Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Li Yanting. I am submitting this formal complaint regarding severe mishandling and misconduct by Turkish Airlines during a journey involving myself and my family (a total of three persons including one child).
Summary of Events:
On November 23, 2024, my family and I departed from Incheon, South Korea, via Turkish Airlines with a transit in Istanbul and final destination Panama.
We arrived in Panama on November 24, 2024. Within 2–3 hours, we were informed of an involuntary deportation.
At that time, our original return flight from Panama to Thailand was scheduled for December 5, 2024.
We immediately contacted Ctrip (Trip.com) customer service. They told us they had spoken with Turkish Airlines, and confirmed that a refund for the return ticket would be arranged.
Based on this verbal assurance, we cooperated with the airline’s arrangement and boarded the new flight.
Turkish Airlines unilaterally changed our return flight to the same day and sent us to South Korea, without our informed consent.
Upon arrival in Korea, we were refused entry by immigration. Turkish Airlines staff also refused to let us file a lost baggage report and pressured us to leave.
We were forced to buy new tickets from South Korea to Thailand at our own expense.
Our luggage was missing during this time, and only recovered four days later in Thailand.
During this delay, our child became ill due to lack of clothing appropriate for Korea’s cold and Thailand’s heat. We had to seek medical attention . Medical expenses and expenses incurred during the loss of luggage total 981RMB.
Turkish Airlines has refused compensation and referred us to Cathay Pacific, which was never involved in this journey.
We request that DGCA investigate the following:
Refund for the unused return tickets (Panama → Thailand)
Reimbursement for new flight tickets (South Korea → Thailand)
Compensation under the Montreal Convention for baggage delay
Medical expenses and expenses incurred during the loss of luggage total 981 RMB
Supplementary Statement Regarding Verbal Communication with Trip.com:
On November 24, 2024, shortly after being informed that we were to be deported from Panama, I immediately contacted Trip.com customer service through an internet phone call.
During this call, the agent informed me that they had communicated with Turkish Airlines and confirmed that a refund would be issued for our unused return ticket (originally scheduled for December 5, 2024,from Panama to Thailand).
Relying on this verbal assurance, we agreed to follow the airline’s arrangement and boarded the flight provided, which was unexpectedly redirected to South Korea. And they only refunded me the ticket for my child.
Claimed loss: - The unauthorized change of international destination- Out-of-pocket expenses for new tickets- Health-related distress caused to our child- Lost baggage and associated costs
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