What to do if your flight to/from Istanbul is delayed — compensation, refunds, practical tips
Based on 2 discussions with 8 participants · Last activity: 22 days ago
TL;DR
Airlines must provide meal vouchers for significant delays at Istanbul airports. For long delays you may be eligible for a refund even on non-refundable tickets. Don't rely on Yandex flight boards — they're unreliable.
What the community said
Booking through aggregators like Kupibilet can save money compared to airline websites, but resolving flight issues goes through the intermediary, not the airline directly. Ural Airlines seat selection fees were around 1,900 RUB one way and 1,400 TRY for two seats on the return.
22 days ago Kupibilet — saves vs. airline direct
During an Ajet multi-hour delay at Istanbul airport, passengers received food court vouchers as compensation. If the delay gives extra time in the city, leaving luggage at a hotel and exploring is a practical option — track departure via the airport's own departure boards.
22 days ago Food court vouchers — standard delay compensation
Yandex flight tracking is unreliable for Istanbul routes — use the airport's official departure boards or the airline's own app instead. Also note that some regional Russian airports have limited facilities for long waits.
22 days ago Yandex flight tracker — unreliable
Under rules in force since early 2026, a 30-minute delay can be grounds for a refund on Russian carriers. How this applies to Turkish airlines like Pegasus is unclear. Force majeure events (e.g. drone activity) are often used by airlines to deny compensation as circumstances beyond their control.
22 days ago Pegasus Airlines — force majeure refund unclear
Carrying around $300 in cash as a buffer is wise when transiting through Istanbul without onward tickets booked — covers emergency transport, a new ticket, or an unplanned overnight stay if your flight is delayed.
22 days ago ~$300 cash buffer recommended
If you booked through a third-party aggregator (like Ozon Travel) and your flight is rescheduled, change requests can take up to 10 days to process. Buying a new ticket and claiming a refund through the aggregator is very difficult — contact the airline directly instead.
22 days ago Ozon Travel — change requests take up to 10 days
Paying for Istanbul–Sofia train tickets on the TCDD website fails with cards from certain foreign banks — the transaction is declined after entering the confirmation code. Try alternative payment methods or purchase directly at a TCDD ticket office.
22 days ago TCDD website — foreign cards often declined