How to Book Turkish Airlines: Upgrades, Baggage Add-Ons, Miles&Smiles Hacks & Ways to Save

So you’ve picked Turkish Airlines. Now you want to pay as little as possible, get the right baggage sorted, and maybe wangle a business class upgrade. Here’s how.

For a full overview of Turkish Airlines, see our complete guide.

Finding the Cheapest Turkish Airlines Fares

When to Book Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines fares from the UK follow a roughly predictable pattern. For European and domestic Turkish routes, the cheapest prices tend to appear 6-8 weeks before departure. Long-haul flights are better booked 8-16 weeks out. Booking too far in advance doesn’t always help because Turkish Airlines uses dynamic pricing and often drops promotional fares in the mid-booking window.

For peak summer travel to Turkish holiday destinations (June–August), book as early as possible. These routes fill up fast and prices climb steeply once the cheap fare buckets sell out.

Where to Book

Book through turkishairlines.com unless a third party is meaningfully cheaper. Direct bookings give you full control over seat selection, baggage, and Miles&Smiles earning. Use Skyscanner, Kayak, or Google Flights to compare prices, but if the difference is under £20, go direct. It saves headaches if anything goes wrong later.

One exception: corporate travel. If your company has a Turkish Airlines corporate contract, fares through your TMC (travel management company) may be cheaper than the public website, with added flexibility on changes and cancellations.

Fare Types Explained

Turkish Airlines has several fare tiers and picking the right one saves money:

EcoFly: The cheapest economy fare. Includes a checked bag on most international routes but may have restrictive change and cancellation policies. This is the right choice for straightforward return trips where your dates are fixed.
ExtraFly: Adds seat selection, extra Miles&Smiles earning, and more flexible change conditions. Worth it if there’s any chance your plans might shift.
PrimeFly: The premium economy-tier fare with priority boarding, lounge access on some routes, extra baggage, and maximum flexibility. Only worth the premium if you’ll actually use the lounge or need the change flexibility.
Business (various): Fully flexible with lounge access, priority everything, and maximum baggage. Sale business class fares from London to destinations like Cape Town, Bangkok, or Tokyo can occasionally drop below £1,500 return — genuinely excellent value for a flat-bed product.

Turkish Airlines Promo Codes and Sales

Turkish Airlines runs regular promotions, typically timed around Turkish public holidays, Black Friday, and seasonal launches. Sign up for the Miles&Smiles newsletter and follow Turkish Airlines UK on social media for early access. Promo codes are occasionally distributed through partner brands and credit card offers.

The airline also offers “TK Holidays” packages that bundle flights and hotels, which can undercut booking separately — particularly for Istanbul city breaks.

Adding Extra Baggage

How to Add Baggage to Your Booking

Extra checked baggage can be added through several channels, and the price differs:

At time of booking: Cheapest option. The add-on appears during the fare selection process.
After booking via Manage Booking: Log into turkishairlines.com, select your booking, and add baggage. Prices are slightly higher than at booking but still cheaper than the airport.
Via the Turkish Airlines app: Same prices as the website. The process is straightforward — go to “My Flights,” select the relevant booking, and add luggage.
At the airport: Most expensive. Expect to pay 50–100% more than online prices for the same weight.

Turkish Airlines Baggage Prices 2026

Prices vary by route, but as a rough guide for UK departures:

Extra 15kg bag (European routes): £25–£40 online, £50–£70 at the airport
Extra 23kg bag (European routes): £35–£55 online, £70–£100 at the airport
Extra 23kg bag (intercontinental): £50–£80 online, £100–£150 at the airport
Overweight supplement (per kg over allowance): Varies but typically £8–£15 per kg

In short: never buy extra baggage at the airport. The markup is brutal.

23kg vs 15kg: Which to Choose

If you’re packing for a week’s holiday, 15kg is tight for most people once you account for the suitcase weight itself (typically 3–4kg for a medium case). The 23kg allowance gives genuine breathing room and the price difference is usually only £10–£15 online. Unless you’re a genuinely light packer, 23kg is worth the small premium.

Seat Selection

Free vs Paid Seat Selection

Standard seat selection on Turkish Airlines is free at online check-in (24 hours before departure). If you want to choose your seat earlier — at booking or shortly after — that’s a paid option on EcoFly fares and included on higher fare tiers.

Exit row and extra-legroom seats carry a premium of £15–£50 depending on the route length. For long-haul flights over six hours, the extra legroom is worth it for taller passengers.

