Transfer and transit passengers

Ensuring that our transfer and transit passengers have a smooth and comfortable journey is a priority. To learn more about transfer and transit procedures, you can visit our website.

Who is a transfer passenger?



Transfer passengers are passengers who have a confirmed ticket, and who are stopping for less than 24 hours at an intermediate airport between the departure and arrival airports, before continuing their journey on the same or a different airline.

Who is a transit passenger?



Transit passengers are passengers who have a confirmed single ticket itinerary and who are stopping at an intermediate airport between the departure and arrival airports. Typically, transit passengers do not pass through immigration or leave the airport’s transit area.

Transfer from a domestic to an international flight

If you have a connecting flight from Türkiye to another country via Istanbul Airport, you can watch our video to learn about the transfer process.

Watch the video

Transfer from an international to a domestic flight

Information on transfer procedures at Istanbul Airport between international and domestic flights can be found in the video.

Watch the video

Transfer from an international flight to another international flight

Information on transfer procedures at Istanbul Airport between international flights can be found in the video.

Watch the video


Transfer from a domestic to an international flight

If you have a connecting flight from Türkiye to another country via Istanbul Airport, you can watch our video to learn about the transfer process.

Watch the video

Transfer from an international to a domestic flight

Information on transfer procedures at Istanbul Airport between international and domestic flights can be found in the video.

Watch the video

Transfer from an international flight to another international flight

Information on transfer procedures at Istanbul Airport between international flights can be found in the video.

Watch the video

Baggage and flight procedures for transfer/transit passengers

Information for passengers traveling from domestic to international destinations

Passengers* arriving from within Türkiye and continuing their journey abroad with Turkish Airlines Detailed information

  • Collect your cabin baggage, exit the aircraft, and proceed to the international terminal.
  • If you do not have a boarding pass, go to the relevant airline counter to obtain one and then proceed to passport control. If you do have a boarding pass, you can proceed directly to passport control.
  • You can complete your passport formalities at the final point of departure abroad.

*Includes passengers with single ticket itineraries booked with Star Alliance member airlines or airlines with codeshare agreements with Turkish Airlines.

Watch the video

Passengers* arriving on domestic flights and continuing their journey abroad on a non-Star Alliance/Turkish Airlines flight. Detailed information

  • Collect your checked baggage at the baggage claim area in the domestic terminal.
  • Proceed to the international terminal and complete your check-in (including checking any baggage) at the counter of the relevant airline.

*Excludes passengers with single ticket itineraries booked with Star Alliance member airlines or airlines with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines.

Information for passengers traveling from international to domestic destinations

Passengers* arriving at Istanbul Airport from abroad and flying to a domestic airport/customs point with a single ticket itinerary Detailed information

  • Collect your cabin baggage, exit the aircraft, and proceed to passport control.
  • After exiting passport control, proceed to the domestic terminal and your boarding gate.
  • You can collect your baggage in the baggage claim area at your destination airport.

*Includes passengers whose flight itineraries are not booked on a single ticket with Star Alliance members or airlines other than Turkish Airlines.

Watch the video

Passengers* arriving at Istanbul from abroad and flying to a domestic airport/customs point on a different ticket or airline. Detailed information

  • Collect your baggage from the baggage claim area in the international terminal.
  • Proceed to the domestic terminal and go to the relevant airline counter to check in/check baggage for your next flight.

*Excludes passengers who have single ticket itineraries booked with Star Alliance member airlines or airlines with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines.

Transfer passengers* arriving from abroad at Istanbul Airport and flying abroad on another flight with a single ticket itinerary. Detailed information

  • Collect your cabin baggage, exit the aircraft, and proceed directly to the boarding gate; you will not have to undergo further flight or passport procedures.
  • If you did not receive a boarding pass for your connecting flight at the first departure point, please visit the Transit Check-in counter before proceeding to your boarding gate.

*Includes passengers who have single ticket itineraries booked with Star Alliance member airlines or airlines with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines.

Watch the video

Transfer passengers traveling from abroad to abroad with Turkish Airlines on connecting flights that are not booked on a single ticket Detailed information

  • Collect your baggage in the baggage claim area in the international terminal.
  • Proceed to the international terminal and check in for your next flight at the relevant airline’s counter.

*Excludes passengers traveling on a single ticket itinerary with Star Alliance member airlines or airlines with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines; passengers traveling on Turkish Airlines on flights to Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur flights with a connection to Taiwan (TPE-KHH-RMQ) via a foreign airline.

