Istanbul Airports

The security procedures at airports, which have been implemented since the September 11th terrorist attack on the Twin Towers can cause delays from time to time. Therefore either some passengers’ rebelliousness or some false alarms startle the security personnel. Passengers are depressed by both the armed combat cars driving between the airplanes and the armed security personnel on the planes themselves. And the world’s best and safest becomes a nightmare! However all of these precautions are to eliminate the terror problem. The expanding menace brings new rules and applications along with it. US government authorities take pictures and fingerprints of each passenger entering the country. In due course all identification information, even the home address, will be added to the reservation system when the passenger purchases his or her ticket. Passengers will have green, yellow or red colors according to the terror risk they carry. We would like to remind frequent flyers of the important points to take into consideration when preparing luggage, and of the new rules to be applied at the Terminals.

While preparing your luggage:

Don’t take restricted material to the airport, such as explosives, unnecessary electronic devices, batteries and large quantities of lighters. Try not to fill your handbag. Don’t take with you liquid products that are hard to identify. Although this might be simple cough syrup, it may create trouble at the security section. Don’t wear shoes or dresses that have metallic accessories and don’t wear jewelry that will set off the alarm while passing through the metal detector.
Carry films and cameras in your handbag. The X-ray machines used to screen luggage and identify “new generation” fluid explosives can damage undeveloped films. Never take pointed and sharp items with you. Combs with pointed handles, manicure sets, and nail files are not allowed in handbags anymore. Of course it is strictly prohibited to take jackknives etc. with you into the passenger part of the plane. Pressurized containers such as hair sprays and deodorants are not allowed in the passenger part of the plane. You are allowed to carry only one carry-on bag on board. The carry-on bag is described as one handbag or one personal belonging in the United States. The dimensions may not exceed 60cm x 30 cm and must weigh less than 5 kg. “Personal belongings” include a laptop, your coat or your umbrella, if it has been previously checked at a security point. Don’t forget to attach labels to your luggage with your name and address on, including your hand luggage. Most passengers don’t put stickers on their hand luggage and these can sometimes be forgotten at the checkpoint. And it takes quite a long time to find the owner of the luggage.

Rules at the terminal:

For domestic flights, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport 1.5 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight. The security control for domestic flights at Istanbul Atatürk International Airport are at the gates where you board the plane. Pay attention to last calls; sometimes there may be problems. For international flights, it is recommended that you arrive at airport three hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight. Immediately complete your check-in procedures and security check. If you are late, you may miss your flight; many passengers have had to deal with problems arising from the line-ups at security checkpoints at the airports since the beginning of the year. Whichever country you are in, be cooperative with the security personnel. They may ask you to take off your shoes or belts; there is no need to complain. Take off coats and put them, along with metallic and portable items and jewelry, into the X-ray machine. According to international rules and conditions, security personnel have full power. Therefore they have the right to take away any of your belongings which they find suspicious. Some goods such as cameras should have batteries in order to follow instructions given by the security officer. The security procedures at airports, which have been implemented since the September 11th terrorist attack on the Twin Towers can cause delays from time to time. Therefore either some passengers’ rebelliousness or some false alarms startle the security personnel. Passengers are depressed by both the armed combat cars driving between the airplanes and the armed security personnel on the planes themselves. And the world’s best and safest becomes a nightmare! However all of these precautions are to eliminate the terror problem. The expanding menace brings new rules and applications along with it. US government authorities take pictures and fingerprints of each passenger entering the country. In due course all identification information, even the home address, will be added to the reservation system when the passenger purchases his or her ticket. Passengers will have green, yellow or red colors according to the terror risk they carry. We would like to remind frequent flyers of the important points to take into consideration when preparing luggage, and of the new rules to be applied at the Terminals.