Istanbul International Airport (IST) review: Security service

Dear sir/madam

After checking in I had left a small backpack with my laptop etc and a small skateboard. Nobody said anything. Then I went through passport control and again nothing was mentioned. I went through security and after my backpack and myself were passed through they said that I can not take the skateboard with me because of airport regulations. This is nowhere informed about and nobody mentioned anything during all the cases I went through.

The person at the security did not speak English and communication went by using a translation app on his phone. The first message said that ‘the airport’ would buy my skateboard. Then he managed to explain that I was to get somebody from Turkish airlines to confirm that my skateboard was allowed onboard. Then I would get my skateboard with me. But of course nobody of Turkish airlines was found to assist me. They were not allowed to leave their desk.

I went back to security to suggest that I would go back with my skateboard and get it checked in as bagage. But they did not understand or wanted to understand and just said no although it is perfectly possible and there was no problem with time.

I came with a solution so I could comply with your rules and was met by personnel that was not service minded, not helpful in any way.

The way I see this case is that the skateboard was stolen from me since I was not informed in time and they denied me to solve the issue.