Is it advisable to ‘self-connect’ between flights?

“I am going Lebanon And Syria”Jeroen explains Van Marle. Sam To Berlin.

Jeroen said, ım I have encountered offers for ‘self -transfer’ tickets that were attracted to the attractive priced while planning travel. “The best flights from Damascus Istanbul To Berlin Turkish Airlines. However, it was much cheaper to make a reservation through companies like MyTrip and Gotogate – if I was ready to accept the trouble of controlling again in Istanbul. “

Even though I am not the biggest fan of online travel agencies (OTA), I made a reservation without unnecessary problems through both MyTrip and Gotogate; MyTrip quickly returned a canceled flight.

These are OTAs because the airlines want additional sales power. In a perfect world, Turkish Airlines He would sell all his tickets directly. But the aviation business doesn’t work like that. The carrier wants to be relevant in the intense wage -sensitive part of the market, such as searching on SKYSCANNER and other price comparison sites.

In the absence of direct flights between Syria and German capitals, the obvious port is Istanbul: because it is partly a large center and is also directly on the route.

After Jeroen contacted me, I made a test reservation from Damascus to Berlin via Damascus through Turkish Airlines on October 8th. The fee quoted is £ 532. Two online travel agencies Jeroen offers almost 200 £ less than both of them – for someone who’s preparing to take the risk of being late. There is a 55 -minute connection window that should be enough.

Jeroen continues: “I wonder how it will go and if they want me to return to the security of Istanbul and return.”

Jeroen, who only has a pre -control with cabin baggage and Turkish Airlines, should be able to follow the transfer procedure in Istanbul: he should be able to move towards the door for a flight to Berlin while passing a security check and staying on the edge of the air.

This is the same thing, because for the last time in Istanbul, he passed passport control.

Online travel agencies usually offer a cover for a new flight if you miss the connection. However, when the MyTRIP warranty is examined, for example “excessive weather conditions” and strikes are not comprehensive. In my experience, these are two of the most common reasons for a kidnapped connection.

It is much better to build on a buffer and benefit from Istanbul, one of the largest cities in the world. In a few weeks, I fly from Beirut to Bucharest; I reserved a “spontaneously connected” reservation through Larnaca in Cyprus Airways and Wizz Air, but with accommodation on the settled island overnight.

Still, why the difference in wages? In aviation, it is rare that it is more expensive than the sum of flights from A to B and B to C for a ticket from A via B to C, so I dug it deeper.

The agreement made through Turkish airlines is for a completely flexible ticket (with a full repayment if you want) and a control of 30 kg control luggage. In addition, if you are late from Damascus to Istanbul and you miss the connection, it will come with a warranty that the Turkish Airlines will look at you – re -reserves you on the next flight.

If you can only travel with the cabin trunk and you are attractive in connection with spontaneously to save cash, pay attention to a few traps: first, you must document appropriately for the intermediate airport.

For example, it does not work unless you have an Indian visa from Britain in Nepal to Kathmandu through Delhi. Despite the fact that you stay in the “air side ,, the first leg of the airline should know that you have permission to enter India.

And if things are solved, with a kidnapped link, it can be extremely expensive to save the journey – as I discovered in Singapore early this year British Airways-Jetstar was fell to himself and finally I spent £ 1,000 equivalent Emirates business classThe only flight I can find.

Read more aircraft and train conversations than Simon Calder