Trip Context
I had a 21+ hour layover in Istanbul enroute from Doha to Bali on Turkish Airlines, a perfect opportunity to try out the airline’s free accommodation program for long layovers. Landing in Istanbul at 5:30 am, my flight to Bali would leave only at 2:05 am the next day.
I could, of course, just have remained in the airport since I have access to TK’s business class lounge and could eat and shower for free there. But it wouldn’t have been terribly comfortable since sections of the lounge feel like a homeless shelter and, anyway, 21 hours is a long time.
How to Get a Free Layover Hotel
You need to meet certain conditions, such as travelling internationally via Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines ticket, and minimum layover length requirements. If you’re on a business class ticket, the minimum layover length is 9 hours while it is 12 hours for economy class passengers. According to Turkish Airlines’ website, you also cannot be on an itinerary that has an option of a shorter layover (under 9 hours for business or 12 hours for economy class), even if the connecting flight with the shorter layover time is full. A few other restrictions apply, so be sure to check.
Another important caveat to remember: the layover experience isn’t really free if you require a visa on arrival, which Americans and Canadians, among other nationalities, do. I already had a VOA which permitted multiple re-entries into Turkey for 90 days, so I decided to take advantage of the layover option. (Similarly, if you decide to take advantage of the free Istanbul city tour offered by the airline, it isn’t technically free if the VOA condition applies to you. Having said that, the cost of the VOA isn’t prohibitive at USD 61.50.)
If you meet the entry conditions for Turkey, exit immigration and on the landside of the arrival terminal, go to the hotel desk. Be sure to locate the desk that clearly says “Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk” as there are several toutish private tour operators also offering hotels in that section of the terminal. As a reference point, the TK hotel desk is situated directly next to the TourIstanbul desk, which offers the free city tours. This is what the hotel desk looks like – it’s hard to miss, really.
Present your boarding pass and passport to the agent, who will check that you meet all the requirements for the layover program and proceed to make arrangements. It’s important to note that the airline chooses your layover hotel, the standard of which will vary according to your class of travel.
The agent told me to take a seat and let me know that I would be called when the arrangements are complete. It took about half an hour, but I think they were processing a batch of reservations from a group of us who arrived at around the same time, as we were all called at the same time.
Follow the agent, who will take you to the hotel transfer bus area and ensure that you get on the right bus. Transfers from and to the hotels are free, as are meals. The number of meals you get depends on the length of the layover obviously. At the hotel, I received breakfast and lunch tickets. If you’re wondering how you will get back to the airport to catch your flight, not to worry: Turkish will send a driver to meet you. My flight was at 2:05 am and a driver picked me up at 10 pm.
My Stay Experience
My assigned hotel was the Renaissance Polat Istanbul, which is part of the Marriott Group. It has a fabulous location on the Sea of Marmara, but the hotel itself is a bit old and tired. Architecture is 1980s vintage (uninspired glass tower) but the well-maintained grounds by the sea are relaxing and feature an outdoor pool. Having been amply fed on my flight from Doha, I skipped breakfast. Lunch was a set meal with a several options. I chose the vegetable penne pasta, which came with a soup and salad and hit the spot. My room looked out over the sea and was perfect for resting and catching up with some work.
Conclusion
As one of the super connectors, Turkish Airlines connects many passengers through its Istanbul hub. The airline incentivizes passengers to fly with them and have the opportunity to discover a little of Istanbul by offering a layover hotel if their connection time is long enough. You get a comfortable room, free airport transfers and free meals. My experience with the program was stress-free. If you have a long connection time and meet the criteria for the program, it is certainly the superior alternative to waiting out the hours for your connecting flight at the airport.
