Reviews Istanbul Ataturk Airport
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A month after opening, and most of facilities didn't exist or wasn't opened (bar anywhere near to gate, no atm in all airport, mess with security check, international transfer, no wifi).
With such a big airport messing with international fast transfer is irresponsible thing to do.
With such a big airport messing with international fast transfer is irresponsible thing to do.
- Date
- 02.05.2019
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A week after opening, so most of facilities didn't exist or wasn't opened (bar anywhere near to gate, no atm in all airport, mess with security check, international transfer, no wifi)
but it looks amazing
but it looks amazing
- Date
- 02.05.2019
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Worst airport. Overcrowded, can't handle amount of people using it. Double security check - one on airport entry, another after customs, arrogant staff. Lost my baggage on direct route without connection. My collegue got things stolen from baggage. Crazy overpriced duty free items - for same numeric price as in the city, but in EUR instead of TL.
- Date
- 05.04.2019
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They require security check for international transfers at IST, which creates immense queues and you can easily miss your connection.
- Date
- 04.03.2019
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When I arrived , there were no signs to where the shops are and had to find my it myself through the internet , since I was a transit passenger
Staff need to speak fluent English , to help us understand
The terminal was quite nice and there were loads of food shops
Staff need to speak fluent English , to help us understand
The terminal was quite nice and there were loads of food shops
- Date
- 01.03.2019
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The airport was good and fancy
The food was halal and good for muslim people
The toilets were far
The staff never spoke english
The food was halal and good for muslim people
The toilets were far
The staff never spoke english
- Date
- 01.03.2019
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The terminal was spacious
The shops had loads of good products and food
The toilets were easy to find and quite nice
The shops had loads of good products and food
The toilets were easy to find and quite nice
- Date
- 01.03.2019
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IST is too crowded, especially domestic. The lines are usually long and a bit chaotic. International departures are much more pleasant.
- Date
- 14.02.2019
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Ataturk Aiport is huge, don't try last minute arrival, especially if you're not familiar with it. Airport has bus (shuttle) and metro connection. Elevators are working, security check-in (to enter the terminal) can take too long (only 2 gates).
- Date
- 27.11.2018
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Shamefully long passport control.
Very poor indication of what to do when flights are delayed and very bad assistance.
2 hours of wifi is not acceptable for such an airport.
Very poor indication of what to do when flights are delayed and very bad assistance.
2 hours of wifi is not acceptable for such an airport.
- Date
- 17.09.2018
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The airport is not upgraded to the quality of a modern airport. Boarding is announced to start one hour berfore departure, and nothing happens before about 25 minutes to departure, waist of time to wait at the gate.
- Date
- 19.04.2018
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Big airport with quiet bad ventilation. Not really satisfied as of it was clearly hard to breath. Talking about the area close to Victoria's Secrets shop.
Very good security staff.
Very good security staff.
- Date
- 29.03.2018
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Shocking airport.
No seating and severe overcrowding. Toilets unaccceptablely dirty.
Only get 2 hours Wifi which disconnects if you move around the terminal.
No seating and severe overcrowding. Toilets unaccceptablely dirty.
Only get 2 hours Wifi which disconnects if you move around the terminal.
- Date
- 25.02.2018
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Istanbul traffic is hell, so getting to the airport by car can be hard. Better to use bus or metro if possible. Security checks at the entrance of the terminal sometimes create long queues.
- Date
- 09.02.2018
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Nice airport with a global atmosphere and good bars and shops. Despite this, wifi is hard to get to work, indications could be more clear and it is really really crowded, even at off-peak hours.
- Date
- 02.01.2018
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THY business lounge is great. Airport is huge but well organised. A lot of shops and restaurants. All positive!
- Date
- 24.10.2017
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The airport staff, though efficient, is really rude, never really ready to help. I regularly fly from/to there, and always get the same impression.
- Date
- 06.08.2017
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Flight was delayed due to Bad Weather at Cape Town by bout seven Hours. Turkish Airlines gave us a voucher for food etc, but very little outlets around at 0300 hrs
- Date
- 15.06.2017
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3 minutes for security, 1 munute for drop-off - and 65 minutes for Passport Control! s a result - no free time for Duty Free, for Cafe etc.:((
- Date
- 24.05.2017
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The overall design of the airport is a bit disorienting. Some escalators in departure area weren't working during my stay, which cause huge inconvenience for people who wanted to get to the food gallery on 2nd floor. Nevertheless, Ataturk airport does provide traveler decent resources and leisure facility.
- Date
- 20.05.2017
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Ataturk Airport is not a really convenient airport for transit passengers. Especially for people connecting from a domestic to an international flight (or the opposite) you really may have to run through the airport if the transit time is less than 2hrs. There are long queues everywhere so that's why it makes it a bad airport for connecting, Getting to the airport is easy. Just take a taxi. WiFi is free for 2 hours but remember that if you use your 2 hours at Istanbul that you've used your 2 hours at every Turkish Airport.
