Turkish Airlines - Ticket refund and compensation in case of flight delays and cancellations

About Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines (Türk Hava Yolları), officially known as Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı, is the national airline of Turkey. Originally established as Turkish State Airlines on May 20, 1933, Turkish Airlines has grown to become the world’s largest mainline carrier, serving 340 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Turkish Airlines lose strike ban protection to avoid delays

Based in the Turkish General Management Building, on the grounds of Ataturk Airport (IST) Istanbul, Turkish Airlines is the fourth largest according to the number of destinations that it flies to, over 240 in more than 100 countries. The airline also owns a small fleet of cargo planes that fly to 47 airports. This is in contrast to its modest beginnings in 1933, when it consisted of five planes, two Curtiss Kingbirds, two Junkers F.13s and a Tupolev ANT-9, and was a department of the Ministry of Defence. The airline developed as a domestic carrier when it was taken over by the Ministry of Public Works until 1947 when an influx of Douglas DC-3s and C-47s enabled a modest expansion into the international market. Today Turkish Airlines transports over forty-eight million passengers a year, travelling a combined total of ninety-two billion kilometres. It is now one of the fastest-growing carriers in the world.

Airline past tarnished by poor service and delays

During its history, Turkish Airlines has suffered from a reputation of poor customer service, cancellations and delays. This was compounded by a series of high-profile hijackings in the 70s and early 80s. Since then Turkish Airlines have waged a major publicity campaign to raise the company’s reputation and profile. Part of this strategy was to ally itself with universally recognised sports stars, culminating in a viral video that starred Kobe Bryant and Lionel Messi; that was viewed by more than 101 million viewers. In a similar move, an endorsement by the Manchester United soccer team boosted the company’s level of followers on Facebook so that it now ranks in the top five airlines in the World on the social media site.

Turkish government backs down on airline strike

In 2012 the Turkish parliament passed laws that seriously the rights of aviation workers to go on strike, causing massive delays and cancellations. The previous year, industrial action had resulted in over 200 flights being cancelled, affecting more than 100,000 passengers, which cost Turkish Airlines almost $2 million. However, protests have since led to these laws being rescinded, leaving the way open to further delays and disruption as the company negotiates with a belligerent workforce.

Service improvements but compensation claims are still an issue

Despite a poor reputation that will take many years to shake off, Turkish Airlines has been working hard to improve not only its image but its service as well. Their 20 busiest routes during the two months from mid-June to mid-August, had the following outcomes: 71% of flights arrived on time, 14% were classed as late, 6% as very late and 6% were excessively late, with zero cancellations according to FlightStats. Although this still leaves room for improvement and several passengers are keen to exercise their right to compensation for travel delays, it puts them ahead of most of their competition. Turkish Airlines has won the Skytrax Award as Europe’s Best Airline four years in a row, along with several other prestigious customer service and catering awards.

Most popular routes

Turkish Airlines is rapidly expanding its list of destinations around the world, but these are the countries that currently have the highest number of airports that the company flies to. Germany comes top with 13 airports receiving Turkish Airline planes, including Frankfurt (FRA); Russia is next with 10 airports, amongst which is Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO), Naples (NAP) is one of the nine in Italy, and Saudi Arabia has seven destinations, of which, King Fahd International (DMM) is the busiest.

At Flightright, we assist Turkish Airlines passengers who have been subjected to a delay or flight cancellation to enforce their rights. Getting compensated is quick and simple. To get started, use our free online calculator to check your eligibility for Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation. For flight cancellations due to economic reasons, we see good chances to have a compensation claim, especially if you were informed by Turkish Airlines not more than 14 days before your flight.

More in-depth information regarding the EU-regulation and your passenger rights.

Under what conditions is your flight delay with Turkish Airlines eligible for compensation?

The 2004 EU261 regulation clearly defines a flight delay as when an airline or its replacement arrives at your destination more than 3 hours later than expected. In this circumstance, you need to check to know if you might be entitled to compensation.

