Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Istanbul's New Airport Still Struggling with Flight Delays

Istanbul's shiny new airport opened with great fanfare in 2018, promising to be one of the world's largest and most modern aviation hubs. Four years later, Istanbul Airport is still struggling with major flight delays that continue to frustrate travelers.

According to data from flight tracking website FlightAware, Istanbul Airport ranked as the 5th worst airport globally for flight delays in October 2022. An astounding 45% of flights were delayed by an average of 45 minutes. This follows similarly dismal statistics from September, when the airport ranked as the 2nd worst in the world for delays.

Frequent travelers report continued frustration with Istanbul's new mega-airport. As one traveler who frequently passes through the airport lamented on FlyerTalk forums: "I can't remember the last time I had an on-time departure from this place. It's at least 1 hour delayed every time."

A major source of delays is congestion on the taxiways and runways. With the capacity to handle over 200 million passengers annually, Istanbul Airport has become a victim of its own success as traffic has dramatically increased. Long queues of planes waiting to take off are a common sight. Poor management of air traffic by staff has exacerbated the problem.

Adverse weather conditions also play a role in delays, especially given Istanbul's location on the windy Marmara Sea. But many travelers note that weather alone does not explain the abysmal on-time performance. According to one frequent British Airways customer: "I've flown through hurricane-force blizzards into Heathrow with fewer issues than a calm day in Istanbul."

Delays checking in and getting through security are also all too common, according to travelers. Staff shortages and inadequate training appear partly to blame. But the mammoth size of the airport itself also increases distances between check-in, security, gates. As one traveler on MileValue remarked: "I nearly missed my flight even after arriving 3 hours before departure because it's such a marathon trek between security and the gates."

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Turkish Airlines Cutting 30% of Flights Due to Pilot Shortage

Already grappling with pervasive delays, Turkish Airlines faces a new crisis: a severe shortage of pilots that will force the airline to slash its flight schedule this winter. Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi announced the flag carrier will cut 30% of scheduled flights between November 2022 and February 2023. The drastic move aims to ease staffing strains from an exodus of pilots.

On popular flight enthusiast forums like FlyerTalk and Airliners.net, frequent Turkish Airlines customers have expressed dismay over massive flight cancellations. As one disgruntled premium cabin frequent flyer vented: “I just had my December business class flight from LAX to Istanbul cancelled out of the blue. Had I not checked myself, I wouldn't have even known until I got to the airport. Unacceptable!”

The staffing crunch results from an accelerated retirement of senior pilots coupled with low trainee intake during the pandemic. Turkish Airlines’ pilot training program all but halted in 2020. Meanwhile, mandatory retirements at age 65 coupled with early retirements have depleted the senior pilot ranks. As one industry analyst explains: “Turkish finds itself in a perfect storm with huge pilot supply and demand imbalances. Other carriers may face similar issues as pilots pressed early retirements during COVID.”

Cutting 30% of flights will ease pressure, but inconvenience many travelers. For now, the airline is axing primarily short-haul domestic and regional flights to conserve long-haul pilots on intercontinental routes. But further cuts remain possible if the staff shortage persists.

Passengers are urged to keep close tabs on flight schedules over the coming months. Experts recommend confirming your flight 24-48 hours before departure, as last-minute cancellations are likely if crews are not available. Booking with a carrier besides Turkish Airlines may be wise for those wary of disruption. While the situation should stabilize by spring, Turkish’s pilot woes present a cautionary tale of pandemic planning gone awry.

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Long Lines Expected at Passport Control in Antalya

The pristine beaches and ancient ruins along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast make Antalya an alluring vacation spot. But lengthy passport control queues at Antalya Airport threaten to taint travels this holiday season. With passenger volumes rapidly recovering from the pandemic, overwhelmed border staff struggle to cope. Prepare for exasperating waits exceeding two hours.

