Turkish Airlines
Unclaimed Business
|1.4|10 Reviews (last 12 months)|This business does not respond to reviews
Turkish Airlines
Unclaimed Business
|1.4
10 Reviews (last 12 months)
Does not respond to reviews
AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, Turkish Airlines is drawing significant frustration from South African travellers, with recurring complaints about ground staff conduct at OR Tambo and King Shaka airports, particularly around visa interpretation and denied boarding. Customers consistently mention dismissive customer service responses, unresolved compensation claims, and inflexible rebooking fees. A recurring theme involves confusion over travel documentation and unhelpful escalation channels. While some travellers acknowledge friendly cabin crew and decent in-flight experiences, these positives are frequently overshadowed by service recovery failures and perceived lack of accountability.
Performance(last 12 months):
NPS Score
-100Unlikely
NPS Score
-100
Recommended: Unlikely
Review Distribution
1.4|10 Reviews
Sep '25 - Aug '26
Recent reviews (10)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperienceAH
Andries H
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2020
11 May 2026, 14:47
TURKISH AIRLINES CANCELLING MY PRE-PAID PRE-BOOKED SEAT AND WHAT A MISSION TO GET SUCH REFUNDED!!!
I booked a flight and booked and prepaid for an extra leg room seat in early January. Turkish airlines then changed a flight time by 5 FIVE minutes. This forced my travel company to accept such "change". When I then 2 months later (24 hours before flight departed) tried to check in I noticed my prepaid extra legroom seat was cancelled. It was sold to ANOTHER passenger. Despite all my effort I could not get such seat reinstated. It then took me over 2 weeks to finally have Turkish Airlines agree to refund such pre-paid amount. Even then after agreeing to refund I was put into a process that was told takes about 3 weeks to have the refund processed. My advice to other travellers who want to book and prepay for specific seating DO NOT DO SO! If Turkish airlines changes flight details by even 1 minute (NO CHANGE TO AIRCRAFT OR FLIGHT NUMBER OR THE LIKE - simply a insignificant time change you "lose your pre-paid seat and boy is it a mission to get a refund!!!!
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Andries H
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2020
11 May 2026, 14:47
TURKISH AIRLINES CANCELLING MY PRE-PAID PRE-BOOKED SEAT AND WHAT A MISSION TO GET SUCH REFUNDED!!!
I booked a flight and booked and prepaid for an extra leg room seat in early January. Turkish airlines then changed a flight time by 5 FIVE minutes. This forced my travel company to accept such "change". When I then 2 months later (24 hours before flight departed) tried to check in I noticed my prepaid extra legroom seat was cancelled. It was sold to ANOTHER passenger. Despite all my effort I could not get such seat reinstated. It then took me over 2 weeks to finally have Turkish Airlines agree to refund such pre-paid amount. Even then after agreeing to refund I was put into a process that was told takes about 3 weeks to have the refund processed. My advice to other travellers who want to book and prepay for specific seating DO NOT DO SO! If Turkish airlines changes flight details by even 1 minute (NO CHANGE TO AIRCRAFT OR FLIGHT NUMBER OR THE LIKE - simply a insignificant time change you "lose your pre-paid seat and boy is it a mission to get a refund!!!!
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Doruk E
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
10 Mar 2026, 15:18
Uygulama üzerinden check-in sorunu
Türk Hava Yolları ile sık uçuyorum, genel olarak hizmetten memnunum ama son uçuşumda mobil uygulama üzerinden check-in yaparken sürekli hata aldım. Müşteri hizmetlerini aradım, yardımcı oldular ama havaalanında vakit kaybetmeme neden oldu. Ayrıca uçaktaki yemek seçenekleri eskisine göre biraz azalmış gibi geldi. Yine de personelin nezaketi için teşekkürler, ama teknik aksaklıklar can sıkıcı olabiliyor.
