I want to fly Turkish but if it means more connections or no overnight hotel stay I’m not sure I am up for it.
The only thing that matters is that you are taking the next possible flight out (i.e. not skipping any flights to your next city departing between your arrival in Istanbul and scheduled departure).
Are you sure? The TA website shows that you can skip the flight and if both layovers are more than 10h.
What do you mean skip the flight?
I mean choose longer layover from two +12h options – not the first, but the second flight from IST.
That would definitely not qualify for a free transit hotel.
well i want to know free accomndation disqualify turkey airlance passangers can you provide hotel self pay when do turkey airlance passanger come to hotel desk istanbul and how much we need to pay for one night ? i have flight septmber two kathmandu to istanbul next sept. three istanbul to lisboa .bohoraprem@hotmail.com can you sent me mail please help me
Question: You say that one of the conditions is “Minimum transit time is 7 hours for business class and 10 hours for economy class”. Is that total trip transit time including layover, or just layover time?
(if I book a 15-hour economy journey, with a 9-hour layover in IST, is that valid for a free hotel room, provided the other conditions are met?)
Thanks
Ryan, unfortunately this is just your transit, so 9hrs would not meet the requirements for a free transit hotel if traveling in economy class.
Sir i have valid Ummrah visa so can i avail this facility???from pakistan
How long is your transit in Istanbul?
As you exit customs , you should take a RIGHT, not left. The desk is beside the Statbucks and the arrivals lounge.
1. Your CDG-JFK example might be argumentative. The pax wants to leave CDG at 6:35pm on Feb 8, the earliest connection is on Feb 9 the ff day at 8:25am thereby having a layover 8h10min which should qualify for a hotel as C passenger.
2. Your theory is that pax can leave CDG instead the ff day on Feb 9 at 7:40am to connect at 3pm departure to CDG, in this case, it seems to imply that the determining factor is the onward connection, and not your outbound flight.
WHat if the pax i.e doesnt have a visa to last untill Feb 9, and he really wants to leave on Feb 8, then number 1 should qualified him for a free hotel .
Perhaps a flight date is key word here. To get to JFK from CDG on a particular day, there is shortest connection which is number 2 , the 3 pm departure
If the rules is based on same day connection, then I agree that CDG pax can only take the 3pm departure to JFK. What about the 8:25am to JFK? does it mean its not available to ex CDG pax?I believe the rules doesnt say same day connection, it says next available connection which means that the determining factor is your first flight and not the onward connection schedule.
In short: for pax wants to fly CDG-IST-JFK on a specific date:
08 Feb – shortest connection is , 6:35pm CDG departure to connect to 8:25+1 IST departure (free hotel for C pax)
09 Feb – shortest connection is 7:40am CDG departure to connect to 3pm IST departure ( no hotel)
Is the CIP lounge available for Economy passengers? And is there a fee? Do they allow/accommodate sleeping there? Thank you.
The CIP lounge is not available for economy class passengers.
Details here, including about sleeping arrangements:
http://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2017/01/02/review-turkish-airlines-cip-lounge-istanbul/
Thanks for the info
Well understood.
Great article.
I fly JFK-IST on TK12 arriving into IST at 17:25 and depart on TK730 the following morning at 02:10. Therefore there is an 8 hour and 45 minute layover.
The first segment is in business class but the second segment is in economy. Would I still be eligible for the free hotel? If so, would I be placed in one of the business class hotels?
Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll have access.
We had a terrible experience with this at IST last July. The tour desk took an hour to give us a hotel. After an hour, they put us in a steaming bus and waited for another 45 minutes. After that, I asked the person in charge where the hotel was and they told me the name. I looked it up and the hotel was in the Asian side, about 30 kms from the airport.
We had already wasted almost 2 hours out of a 15 hr layover, so we just got off the bus, took a taxi and booked a decent hotel in Sultanahmet. Can’t stress enough, find out which hotel it is!
My wife an I had 7 hours layover in IST with economy class and thy provided a complementary hotel, no one actually did not even check layover time…
I have lawover of 22 hrs no other flights for that day, do i need to apply for an e visa or its available on arrival and what would be the cost for an Indian resident.
