Travelling to Turkey |
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Best time to book a flight to Turkey?
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| 1. |
29 May 2007 Tue 01:24 am |
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I know this must sound stupid to some or maybe it was already asked in another post I have no idea, but I wanted to know if anyone here has ever booked their flights to Turkey 2 months in advanced?
I never did in all the time that I was visiting my husband (at the time fiance) in Turkey, I usually did my bookings 2 or 3 weeks before my actual travel and already fares are so high as it is for me to travel to Turkey from the USA. I don't want to pay more then I should and with the way the airlines changes prices all the time it's disgusting, one day it can be $800 USD and next week it can go up to $1,500 USD and back down again. 
Anyone, your feedback will be greatly appreciated as I will be looking into flights to Turkey in August.
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| 2. |
29 May 2007 Tue 02:53 am |
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I think there was another post regarding this and someone gave a tip regarding this and mentioned that also the fares are the same 2 mons in advance as 2 weeks in advance. I looked and booked fares from CA usa to IST and got the same amounts ranging from 800.00 to 1500.00 as you posted and they fluctuated from day to day amazingly enough.
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| 3. |
30 May 2007 Wed 08:24 am |
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What online travel websites are you using to check for airfare?
I am checking
kayak.com
expedia.com
priceline.com
travelocity.com
They all seem to be in the $1500-1900 range for RT.
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| 4. |
30 May 2007 Wed 10:07 am |
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sorry, havent checked lately. last pricing i had made was oct last year about 1500 to fly in december during the christmas holiday season...that was Orbitz.com
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| 5. |
30 May 2007 Wed 10:21 am |
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I checked my cancelled flight for dec.06..it was actually 1200....i think in july 06 it was 14 or 1500. guess it depends on what time of year, etc.
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| 6. |
30 May 2007 Wed 07:12 pm |
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I saw in another website where they recommended using ASAP (http://www.asaptickets.com/), so i posted a question about if it was better to use travel agent or buy tickets online such as through this or other sites... so far, thier tickets (ASAP) seem to be the lowest, But I'm keeping my options open.
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| 7. |
30 May 2007 Wed 07:27 pm |
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From what city in the US to Istanbul and on what dates you want to fly? I just checked an example on a Dutch website from Washington Dulles Airport (1-15 August) and you can fly for 997 euro.
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| 8. |
30 May 2007 Wed 08:39 pm |
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much much to expensive. cheapest cities to fly from our NYC and Chicago. THY uses America as a partner if coming from another US City. I have flown as cheap as $699 USD roundtrip from Minneapolis.
KLM is sometimes reasonable but they are the worst airline in the world. Rudest staff on the ground and in the air by far!!!
(Go direcly to THY website. This will be your cheapest fair)
http://www.thy.com/
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| 9. |
30 May 2007 Wed 08:57 pm |
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Quoting KeithL: much much to expensive. cheapest cities to fly from our NYC and Chicago. THY uses America as a partner if coming from another US City. I have flown as cheap as $699 USD roundtrip from Minneapolis.
KLM is sometimes reasonable but they are the worst airline in the world. Rudest staff on the ground and in the air by far!!!
(Go direcly to THY website. This will be your cheapest fair)
http://www.thy.com/ |
Hey, did I say it was with KLM? Actually this flight is with Alitalia. And indeed, THY is cheap and KLM is rude.
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| 10. |
30 May 2007 Wed 09:09 pm |
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I pointed out KLM because like I said, they are 2nd cheapest from the US, sometimes Delta too I think. No other reason.
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| 11. |
30 May 2007 Wed 09:32 pm |
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Quoting Mina_TR: I know this must sound stupid to some or maybe it was already asked in another post I have no idea, but I wanted to know if anyone here has ever booked their flights to Turkey 2 months in advanced?
I never did in all the time that I was visiting my husband (at the time fiance) in Turkey, I usually did my bookings 2 or 3 weeks before my actual travel and already fares are so high as it is for me to travel to Turkey from the USA. I don't want to pay more then I should and with the way the airlines changes prices all the time it's disgusting, one day it can be $800 USD and next week it can go up to $1,500 USD and back down again.
Anyone, your feedback will be greatly appreciated as I will be looking into flights to Turkey in August. |
Hi Mina,
I think booking in advance has its advantages and also it depends on the time of year that is really important as to how airlines price their flights. I have been doing a little study and checking flights everyday for the last four months and found that you can book early and still get the same price a few months later, I really do think that sometimes they have many seats left on some flights and sell them always because people panic and think think they will not get a flight in time, this happened to me many times. I found booking flights in January and the first months of the year to be cheaper than anytime of the year.