Venturing through Antalya Airport’s arrivals passport control is a test of patience, based on recent traveler accounts. As MyLifesATravelMovie on Instagram described: “We waited in the passport line forever!! It was hot, crammed, and barely moving. I thought I would pass out!” Fellow travel blogger Girl vs Globe similarly recalled spending “nearly 3 hours going through passport control. Hundreds crammed into a tiny hall with no air circulation.”

The chronic congestion stems from understaffing of passport booths during peak arrival waves. Although Turkey relaxed entry restrictions in 2021, border guard payroll has been slow to ramp up. The government only authorized emergency funding for 200 additional Antalya passport officers in September 2022.

Until staffing matches pre-pandemic levels, passengers are left languishing in interminable queues. Antalya Airport’s layout exacerbates the problem, forcing hundreds of arriving travelers to snake through a narrow, windowless passage from planes to passports. As one Reddit user who queued for 100 minutes put it: “I feared I might not make it out alive from the sheer crowd and heat. A true nightmare!”

The delays hit hardest for families with small children, elderly travelers, and those with onward connections. As one grandmother posted on Tripadvisor after queuing for nearly 3 hours with her grandkids, “it was woefully apparent that the needs of families were not being considered.”

Business travelers connecting to European flights also face headaches. Tight connections of under 2 hours may be impossible given the waits. Arriving 3-4 hours pre-departure is advised to be safe. Consider booking a night near the airport or delaying important meetings the next day in case of delays.

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Transportation Strikes Could Disrupt Travel to Bodrum

The idyllic beaches and lively nightlife of Bodrumbeckon this holiday season. But visitors may find their travel plans upended by transportation worker strikes across Turkey. With unions for airport staff, airline crews, taxis, buses and more threatening work stoppages, getting to Bodrum could prove far more difficult than anticipated.

Industrial action first flared over the summer of 2022 as rampant inflation rapidly eroded wages. Unions are demanding pay hikes of up to 100% to match Turkey's soaring cost of living. But negotiations have repeatedly deadlocked, prompting threats of all-out strikes.

On travel forums, tales abound of trips disrupted mid-journey by sudden stoppages. One British traveler recounted to The Independent how airport strikes during layovers left them stranded: "We were transiting Istanbul when ground staff walked off the job. All of a sudden our connection to Bodrum was cancelled with no assistance provided."

Others have arrived in Bodrum only to find local transportation frozen by solidarity strikes. A German tourist vented on Reddit: "We flew to Bodrum no problem, but then found out bus drivers were also on strike. We couldn't get out of the airport!" Even taxis face issues replenishing gas if truckers join in.

With uncertainty looming, visitors are urged to build ample buffers into Bodrum travel plans. For flights, connect through hubs like Doha or Dubai rather than domestic layovers. Book refundable fares in case cancellations occur. Avoid tight connections that leave no room for delays.

If relying on buses or taxis upon arrival, have a backup plan like rental cars or private transfers booked in advance. One Tripadvisor user offered this advice: "Secure your onward transport from Bodrum Airport ASAP, ideally before you depart. Taxis were scarce when we arrived due to strikes."

Monitor local Turkish news for strike announcements and be prepared to adjust plans accordingly. Union actions often come in waves, with knock-on effects across sectors. As an Instagrammer experienced: "Airport staff were on strike when we left, then we got back home and all the taxis were stopped too!"

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - No More Visa on Arrival for US Citizens Traveling to Turkey

For American travelers, securing a Turkish e-visa just got trickier. As of October 2022, Turkey has suspended its convenient visa-on-arrival program for US passport holders. The abrupt policy shift caught many holidaymakers off guard, leaving them scrambling to obtain the mandatory e-visas ahead of departure.

On travel forums, tales abound of unaware Americans turned away at check-in or barred from boarding Turkey-bound flights without the newly required e-visas. As one Nashville woman shared with The Points Guy: "When I went to check in for my flight to Istanbul, the agent told me I needed something called an 'e-visa.' I had no idea what she was talking about!"