The App Problem

Some passengers report that seat selection doesn’t save properly on the Turkish Airlines app. If you’ve selected a seat and it reverts to “not assigned,” try completing the selection through the desktop website instead. If problems persist, contact customer service or sort it at the airport check-in desk.

Upgrading to Business Class

Bid Upgrades

Turkish Airlines operates an upgrade auction system on selected routes. After booking economy, you may receive an email inviting you to bid a price for a business class upgrade. Bids are typically accepted 24–48 hours before departure.

Successful bid amounts vary, but passengers report winning upgrades for £200–£600 on long-haul routes that would otherwise cost £1,000+ as a fare difference. The system favours routes where business class isn’t full — off-peak days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays) and shoulder-season travel give you better odds.

Miles&Smiles Upgrade Awards

You can use Miles&Smiles points to upgrade from economy to business class on Turkish Airlines flights. The cost varies by route distance and availability. As a rough guide, upgrading a London–Istanbul economy ticket to business costs around 15,000–20,000 miles one way. London to Bangkok or Tokyo might run 30,000–50,000 miles.

Upgrade availability is limited and released closer to departure. Check the Miles&Smiles portal or app regularly in the two weeks before your flight for availability to open up.

At the Airport

Same-day upgrades at the check-in desk or gate are possible but inconsistent. Prices are typically the full fare difference, so there’s no discount. The bid system or miles upgrade is almost always the better value.

Maximising Miles&Smiles

Earning Miles Faster

There are a few ways to build up miles without actually flying:

Co-branded credit card: The Miles&Smiles credit card (available in Turkey; UK residents can use Star Alliance partner cards that credit to Miles&Smiles) earns miles on everyday spending.
Star Alliance partner flights: Book flights on any Star Alliance member and credit them to Miles&Smiles. Earning rates vary by partner and fare class — check the Miles&Smiles earning calculator before booking.
Shopping portal: Turkish Airlines has an online shopping portal where purchases at partner retailers earn bonus miles.
Hotel and car rental partners: Booking through Miles&Smiles partner links for hotels and car hire earns supplementary miles.

Best Redemption Value

Some redemptions are worth far more than others. The best value per mile:

Business class award flights on long-haul routes: Redeeming miles for a London–Tokyo business class seat gives you 2–5p per mile in value, versus less than 1p per mile for short economy hops.
Star Alliance round-the-world awards: Miles&Smiles offers round-the-world award tickets starting from around 40,000 miles in economy. These are extraordinary value if you plan a multi-stop trip.
Upgrade awards: Using miles to upgrade from economy to business often delivers better value than buying a business class ticket outright.

Avoid spending miles on merchandise, non-airline vouchers, or short domestic flights where the value per mile drops significantly.

Status Match and Fast-Track to Elite

If you already have elite status with another airline (Oneworld, SkyTeam, whoever), Turkish Airlines sometimes runs status match challenges. You complete a set number of flights within a period and keep the matched tier. Useful if you’re switching to Turkish Airlines and want lounge access without starting from scratch.

Group Bookings

If you’re booking for 10 or more people, Turkish Airlines has group rates that aren’t on the public website. You get negotiated fares, flexible name changes, and a single point of contact. Contact their group booking desk or go through a travel agent.

This is worth looking at for conference trips, wedding parties, or company travel where you can commit to a minimum number of seats.

Not sure Turkish Airlines is the right choice? See how they compare to other carriers. Check which UK airports Turkish Airlines flies from to find the best departure point.

If something goes wrong with your booking, see our guide to Turkish Airlines problems and how to claim compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the cheapest way to add luggage on Turkish Airlines?

Add it during the initial booking. Second cheapest is through Manage Booking online. Airport prices are the most expensive.

Can I upgrade to business class on Turkish Airlines with miles?

Yes, through Miles&Smiles upgrade awards. Availability opens closer to departure, so check regularly in the final two weeks.

Is PrimeFly worth the extra cost?

Only if you’ll genuinely use the lounge access and need change flexibility. For fixed-date trips, EcoFly or ExtraFly are usually better value.

How do I get a Turkish Airlines promo code?

Sign up for the Miles&Smiles newsletter, follow their UK social media accounts, and check around Turkish public holidays and Black Friday for promotions.

Can I book Turkish Airlines through a corporate travel programme?

Yes. Turkish Airlines has corporate fare agreements for businesses of various sizes. Contact their corporate sales team or ask your TMC to check availability.

Is there a student discount on Turkish Airlines?

Turkish Airlines occasionally offers youth and student fares on selected routes, but they’re not universally available. Check the website promotions section or ask at booking.