From Vietnam to the UK: My Experience Flying Economy Class with Turkish Airlines

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Have you heard of Turkish Airlines?

It might not be the first airline that comes to mind for Vietnamese travellers, but it is one of the largest and most reputable airlines in the world with a 7-star safety rating. I don't usually see Turkish Airlines tickets when I'm flying out of Hanoi. But the last time I booked a flight, their ticket was the cheapest option, so I decided to give it a try. In this post, I want to share my experiences flying with Turkish Airlines. Hopefully, it'll give you a better idea of what to expect if you decide to book a ticket with them. So buckle up, and let's get started!

Ticket booking, baggage and how to handle ticket booking incidents

Ticket booking: You can visit the official website of Turkish Airlines at https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/ to book your ticket and check-in for your flight.

*Ticket booking issue:

After I booked and paid for my ticket, the Turkish Airlines website did not display the booking number and showed an error message. I also did not find a confirmation email in my inbox. Although reputable airlines usually provide refunds in such cases, I felt concerned due to the high price of my ticket. I did not want to wait for a refund and risk missing out on the chance to book another ticket. With the flight date fast approaching, I knew that the ticket price would only increase.

*How to handle the booking issue

There are three ways to handle this issue:

Fill in the feedback form at

https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/any-questions/customer-relations/feedback/

When filling out the feedback form, you will receive a response to your issue within 7-14 days. Although this method is simple and does not incur any costs, it may require a lengthy wait time and could disrupt your plans.

Call Turkish Airlines headquarters

Phone number: +90 212 463 63 63

When calling the Turkish Airlines headquarters, you will need to speak with a customer service representative in English and explain your issue. Additionally, you may have to pay an international call fee.

Call the Turkish Airlines office in Vietnam

To call the Turkish Airlines office in Vietnam, visit the website https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/any-questions/get-in-touch/. On this page, you will see a section that looks similar to the image below.

Please choose the correct country of Vietnam, city (Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh) and office that you want to call. You will see contact information such as office address, phone number and email of the ticket office.

I tried method 1 and 3, wrote feedback and called the Turkish Airlines office in Vietnam to solve the problem of not receiving my ticket. First, I wrote feedback to the airline the morning after not receiving the ticket. Then, because I did not want to wait 7-14 days, I decided to call their office in Vietnam. The ticket office found my name and sent the ticket back to me on the same day.

Seven days later, I also received a reply letter and a ticket booking code from the customer support office at the Turkish Airlines headquarters. But calling the ticket office in Vietnam is faster, less expensive and more effective, isn't it?

*Some tips to prevent errors on the Turkish Airline website:

Here are some tips to prevent errors on the Turkish Airlines website:

Register for a Miles & Smiles account before booking

This will help you avoid unexpected problems, like not receiving a booking code after paying. The account also lets you track your booking history, personal information, and retrieve your booking number if necessary.

Choose the correct currency for your card

Make sure to select the currency that matches the currency stored on your card to avoid payment errors. For example, if your card stores VND currency, choose to pay in VND. Avoid selecting USD or other currencies if your card doesn't support them. If you have a Revolut card, which can store multiple currencies, be careful when choosing a currency. For instance, if you only have GBP and Euro, don't select USD. Otherwise, the system might have difficulty processing your payment and lead to an error in not sending an email.

Also, if you're interested in a convenient electronic bank card, you might want to check out Revolut.

Luggage:

Passengers on international economy class flights to the UK are allowed to bring 8kg of carry-on luggage and 30kg of checked luggage. In my experience, Turkish Airlines is stringent with luggage weight and requires passengers to weigh both their carry-on luggage and small bags. As a result, it's essential to be cautious not to exceed the weight limit.

Transit and Visa:

Traveling from Vietnam to European destinations with Turkish Airlines often entails a stopover at Istanbul Airport, Turkey. It is a common misconception that a transit visa is mandatory for Turkish Airlines' passengers transiting through Turkey. However, this is not true, as long as you possess a valid visa for your final destination, no transit visa for Turkey is required.

Flights and Istanbul Airport:

Turkish Airlines provides its passengers on long-haul flights with an amenity kit that includes essential items such as socks, slippers, an eye mask, headphones, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a small lip balm. The bag features traditional Turkish design, adding to the cultural experience.

If the in-flight food does not meet your expectations, you can always bring along some of your favorite snacks to make your journey more enjoyable.

Turkish Airlines is known for its punctuality and professionalism. However, during my wait at Istanbul Airport, I encountered a minor issue when my flight gate was announced a little late, causing confusion among passengers. Moreover, my gate was shared with several other flights, making it necessary to be proactive and calculate your time carefully to avoid missing your flight. It is best not to follow the crowd and wait for the lines to form before joining the queue.

All in all, my experience flying with Turkish Airlines was positive. Despite some minor issues, the airline's amenities, punctuality, and professionalism were impressive. I would definitely fly with them again in the future.