Any idea on how the potential visa (on-arrival) kerfuffle will impact the free hotel stay option?
You need to obtain visa first and pay for it — can do it online now with e-visa or still buy visa on arrival.
“kerfuffle”? Love it. Always reminds me of Lou Todd and Andy Pipkins on Little Britain…
Thanks. I should have more clear. I was referring to this breaking news from the Washington Post:
“The increasingly strained alliance between Turkey and the United States took a sharp downward turn Sunday when both governments abruptly announced they were canceling most visitor visas between the countries…”
Good information, I have one question, for Free Hotel and Free Tour, is there optional or we can get it both free? both? Thank you
http://www.istanbulinhours.com/faq
🙂
We are departing London (economy) for San Francisco (business class) via Istanbul all on Turkish, best connection times exceed 10 hours, overnight. Two separate tickets. Would we qualify for free hotel room? Thank you!
IS complimentary dinner included? I it one hotel or list of hotels?
Yes, meal vouchers are included (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
If I have a choice between two biz class flights that both have long layovers, am I eligible for the hotel for both or only the earlier departure? The first flight departs at 10:35 pm and has a 9 hour, 5 minute layover. The second flight leaves at 11:45 pm and has a 9 hour, 20 minute layover. The language on the TA site is confusing for this scenario. It implies I must choose the shorter connection. These two flights are the only options.
You must choose the shortest available connection to be eligible for the transit hotel.
I have connect flight 20hrs. I want to stay inside Istanbul airport . Have any free room or sleeping zone in Airport ?
There are sleeping zones and also a mosque, but no real sleeping rooms except the TAV transit hotel which will run over $200USD.
I’m flying Turkish Airlines business class on a Miles and Smiles award ticket from San Francisco to Bari, Italy with a forced layover in IST of 20 hours. I do not see anything in the hotel voucher rules that specifically addresses award tickets. Are award tickets eligible for the complimentary hotel stay?
Yes, award tickets are eligible but you will have to pay $30 p/p for a visa to enter Turkey in order to collect your free hotel voucher.
If the ticket is redemption ticket, is the free transit hotel also valid ?
Yes.
Have there been any changes in the criterias for the free accommodation? Or a stopover and layover have different meanings in that case?
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-ee/flights/stopover/index.html
here it says, that the stopover has to be over 20 hours.
So I’m a bit confused, because I can’t find any specific information from their webpage.
This is very helpful and am grateful for the deep insight.
However, i will want to know if we will be require to pay any fee (i,e, Visa fee)?
You will pay the visa fee.
Hi, we are Brazilian/Italian and we would like to fly from Ireland to Brazil, through Istanbul. The flights I found would be getting to Istanbul 10:55 pm and would leave Istanbul at 9:40 am. I didn’t find any other option of less time of stop there. Would we have the free hotel overnight? Being Brazilian/Italian should we pay any visa? Thank you very much!
You will be eligible. No visa needed with Italian passport.
Hello.I would like to apply for this free hotel options.Do I need visa with Cuban passport???my 6 month years old baby it is Egyptian,do he need to pays fees also??
hi, i want to know about long stay policy with turkish airline, beacuse i want to go pakistan with turkish air on 12 feb, but the saty is very long, is he give me free hotel?
As long as the connection is the shortest possible (i.e. there are no sooner flights that you are skipping due to cost), you will get a free hotel. But you must pay for the visa.
I’m looking at an intra-European itinerary with a 9h55min overnight layover in Istanbul. I guess they don’t compromise…
– Free accommodation is available to passengers with a stopover lasting 20 hours or more.
I found this on the Turkish airlines website. https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-rs/flights/stopover/index.html#tcm:40-134002
Has this changed recently, as Olga pointed out? It seems to be valid now for stopovers more than 20 hours + for certain points of departure only (only a few countries). This is a drastic change in the stopover benefit.
I’ll check on this. Not to my knowledge.
