Turkish Airlines Sells Ticket as THY but Operates Flight With Air Serbia
For my Belgrade–Istanbul flight, TK9518, dated January 27, 2026, I purchased a ticket through Turkish Airlines’ official mobile app and paid approximately $255 USD. Because the operating carrier was clearly shown as Turkish Airlines in the app, I chose this ticket believing that I would be flying with Turkish Airlines.
However, when I arrived at the aircraft, I discovered that the flight was actually operated by Air Serbia. During the booking process and within the app, there was no clear, explicit, or noticeable disclosure that the flight would be operated by Air Serbia. Since the ticket was sold under the Turkish Airlines brand but operated by a different airline, I feel clearly misled and wronged.
On the Air Serbia flight, the onboard catering, seat quality, and overall service standards were significantly below what I expect from Turkish Airlines. I paid this fare specifically for the quality, service, and comfort associated with Turkish Airlines. I would not have agreed to pay the same price for a lower standard of service, and had I known the flight would be operated by Air Serbia, I would not have purchased this ticket.
I have contacted Turkish Airlines customer service multiple times regarding this matter. Each time, I received a generic response stating that everything was normal and that there was no issue. This approach shows that my complaint and the misleading nature of the situation have not been taken seriously. As a result, I have also filed a claim with the Consumer Arbitration Committee.
Although Turkish Airlines was listed as the operating carrier in its own official app, the flight was actually operated by Air Serbia. Because there was no clear and adequate disclosure, I consider this to be misleading to consumers. I am requesting a refund of the approximately $255 USD ticket price, or alternatively, a new flight with Turkish Airlines on the same route or a comparable route.
Additionally, I request that passengers be clearly and transparently informed in such situations to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
While purchasing the ticket through the Turkish Airlines mobile application, the flight was shown entirely as a Turkish Airlines flight, with no indication that it belonged to Air Serbia. However, the flight was actually operated by Air Serbia, which misled me and resulted in a lower level of service than expected. I contacted the brand multiple times, but I only received automated responses stating that this situation is normal. Therefore, I am requesting a full refund, a free new Turkish Airlines flight on the same route, or a Business Class upgrade as compensation.
