Turkish Complaint

Hello Everyone,

I would like to share with everyone one of the worst flying experiences I have ever experienced.

I was supposed to fly from Athens to Joahannesburg via Istambul. My departing flight was at 22H25 of the 27th of July 2018. Once arrived in Istambul had about 1H50 wait.

Now the problems start. At 21H25 it was anounced that flight TK1844 was delayed. New time of departure 23H25. An hour later a further delay is anounced and now we will leave another hour later, meaning that instead of leaving at 22H25 we were now leaving at 00H25 of the 28th of July 2018. Asked what was the reason behind the delay and was told that it was due to air traffic in Turkey. Was assured that would not miss my connection flight to Johannesburg.

Meantime boarded the plane and waited in the plane at least another 30 minutes.

At this time every paasenger is very apprehensive regarding the connection flight.

We finally land in Turkey, Istambul and off course my connection flight had left 30 min before the time of landing. Now the fun starts.

We arrive and are directed to the help desk. After running up and down finally arrive at the help desk.

Asked what now since due to the delay in departure have now missed my connection flight. Was told that I would be booked on the next flight to Johannesburg and in the meantime had to go to the hotel Helpdesk in order to check in, as would be staying in the hotel unti the next flight to Johannesburg, ok, not bad, but I had commitments in Johannesburg.

Following the intructions of the helpdesk started walking to the hotel helpdesk, but to get there we have to pass through passport control. Once I get to the passport control am told, sorry Sir but to enter into Turkey you need a Visa. Why didnt anyone tell me that before? Sorry Sir but to enter into Turkey you need a Visa. Ok.

Asked around a bit and found where to get my Visa. Purchased my Visa, passed through passport control on my way to the hotel since at this moment could almost be in JHB under normal circumstances LOL, since it was about 03H30 Am.

Arrived at the hotel check in and to my dismay am told, - Sorry Sir we have no available rooms. What, you have got to be kidding me. I need to talk to someone in charge, can someone halp me? ( While this ordeal is going on, there was no Wi-fi connection in the airport, no Air conditioning and not even a drop of water was offered to me )

Feeling depressed and not knowing what to do next, returned to the initial helpdesk for advice and maybe some confort.

Explained my situation, my flight was delayed, missed my connection flight, got a visa to enter Turkey to have my rights looked after by going into an hotel etc

Very rudely the attendant told me, you either go back to Athens on the first flight back or you wait until Sunday at 22H25 for the flight to Johannesburg. Told him, if you guarantee me an hotel I will stay and wait since I have important business to attand to in South Africa.

The clerk informs, ok wait! I wait 10, 20, 30 min....

Tired of everything asked to speak to supervisor or manager, while waiting for the supervisor or manager other passengers were complaining about exactly the same, I buy a visa and I have no hotel, where I intervened and told the other passengers that was going through exactly the same situation, all of a sudden here comes the manager / supervisor who cant even speak English.

Its ok Sir, you fly back to Athens and from there you go our Turkish offices in Athens we will give you a refund and you may rebook for Sundays flight from there.

I asked, give me a writen document where it states that you are sending me back to Athens due to the fact that you have no hotel rooms availble where they said, its ok Sir, your e-tkt is enough because everything is on the system ( this is where I was so stupid ). What happens to my luggage? Answer - We Have loaded in on the plane flying to Athens, it will arrive with you.

Boarded the plane back to Athens, again with a delay of another plus/minus 1H30. Reached Athens, and the Turkish office says we have no info on the system because your tickets were purchased via as agency, therefore the agency has to get in touch with Turkish airlines.

As I am writing this still have not received my luggage and we are in August already!

Moral of the story, the Turkish airlines are overbooking, they delay flights and then make you wait, or waste money on a visa to show that many people visit the country when they dont even get out of the airport.

If anyone from Turkish airlines sees this, in order to be compensated the only solution I will accept is the same flight to Johannesburg in First class. Anything other than that is not acceptable.

Still no luggage!

Have a good day!