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Doruk E
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
10 Mar 2026, 15:18
Uygulama üzerinden check-in sorunu
Türk Hava Yolları ile sık uçuyorum, genel olarak hizmetten memnunum ama son uçuşumda mobil uygulama üzerinden check-in yaparken sürekli hata aldım. Müşteri hizmetlerini aradım, yardımcı oldular ama havaalanında vakit kaybetmeme neden oldu. Ayrıca uçaktaki yemek seçenekleri eskisine göre biraz azalmış gibi geldi. Yine de personelin nezaketi için teşekkürler, ama teknik aksaklıklar can sıkıcı olabiliyor.
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Carmel L
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
3 Mar 2026, 13:12
Turkish Airlines never against
On the 8 of February 2026 I had a flight from Istanbul to DBN.Ispoke to a cabin crew lady and told her my seat was broken.I was uncomfortable for over 10 hours on that fligjt.When I explained to her she said I must complain on the site and I will be compensated.When we arrived in JHB a guy came to fix the seat.Now I submitted my complaint on the site and they dismiss my complaint and say I shouldve told a cabin crew member which I did.I even spoke to a guy at theTK kiosk at King Shaka about this,He said he would follow up and get bank to me which he never did. I want to be compensated for this. I will not use Turkish airlines again.t
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Carmel L
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
3 Mar 2026, 13:12
Turkish Airlines never against
On the 8 of February 2026 I had a flight from Istanbul to DBN.Ispoke to a cabin crew lady and told her my seat was broken.I was uncomfortable for over 10 hours on that fligjt.When I explained to her she said I must complain on the site and I will be compensated.When we arrived in JHB a guy came to fix the seat.Now I submitted my complaint on the site and they dismiss my complaint and say I shouldve told a cabin crew member which I did.I even spoke to a guy at theTK kiosk at King Shaka about this,He said he would follow up and get bank to me which he never did. I want to be compensated for this. I will not use Turkish airlines again.t
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Dave P
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2009
3 Dec 2025, 11:50
Istanbul Hotel - "Early Check-In Fee"
With a layover in Istanbul more than 24 hrs a complimentary hotel booking was made on the Turkish Airlines stay-over program. Flight arrival at Istanbul was 17h05. The hotel required Euro 50 as an "early check-in fee" for checking in prior to 22h05. How can FIVE hours after the flight landed be considered an early check-in. The fee was exorbitant - I refused to pay it. Response from the Turkish Airways "Help" desk has been woefully inadequate - generic cut & paste ignoring the 2 concerns.
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Dave P
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2009
3 Dec 2025, 11:50
Istanbul Hotel - "Early Check-In Fee"
With a layover in Istanbul more than 24 hrs a complimentary hotel booking was made on the Turkish Airlines stay-over program. Flight arrival at Istanbul was 17h05. The hotel required Euro 50 as an "early check-in fee" for checking in prior to 22h05. How can FIVE hours after the flight landed be considered an early check-in. The fee was exorbitant - I refused to pay it. Response from the Turkish Airways "Help" desk has been woefully inadequate - generic cut & paste ignoring the 2 concerns.
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Mishka C
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2025
2 Oct 2025, 11:41
Over charged
I gave a two star rating instead of one because when you submit feedback, the customer representives online respond very quickly. Also, the flights were decent and the air hostesses/hosts were very friendly and kind. However, I had missed a connecting flight because I read the board wrong. That was fully my fault and when I ran to reach the boarding gate on time I got there two minutes later. I pleaded with the people checking everyone in but they couldn't do anything about it. I understand that but they were also very cold, started ignoring me and walked away just telling me I must find a help desk (the airport is huge). When i went to get a new flight, they charged me 480 euros (R9000) for the 10am flight . Just before then, my mom told me there was a flight at 10 which would only cost me R3000. They didn't allow me to get another ticket because they said they'd have the right to cancel my return flights with them. After speaking to people who work at airlines, they were very shocked because I ended up paying triple the price for that ticket. I understand it was my fault missing my flight, but it was my first time flying alone and I felt I was taken advantage of. I've been fighting for atleast half a refund on my ticket but I've just been met with the same response over and over again - that I missed my flight. That is not my point, my point is that the amount I was charged was exploitive. I wouldn't recommend flying with Turkish Airlines. My friends who fly with emirates had a completely different experience.