Matthew, do you know how to interpret this line:
> The hotel service is also available to passengers traveling on codeshare flights connecting in Istanbul.
Does it mean that it can be applied to non-TK metal?
Yes, but I would imagine it must be ticketed on Turkish.
Dear Mathew Sir,
pls inform if passenger is travelling karachi to newyork on turkish airline & short connection flight is available but the passenger want to get stay at istanbul for 1 day so Turkish airline will provide Hotel or not?
@Syed: No hotel will be provided.
Hi Matthew,
If there are 2 choices for a connection in Istanbul, both layovers longer than 10 hours, but you pick the flight that leaves later (meaning the longer layover), do you still qualify for the free hotel? Logically you would think both flights qualify since they are both longer than 10 hours
You would not receive a free hotel room unless you choose the shortest layover.
Thanks for the reply.
They need to mention that, 1st you need to choose the option that is the shortest layover available. Then if the layover is longer than 7 or 10 hours, you would qualify for a free night hotel. Because both connection options showed the logo with a bed next to the layover time, which would make you think you get a free hotel
Curious case here. So I intend to purchase this ticket on the Turkish Airlines website for an itinerary which goes like…
Seoul (Incheon) – Istanbul (Ataturk) on TK8091 (operated by Asiana Airlines) with a layover of 19h40min in Istanbul. Then flying Istanbul (Ataturk) – Porto on TK1449.
There are no earlier scheduled TK flights between Istanbul and Porto.
Though the first flight is operated by Asiana Airlines, it is with a Turkish Airlines flight code. Would this qualify me for free hotel accommodation by Turkish Airlines in Istanbul?
Please let me know what Turkish says, but I believe you will not be eligible for access.
Hello, if there are two options for flights both meeting the 20hr minimum, one with 22hrs and one with 44hrs. Am I eligible if I choose the 44hrs?
Must be the 22hr one to qualify for the free hotel – must always be the shortest available connection.
Hi there,
Thanks for answering all of the comments/questions, you are a good guy. Here’s mine. We are flying in mid August business class JRO-IST- SFO and qualify for a free hotel as we are staying overnight (I emailed Turkish to check). Turkish refuses to tell me what hotel it will be or the minimum number of stars (all they said is it is based on availability). Do I need to hedge the risk of them giving me a substandard hotel and make another reservation just in case? Thanks!!!
Economy is generally three stars and business four stars.
Hi Matthew
Useful piece thanks for the info, just one thing I am a bit confused on is the transport. Do they provide a free shuttle because I am looking at the T&C’s and it states
‘•Visa fees, the cost of travel around the city, and cost of travel between the airport and hotel are borne by the passenger’
Or can we ignore the above.
Regards
Bash
You will receive transport to the hotel. But if you want to visit central Istanbul, that will be at your expense.
Hi. We booked TK flights and on both outbound and homebound flights we have layovers in IST exceeding 15 hours. There are no other flights except the ones we booked. Will our visa be good for both segments or will we need two separate visas?
One visa will cover you for both outbound and inbound legs.
Thanks for this article.
Pls We booked TK flights on both outbound and homebound flights we have a transit-stop in IST 8hrs+ not up to 10hrs and I have an autistic son who can’t stand the w.ait. I dont see any hotel on our booking. Pls how do I get an hotel without obtaining a visa ? Is it just one hotel they have inside the airport ?
Yes, there is one just hotel inside the airport called TAV. You’ll have to stay there, though it is quite expensive.
Hi, Matthew.
Thank for the valuable information. Do you happen to know the answer to this:
We are flying business class with a 19 hrs layover in Istanbul. If we decide to forgo the free downtown hotel with the potential for delays and hassle and accept the cost of a room at TAV airside would we have frequent access to the business lounge for meals as we wish in and out from/to the TAV hotel? Am I correct in thinking that airside means transit, so no customs and no visa are required?
Thanks
Hi Kelly, you can go in and out of the hotel. The walk to the Turkish lounge is not far. This is a great strategy if you don’t mind a fairly exorbitant cost for the transit hotel. Indeed, no customs or visas are required.
Hi, Matthew.
