TRIP REPORT: LOT, Turkish Airlines and Air Albania

TRIP REPORT

Written by jsg

I seldom travel with two changes, but occasionally there is no other way to get from A to B via C and D. This time, I journeyed from a local airport in western Poland to the Turkish capital, connecting in Warsaw and Istanbul. The sequence of segments was domestic → international → domestic, which is rather unusual, as most people flying internationally either connect from a domestic flight to an international one, or vice versa. But why not break the monotony of typical flights and turn the journey into a “mini-adventure”? Sometimes it’s nice to try something new.

LO3982 Zielona Góra - Warsaw

It is a chilly Wednesday morning. The sun has not fully risen, and I wait at a bus stop located in front of Zielona Góra City Hall. The scheduled departure time is 07:07, but the bus is two minutes late. Finally, we set off, picking up passengers at two interim stops before leaving the city limits. The airport serving Zielona Góra is located in the town of Babimost, which is 35 km or 22 miles northwest of Zielona Góra - the capital of the Lubusz Voivodeship in western Poland. The best way to reach the airport is by bus (14 PLN), the timetable of which is synchronized with flight arrivals and departures.

After leaving the city, we continue along the S3 expressway toward the town of Sulechów, then follow national road 32 and later local road 302 until we reach our final destination: the terminal building of Zielona Góra Airport.

The bus drops off all 14 passengers in front of the terminal building, which is currently closed for refurbishment. The temporary terminal is located nearby and serves both departures and arrivals. Inside the tiny building, there are two check-in desks and a small security screening area adjacent to a temporary tent that serves as the departure hall. There is a queue at check-in. I place my luggage on the scale and my passport on the counter. The check-in agent verifies my passport and asks, “Would you like to have your luggage checked through to Ankara?” I confirm. The luggage tag is attached to my bag, and I receive my passport back along with three boarding passes for all segments of my journey today. And yes, my trip has just started.

The small security screening area is busy, with passengers queuing to complete the security check. At the door leading to the area, I show my first boarding pass to the airport representative, who cross-checks my details against the printed list and strikes through my name.

After the security screening, I leave the building and walk to the adjacent temporary tent, which serves as the departure area with two gates. The place is filling up with passengers awaiting the start of boarding. At 08:20, the ground staff announce the boarding of flight LO3982 at gate 2. The queue moves quickly, and after my boarding pass is scanned, I leave the tent and walk toward the aircraft parked outside the terminal building, which is currently undergoing refurbishment.

The morning air instantly refreshes me, and I notice patches of fog hovering over the nearby fields. Today’s flight is operated by a 20.5-year-old Embraer E170STD, registered SP-LDI, which had arrived on time at Zielona Góra Airport the day before as flight LO3985.

Inside, I am greeted by a cabin crew member, accept a sanitising wipe offered by the flight attendant, and make my way to seat 18A, located toward the rear of the aircraft. The flight is quite busy, though a few single seats remain unoccupied – and to my delight, the seat next to me is free. Boarding is completed, and the captain informs passengers about a possible 10–15-minute delay due to the temporary closure of one of Warsaw Airport’s runways for refurbishment work. After a few minutes, the two female cabin crew members stand by for the safety demonstration, presented first in Polish and then in English, while the aircraft is taxiing to the runway. The taxi is short, and soon we are ready for take-off.

After reaching cruising altitude, the cabin crew offer a complimentary bun with vanilla pudding and a choice of still or sparkling water – the standard service on short domestic flights.

The aircraft’s interior shows some visible signs of wear and tear, but it is clean and overall satisfactory.

The legroom, by my standards, is quite good, and I have no reason to complain.

After take-off, we head eastward, flying over the towns of Grodzisk Wielkopolski and Słupca. We then make three 90-degree turns - right, left and right - before landing on the longer runway at Warsaw Airport, as the shorter strip is temporarily closed. After a short taxi, the aircraft parks on a remote stand, and we are bussed to the Schengen arrivals area.

Flight statistics

LF: 80%

Distance: 354 km (191 nm)

Departure time (scheduled/actual): 08:40 / 08:49

Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 09:35 / 09:31

Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 0h 55 min / 0h 42 min

LO135 Warsaw - Istanbul

Inside the terminal building, I check the screen to confirm the status of my next flight. Departure on time, gate 10N (initially 12N). I still need to pass passport control, but thanks to the e-gate system, the process is quick and easy. With some time to spare, I wander through the non-Schengen departure hall, taking advantage of the duty-free shopping. Time passes, and boarding is finally announced at 12:40 at gate 10N.