Transfer passengers traveling from abroad to abroad with a single ticket itinerary on flight routes that involve Turkish Airlines and another airline. Detailed information

  • Collect your cabin baggage and exit the aircraft. Your checked baggage will be transported to your final destination.
  • In the international terminal, proceed to the transit counter of the relevant airline; you will not need to go through passport control. Collect your boarding pass and proceed to the boarding gate.

* Includes passengers who have single ticket itineraries booked with a Star Alliance member airline or an airline with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines.

Transfer passengers arriving from abroad and continuing abroad without flying on Turkish Airlines with a single ticket itinerary Detailed information

  • Collect your baggage from the baggage claim area in the international terminal.
  • Proceed to the relevant airline counter to check in for your next flight.

* Passengers whose flight itineraries are not on a single ticket, including those traveling with a Star Alliance member or an airline with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines.

Information for passengers traveling from abroad to domestic destinations

A trip originating abroad, with a domestic stopover, and arriving at a duty-free airport: Detailed information

  • Proceed through passport control and enter the country.
  • Collect your baggage from baggage claim area in the international terminal.
  • Proceed to the domestic terminal.
  • Complete your check-in procedures, drop off your baggage, and proceed to the boarding gate.

International-to-international travel with a stopover in Türkiye (with Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance member, or an airline with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines) Detailed information

  • Collect your cabin baggage, exit the aircraft, and proceed to your boarding gate for your next flight without any further procedures.
  • If you do not have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you can obtain one at the transit check-in counter.
  • You can collect your checked baggage at your destination airport.

International travel with a stopover in Türkiye (with a different airline than Turkish Airlines, Star Alliance member airlines, or airlines with a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines); ) Detailed information

  • Collect your cabin baggage and exit the aircraft.
  • Proceed to the transit check-in counter of the relevant airline to complete your check-in procedures, and go to the boarding gate.
  • You can collect your checked baggage at your destination airport.

Touristanbul: Discover Istanbul during your layover



Passengers on Turkish Airlines flights are invited to enjoy a complimentary city tour if they have layovers between 6 and 24 hours. Discover Istanbul’s iconic landmarks on tours led by professional guides and turn your layover into a memorable experience.


Discover Touristanbul

Enjoy a complimentary stay in Istanbul with Stopover.



Enhance your stopover in Istanbul with the perks of free accommodation! Relax in comfort at partner hotels while discovering Istanbul’s unique history and culture. Take a refreshing break from your journey with a stopover and create unforgettable memories in Istanbul.


Explore Stopover

Customs airports

Ankara (ESB), Alanya (GZP), Antalya (AYT), Bodrum (BJV), Çukurova (COV), Dalaman (DLM), Denizli (DNZ), Diyarbakır (DIY), Edremit (EDO), Elazığ (EZS), Erzincan (ERC), Erzurum (ERZ), Eskişehir (AOE), Gaziantep (GZT), Hatay (HTY), Iğdır (IGD), Isparta (ISE), İstanbul (IST), İzmir (ADB), Kahramanmaraş (KCM), Kars (KSY) Kayseri (ASR), Kocaeli (KCO), Konya (KYA), Kütahya (KZR), Malatya (MLX), Mardin (MQM), Nevşehir (NAV), Ordu-Giresun (OGU), Rize - Artvin (RZV), Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), Samsun (SZF), Sinop (NOP), Sivas (VAS), Şanlıurfa (GNY), Tekirdağ/Çorlu (TEQ), Tokat (TJK), Trabzon (TZX), Van (VAN)

Duty Free

Adıyaman (ADF), Ağrı (AJI), Batman (BAL), Bingöl (BGG), Bursa (YEI), Çanakkale (CKZ), Hakkari (YKO), Kastamonu (KFS), Merzifon (MZH), Muş (MSR), Siirt (SXZ), Şırnak (NKT), Uşak (USQ), Zonguldak (ONQ)

For passengers with onward domestic flights after their first point of arrival in the United States: Passengers can check in all the way to their final destination for layovers not exceeding 12 hours. However, passengers must collect their baggage at their first destination, proceed through customs, and then recheck their baggage. For onward domestic flights with layovers exceeding 12 hours (even for codeshare flights), passengers must collect their baggage at their first point of arrival in the United States.
 
 

What is a codeshare?

Codeshares are special partnerships that allow multiple airlines to operate joint flights. Thus, you can purchase a ticket with one airline, but your flight may be operated by another airline. This structure allows you to reach more destinations with greater ease and convenience. You can find more information on our Codeshare page.