Thank you for a great article and for being so conscientious in replying to your readers’ comments and questions.
We will be flying business class with an 18 hour layover in Istanbul and were planning to take advantage of the free hotel stay but we got concerned about a comment from one of your readers that they lost 2 hours in frustrating waiting and abandoned the trip to the hotel when they discovered that it was on the Asian side 30 km away. Would you say that was an unusual or a common occurrence?
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I guess we could find out from the “Hotel Desk” where the hotel is and decide whether to take it or pay for a hotel in the terminal. Is that viable?
Glenys
I would say that was an uncommon occurrence. If you don’t like the free hotel they give you, hotels are not that expensive these days in Istanbul since the Lira is so weak. I would get a nice hotel in the Sultanahmet area and enjoy Istanbul. You’ll have to pay for a visa before the hotel desk and if you want to return to transit hotel, pass through immigration and security once again.
Thank you very much, Matthew.
If I may ask one more question: If we decide to go to a hotel downtown at our expense from the get go and there was no shuttle by the hotel, is it safe to take a taxi from a rank at exit from the terminal? Is there, in fact, a properly organised and controlled taxi rank at Istanbul? If so, do they work on meters?
Best Regards,
Glenys
Hello Matthew,
My Tk ticket shows 10:05 hrs between connecting flights, still I am eligible to receive the hotel voucher? Or it depends what time I get to transit desk?
Thanks,
Ahmad
Hi Ahmad, Is your connecting flight the first available Turkish Airlines connection to your region?
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Yes of course, it is the only one during 24 hrs.
Hi Matthew, thanks for the post, however I would say it is more tricky.
I’ve booked flight from VIENNA to SAO PAOLO:
VIE – IST – 14:20 – 18:35
IST – GRU – 10:25 – 18:20 (next day)
The shortest available flight is:
VIE – IST – 19:00 – 23:20
IST – GRU – 10:25 – 18:20
-> connection time = 11 hours 5 mins
I was told by Turkish airlines than I am not eligible for complementary accommodation for my flight and I would be eligible only if I took shortest available flight so that means that one which leave at 19:00 from Vienna.
From the Terms and Conditions on their web site there is not stated that complementary accommodation is eligible only for one flight which has the shortest connection time.
Do you have similar experience as well?
Thanks,
Michal
Must always be shortest possible connection.
There is a significant difference between the statements “you must choose the shortest possible connection” and “you must be taking the next possible flight out (i.e. not skipping any flights to your next city departing between your arrival in Istanbul and scheduled departure).” Which is it? I am flying MAD-IST-ORD which is a similar situation to VIE-IST-GRU mentioned above. I picked an earlier MAD-IST flight to avoid the 12:25am arrival time, however I will be taking the next available IST-ORD flight (15:00 the following day). Am I eligible or not?
Shortest connection. Since you voluntarily chose to extend your layover, you are not eligible for a free transit hotel room.
What about via the stopover holiday option? https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/
This seems to be a separate offer, as it specifically mentions a 20h+ connection is required, and 2 hotel nights are offered for business class.
Hey Matthew! I am from Argentina, I follow the local version of this blog, I did not know this one existed until I found this post. You guys have a new follower 😉 Thanks for the post, I believe there is also a lot of useful info in the comments.
I am flying economy from Buenos Aires to Venezia with a 10 hours 10 minutes layover in Istanbul and it´s the shortest possible layover so I believe I am eligible.
This is not a very long layover after all, so after customs, transfering in-out to the hotel and having to be 2 hours before departure to Venice will give me only a few hours at the hotel. I would rather stay at the 15 heroes lounge if possible, but I understand since I am travelling economy that is not an option.
I found there are other lounges as well, but the only option opening ALL DAY is the “confort lounge”, the CIP business class little brother. There is a huge difference between these two.
Am I missing a 3rd option or is that it? (not complaining btw)
Does the hotel voucher include the transfer back to the airport?
Thanks!
Hi Mariano, thanks for reading! The hotel voucher does include return transfer back to airport.
