Turkish Smiles and Miles - nope I am not smiling

[Flyingwombat]

We just got back from a business class trip JKT-IST-LGW and then OSL-IST-KUL-SYD with all sectors but the last one operated by TK. KULSYD was an MH flight with a TK flight number. Got credit with UA no issues for all sectors but that last one. I had read that other Star programs would not credit for non-Star operated codeshares so I had joined us up for Smiles. Lodged a claim and got contradictory messages back for me and my partner with exactly the same query sent... Typical of TK. In the end it turns out even they will not credit that sector. So we paid a revenue J class fare to TK and even in their own program, they won't give us credit. We can't get credit in any Star program, not their own program and of course not MH or QF due to the TK flight number.

Just sums up our TK experience. Good food, seats and routes. Horrible ground handling and really average staff who don't care. We got a good deal AUD$5k each and could incorporate Oslo but won't fly them again.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just sums up our TK experience. Good food, seats and routes. Horrible ground handling and really average staff who don't care. We got a good deal AUD$5k each and could incorporate Oslo but won't fly them again.

Seems a bit harsh given the overall experience you relate.

 

[Flyingwombat]

Seems a bit harsh given the overall experience you relate.

Nope not at all. You didn’t see the horrible ground service in Istanbul, Oslo and Jakarta! Totally spoilt the overall business vibe. Also in the air on all flights the service was lacklustre. Since you weren’t there, maybe your comment is not so valid?

 

[RooFlyer]

Nope not at all. You didn’t see the horrible ground service in Istanbul, Oslo and Jakarta! Totally spoilt the overall business vibe. Also in the air on all flights the service was lacklustre.

For $5K you got an absolute bargain, even with service faults considered. Food, seats and routes, which you approved of, are 80% of what I'd want for good flight, so I'd take those for $5K any day. coughpy check-in etc - meh - soon over that.

Since you weren’t there, maybe your comment is not so valid?

Maybe it is as we all have different perspectives. Its a comment, not an arbitration. If you don't want comments on your post/thread from "people who weren't there" (like, everyone else here) perhaps mark the post 'comments not welcome'.

 

[Gopal]

We just got back from a business class trip JKT-IST-LGW and then OSL-IST-KUL-SYD with all sectors but the last one operated by TK. KULSYD was an MH flight with a TK flight number. Got credit with UA no issues for all sectors but that last one. I had read that other Star programs would not credit for non-Star operated codeshares so I had joined us up for Smiles. Lodged a claim and got contradictory messages back for me and my partner with exactly the same query sent... Typical of TK. In the end it turns out even they will not credit that sector. So we paid a revenue J class fare to TK and even in their own program, they won't give us credit. We can't get credit in any Star program, not their own program and of course not MH or QF due to the TK flight number.

Just sums up our TK experience. Good food, seats and routes. Horrible ground handling and really average staff who don't care. We got a good deal AUD$5k each and could incorporate Oslo but won't fly them again.

We had a similar experience. 3 out of 4 sectors were credited.

 

[Gopal]

We had a similar experience. 3 out of 4 sectors were credited.

… I have spent several hours on the Turkish air app, website, phone support and thei “feedback” team, only to receive nonsense and no credits. Flights were good, Istanbul lounge crowded but otherwise good, back end staff terrible customer service. Btw where do I go from here?

 

[trooper]

… I have spent several hours on the Turkish air app, website, phone support and thei “feedback” team, only to receive nonsense and no credits. Flights were good, Istanbul lounge crowded but otherwise good, back end staff terrible customer service. Btw where do I go from here?

Who was the 4th sector operated BY?

 

[Flyingwombat]

… I have spent several hours on the Turkish air app, website, phone support and thei “feedback” team, only to receive nonsense and no credits. Flights were good, Istanbul lounge crowded but otherwise good, back end staff terrible customer service. Btw where do I go from here?

Yep we found same. Good to hear other firsthand experiences…

 

[DC3]

Yep we found same. Good to hear other firsthand experiences…

Good to hear reports directly from those who have experienced the issues.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

To the OP, codeshare flights are often pot luck, even in the FF program of the ticketing carrier. TK's own site says "Accrual Miles from codeshare flights depend on the accrual Miles ratio of the operating carriers." They may not even credit for your fare bucket on MH codeshares.

Given the great fare you got, I'd proceed to Go and collect the cheap fare without worrying about any miles.

https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/miles-and-smiles/program-partners/airlines/turkish-airlines/

 

[Flyingwombat]

To the OP, codeshare flights are often pot luck, even in the FF program of the ticketing carrier. TK's own site says "Accrual Miles from codeshare flights depend on the accrual Miles ratio of the operating carriers." They may not even credit for your fare bucket on MH codeshares.

Given the great fare you got, I'd proceed to Go and collect the cheap fare without worrying about any miles.

https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/miles-and-smiles/program-partners/airlines/turkish-airlines/

Not been my experience before ever with codeshares. Have been on Virgin Australia metal with many different marketed codes (eg EY, SQ) and never had an issue. It makes no sense to not allow the credit of a revenue fare in your own program when you were the marketing carrier. Also done many OneWorld codeshares with no issues (eg QF, AY).

It just sums up the poor service from TK and why we won't choose them again. Fare was good value overall but it was still $5k each. A lot more than economy and I personally expected more flexibility and customer service.

 

[CaptJCool]

If it helps you feel better

QF sells a codeshare to Lisbon where the Dubai - Lisbon leg can only be bought as an EK flight number = very lousy points earner despite paying over $2,500 for Y out of Perth FFS!

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Not been my experience before ever with codeshares. Have been on Virgin Australia metal with many different marketed codes (eg EY, SQ) and never had an issue. It makes no sense to not allow the credit of a revenue fare in your own program when you were the marketing carrier. Also done many OneWorld codeshares with no issues (eg QF, AY).

It just sums up the poor service from TK and why we won't choose them again. Fare was good value overall but it was still $5k each. A lot more than economy and I personally expected more flexibility and customer service.

I can understand your frustration but yes it often happens on codeshares. Recent examples here of BA not crediting anything for BA codeshares operated by oneworld partners:

BA codeshares incorrectly posted as "ineligible" with 0 TP, no one willing to fix it? - FlyerTalk Forums

British Airways | Executive Club - BA codeshares incorrectly posted as "ineligible" with 0 TP, no one willing to fix it? - I had a weird issue with mileage credit on my Tier Point Run this april. To make it short, I had booked MAD-LHR-HEL-JFK-SFO with AA/BA/AA to extend my Silver Status (and...

www.flyertalk.com

 

[Gopal]

All sectors booked directly with and operated by Turkish airlines

Post automatically merged: Aug 29, 2024

Who was the 4th sector operated BY?

All sectors booked directly with and operated by Turkish airlines

 

[jrfsp]

Turkish Airlines to fly from Sydney to Europe from December

Turkish Airlines is preparing to unveil non-stop flights between Sydney and Istanbul in 2026 and will initially fly with a stop-over in Malaysia.

www.smh.com.au

SYD 4 weekly coming Dec, via KUL with non-stop from late 2026 once the A350-1000s arrive.