Travelling to Turkey Soon, Need Help

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  tomleonhart on 02/01/2017 - 07:38

  +2

  1/ You'll be fine for 1 night
  2/ What does it say on your ticket about refunding ?

  • 

    poxy001 on 02/01/2017 - 11:06

    +1

    1/ You'll be fine for 1 night

    This… Just hang out in the airport for a night. $50.

• 

  Brendoo on 02/01/2017 - 08:38

  My friend, you didn't read the advisory properly. It's actually a higher threat level than you indicated. Most of Turkey is "high degree of caution" (which isn't that bad), but Istanbul is "reconsider your need to travel".

  It would be wise to re-arrange your travel, although this threat level may reduce by the end of the month, but we don't know that.

  Keep in mind that travel insurance companies may not cover you if you go there when the Aus Govt is advising you to "reconsider your travel". That level is high enough for them not to insure you, but you'd have to check that with your insurer, if you have one.

  And don't cancel your ticket, just change the flight legs. I am assuming your flights from London to Sydney are one booking.
  Typically you can change your airline ticket without penalty (check your fare conditions from when you booked), but if the new route is longer or more expensive for other reasons you may have to pay the difference. From what you describe I would not expect a charge, your new route would be cheaper than your current route, although seat availability can affect costs. Not sure if they would remove any cost (if there is one) due to the Turkish warning - you'd have to check your fare conditions or ask the airline. I would ring them asap to do this if I was you, ensures more seat availability on your new flights.

  If in fact you have multiple separate flight bookings, you'd have to check the Turkish Air fare conditions to see if you can cancel/refund without penalty due to the travel advisory. Or cop a cancellation fee if there is one (and claim it back on travel insurance possibly). Then talk to Qatar Airlines about changing your ticket (but I think you may have to cancel/refund then buy a new ticket as the originating city is different). Do this all over the phone, they will take care of everything. Don't try and do it online or you'll screw yourself and cost yourself more. I also don't know if they will waive all extra costs (doubt it as you will be travelling a lot further by starting in London). You're going to have to talk to them.

  Might be easier/cheaper for you to keep the same flight legs as you currently have but change the dates so that you don't have a stop over in Istanbul for one night, but still transit through Istanbul airport (that will be safe enough) and pickup your Qatar flight home on the same day. Typically that would cost you nothing to change dates/times only if there are seats available. But call the airlines first as per above, you never know, it may be cheaper if you can get a full refund for your Turkish Air flight and if changing the Qatar flights has a cost less than the refund value of the Turkish Air flight.

  As for the hotel, normally hotels aren't paid for until check-out and you normally can cancel your booking without penalty as long as it is more than 24 hours prior to arrival. But you'd have to check your booking conditions.

  OR - just change nothing and take a punt for one night. I probably would :)

  Good luck. It's such a damn shame about Turkey, it's such an amazing place, well worth a trip, but it's being ruined by these terrorists.

• 

  StewBalls on 02/01/2017 - 09:02

  Pick me up a copy of Forza 6 whilst you're there please…

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  spacemansam on 02/01/2017 - 17:28

  +1

  I was in Istanbul 4 days after the bombings around Easter last year. Was so tempted to cancel but went ahead with it and loved it.

  If you are really worried and the airlines won't let you cancel, you can just book a night at an airport hotel, just stay there all day then fly out the next day.

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  vinsyd on 02/01/2017 - 18:05

  Just switch istanbul leg to Izmir in Turkey and should be fine.

• 

  tonester on 02/01/2017 - 21:56

  http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/europe/southern/Pages/…
  Official advice:
  High degree of caution

  International SOS is better :)

  2 Jan 2017
  Travel risk rating raised from LOW to MEDIUM; no change to Istanbul, Ankara

  We are raising the country's overall travel risk rating from LOW to MEDIUM to reflect the widening threat of terrorist and militant attacks, and likely continuation of political challenges. This will bring the risk rating for the country in line with Istanbul (Istanbul province) and the capital Ankara, which remain rated as MEDIUM since January 2016. Travel to MEDIUM risk areas can continue, but requires security precautions, including minimising time spent in the vicinity of potential militant targets, avoiding all public gatherings and demonstrations, and ensuring that adequate security measures are in place for hotel accommodation and journey management.