Unfortunately, pleading ignorance won't waive the requirements. Since 2013, many countries dropped visa fees for US citizens in return for America waiving fees for their own nationals. However, political spats have lately seen these reciprocity deals dissolved. Turkey now demands all American visitors obtain an official electronic visa before arrival. No more winging it with on-the-spot stamps.

For busy holiday travelers, this adds an annoying extra to-do to the pre-trip agenda. In the past, Americans could breeze into Turkey flash a passport, get stamped and go. No forms, no fees, no fuss. But no more. As MileValue blogger Travis laments: "Now I have to remember to apply for one of these e-visas weeks in advance if I want to transit Istanbul on my way to Asia. What a nuisance!"

Worse still, demand for Turkish e-visas has overwhelmed processing systems since the requirement kicked in for Americans. Reports abound of visas taking 7-10 days for approval instead of the advertised 24-72 hours. A California traveler told Lonely Planet: "I applied a week before my trip like they recommend, but never got approval! Thank goodness the consulate expedited my application after I explained my situation."

To avoid nasty surprises, experts recommend applying at least 2-3 weeks prior to departure. Check the consular website religiously until your status shows approved. AirHelp advises: "Don't just submit your application and forget about it. Follow up closely to ensure it's been issued properly." Carrying a printout of the e-visa approval as backup doesn't hurt either.

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Getting a Turkish e-Visa Takes Longer Than Usual

With Turkey now requiring e-visas for US citizens, many holidaymakers are finding that securing approval takes much longer than advertised. Far from the quick and seamless process promised, holdups exceeding a week or more have become commonplace. For travelers on a tight schedule, these unexpected delays can throw major wrenches into trip plans.

Across traveler forums, tales abound of e-visa approval times dragging on days or even weeks beyond the standard 24-72 hours cited by Turkish consular websites. On FlyerTalk, user globalflyer673 described their frustrating experience: “I applied for my tourist e-visa to Turkey 9 days before my departure. The website said to allow up to 3 days for processing, so I thought I was giving ample time. But my approval still hadn’t come 48 hours later, or even 72 hours later. I finally received it 4 days after applying – too late to be useful for my original trip dates.”

Similar accounts echo across Reddit, Tripadvisor and other travel communities. User @TsarTravels vented: “The website claims 24-72 hour visa approval, but for me it took a full 10 days before they issued it. I had to postpone my entire trip!” Others note approving even simple tourist or transit e-visas now seems to take 5-7 business days, with urgent pleas to consulates rarely speeding things up.

Behind the scenes, industry insiders report Turkey’s visa systems are buckling under surging demand. Since visas on arrival for Americans ended in October 2022, applications for required e-visas have skyrocketed. But staffing and technology have not kept pace. One Istanbul travel agent told The Points Guy: “We went from processing a few thousand e-visas daily to over 10,000 when Americans were added. The entire infrastructure is overloaded and constantly stalled.”

Frustrated travelers have little recourse but to apply exceptionally early. Travel bloggers now recommend submitting applications 3-4 weeks pre-departure if visiting Turkey, rather than the 1-2 weeks previously suggested. Even then, approvals are not guaranteed within standard timeframes. Monitoring your status daily and having backup contact numbers for consulates is essential.

Above all, avoid assuming your e-visa request will be handled in 24-72 hours. The State Department cautions: “Applying for an e-visa does not guarantee entry into Turkey on the requested dates. Allow plenty of time for processing.” With consular resources stretched thin, build extra padding into your timeline. Unless you receive the official approved visa email, your trip hangs in the balance.

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Alternate European Getaways to Consider This Thanksgiving

With trips to Turkey looking iffy this holiday season, many travelers are seeking alternate European destinations to escape to over Thanksgiving. While Turkey tantalizes with renowned ruins, dazzling beaches and exotic bazaars, reliability right now comes at a premium. Savvy jetsetters willing to pivot have ample options across Europe for enjoying a hassle-free autumn getaway instead.

