Cheap Flights to Istanbul

Istanbul has several airports, but most visitors touch down at Ataturk Intl. Airport (IST).

Istanbul Airport is 14 kilometres from downtown Istanbul, so be prepared for a bit of a commute into the centre.

With so many airports to choose from, Istanbul is the sort of place that’s easy to visit at short notice. The terminals that handle the majority of the city’s air travel are ISL (14 kilometres from downtown), Sabiha Gokcen Intl. Airport (SAW) (31 kilometres from downtown) and IST (32 kilometres from downtown).

There are 72 airlines that service Istanbul from 290 worldwide airports.

Turkish Airlines and Pegasus offer the most flights to Istanbul. One of the most common ways to travel there is on a Turkish Airlines flight from Izmir.

Flying to somewhere new is much simpler when there aren’t any stopovers involved. If you’re heading to Istanbul, the awesome news is that there are around 5,964 direct flights every week.

Travellers often depart from Antalya, Izmir and London airports when going to Istanbul.

Which city you depart from determines how much of the in-flight entertainment you’ll get to enjoy. From Izmir to Istanbul, the average flight time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. From Antalya it’s more or less 1 hour and 21 minutes, and from Ankara it’s 1 hour and 10 minutes.

If you’d like to have some extra spending money on your Istanbul holiday, then listen up! As every seasoned jet-setter knows, don’t book at the very last minute. Prices are generally more expensive close to the departure date. Also, look around online and compare your options. If your destination has several airports, you may be able to score an excellent price by flying into one that’s farther away. Lastly, be prepared to lock in your seat quickly if you find a real bargain. It might not stick around for long! With a bit of know-how and a little good fortune, the perfect airfare can be yours.

Depending on where you’re coming from, your trip to Istanbul could be a breeze or it could go on forever. We’ve rounded up some handy tips that will help you start your next great escape on the right foot.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• A plane ride can be a pleasure if you take the right things. Firstly, you’ll want some basic toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and hairbrush, a spare change of clothes and a magazine or two. Secondly, find room in your bag for your phone and charger, your medications and perhaps a proper neck pillow too. Lastly, and most importantly, don’t forget to take your passport, travel documents and some cash.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of prohibited items can differ between airlines, the general guide to follow is avoid carrying anything sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, blades, aerosol cans and bleaching agents. Sporting equipment like ice skates, and objects that could harm passengers, such as guns and swords, are also banned from the cabin.

What to wear on a flight:

• Your number one priority is to be as comfortable as you can. Layer up in natural-fibre clothing and bring a jacket in case it gets chilly in the cabin. Pick flat, well-fitting shoes as it’s possible that your feet and ankles will swell during the flight. Leave the stilettos and chunky boots in your checked baggage.
• The result of sustained periods of immobility, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition that can affect passengers during long-haul flights. The good news is there are numerous ways to reduce the risk of developing it. Stay well hydrated, walk around the cabin wherever possible and wear compression socks to help improve your circulation.

It’s simple — be prepared. We’ve compiled some tips and tricks for a speedy trip through security. Watch out Istanbul, here you come:

• Be sure to keep your boarding pass and passport easily accessible. They’re the first items you’ll be asked for by airport security.
• Next up is the X-ray machine. Empty your pockets and remove anything metal that is likely to set off the alarm. This includes things like headphones or earphones, as well as heavy coats or jackets. They’ll all need to go on the X-ray conveyor belt.
• All electronic devices, including your laptop and phone, will also need to be separately scanned.
• Remove all gels and liquids from your carry-on luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• There’s a possibility that you’ll be required to take your shoes off to be X-rayed, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Airlines won’t allow any sharp objects in the cabin. If you must bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.