- Date
- 14.05.2017
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The worst airport ever. I have seen much better airports in 3rd world countries.
The staff at the Star Alliance Lounge don't know how to do their job.
The staff at the Star Alliance Lounge don't know how to do their job.
- Date
- 13.05.2017
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The wifi is not user friendly at all. Although free wifi is provided, the registration process is complicated.
- Date
- 13.05.2017
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Due to long transit, I spent whole night in this airport. Initially I thought it would be boring, but it actually it was fantastic. The only issue I faced was, the free internet connection was for limited hours, then I could NOT even buy for extra hours!
- Date
- 03.03.2017
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A very crowded airport with not too much space around the main areas. Wifi was good, but only for a limited time. After the time (2hrs) was finished, there was no free wifi available.
- Date
- 30.12.2016
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Wifi does not work unless you have a Turkish cellular service, there are no water fountains you will have to buy a water bottle for roughly $2, most workers can hardly speak English and are hostile, the airport is insanely crowded and it is hard to find a place to sit
- Date
- 29.12.2016
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Extremely dirty toilets, paper overflowing and water everywhere on the floor. By far the worst toilets I've ever seen in an airport. Silly rules about some SMS verification for wi-fi, it's not the 1990s any longer. With certain providers that means you get no wi-fi because the message doesn't go through.
- Date
- 20.12.2016
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4 Flights to US at the same time only 1 securitygate .. There was a Chaos. Everythink else was as expected
- Date
- 29.11.2016
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OVERALL ITS GOOD AIRPORT .... JUST THE BEHAVIOR AND ENGLISH OF THE IMMIGRATION STAFF IS REALLY NOT GOOD .... THIS SHOULD BE IMPROVED....
- Date
- 29.11.2016
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During rush-hours overcrowded, not enough seating. Internet free for only 2 hours and unnessessary sign in and problems with connections. Other things ok
- Date
- 23.11.2016
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Ataturk airport is the third busiest airport in Europe, but it is basically just one big hall. We arrived late in night and our departure was early in the morning. There was a lot of people even during the night, so I can't even imagine how chaotic this place must be during the day. Connection to the city center is fast and cheap during the day, but there is no public transport over the night, which is not issue of the airport itself as far as there is no public transport in entire Istanbul over the night. On the other hand, taxi is quite cheap, similar to anything else in Istanbul.
- Date
- 20.10.2016
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My first time flying from Turkey, a brief security check before check-in, then passport control, then the standard security check, and finally another brief check at the gate. Quite a faff, but all went well. Big queues for bag-drop desks and food and drink is very expensive all over the airport.
- Date
- 10.09.2016
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Slight delay to our inbound flight from Shiraz, changing to an outbound flight to Dusseldorf. No quick access or assistance to get to the relevant check-in desk, had to run through crowds of shoppers to get to the check-in. For a major hub, need to make changing flights as easy as possible.
- Date
- 01.08.2016
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Overcrowded. Long taxi times, long wait times to get a slot for start or landing. Poor signage especially for transfer passengers. Missing your connection here is quite likely. Don't book any connection with less than 2 hour transit time. No idea why they even offer it.
The TK lounge is probably one of the best you can find though!
The TK lounge is probably one of the best you can find though!
- Date
- 26.05.2016
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Absolutely overcrowded airport. Luckily, when arriving from Europe you don't have to go through security check again if! you have an terminal position. For a quite spot you have to walk far in the direktion of Gate 230.
- Date
- 25.05.2016
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High selection of Duty Free stores and food locations. But the prices are suprisingly high compared to prices within the city.
- Date
- 25.05.2016
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Istanbul Ataturk offers free Wifi but only for two hours registradet on your phone number. Way too less if you consider Istanbul for a transit. I would recoment enough transit time, because THY flights are very likely to be delayed because that airport overreached its capacity and every procedure takes long time.
- Date
- 25.05.2016
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Luckily air conditioning is installed right above the waiting area of the immigration, because you have to spend some time there.
- Date
- 05.04.2016
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Very nice airport. Transportation is easy. But very crowded on some days.
Airport is located 20 minutes to the city center.
Airport is located 20 minutes to the city center.
- Date
- 19.03.2016
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Best airport! Well done to Istanbul, the WiFi pass I got from the Turkish Airlines management desk and the security is nice. I had to get a trolly from outside and he let me in with just a quick check. The trolleys are free. You just need 1 Lira or euro then the trolly man will give it back to you when you give him the trolly. The check in is very simple and I had no trouble with it.