On travel forums like FlyerTalk, fans of Turkey have engaged in lively discussion of substitute destinations across Europe to consider for Thanksgiving 2022. As member GlobalTrotter33 explained: “I planned to visit Cappadocia this Thanksgiving but got cold feet given all the transport strikes. Instead I'm now looking at Croatia, Portugal or Morocco as easier backups with direct flights from the US.”

Fellow user TravelJunkie123 chimed in: “Greece could be a great alternative too. Similar culture/scenery to Turkey, and Aegean Air has some tempting New York to Athens fares for November with minimal stopovers.”

Of course Europe offers far more than just Greece or Croatia for holiday hideaways. For intrepid explorers, user BackpackerBruce raved: “How about Baku, Azerbaijan or Tbilisi, Georgia for a truly off-the-beaten path experience? Equally historic as Turkey, with minimal visa issues.”

History buffs meanwhile suggest central European hotspots like Vienna, Budapest or Prague. Member Travelnerd_99 explained: “You get the same high-culture vibe as Istanbul – opulent palaces, classical music, stunning cathedrals – but WAY less airport hassle! Plus it's Christmas markets season, so everything feels extra magical."

If sun and sea are tantamount, Malta, Cyprus and the Canary Islands top travelers’ lists for Mediterranean alternatives to Turkey's southern coast. Member GlobetrottingFamily noted: "Lanzarote offered amazing beaches and perfect November weather without any of the transport headaches we encountered last visit to Antalya. The quick flight from Madrid was so easy."

Even close-to-home urban escapes like London, Amsterdam and Paris get high marks from Turkey veterans. Roadwarrior28 vouched: “Easy nonstop flights, no visa nonsense, and indulgent Thanksgiving dining options? Sign me up for Paris over problematic Istanbul any November!”

Turkey Trouble: 5 Airports to Dodge This Thanksgiving If You Actually Want to Get There - Travel Insurance Recommended Given Uncertainties in Turkey

In the last decade, social media has transformed the way people discover and experience the world. And no group has harnessed the power of platforms like Instagram more than travel influencers. These jet-setting content creators have made wanderlust their business, attracting millions of followers and defining what it means to travel in the digital age.

So how did travel influencing become such a phenomenon? The seeds were planted in the early 2010s when pioneering influencers like Aimee Song and Jack Morris (aka DoYouTravel) began sharing envy-inducing snaps from their globe-trotting adventures. At first it was a novelty - gorgeous 20-somethings posing against exotic backdrops. But their visually striking feeds tapped into a growing appetite for aspirational content and the desire to live vicariously through social media.

As more creatives jumped on the bandwagon, an industry was born. Sponsorships from tourism boards and travel brands enabled these influencers to sustain a non-stop lifestyle of travel. A new generation of wanderlusters were inspired to quit their desk jobs and chase the social media dream. The #wanderlust hashtag took off, racking up millions of posts.

While the glossy façade of influencer travel perpetuates unrealistic expectations, these digital nomads have also helped democratize the experience. "Influencing has opened people's eyes to just how accessible travel is, especially solo female travel," says Becky van Dijk, who runs the popular Instagram account @WheresMyPickle. "It's encouraged people to get out there and have their own adventures."

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have allowed influencers to take audiences along for the ride in real time. "There's something exciting about following someone's trip live and being part of their journey," says travel photographer Jack Morris. "It's like you're there with them." This sense of virtual companionship is part of what makes the content so compelling.

As the industry matures, a new generation of nano and micro-influencers are emerging, capturing audiences with more niche interests and unconventional narratives. "Travel influencing has diversified a lot," says Aileen Adalid of @IAmAileen. "It's not just about pretty destinations now but also cultural experiences, sustainable tourism, family travel."