Turkish Airlines review: Cancelled flight, scam and lies

On 4th November 2023, we were due to travel back to London Heathrow on the flight TK 1987 which was scheduled to depart at 21.05pm. Firstly a storm was predicted and the airline were very much aware of that as you could see that in travel coverage in the morning. Yet, they decided to proceed with the flight.

My daughter was really unwell and sick so we gave her medication at 7.05pm before packing it into the suitcases as it was a liquid item and was not allowed through security as we were advised by local turkish pharmacies. I mentioned this at check in but no empathy or advice. Nevertherless, we were all checked in and waited 3 hours to before boarding with a sick baby hoping that well give her medication once we reach heathrow and take her straight to a hospital in the UK which is free on the NHS and easy to use.

Lets start with the boarding. All passengers were boarded before 9pm for a 9.05pm departure. Everyone was in the airline and we were waiting for the flight to take off. The airoplane was moving slowly towards the runway and waiting for its turn. you could see planes taking off and landing and we were told that due to adverse conditions, that the flight is delayed again and again. This anouncement was made 5 times atleast by the pilot.

Lets start with the main Issue! WE WERE ON THE RUNWAY IN THE PLANE FOR 3 HOURS with a sick baby whos health was deteriorating. i asked for hot water and i explained the medical situation and asked to be taken off board. No one helped us. None of the passengers were even given their legal entitlement for food or water in that 3 hours on the plane and they kept blaming the weather (they still are in emails and communications). However, the flight was cancelled 3 hours whilst ready to leave ON THE RUNWAY WITH CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHY? BECAUSE HEATHROW HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS. They dont want to accept this because they dont want to pay compensation and they know they have done wrong by their passengers and treated them inhumanely. Especially an 18 Month old child.

Several communications with the airline and i am distraught and tired. I have bi-polar disorder and i was made to be patient and allow us to be trampled over. My child was checked by medics as soon as we went back to the departure gate and saw ground staff who promised to pay for her medical expenses due to her health deteriorating due to the airline. My daughter was in critical condition with high fever, vomiting and and iv drip put into her arm just for her to be sent to fraudulent hospital who tried to scam us with £800 pounds for her treatment which i couldnt afford. I went running around istanbul hospitals with a iv in my babys hand whilst she had a fever to find a hospital my travel insurance would cover. It was the worst night of my life. '

The ground staff promised compensation, free return flights and hotel accommodation as well as medical compensation. They are liars. I spoke to many people from Turkish airlines. They are all liars. DONT BOOK with them.. Its all about money and expenses and not passengers. They dont put passengers first. And emailing them seems like a waste of time. it looks as if they dont speak English or understand the language and give strange responses like they dont know what's going on. I had to fund all of the delay myself and it cost thousands as 3 family members with me.

I will never again book with them in my life