Transitting thru Istanbul Airport
Back to Forum- This topic has 12 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 20 Aug 2021
at 00:32 by DavidSmith2.
-
- Author
- Posts
- Skip to last reply Create Topic
-
BregablueParticipantHi,
The dilemma I’m facing is I can’t find any clarity on the UK Gov website for the following, so I’ve fingers crossed someone on here can enlighten me.
I’m leaving an Amber country but having to fly to Istanbul, Turkey is currently Red, I will be staying a few hours airside then flying to another Amber European country where I will connect for a flight into Heathrow.
Do I have to prebook a 10 day hotel quantine room, or the 2 PCR tests and quarantine at home as I’ve not received both jabs yet.
Any help will be most appreciated.19 Jul 2021
at 09:47
BullfrogParticipantI am certainly NOT a definitive source .. but a few hours in Turkey, irrespective of whether you’re airside or not, means you’re mixing with people who have been in Turkey.
So if you’re saying that Turkey is on the UK’s red list, then I guess that means hotel quarantine for you.
The joys of travel in today’s covid world.
1 user thanked author for this post.
19 Jul 2021
at 17:36
EU_FlyerParticipant19 Jul 2021
at 18:36
FormerBAParticipantThis official position is here. I have copied the relevant section below.
Bottom line I’d you must hotel quarantine is transiting Istanbul
Transit stops in amber or red list countries
When you arrive in England you need to follow the rules for the highest risk country or territory that you have been in or passed through in the previous 10 days. That can include transit stops.A transit stop is a stop where passengers can get on or off the same part of the transport in which you are travelling. It can apply to ships, trains or flights. Your ticket should show if a stop is a transit stop.
The rules of a country or territory that you make a transit stop in could apply if:
new passengers get on and are able to mix with you
you or other passengers get off the transport you are on and mix with other people, then get on again
Making a transit stop would not affect what you have to do on arrival in England if, during the stop:no new passengers, who are able to mix with you, get on
no-one on-board gets off and mixes with people outside
passengers get off but do not get back on20 Jul 2021
at 06:56
TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantAny transit via IST (or any Red List country) will require a 10 night hotel quarantine at Heathrow.
Most of my clients who have been in DXB or DOH for work have been travelling to Greece for 10 nights there and then fly home to avoid LHR quarantine (and have a normal 10 days). Cost is pretty much same as Heathtanamo Bay.
Depending on your country of origin this may not be possible and depending on vaccine status you could look at likes of Poland / Croatia / Cyprus as well for 10 nights before returning to UK??
22 Jul 2021
at 16:37
agsteeleParticipantI enquired from a VERY authoritative source as I have regularly flown through IST. IF your connecting flight to the UK has the potential for you to come into contact from travellers who are from RED countries then you will be required to quarantine in a hotel per the RED list rules. You can only transit through a red country without quarantine on arrival in the UK if your flight is ‘insulated’ (my words) from passengers from the red list country. It will be up to you to prove you have not been able to be in contact with any red list country passengers in the terminal or on your IST-LHR flight.
GOV.UK says
The rules of a country or territory that you make a transit stop in could apply if:
new passengers get on and are able to mix with you
you or other passengers get off the transport you are on and mix with other people, then get on again1 user thanked author for this post.
29 Jul 2021
at 11:51
maxgeorgeParticipantAllow plenty of time for connecting flights at IST, some of which (Bishkek, Samarkand, Tirana, Ulaan Bataar etc) leave from very distant gates.
And don’t make the mistake, as I almost did, of boarding the Havas airport bus from Taksim that goes to SAW, across the Bosphorus.
Ensure you’re on the bus to IST, ‘yeni havalimani’.
Last time I was there, 2019, the Metro hadn’t got to IST yet.
30 Jul 2021
at 04:29
DavidSmith2Participant[postquote quote=1107672]
That depends on the country you are transiting to and how their system operates. Some other countries operate ‘traffic light’ classifications but they vary. Others do not differentiate, or do it in a different way.
20 Aug 2021
at 00:32 -
AuthorPosts