Turkish Airlines Flight Denied Boarding and Forced Ticket Purchase
On Thursday, April 11, 2024, I had a flight with Turkish Airlines (PNR code: tudn7w) from Antalya Airport to Istanbul Airport at 20:35. Upon arriving at the Turkish Airlines check-in counter inside the airport at 20:05 with my wife and 10-month-old son, the staff informed us that boarding procedures had been completed 45 minutes earlier, the gates were closed, and check-in could not be processed. They directed me to the Turkish Airlines ticket sales counter.
Despite my insistence and without any effort to assist, they told me I needed to purchase a ticket for the next flight as a delayed passenger by paying an additional fee. There were still 30 minutes left until the flight, but we spent 15 minutes discussing this issue with the staff at the check-in counter.
Although I mentioned that I had previously checked in and boarded a flight 30 minutes before departure many times, I realized no help would be provided. When I went to the ticket sales counter, I had to pay an additional fee of ₺3,524.44 for the next flight TK-2439 for myself, my wife, and my 10-month-old son. In my opinion, this was an unfair practice. They saw my 10-month-old baby crying at the check-in counter and still subjected us to this hardship.
After purchasing the tickets with the additional fee, I reached domestic departure gate 4 for the 22:10 flight. I was previously told that boarding procedures for my earlier flight were completed 45 minutes before departure. However, for the 22:10 TK-2439 flight, boarding procedures started at 21:40, even though I should have boarded at 21:25. Again, there were 30 minutes left until the flight. For the 20:35 flight, there were also 30 minutes left, but the staff at the check-in counter caused difficulties, seemingly to force me to pay the additional fee and purchase a ticket for the next flight. While I should have boarded the 22:10 flight at 21:25, the boarding procedures started at 21:40, 30 minutes before the flight. I do not understand why I was delayed, why my flight was obstructed, and why I was forced to buy a ticket worth ₺3,524.44 for the 20:35 flight.
I am filing a complaint against Turkish Airlines and request a refund of the amount charged.