Note: the amount of compensation is dependent on the distance of the flight – not on the amount you paid for your ticket. Additionally, the flight must either take off or land in the European Union. In the case where it is landing in the European Union, the airline must also have its headquarters in the EU.

A Turkish Airlines passenger is entitled to compensation in the event of the following:

• Flight delay: If your Turkish Airlines flight arrives at your destination more than 3 hours later than expected.
• Flight Cancellation: if you were not informed of the cancellation or informed less than 14 days before departure.
• Overbooking: If you had suffered a denied boarding due to overbooking of your flight.
• Missed connecting flight: If you missed a connecting flight due to a delay in one of the legs, and you arrived at your destination more than 3 hours later than expected.

Don’t take any excuses!

• Meal vouchers or accommodation (in the case of an overnight delay) do not suffice for compensation.
• All flight packages are covered by this regulation, and only the person on the passenger register who has suffered the delay, irrespective of who paid the ticket, will receive compensation for the inconvenience suffered.

• Your claims are valid up to 6 years in the past.
• Only extraordinary circumstances such as union strikes or bad weather relieve the airline of this responsibility.

Here is an overview of which compensation you’ll be entitled to, based on the circumstances of your delay:

• Short distance flight delays – Below 1500km – Passengers are due €250 compensation from Turkish Airlines.
• Medium distance flight delays – Between 1500km and 3500km – Passengers are due €400 compensation from Turkish Airlines.
• Long distance flight delays – Over 3500km – Passengers are due €600 compensation from Turkish Airlines.

Delay, cancellation, overbooking or missed connection flight? You are entitled to:

How to claim compensation from Turkish Airlines

The first thing to do is confirm that you are eligible for Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation. This is often not a simple process when done on your own: getting access to flight databases, comparing your situation with other similar cases, checking whether your case applies under European Regulation No. 261/2004, etc. are some of the tasks that need to be done carefully to determine if you are eligible for a Turkish Airlines compensation. In fact, for an individual without the legal expertise or the required technology, this can prove quite complicated.

But we have made it all easy with Flightright. In simple steps, you can determine your eligibility for a Turkish Airlines delay compensation. Simply enter your flight details into our free compensation calculator, establish that you’re entitled to a claim against Turkish Airlines, and then leave the rest to us. It will only take a few minutes for us to verify the eligibility of your claim and initiate action to ensure that you get compensated. Our service is free, as we only get a percentage of what we can extract as a claim. By choosing us, you are opting to join the more than 11 million satisfied customers who have used our service. We are a dependable partner, and we have been successful at asserting air passenger rights for over 12 years.

Get Started!

Turkish Airlines Additional services at the airport

If your Turkish Airlines flight departure is delayed for more than normal, you immediately have the right to basic benefits and services. These rights vary depending on the distance of your flight. Below, you’ll find an overview of what you’re eligible for:

• Short distance: from 2 hours waiting time – free drinks, free food, and 2 telephone calls, emails, or faxes
• Medium distance: from 3 hours waiting time – free drinks, free food, and 2 telephone calls, emails, or faxes
• Long-haul: from 4 hours waiting time – free drinks, free food, and 2 telephone calls, emails, or faxes

Delays of more than 5 hours

In this instance, you can, regardless of the distance, withdraw from your flight. Turkish Airlines is obliged to either reimburse you or offer you alternative transportation to your destination.

Departure delayed until the next day

You’re eligible for a stay in a hotel, including transport to and from the airport. Contact Turkish Airlines customer service directly and ask that confirmation of your hotel room and transfers be provided in writing.

Your flight didn’t take off yet?

You can simply enter your flight details for your future flight, and we will let you know whether you’re eligible for compensation. Enter your flight here:

Recent flight delays and cancellations with Turkish Airlines

Click to view all recent flight delays and cancellation data for Turkish Airlines. The table below gives you an inside view of how much information we have at our disposal.

Had flight problems with Turkish Airlines?

Flightright takes care of your rights in the event of flight delays, cancellations, and overbooking and is committed to ensuring that you receive your compensation from the airline.