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Mishka C
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2025
2 Oct 2025, 11:41
Over charged
I gave a two star rating instead of one because when you submit feedback, the customer representives online respond very quickly. Also, the flights were decent and the air hostesses/hosts were very friendly and kind. However, I had missed a connecting flight because I read the board wrong. That was fully my fault and when I ran to reach the boarding gate on time I got there two minutes later. I pleaded with the people checking everyone in but they couldn't do anything about it. I understand that but they were also very cold, started ignoring me and walked away just telling me I must find a help desk (the airport is huge). When i went to get a new flight, they charged me 480 euros (R9000) for the 10am flight . Just before then, my mom told me there was a flight at 10 which would only cost me R3000. They didn't allow me to get another ticket because they said they'd have the right to cancel my return flights with them. After speaking to people who work at airlines, they were very shocked because I ended up paying triple the price for that ticket. I understand it was my fault missing my flight, but it was my first time flying alone and I felt I was taken advantage of. I've been fighting for atleast half a refund on my ticket but I've just been met with the same response over and over again - that I missed my flight. That is not my point, my point is that the amount I was charged was exploitive. I wouldn't recommend flying with Turkish Airlines. My friends who fly with emirates had a completely different experience.
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Kairunnissa
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2025
22 Sept 2025, 20:11
booked a flight in August where my family and I were deliberately prevented from boarding despite presenting all required documents
booked a flight in August where my family and I were deliberately prevented from boarding despite presenting all required documents. Staff at King Shaka International Airport acted unprofessionally, placing and then removing tags from our luggage and even suggesting we abandon our bags to board. Supervisor Mr. Huseyin Cepni and staff member Ms. Rowena Sooklal misled us, promising to fix our tickets after their error caused us to miss our flight, yet nothing was resolved. When we rebooked with Emirates, Ms. Sooklal again interfered, telling Emirates staff we lacked documents, despite prior clearance and confirmation from their own manager. This caused unnecessary delays until Emirates corrected the issue and allowed us to fly. As a frequent international traveler, I have never encountered such unprofessional, disruptive, and disrespectful behavior from airline staff. This treatment was unacceptable and demands accountability.
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Kairunnissa
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2025
22 Sept 2025, 20:11
booked a flight in August where my family and I were deliberately prevented from boarding despite presenting all required documents
booked a flight in August where my family and I were deliberately prevented from boarding despite presenting all required documents. Staff at King Shaka International Airport acted unprofessionally, placing and then removing tags from our luggage and even suggesting we abandon our bags to board. Supervisor Mr. Huseyin Cepni and staff member Ms. Rowena Sooklal misled us, promising to fix our tickets after their error caused us to miss our flight, yet nothing was resolved. When we rebooked with Emirates, Ms. Sooklal again interfered, telling Emirates staff we lacked documents, despite prior clearance and confirmation from their own manager. This caused unnecessary delays until Emirates corrected the issue and allowed us to fly. As a frequent international traveler, I have never encountered such unprofessional, disruptive, and disrespectful behavior from airline staff. This treatment was unacceptable and demands accountability.
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Dylan L
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2014
15 Sept 2025, 18:35
Very disappointing flights and experience
I had a very disappointing flight with Turkish Airlines. My flight from Cape Town to Istanbul I was allocated a seat which didn't have a front pouch on the seat in front of me to store my things. My luck my flight on the way back from Istanbul to Cape Town the seat that I was allocated once again did not have a pouch to store things. Both flights there were no other seats to move me to on the plane. My flight from Istanbul to Cape Town the seats were so tiny that my legs were squished right up to the seat in front of me it was a super uncomfortable 11 hours. Turkish Airlines definitely did not live up to what I was expecting. Very disappointing to say the least. The meals are tiny and you can't even get a whisky on the flight.
