Is 1 hour and 30 minutes enough time to catch connecting flight in Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Turkey?

score:4

Accepted answer

If it's in one booking, then the Airline thinks it's enough, and if you miss the connection it's their job to get you on the next flight to Skopje.

Upvote:0

Adding another personal anecdote. I made a EU-IST-UK and UK-IST-EU transit in the last month. I had a 3 hour connection in IST on separate tickets. On the outbound and I didn't even pass security but went straight to airside transit. I had 2:50 to spare.

On the inbound I was required to go via airside transit and was the only passenger there. I started taking out my liquid bag and they told me to put it back in my hand luggage. I had a 4 hour transit and had a mere 3:45 left over after passing through security. As long as you don't have to go landside, I can't see this taking much time.

Since I had 4 hours and no status on the last leg, I purchased lounge entry for 25 euro at IST for a comfortable place to sit, some hot food and a couple of beers.

Upvote:2

This should be no problem. I had a two-hour connection at IST a few days ago (on a Budapest-Istanbul-Atlanta itinerary) and found it long enough to spend a bit too much money at the souvenir stores. 1.5 hours would have definitely been sufficient. Istanbul is a crowded airport, but it is not particularly large.

On the way back from Skopje to New York, you should be aware that Istanbul-US flights are subject to some special screening now, so get yourself to the gate in plenty of time.

Upvote:3

While Crazydre's answer is factually correct, it's worth noting that "the next flight to Skopje" may be the following day, in which case they would have to provide you with accommodation and meals. Yet this means you'll arrive at your destination a day later, which may not be acceptable (e.g. you have connecting flights in Skopje or somebody is waiting for you, etc., etc.).

From personal experience, 1.5 hours is absolutely fine for international to international connection at Ataturk airport. I've travelled via that airport many, many times; the shortest connection I have had was 50 minutes - and I made it just fine, along with my luggage.

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