On Expedia.com you can reserve a flight until the next day at midnight I wonder if this has anything to do with the availability? I also think that if you are prepared to take a flight with a connection you can find a cheaper fare, but of course it is much more hassle and stress. I also found that if you can travel early in morning for a flight you can see a reduction hope this helps
Best wishes
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| 12. |
30 May 2007 Wed 09:34 pm |
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Quoting KeithL: I pointed out KLM because like I said, they are 2nd cheapest from the US, sometimes Delta too I think. No other reason. |
I was curious and checked again. This time Minneapolis-Istanbul. First 1-15 August: THY 1236 Euro and United 1020 Euro, the second 1-15 October: United 684 Euro and THY 856. So indeed the dates are important (or is it the early booking?).
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| 13. |
30 May 2007 Wed 09:46 pm |
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Quoting KeithL: (Go direcly to THY website. This will be your cheapest fair) |
From/to the US maybe, but this is not true anytime and for every country.
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| 14. |
31 May 2007 Thu 12:40 am |
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I've just booked my flights from Alitalia. It's the cheapest I could find. (312 euros for two way France-Turkey)
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| 15. |
31 May 2007 Thu 04:36 am |
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Thanks everyone for your feedbacks 
It's hard enough paying $1500 USD for a ticket when I remember getting great deals on tickets for going to Istanbul under $600 USD. Of course alot has to do with what time of the year we travel that makes the difference in fares. I live in New York and never had to book a flight so far in advance as 2 months before, I usually waited 2 or 3 weeks instead. I guess I shouldn't chance it and get my tickets early then being too late(could you just imagine???!)to get a seat at the last minute, then I would definitly be crying 
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| 16. |
31 May 2007 Thu 04:49 am |
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the problem with summer is all the students are out and are traveling. Thats why the flights are so full. After summer, you will be able to get $600 flights again. Inşallah...
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| 17. |
31 May 2007 Thu 05:01 am |
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I found the same thing too. I fly from Philadelphia to Istanbul and have paid 3 different prices. First time, December of 2005, a little over 2 weeks advance purchase, $ 950. Second time Easter Break less than 1 week advance purchase, $ 1500, Third time, December of 2006,4 months advance purchase, $ 760.
The others are right. It really depends on time. I noticed summer is very expensive!!
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| 18. |
31 May 2007 Thu 10:53 am |
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Quoting mltm: I've just booked my flights from Alitalia. It's the cheapest I could find. (312 euros for two way France-Turkey) |
Bought my ticket with them too. 283 euros for a round trip. It has a stopover in Milan, but the waiting times are very very reasonable, so it's definitely more than worth shopping around 
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| 19. |
31 May 2007 Thu 04:13 pm |
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Quoting Elisa: Quoting mltm: I've just booked my flights from Alitalia. It's the cheapest I could find. (312 euros for two way France-Turkey) |
Bought my ticket with them too. 283 euros for a round trip. It has a stopover in Milan, but the waiting times are very very reasonable, so it's definitely more than worth shopping around |
Yes, it stops at Milan, but it's an occasion to see Milan. And I can wait a few hours for some hundreds of euros
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| 20. |
31 May 2007 Thu 04:23 pm |
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Quoting mltm: Quoting Elisa: Quoting mltm: I've just booked my flights from Alitalia. It's the cheapest I could find. (312 euros for two way France-Turkey) |
Bought my ticket with them too. 283 euros for a round trip. It has a stopover in Milan, but the waiting times are very very reasonable, so it's definitely more than worth shopping around |
Yes, it stops at Milan, but it's an occasion to see Milan. And I can wait a few hours for some hundreds of euros |
Yeah, me too this time since I will be staying for a month. But if I'd only have 4-5 days, the idea of losing time at the airport would bug me you know.
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| 21. |
31 May 2007 Thu 10:19 pm |
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| 22. |
31 May 2007 Thu 11:22 pm |
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It's not just around summer time the prices are high, it's also around special holidays (like christmas) and basically any time where many people want to travel. For that reason days like New Years Eve are exceptionally cheap - I flew from Denmark to Antalya for 40€! 
For competative agencies prices are mainly regulated by demand.
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| 23. |
03 Jun 2007 Sun 04:00 pm |
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Thanks again everyone,
Well I did went ahead and purchased my ticket through www.cheapair.com and they were by far the cheapest I have seen online since checking every airline possible that goes to Turkey, I paid $1194 USD for going to Istanbul from New York, Aug 1-13 on British Airways.
Now I can relax and not think about it until the day of my travel and concentrate on other things.
Take care everyone and Thanks again 
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