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Dylan L
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2014
15 Sept 2025, 18:35
Very disappointing flights and experience
I had a very disappointing flight with Turkish Airlines. My flight from Cape Town to Istanbul I was allocated a seat which didn't have a front pouch on the seat in front of me to store my things. My luck my flight on the way back from Istanbul to Cape Town the seat that I was allocated once again did not have a pouch to store things. Both flights there were no other seats to move me to on the plane. My flight from Istanbul to Cape Town the seats were so tiny that my legs were squished right up to the seat in front of me it was a super uncomfortable 11 hours. Turkish Airlines definitely did not live up to what I was expecting. Very disappointing to say the least. The meals are tiny and you can't even get a whisky on the flight.
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Candice B
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2015
3 Sept 2025, 09:25
Never consider this Airline
To say that I am APPALLED by this whole experience would be an understatement. 1. We booked through a travel agent who assured us that there would not be an issue with my passport expiring on the 3rd of January, as it must be valid for 90 Days from date of entry. 2. I called the Turkish Embassy to confirm this once I was issued my e-Visa, and they confirmed 90 days from entry was correct. 3. We arrived at the airport and were stopped by a security official named Anita. She looked at my passport, and said “YOU WILL NOT BE FLYING TODAY” Rude and revolting attitude. 4. I then asked to speak to the Supervisor of the Turkish Airline stationed at the check-in counter, and he couldn’t understand why there was an issue with me boarding. 5. He went to Anita and enquired as to what the issue was, and she said I need 150 days on the passport from date of entry, and again reiterating that I would not be flying anywhere, as Anita has the final say… I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you allocated a portion of your marketing budget to educating staff at the check-in counter, Turkish Embassy Consular Call Centre Agents, and Travel Agencies across South Africa on the requirements when travelling to Turkey, so this does not happen to anyone else! Below are the costs that we have been charged to date: People carrier transfer: R610.00 Obelisk Hotel & Suites: R12 877.00 Cappadocia Pegasus Cave Hotel: R6 182.00 Ibis Kayseri: R1 312.00 Costa Bitezhan Hotel: R26 484.00 Flight cancellation penalty fees: R5 504.00 Internal flights cancellation penalty fees: R1 152.00 I sent the above to the Management of Turkish Airlines and they haven't bothered to respond
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Candice B
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2015
3 Sept 2025, 09:25
Never consider this Airline
To say that I am APPALLED by this whole experience would be an understatement. 1. We booked through a travel agent who assured us that there would not be an issue with my passport expiring on the 3rd of January, as it must be valid for 90 Days from date of entry. 2. I called the Turkish Embassy to confirm this once I was issued my e-Visa, and they confirmed 90 days from entry was correct. 3. We arrived at the airport and were stopped by a security official named Anita. She looked at my passport, and said “YOU WILL NOT BE FLYING TODAY” Rude and revolting attitude. 4. I then asked to speak to the Supervisor of the Turkish Airline stationed at the check-in counter, and he couldn’t understand why there was an issue with me boarding. 5. He went to Anita and enquired as to what the issue was, and she said I need 150 days on the passport from date of entry, and again reiterating that I would not be flying anywhere, as Anita has the final say… I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you allocated a portion of your marketing budget to educating staff at the check-in counter, Turkish Embassy Consular Call Centre Agents, and Travel Agencies across South Africa on the requirements when travelling to Turkey, so this does not happen to anyone else! Below are the costs that we have been charged to date: People carrier transfer: R610.00 Obelisk Hotel & Suites: R12 877.00 Cappadocia Pegasus Cave Hotel: R6 182.00 Ibis Kayseri: R1 312.00 Costa Bitezhan Hotel: R26 484.00 Flight cancellation penalty fees: R5 504.00 Internal flights cancellation penalty fees: R1 152.00 I sent the above to the Management of Turkish Airlines and they haven't bothered to respond
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