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Turkish Airlines flies to 280 destinations across 120 countries worldwide and offers a fantastic in-flight product. So, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider using your points, miles, or best travel rewards card to book a Turkish flight. But what do you do if you see a flight you want but aren't quite ready to complete your booking?
The answer is to make use of Turkish Airlines' “Hold the Price” feature. It's an easy way to snag a ticket without committing on the spot. And if you end up booking a flight after placing a hold, the hold fee is entirely refundable.
If you're considering booking a Turkish Airlines flight in the future (possibly making use of a Turkish Airlines sweet spot), it's worth becoming aware of the rules behind Turkish Airlines' hold the price option. Read on for a more detailed explanation of what it is and how it works.
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How To ‘Hold the Price’ With Turkish Airlines
The most straightforward option to “Hold the Price” is with cash. If you see a Turkish flight you like but aren't ready to book, you can hold your reservation for up to 15 days. Generally, Turkish Airlines will give you up to three hold options, which vary in duration and price. Here's a breakdown of your options:
- Hold the price for 1-3 days. You can hold a flight for 24 hours if your intended flight departs in five to 10 days. Or, you can hold flights departing more than 10 days in advance for up to three days.
- Hold the price for 7 days.
- Hold the price for 15 days.
We compared the hold periods and costs of economy flights from Istanbul (IST) to New York (JFK). For example, on a flight departing one week in advance, we saw an option to hold the price for 24 hours for $60.
There is a cheaper option to hold a flight departing in September 2024 for $45. If you opt to splurge for business class, you'll pay the same price to hold your reservation. However, the duration of how long you can hold a flight may vary, as the only option available during our search was the 15-day period.
We also considered a reservation for two people. The cost to hold two tickets on the flight departing in September doubled to $90. So, the cost to hold also depends on how many tickets you want to book.
The distance of the flight is another factor, too. For example, you can hold a September departing flight from Bodrum (BJV) to Istanbul (IST) for $18 per person.
You'll be prompted to pay the fee if you elect to hold the price. If you elect to purchase your ticket, you'll complete the ticketing process via the “Ticket Management” menu on the Turkish website. And after you've officially been ticketed, the hold fee will be refunded to your original payment method. If you cancel, you'll forfeit the funds you used to place a hold.
Can you hold Turkish Airlines award tickets?
If you'd like to hold a ticket with miles, that's also possible. The price will be displayed at the time of booking. But you won't see this option if you don't have any Turkish Miles & Smiles miles in your account. So, if you're trying to make an award booking and place a hold, you may have to transfer a few credit card points to Turkish to check if you can hold the price.
If you run into issues when trying to place a hold with miles, the best way to troubleshoot is to call Miles & Smiles. There, they can hold your award for up to 48 hours.
Related: How To Search and Book Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Awards
Things to be aware of before holding a Turkish Airlines ticket
One of the helpful aspects of the hold the price feature is that you can use it on connecting flights with codeshare partners. So, if you find an itinerary with a United Airlines to Turkish Airlines connection, you should be able to hold it. And if you have Miles & Smiles elite status, you can hold tickets for free — even if you don't end up booking the ticket you put on hold.
It's also worth noting that you can't make seat selections until you actually complete your reservation. So, if you want a specific seat, you'll need to pay for your reservation before you can enjoy the luxury of choosing where you want to sit.
Finally, and most importantly, you cannot change the reservation once you've put it on hold, so if you are deciding between dates, use caution before taking advantage of this offer.
Related: Airline Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies
Should You Use the Turkish Airlines ‘Hold the Price’ Feature?
Putting a Turkish Airlines itinerary on hold has pros and cons. If you intend to travel on the exact flights you're holding, this is a free option to lock in a good price. Even better, the option to hold a price is fee-free for Miles & Smiles elites.
Personally, it's a perk I won't be taking advantage of. I prefer the booking flexibility of awards for airlines like Turkish, but I don't want to forfeit miles if I cancel the ticket I put on hold. That said, this might be a good option for those looking to book paid tickets on the airline in the future.
You should also keep in mind that for itineraries flying to or from the U.S., you can book your itinerary on Turkish Airlines, which has a 24-hour free cancellation period. This might be a better option than holding the price.
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