Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Be prepared that if you have a layover and choose to leave the airport to explore Istanbul, you must pay for your "visa" online by credit card ($20 USD).
It used to be visa paid on arrival but changed it for security reasons due to jihadists using Turkey as a spring board to get into neighboring Syria.
I can't imagine flying all the way to Istanbul if the destination is Berlin. That must be an extra 2 hours flight from Chicago to Istanbul, then 2 hours from Istantul to Berlin. That doesn't count layover time in Istanbul. So that probably adds up to an extra 5 or 6 travel hours minimum.
For me, I'd take Air Berlin. I've been on their flights several times in the past 4 years, and it's nothing to rave about but nothing to gripe about either. No different from most other airlines, and most important they were right on schedule. The flights I took on Air Berlin were not jam packed, so there was actually some elbow room with some empty seats around. Either way you still arrive at Tegel Airport, which looks almost the same today as it did back in the mid-1970s when I was an young Army guy stationed in Germany.
I can't imagine flying all the way to Istanbul if the destination is Berlin.
Good point, and thanks for pointing that out. I don't know why I wasn't paying attention to the flight times. The flight through Istanbul is literally twice as long as the Air Berlin flight. 16 hours vs. 8.5.
Even though Turkish looks to be the better airline and it would be cool to possibly spend a day in Istanbul, I will save that route for another time.
Check out Wow airlines.
From LA, SF, DC, Boston, Toronto, and Montreal to Iceland and then Berlin. A short 1-3 hour layover in Iceland can seriously reduce fares.
Thanks. I actually normally fly Condor to Germany, and Icelandic back home. I did not know Wow had operations to the USA. Condor canceled my normal route so I will see what Wow has to offer.
edit: WOW... Wow is only $560 from LAX to SXF for my dates. Round trip!
Last edited by King Harold; 04-27-2016 at 08:21 PM..
Thanks. I actually normally fly Condor to Germany, and Icelandic back home. I did not know Wow had operations to the USA. Condor canceled my normal route so I will see what Wow has to offer.
edit: WOW... Wow is only $560 from LAX to SXF for my dates. Round trip!
That's without a checked bag, and with a very small carry-on (<11lbs). Add $100 for a more normal carry-on (<26lbs), add $135 per checked bag (max 45lbs each). $40 more to select your seat. Not sure about food.
Price can be great if you fly bare bones, otherwise it adds up.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