Hello, I travelled with Turkish airlines in 2016 and had a 13 hour layover in Istanbul. During that trip, it is true I did receive a free hotel night and free airport shuttle to and from the hotel. I was just there a week ago (October 2018) again with a 14 hour layover in Istanbul thinking I would get another free hotel night stay as it had happened before. The man at the hotel desk was very rude, spoke very little English that I could not really understand and basically told me I did not qualify for a free hotel stay. He wasn’t able to give me a good explanation and I was not able to understand him. So I called Turkish Airlines customer service and the lady on the phone basically told me NO ONE is guaranteed a free hotel night no matter what the circumstances are and many times it is only based on availability. I ended up paying a $30 VISA to enter the country and $70 dollar hotel night with transportation I found randomly offered by a travel agency at the airport at 2am that night. It was very stressful and I don’t recommend anyone flying with Turkish Airlines if you don’t want to pay at least $100 or more for that unnecessary night in Istanbul.
One point that you have not mentioned but Turkish airlines TnC https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/#tcm:40-134002 says that you should have a round trip booked.
So if you are booking only one way you would not be eligible?
Hello, I think nobody has asked this so far… is a 1:20 hrs layover considered a “possible connection” according to Turkish Airlines criteria?
When I try to book a ticket online through their official site it’s not even shown as a possible connection, but I wonder…
Thank you so much for your help
Depends on where you are coming from and where you are going to. What is your full route?
I have a round trip ticket with Turkish Airlines for the route Skopje – Istanbul – Bilbao , with 14 hrs layover. I’ve seen that technically it would be possible to take another flight that lands in Istanbul only 1h 20 minutes before the flight Istanbul – Bilbao. This last flight is not even offered on their official website for the whole route, and now I was wondering whether I will be eligible for the free hotel night in Istanbul.
Thank you so much for your help
Thanks for the great info. I have a 10 hour layover in Istanbul. I contacted Turkish and they told me I should qualify for the free hotel assuming the schedule doesn’t change at the last minute (e.g. a new flight gets added). My question is if it makes sense to take the free hotel with a relatively short layover (10 hours). I checked and my passport should allow visa-free entry to Turkey.
My layover is 9 hours and 55 mins, and I’ll also just miss the last free tour. How inconvenient is that! 😉
Hi!
What if there is a flight that has a 13 hour layover and a 15 hour layover (both over 10 hours) and I choose a 15 hour one. Would I still get a free stay at a hotel because both of them are over 10 hours so it wouldn’t matter?
I know it is an illogical technicality, but you would not be eligible for the free hotel if you chose the 15 hour layover instead of the 13 hour layover. The layover must be the shortest possible based upon flight schedule.
Im confuse for the free hotel desk. To get a free hotel desk in Economy class the depart flight have to be 10hours and more and return flight have to be 10 hours and more but the stop on depart have to be also 10 hours and more or the depart flight and return flight have to be the shortest one but the stop on depart have to be more then 10 hours and stop on return have to be 10 hours or more? Give me an exemple plz
The next available connection must be at least 10 hours. So if you flew from Dubai to Istanbul to London and the first connection to London was after six hours, but you booked one after 10 hours, you would not get a free hotel room. The free hotel room is only for layovers that are forced by the flight schedule–layovers that are involuntarily long.
Hi!
I’m travelling LJU-IST-DEL on 30.1.2019. Departure in LJU is at 19:55, arival in IST 00:15 on 31.1.2019. Layover in IST is 20h 40m.
I’ve just contacted IST Hotel Desk via mail and they told me that I don’t qualify for free hotel, because there is a later flight LJU-IST on the following day: 31.1.2019 at 10:00.
How does this make any sense?
You don’t have a free hotel because you voluntarily chose a longer connection when a shorter connection (the 31.01 flight leaving at 10:00) was available. The free hotel is only for “forced” long layovers. Not voluntary ones.
I see. But they should then update their website, because I though that “bed icon” and direct link to Hotel Service while booking my flight means that I’m qualified for this offer.