The queue forms quickly but moves at a steady pace. After my second boarding pass and passport are verified, I make my way down the airbridge to the 12.7-year-old Embraer E195LR, registered as SP-LNF and painted in the Warmia and Mazury livery.

Inside the aircraft, I walk down the aisle to take my assigned seat, 25A. Today’s flight is busy, with only a few single seats remaining unoccupied. Once again, luck is on my side: the seat next to me is free. Most passengers are Turkish citizens travelling to their homeland, presumably from various parts of Europe or even the world, as well as some Poles travelling to Turkey for pleasure or business.

The interior of the aircraft is rather dated, with visible signs of wear and tear, but it is clean and reasonably pleasant. The legroom, similar to what I experienced on my previous domestic sector, is perfectly adequate by my standards.

After settling comfortably into my seat, I watch as the cabin crew prepare the cabin for departure and stand by for the safety demonstration, performed first in Polish, then in English, followed by a pre-recorded version in Turkish. Once everything is set, we begin taxiing to the runway. Ahead of us, Air France flight AF1147 departs for Paris Charles de Gaulle. Moments later, we line up on the runway and take off.

At 13:13, we finally take off. The departure today is slightly off schedule due to the late arrival of the previous flight LO382 from Frankfurt. After take-off, we head south. Once the “Fasten Your Seat Belts” signs are switched off, the cabin crew begin the onboard service. On today’s flight, all passengers in economy class are offered a snack along with a selection of soft and alcoholic drinks. Unfortunately, the choice between sweet and savoury buns is no longer available, as the savoury option – a spinach bun – has already run out by row 23. Passengers seated behind that row can only receive the sweet bun filled with vanilla custard-like pudding. Additionally, I opt for sparkling water and a 330 ml can of Żywiec beer.

In addition to coffee, tea, and still or sparkling water, the complimentary service now includes apple and orange juice, white and red wine, and beer. Later, the cabin crew offer a sweet snack - a chocolate-covered wafer with cocoa filling (20 g). This is a nice improvement compared to previous service levels - especially when measured against other major European airlines - so well done to LOT for going against the trend!

Flight-path-wise, we continue southward, passing over the Polish town of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and then Krosno - a town well known for its glassmaking tradition. And here’s a fun fact about Krosno and LOT: the glasses used in LOT’s business class and in business class lounges are made right there in Krosno.

After the complimentary service, the cabin crew offer a paid service. Some passengers decide to make a purchase - including a mother of three seated in row 24. Following the paid service, the crew begin the duty-free sales round, which inspires a few more passengers to make some onboard purchases. Meanwhile, we leave Polish airspace.

After leaving Polish airspace, we continue southward, passing east of the Slovak city of Košice and then over the northeastern tip of Hungary. While in Romanian airspace, we fly past the city of Cluj-Napoca and the Romanian capital, Bucharest. After crossing the Danube River, we enter Bulgarian airspace, flying east of the city of Shumen and the coastal town of Obzor before continuing over the Black Sea toward Istanbul. At 14:49, we begin our descent somewhere over the Black Sea. Following a U-turn on approach, we finally land at Istanbul Airport.

During a rather long taxi, we pass many aircraft from Europe and the Middle East - a clear sign that Istanbul is a true air crossroads between the two regions. And yes, we finally arrive at our parking position and disembark the aircraft via an airbridge.

Flight statistics

LF: 95%

Distance: 1,348 km (728 nm)

Departure time (scheduled/actual): 12:50 / 13:13

Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 16:40 / 16:19

Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 2h 50 min / 2h 06 min

TK2174 Istanbul - Ankara

“OK, now where do I go for domestic departures?” I wonder. Soon, I notice colour-coded signposts guiding me through the airport - a massive help! First, I take the escalator from the mezzanine level down to the ground floor. Then I walk through a long corridor, passing signs for “Exit to Istanbul” and “International Transfer.” After another five-minute walk, I finally see the purple signs for the “Domestic Transfers” area.

My passport is checked first - a quick job. Then comes another long walk to the security screening area. The security officer asks me where I’m travelling. “To Ankara,” I reply. Then I am allowed to begin the security screening process, which is quick and efficient. After that, I take an escalator to the mezzanine level of the domestic departure hall, where shops and food establishments are located, offering a wide range of goods for both body and soul. Another escalator takes me down to the massive domestic departure area with gates. I am truly impressed by the size of the hall - I have never seen such a large domestic departure area at any European airport.

And yes, there are many flights from Istanbul to distant destinations within Turkey. Considering the country’s size, air travel is often the best, and sometimes the only, option for reaching far-flung locations across the vast Turkish territory.

