Upon reviewing the flight status online, you’ve learned that your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed—an unforeseen and unwelcome turn of events. Now, you’re facing a dilemma: “Should I go to the airport or stay at home?” Flight delays can range from a minor inconvenience of 30 minutes to a major setback of 23 hours, potentially keeping you at the airport all day. It’s natural to question if enduring a 23-hour layover at the airport is really necessary.
Factors vary. However, most instances generally fall within some typical situations.
Your Turkish Airlines Flight Is Delayed. Should You Stay at Home or Proceed to the Airport as Planned?
Your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed. What’s your next step?
Where are you right now? Are you at your home or hotel?
Have you already arrived at the airport?
Scenario 1 – You Are Already at the Gate, Waiting for Your Flight
You find yourself at the gate, anticipating your flight when you hear the delay announcement. What’s your plan of action?
Simply stay at the gate, waiting for further advisories about your flight status.
Scenario 2 – You Are at the Airport, But You Haven’t Yet Gone Through Airport Security
If you’re at the airport, in the landside area, waiting to go through security inspection, and you find out that your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed, it’s best to stay where you are. Before proceeding, make sure to check if there have been any changes to your flight’s check-in schedule. If the check-in has been rescheduled, wait before going through security.
Wait for further directives before proceeding with security.
Have you completed the check-in online?
In either case, stay put. Don’t go through the security check until check-in has started.
Scenario 3 – You Are in Your Home or Hotel
Determine whether the check-in has been rescheduled.
This can be achieved by contacting Turkish Airlines or checking with the airport information desk.
If the check-in schedule has been set back, there’s no need to go to the airport. You can stay in your hotel or home. However, if the check-in schedule remains the same, it’s wise to adhere to your initial plan and travel to the airport as arranged.
If check-in has been postponed, stay put for now.
If there’s no hold-up in check-in — proceed as per your initial plan to the airport.
How to Check Turkish Airlines Flight Status Online?
How to find out if your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed? Check the flight’s status online.
The following methods can be used to verify the status of your Turkish Airlines flight online:
- By visiting the official website of the airport where your flight is due to take off;
- By accessing the airline’s official website (turkishairlines.com);
- By utilizing flight tracking applications such as Flightradar24.
It is recommended to check your flight’s status before leaving for the airport, especially for early morning flights. To avoid the hassle of arriving at the airport only to discover your flight has been delayed or cancelled, make it a habit to check the flight status early in the morning and again before leaving your home or hotel. This way, you can ensure that no unexpected changes have occurred.
Delays are typically communicated to passengers through:
- An SMS or email from the airline, notifying of the delay;
- Checking the flight status online;
- Finding out at the airport, or even at the gate.
What If a Flight Delay Causes You to Miss Your Connecting Flight?
If your travel plans involve a connecting flight with Turkish Airlines and you miss your connection due to a delay, there’s no need for alarm. Turkish Airlines will provide a new flight for you without any additional charges. This means you won’t have to worry about arranging a new flight on your own. Just reach out to the Turkish Airlines staff at the airport if you happen to miss your connecting flight.
However, in the case of a self-transfer flight, it is your responsibility to manage if your connection is missed, and you’ll need to arrange a new flight. If your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed or cancelled, you might be entitled to Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation or Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation for that specific flight. However, the airline is not liable for any subsequent flights (as it’s a self-transfer).
Right to Care at the Airport
Passengers who find themselves stranded at the airport due to a flight delay, flight cancellation or denied boarding have the right to certain facilities (“right to care”).
- During a delay of 3 hours or more that occurs in the day, Turkish Airlines is expected to provide complimentary food and beverages, along with two methods of communication (such as phone calls, emails or faxes), usually offered via vouchers.
- In the event of a delay that necessitates an overnight stay, Turkish Airlines is responsible for offering complimentary hotel accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, and one or two meals at no charge to the passengers.
If you haven’t received any of these services, please contact Turkish Airlines for support.
As Turkish Airlines is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Turkish Airlines flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Could You Be Entitled to Turkish Airlines Flight Delay Compensation?
If your Turkish Airlines flight originating from Europe was disrupted, there are certain circumstances in which you may qualify for Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation.
If your flight has been delayed for more than three hours, or if it has been cancelled without a minimum of 14 days prior notice, you could be entitled to compensation up to 600 euros under EU legislation, unless the delay or cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances.
This entitlement applies regardless of the fare and nationality. It’s important to keep your boarding pass and other travel documents, as they may be needed when claiming compensation. If you need assistance with the process, there are services available that can aid you in claiming your compensation from Turkish Airlines – our partners provide such services.
Fill in the details about your flight and our partners will check it for you.
As Turkish Airlines is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Turkish Airlines flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Can You Get Flight Delay Compensation in Case of a Turkish Airlines Strike?
If your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed or cancelled due to a strike, there are two scenarios – it’s either a strike by Turkish Airlines personnel or some other kind of strike.
Typically, if the strike is caused by airport staff, air traffic control, or a labour strike not directly involving Turkish Airlines, you won’t qualify for compensation. This is considered an extraordinary circumstance, and airlines are generally not held responsible.
However, if the strike involves Turkish Airlines’ own employees, the airline will most likely be obligated to compensate its passengers. It’s always important to check the specific circumstances surrounding your delay or cancellation and scrutinize any information provided by the airline.
Keep in mind that as Turkish Airlines is not a European airline, EU compensation regulations apply only to their flights departing from Europe.
Read more: Turkish Airlines Strike Compensation
Can You Obtain Delay Compensation in the Event of Technical Problems with the Airplane?
Yes, if your Turkish Airlines flight is delayed due to technical issues with the aeroplane, you may be eligible for flight delay compensation.
Most of the time, these issues are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
However, there may be exceptions in certain cases, such as if the technical problems were caused by hidden manufacturing defects.
As Turkish Airlines is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Turkish Airlines flights departing from the EU and the UK.
What is your experience with Turkish Airlines flight delays? Have you ever experienced a flight delay with Turkish Airlines? How did the airline resolve the situation?