Turkish Airlines Abandoned My 16-Year-Old Son at Istanbul Airport
I am deeply disappointed with Turkish Airlines' complete lack of care and responsibility toward my 16-year-old son, who was traveling alone from Conakry to Nairobi via Istanbul on March 27, 2025.
Due to technical issues with Kenya's eTA system, we were unable to complete his online visa application despite multiple attempts. Kenyan immigration confirmed that he could receive a visa on arrival and sent an official message to Turkish Airlines, which was acknowledged by their staff in Conakry.
After hours of discussions, Turkish Airlines in Conakry approved his boarding and marked his PNR with "OK TO BOARD." We were assured he would have no issues during transit in Istanbul. However, during his connection, a Turkish Airlines staff member refused to let him board the next flight, claiming he did not have the eTA.
- She refused to check the system, where "OK TO BOARD" was clearly noted.
- She refused to communicate with us as his parents or acknowledge the official message from Kenyan immigration.
- As a result, my 16-year-old son was stranded in Istanbul Airport for 24 hours, without food, accommodation, or assistance.
Only after the flight had departed did another Turkish Airlines staff member finally check the system and confirm that he had been allowed to travel all along. Instead of celebrating Eid with his family, he spent it alone in an airport, all because of Turkish Airlines’ negligence and failure to follow its own procedures.
When he finally arrived in Nairobi two days later, Kenyan immigration officers treated him with dignity and professionalism, confirming that he was indeed eligible for a visa on arrival.
This experience was unacceptable. Turkish Airlines completely failed its duty of care toward a minor traveler and showed no concern for his well-being. Parents and travelers should think twice before trusting this airline to use common sense or show basic human decency in handling vulnerable passengers.
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