It’s still two hours until the departure of my flight, TK2174. I take a seat in the vast departure hall and connect to the Wi-Fi, which is free at the airport but requires registration. Right?

While waiting for my flight, I watch people moving through the hall, some rushing to reach their gates before they close, others walking at a relaxed pace – just the typical scenes you see at airports all over the world. Finally, boarding is announced at gate G10 (B). The queue is long, and I expect the flight will be full. After my third boarding pass is scanned, I walk down the airbridge connected to the aircraft. Today’s flight is operated by the 10.9-year-old Boeing 737-9F2 (ER), registered as TC-JYL.

Inside, I am greeted by the smile of a cabin crew member and move to my assigned seat, 22A. The flight is full, and I cannot spot any unoccupied seat in the vicinity. “It must be a popular domestic route within Turkey,” I conclude, watching the constant stream of passengers passing down the aisle.

I make myself comfortable in my seat, fasten my seatbelt, and find myself intrigued by the small screen in front of me. It shows a map and offers plenty of movies to watch, but I reckon the flight is too short to start any of them. Besides, there are no headphones, so I’d have to develop a new skill and learn to follow the dialogue by reading lips. Perhaps one day.

Boarding is completed, and the cabin crew begin the safety demonstration on the small screens, first in Turkish, followed by an English version. After a final cabin check, pushback begins, and we slowly but steadily make our way to the runway. At 19:27, we finally take off. After take-off, we head southward until we reach the eastern part of the Sea of Marmara, then turn left, passing south of the city of Izmit. Soon, the cabin crew begin the onboard service: a cup of still water (110 ml) and a sandwich with white cheese (165 g), followed by a soft-drink service. I ask for a cup of orange juice - a nice treat for a short domestic hop.

Further on, we continue southward, passing the Çamlıdere Dam, located about 100 kilometres northwest of Ankara. Fun fact: the reservoir supplies water to the Turkish capital. The flight passes quickly, and soon the seatbelt sign is switched on again as the cabin crew collect the rubbish and prepare the cabin for landing. After passing the dam, we make a U-turn and touch down at Ankara Esenboğa Airport.

After attaching the airbridge, I disembark the aircraft and pass a ground staff member directing disembarking passengers into two streams: domestic and international. I even stop to ask him where to go, and he directs me to the domestic arrivals area. I follow his advice and continue to the assigned belt in the domestic arrivals hall. But something doesn’t feel quite right. I notice that many of the international passengers from this flight are missing, and there are far too few people waiting at the baggage reclaim belt.

So, I ask a member of the ground staff. In response, I am asked where I have arrived from. When I reply that I have come from Poland, I am instructed to leave the domestic baggage reclaim area, go to the international arrivals section, and collect my bag from belt 12. I leave the arrivals area and walk toward international arrivals, wondering how I will be able to enter that area. However, my concerns are quickly resolved, and I am allowed in after a brief explanation to another ground staff member stationed at the entrance to the international arrivals area. After being reunited with my luggage, I proceed to the taxi stand to look for my pre-arranged taxi.

Flight statistics

LF: 100%

Distance: 380 km (205 nm)

Departure time (scheduled/actual): 19:00 / 19:27

Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 20:15 / 20:11

Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 15 min / 0h 44 min

ZB1018 Ankara - Tirana

After a few days in the Turkish capital, it is time to move on to the Albanian capital. I have recently visited Tirana as part of my Euro trip, but the main reason for going there this time is to finally fly with Air Albania, which has long been on my to-do list. Instead of returning to Warsaw on a direct Pegasus flight, I decide to return via Tirana. And of course, there is a whole story behind this flight.

My first intention is to book a direct flight between the two capitals, but unlike other airlines, Air Albania does not publish its schedules far in advance - certainly not nine to ten months ahead. I begin to suspect that the route might have been discontinued, so I book connecting flights instead: Ankara - Istanbul with Turkish Airlines and Istanbul–Tirana with Air Albania. Then, a week before my planned departure, I receive an email informing me that my Istanbul - Tirana segment has been cancelled due to force majeure / operational reasons, and that I can either request a full refund or choose an alternative flight. I opt for the latter, and among the available options I notice a direct flight from Ankara to Tirana operated by Air Albania. So, the route is back after all.

A taxi picks me up at the hotel and drives me through the vast districts of the Turkish capital. It is early Sunday afternoon, and the large multi-lane expressways that weave through the city are pleasantly empty. After about 30 minutes, we arrive at Ankara Esenboğa Airport. The taxi driver asks me a single question: “International?” When I reply yes, he stops in front of the international departures hall.

