A post on Reddit has drawn attention to how frustrating Turkish Airlines can be for passengers who expect clarity but instead face endless confusion. One traveller shared that they were flying from Chicago to New Delhi on October 18 and had hoped to use the airline’s Touristanbul program, which advertises free city tours for passengers with long layovers in Istanbul.
Confusion over Touristanbul eligibility
When the passenger contacted customer service, they were told their journey did not qualify. After checking multiple flight options, they could not find a single itinerary that matched the program, which left them questioning whether it was real in practice.
Problems with loyalty miles
This was not their only issue. The same passenger also revealed that they had taken two business class flights with Avianca and had added their Turkish Airlines frequent flyer number. Even though the number was printed on their boarding passes, no miles appeared in their account.
Airlines deflect responsibility
Turkish Airlines said they had contacted Avianca about the matter but then went silent, providing no follow-up. Attempts to resolve the issue by calling both airlines ended with each side passing the blame rather than taking responsibility.
Frustration with broken promises
For long-distance travellers, this kind of treatment feels exhausting. Touristanbul is promoted as a special perk, but without clear eligibility rules, it risks being seen as misleading. Meanwhile, loyalty programs lose value if passengers must fight to claim miles they have already earned.
Growing disappointment among travellers
The truth is that passengers are growing tired of being promised benefits that disappear once they try to use them. Instead of receiving appreciation and support, this traveller experienced only silence and disappointment from the airline.