Please check this screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/1VHMGo0
Hi Matthew. My.husband and I are transiting through ITB on our way back from France to South Africa. The travel agent will book the voucher for the free hotel. My question is about the visa. We are SA passport holders and we will have a Shengen visa. Do we need a visa? Is there a difference between a transit visa and normal visa for Turkey? If yes, which will we need for a layover of longer than 10 hrs?
Also, do we qualify for the free city tour as well? Does that leave from the airport or can we depart from the hotel?
Thank you kindly.
Hi Mathew,
I am frequent flyer (with Goldcard) for the last 4 years from Bangladesh (Dhaka) to Mazar e Sharif, Afghanistan. Both ways, the layover is very long. Getting visa from Turkish Embassy in Dhaka takes time. Due to frequent travel I cannot apply and leave my passport with Embassy.
Since I have to travel throughout 2019, is there any option to get Visa on arrival?
Many thanks and kind regards.
Azim Syed
Hi Azim, you can apply for an e-visa online with a Bangladeshi passport.
https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/
Hey!
Thanks for your article and all the comments. I read them all, but I couldnt find situation similar to mine. So the question is: I have an upcoming flight from Tallinn, Estonia to Portland, Oregon. The flights are as follows: 13.03 Tll to Ist 18.05-21.30. 14.03 Ist-san fransisco 13.50-17.35. And san fran to portland 19.45. There is a layover of more than 15 hours. My question is: will I be eligible for a hotel at Istanbul, when I could have flown through New York? The new york flight would have been earlier option. Or the rules apply to the same city that I have bought the ticket to? I hope you can help me with the question ☺️
You will be eligible for the hotel! Enjoy.
Hi Matthew
I want to stay for 8 days in Turkey in 5x different cities. is it possible in transit stay / Connecting flight?
Hi Adbid,
Not if you are transiting to a domestic flight.
Sounds like am ambitious itinerary!
Can you please tell me if free stay in hotel due to long layover includes breakfast or not ?
Yes, breakfast is included.
Hello I have a question,I am Brazilian and according to what I read until now I do not need a visa,my flight is Montenegro -Istambul arrival time 00:25 layover until 10:25 Istambul -Sao Paulo economy class,do I have free hotel according to Turkish rules?
You do, just barely! All you need is the visa.
Hello Matthew
I think i go trapped by the 3rd requirements, I bought a ticket to Nigeria with 20hrs layover, but there was a ticket that was 17hrs but will arrive late in Istanbul before the ticket i bought, I got the 2nd one instead so that i can get to turkey early, before reading your post, I called Turkish airline to confirm if i got a free hotel, but was told that i did not qualify because i was not forced by there schedule. I wasted no time booking an hotel for 1 day inside turkey about 31 klm to the new airport, with an airport shuttle ( I have my eVisa since am travelling from Ireland to Nigeria.)
hi,
I’m flying with my dog, which is my ESA, and we have 15h55min layover in Istanbul, am I going to get hotel or no because of my dog?
It probably depends upon the hotel, but there are many western hotel chains…I bet the Holiday Inn near the airport accepts dogs.
Is the hotel desk open 24 hours as we will probably be through customs around 0030hrs? Also which airport now in Istanbul?
Thanks
It wil be open. You’ll be flying into Istanbul’s new airport.
Hi Matthew,
Do you know if there is a way to contact the hotel desk ? My parents flight got delayed and they booked them on a flight which is 24 hrs later. But I have no information on where they are. They are older. I have already called the call center and they could not confirm anything.
Hi Marco, I’m sorry, I do not have the direct contact info.
Thank you, Matthew, for the great article. I have a question, do you happen to know the location of the Hotel Desk at the new Airport? also, is there any changes after the move ?
I plan on leaving early from California to arrive in Ankara around August 16th. If possible I want to leave my baggage at Bilkent and travel until my start date of Sept 16th. My question to you is How is the internet connectivity in Istanbul especially when using the pocket wifi. Question 2 how is AllDayWiFi compared to rent n connect in terms of speeds and reliability.
You cannot qualify for a free tour and a free hotel stay – it’s either or 🙂