Before I even reach the check-in area, my luggage and backpack are screened, after which I am allowed to proceed to the check-in counters, A10 and A11. A queue has already formed in front of the two designated desks. The one on the left is assigned to business-class passengers, while the adjacent desk is for economy-class passengers. Later, once all business-class passengers have been checked in, both desks will be available for economy passengers. The flight is already delayed by one hour, as shown on the display boards. The queue moves slowly. Among the passengers, mainly Turkish citizens, there are also some Albanian families travelling to their homeland, a few English-speaking tourists, and one Moroccan passenger. Inside the terminal building, a few pigeons are flying around freely, and I wonder how on earth they got in here.

Finally, it is my turn to check in. I place my suitcase on the scale and my passport on the counter. It takes a few minutes to complete the process because the check-in agent has to verify the visa requirements, but everything is in order. My bag is tagged to TIA, and I receive my passport and boarding pass. On my way to the security check, I stop at a kiosk to obtain a code for internet access. To get one, I need to scan either my passport or my boarding pass and then use the code to log in to the internet. It strikes me as a rather unusual procedure.

The passport and security checks are quick, and soon I enter the international departures area. With some time to spare, I stop by a restaurant and order a bottle of water and a glass of tomato juice. Then I take a quick walk around the terminal building, whose interior I find quite amusing.

Later, I stop in a restaurant to get something to drink: a glass of tomato juice (137.84 TRY) and a glass of sparkling water (206.75 TRY). The prices in Turkish lira are calculated based on the current exchange rate from a price list in euros and remind me of the first months of prices presented in euros after Croatia joined the eurozone.

While waiting for boarding, I watch the arrival of flight ZB1017, which lands at 14:58 (scheduled arrival 13:45) from Tirana. After taxiing, the aircraft is connected to an airbridge, allowing passengers to disembark. Once all passengers have left the aircraft, the ground staff announce boarding for flight ZB1018 at gate 118. Fun fact: the IATA airline code ZB is the repurposed code of the now-defunct British carrier Monarch Airlines, which ceased all operations at the beginning of October 2017.

After having my boarding pass scanned and my passport checked, I proceed to the aircraft via the jetty. Inside, I take my assigned seat, 20A. As soon as I settle in, I notice that the tray table in front of me is inoperative, clearly marked with red tape.

The flight, operated on behalf of Air Albania, is flown by a 15.7-year-old Airbus A320-232, registered in Bulgaria as LZ-FSA and operated by the Bulgarian carrier Fly2Sky. The crew is entirely Bulgarian, and all announcements, including the safety demonstration, are delivered in English. It feels slightly unusual, considering that most passengers seem to be Turkish or Albanian speakers. A bit later, I realise that this is standard practice on aircraft leased under ACMI agreements. The cabin itself is clean and pleasant, offering a surprisingly decent amount of legroom.

Boarding is completed, and we are all set for departure. Today’s flight is almost full. All seats in economy are occupied, and there are two unoccupied seats in business class. The safety demonstration is completed shortly afterwards, and pushback begins, followed by a brief taxi along the terminal building. We pass several AJet aircraft (still in the former AnadoluJet livery), as well as numerous Pegasus Airlines jets, the main operators at Ankara Airport. At 14:47, we finally take off.

After departure, we make a right turn over Ankara’s suburbs, then head west, passing south of Istanbul and crossing the Sea of Marmara.

Once we reach cruising altitude, the cabin crew begin the inflight service, which today consists of a hot panini-style sandwich with ham and cheese and a 250-ml bottle of Albanian still water. I must admit, the panini is very tasty, and I enjoy it down to the last bite.

There is no inflight magazine, so I watch the changing landscape as we enter Greek airspace near the town of Alexandroupolis. We continue along the Greek coast, passing Thessaloniki and Lake Prespa before entering Albanian airspace. Before reaching Durrës, we fly northwest towards the Patok Lagoon, make a right turn, and touch down at Tirana Airport at 16:59.

After taxiing to the remote stand next to the airport fire station, where we make our final stop, the ground staff soon attach the stairs, while an airport bus parks in front of them.

After disembarking, a bus takes us to the terminal. I pass through passport control using the e-gates and proceed to the baggage reclaim area. A few minutes later, my suitcase appears on belt 4. I leave the terminal and head to the bus stop to catch the airport bus to the city centre.

