Istanbul - help!

[Pax-man]

Anybody ANY idea how I can get in and out of Istanbul from the UK for next week's match? Just got tix for the game, and there doesn't seem to be a single flight left - from anywhere!

Tried all main Euro carriers, to no avail. Anyone with any inside info or clever tricks, please let me know!

TIA

[dwlpl]

Did hear that there are just 4 air tickets left next week to get there on time and they are from Heathrow!

[jetstream7]

opodo.co.uk shows Turkish Airlines having availability travelling out 24/5 returning 26/5 £495

[Pax-man]

Can't get any joy out of opodo - telling me no avails! Thanks for getting in touch, though - much appreciated.

[woptb]

Try a bit more of a lateral approach. Find out the Loco destinations with availability & check which of the destinations has availability to Istanbul. My suggestion would be German Wings to Deutchland because of the large Turkish population,possibly greater frequency/availability. Good Luck!

[mmeteesside]

Are all the football charters full? Flights from LPL and MAN, and I think theres one from STN?

mmeteesside

[jetstream7]

OK.. expedia.co.uk has various options... using Air France or Alitalia.

You're looking at £700+ this way

[MAN777]

Pax man

Sorry to hear about your problem, i have the opposite problem, flight with no ticket !!

Booked my flight months ago using airmiles with Turkish a/l.

This might sound a bit cheeky, if you dont get sorted with a flight, i will take your ticket off you.

I live in Manchester and fly out monday.

Cheers

[Pax-man]

Think I've sussed it now...

Looks like I'm setting off on Tuesday, and should get home about 5 flights and £600 later! Will post details when I get flight confirmations, in case anybody else is looking.

There are little if any footy charter seats left - saw a couple today for £850!!!

Man777 - I've sent you a PM.

Thanks to everybody who has contributed - I really appreciate it. Come on you reds!

[Pax-man]

Cracked it!

Flying Liverpool - Basel with easyjet, Basel - Istanbul with Turkish, Istanbul - Cologne - Paris with Germanwings and Paris - Liverpool with EZY again.

Thanks for the tips. It's costing nearly £600 but it should be interesting. Set off at lunchtime on Tuesday, and if all goes well I should be back in LPL by 1300 on Thursday.

If anyone is still trying to get over there, take a look at the Turkish Airlines website - might still have availability on the Basel - Istanbul flight, which gets you into Turkey at 1600 on matchday.

Looks like EZY have cottoned onto the route through Cologne, as the price of their flight back to LPL on Thursday has gone thru the roof - hence me going to Paris.

[symphonyangel]

Well done Pax-Man.

84 extra football charter flights at Liverpool between Tuesday and Thursday, should be fun!

[Pax-man]

84?? Blimey - is that some sort of record?

[dwlpl]

Yeah, 42 return flights.

[zed3]

Word on the block is that firstly there will be severe flow problems from this event and secondly the airfields in Turkey will be overfull and many a/c will still be in the air when the game starts .

[MAN777]

I arrýved IST today on a very full TK A321 from MAN. Just took a walk round the Sultanamet area and the Lýverpool fans are already here ýn force and ýn full voýce. The sound of 'You wýll never walk alone! wýth the sound of a call to prayer ýn the background ýs surreal to say the least !

IST aýrport was very quýet when I arrýved but I stýll had to Q for 1 hour for one of those stýcky výsas. I dread to thýnk what the Q wýll be lýke when the AC Mýlan fans arrýve en mass.

Cheers. Off out for a kebab now. !!

Just read thýs message and ýts been converted by the turkýsh computer keyboard. No I am not pýssed !!

[Banzai Eagle]

MAN 777

Classic mate

[Eff Oh]

NIce one! Good luck MAN777 from a Celtic fan. "You'll never walk alone":ok: :ok:

[Ronaldsway Radar]

Just back from liverpool airport last night, seemed strange flying out west to the IoM when all the other liverpool fans were heading east!!!

Honestly though, the atmosphere in LPL airport last night was phenomenal....even the tug drivers were enjyoing themselves :D

RR

[LGS6753]

29 airline departures from Istanbul/SAW tomorrow am before 0500L. Mainly to Liverpool, some to Manchester and Luton.

Italian flights using Istanbul Ataturk/IST. 34 departures to various Italian cities between midnight and 0330.