- Date
- 06.02.2016
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Disadvantages:
1) Tax free offices of different companies are located in different parts of terminal. You have to run in order to complete tax return. Not smart.
2) No free wi-fi
3) a lot of shops, but not enough sets while waiting planes
1) Tax free offices of different companies are located in different parts of terminal. You have to run in order to complete tax return. Not smart.
2) No free wi-fi
3) a lot of shops, but not enough sets while waiting planes
- Date
- 28.01.2016
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Lost baggage during connection during connection... twice !!
Airport is chaotic, not friendly, is seems to be too small and ineffective, specially for large airlines such as turkish airlines.
The airport is a major handicap for turkish airlines
Airport is chaotic, not friendly, is seems to be too small and ineffective, specially for large airlines such as turkish airlines.
The airport is a major handicap for turkish airlines
- Date
- 13.01.2016
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Because the Turkish government postponed the change to Winter Time, the times shown on the plane and on all phones did not correspond to the real local time. Instead of warning passengers of this confusing fact, the airport was very happy to let people miss their flights.
The airport is also overcrowded and has very little for entertainment.
The airport is also overcrowded and has very little for entertainment.
- Date
- 26.11.2015
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Looooong way to the airport. At least metro offers direct service downtown now.
Airport is super overoaded.
Airport is super overoaded.
- Date
- 19.11.2015
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Average hub, easily becomes messy with the boarding areas all next to each other. Our gate was next to another large intercon flight with close boarding times...which really created a big mess in a small area. Wifi not available and generally the airport conveys an idea of mess/confusion. Poor food facilities.
- Date
- 06.11.2015
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Turkish Airlines are great, but when you are getting off the airplane, you must be prepared to face to a new world.
Airport is overcrowded and obviously incapable to serve all these people passing from their facilities. Airport employees are bored with lack of respect to speak and assist you. Boarding procedure it was joke, with the ground assistant to shout like selling potatoes in a grocery marker.
Maybe the most dirtiest toilets I have ever used in a airport. Smell of pee and flock of flies in all toilets, seriously?
Free Wi- Fi was only available at Starbucks cafe, otherwise you have to pay.
The check in area is a mass public market area with gypsies, luggage, boxes and everything you can imagine.
Overall, an overcrowded place trying to be international airport. Disaster!
Airport is overcrowded and obviously incapable to serve all these people passing from their facilities. Airport employees are bored with lack of respect to speak and assist you. Boarding procedure it was joke, with the ground assistant to shout like selling potatoes in a grocery marker.
Maybe the most dirtiest toilets I have ever used in a airport. Smell of pee and flock of flies in all toilets, seriously?
Free Wi- Fi was only available at Starbucks cafe, otherwise you have to pay.
The check in area is a mass public market area with gypsies, luggage, boxes and everything you can imagine.
Overall, an overcrowded place trying to be international airport. Disaster!
- Date
- 02.11.2015
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Very averaged. The international terminal is WAY too small for all the traffic it has. Planes disembark people to the buses at arrival, even the biggest ones. Corridors are packed with people. Turkish Airlines are very nice, but this airport is very disappointing.
Of course no free WiFi.
Mind that if you have the international transfer there is a (lousy) security check where they are not even interested in your liquids.
Of course no free WiFi.
Mind that if you have the international transfer there is a (lousy) security check where they are not even interested in your liquids.
- Date
- 15.10.2015
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Euro is the main currency here...
The 300 gates have no jet bridges, so you have to get on a bus to get to the plane, which is OK, its the fact that these gates are so close, and when you have so many long hauls using these, there is very little or no seats available.
Signage is very bad, the info desk are unhelpful, the visa desk for onsite transactions even placed a sign for passengers not to ask or enquire about the eVisa, and when you get to customs, there is no order, structure to the cueing process and expect to be lost in a line for some considerable time.
Overall, a very badly designed, operated Airport...
The 300 gates have no jet bridges, so you have to get on a bus to get to the plane, which is OK, its the fact that these gates are so close, and when you have so many long hauls using these, there is very little or no seats available.
Signage is very bad, the info desk are unhelpful, the visa desk for onsite transactions even placed a sign for passengers not to ask or enquire about the eVisa, and when you get to customs, there is no order, structure to the cueing process and expect to be lost in a line for some considerable time.
Overall, a very badly designed, operated Airport...
- Date
- 05.10.2015
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IST Airport is very crowded, there is no clear sign for business class passengers, IST Flagship lounge is huge. It's definitely the largest lounge I have been to, food selection and facility is very high standard. However, due to the size of the lounge, it is not well maintained.
- Date
- 30.09.2015
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Very, very wonderful time goes by without feeling. And all its employees are laughing with you. Services of high style, restaurants and rest and your shopping convenience. Thank them for this initiative
- Date
- 30.08.2015
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