Flight statistics

LF: 98%

Distance: 1,126 km (608 nm)

Departure time (scheduled/actual): 14:45 / 15:59 (local time at the departure airport)

Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 15:25 / 16:59 (local time at the arrival airport)

Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 40 min / 2h 00 min

LO598 Tirana - Warsaw

Sunday morning is a rainy one in Tirana. I am glad the hotel I stayed in is close to the airport shuttle stop located behind the Opera building. The bus is already there, filling up with passengers. Everything is set, and we leave the stop on time. The traffic is not heavy, and we quickly whizz through the city, reaching the airport after 30 minutes. The airport is relatively busy, but compared to my last visit, it seems very quiet, as you would expect in the off-season.

Check-in is already open at desks 7 (economy class) and 8 (business class). It takes a few minutes to reach the counter and complete the check-in procedure. My bag is tagged to WAW, and then I proceed to the e-gate, where I scan my boarding pass before heading upstairs for security and passport control. Everything is quick and efficient.

With some time to spare, I grab a 330 ml bottle of Pepsi Max (360 ALL) and take a seat on the mezzanine floor, which hosts cafés, a restaurant, and a few duty-free shops. While sipping my soda, I watch the constant flow of people through the terminal, the boarding queues, and the passengers standing outside the terminal building awaiting the arrival of a bus that will take them to the aircraft. I can never understand why passengers, after having their boarding passes checked, are asked to wait outside the terminal for the bus. Perhaps there is a shortage of buses, or maybe there’s another reason? While I am contemplating this, flight LO597, which has just landed at 11:45 (scheduled arrival time: 11:40), arrives from Warsaw.

Then I watch the aircraft passing in front of the terminal and slowly move downstairs to take a seat near the assigned gate, G5. At 12:10, the gate personnel announce boarding for flight LO598. After scanning my boarding pass, passengers are asked to wait in a small area adjacent to the entrance door for the bus, which arrives at 12:27.

After a short ride, we are dropped off in front of the 14-year-old Embraer 190STD, registered as SP-LMA. Two doors are in use today. Since my assigned seat of 9D is in the front part of the cabin, I board via the front stairs. Inside, I am greeted by two cabin crew members and walk down the aisle to take my seat.

Today’s flight is completely full, with all seats taken in both economy and business class. Boarding is completed shortly afterwards, and the cabin crew begin the usual safety demonstration in Polish, followed by the English version. After the English demo, a pre-recorded announcement in Albanian is played, covering the key points of the safety instructions.

After a short taxi, the aircraft is ready for take-off. At 13:02, we are airborne. After departing, we initially head south before making a U-turn and flying west of the city of Shkodër. Upon entering Montenegrin airspace, we cross the western part of the country and then continue over Serbia, passing near the city of Novi Sad.

The cabin interior is a bit dated, but clean, and I have no reason to complain. The legroom is perfectly acceptable by my standards. Meanwhile, the cabin crew (one male and two female flight attendants) begin the onboard service, like what I had on my flight to Istanbul. Today, they still have the spinach bun available, which goes well with a cup of tea and a glass of red wine. While enjoying the service, I work on my homework for my German lesson on Tuesday.

After crossing the Serbian–Hungarian border, we fly over the city of Szeged and proceed toward the Slovak town of Poprad, located close to the Polish border. Later, we pass near the cities of Kielce and Radom. Fun fact: the airport of Radom is in the village of Sadków and is branded as Warsaw–Radom Airport, even though the air distance between the two cities is about 88 km, or approximately 46 nautical miles. We then begin our final approach to Warsaw Chopin Airport.

At 14:45, we finally touch down, and after taxiing, the aircraft stops at a remote parking position. I am a bit disappointed that we will be bussed to the terminal, as I prefer boarding and disembarking via an airbridge, which I find more comfortable. However, there is no other option, so I board the bus that takes us to the non-Schengen part of the terminal building.

Once inside, I use the automated passport control gates, which is a quick process, and then proceed to the baggage reclaim area to collect my bag. It takes around ten minutes for it to arrive. Unfortunately, my suitcase comes out damaged, so I need to report a baggage irregularity at the handling office desk. The agent asks me the basic questions, then asks me to place my suitcase on the scale and explains the next steps.

After arriving home, I follow his instructions and report the damage to the company responsible for such cases. Two days later, I receive an email informing me that my claim has been accepted and that I will receive a voucher for an online shop to order a new suitcase.

Flight statistics

LF: 100%

Distance: 1,199 km (647 nm)

Departure time (scheduled/actual): 12:50 / 13:02

Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 15:00 / 14:45

Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 40 min / 2h 00 min

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