TRIP REPORT: Skopje - Perth via Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur

TRIP REPORT

Written by Matej Bandev

Trip Report: Ohrid to Perth via Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur

Date: 20/07/24

Flight numbers TK1006/TK60/OD155

After a wonderful summer holiday in my hometown of Ohrid, it was time to head back to my second home, Perth. As of now, there are no direct flights to Ohrid for the Macedonian diaspora in Australia, but it’s exciting to hear that Turkish Airlines has announced new flights from Istanbul to Ohrid. This new route will certainly make travel easier for the Macedonian diaspora, allowing people to stay closer to Ohrid’s airport rather than taking the long journey by bus or taxi from Skopje.

The total cost of my return trip was approximately $2,000 AUD, covering three legs: SKP-IST-KUL-PER.I took a cab to the airport which costs around 150 Euros from Ohrid to Skopje International airport with a traditional stopover in 'Straža' to get my final 'Mekica with yogurt' fix before I headed off to Perth. For those looking for a cheaper alternative, buses are available for about $20 AUD, though they make numerous stops along the way, and I find them inefficient.

I arrived at the airport around 6:00 PM for my 8:20 PM Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul. The flight, operated by a 737-900ER (TC-JYD), was a quick 1 hour and 15 minutes. As always, Turkish Airlines somehow managed to provide a meal even though the short duration of the flight, it included a mozzarella salad, a turkey sandwich, and a small vanilla cake. The plane was full, with most passengers being Macedonian Australians heading home. This is no surprise, as Turkish Airlines offers one of the best and most affordable options for us, especially with airlines like Qatar and Flydubai ceasing operations to Skopje post-pandemic.

Upon arriving in Istanbul on time, we had a tight layover of less than an hour to catch our next flight to Kuala Lumpur, scheduled to depart at 1:35 AM. The new Istanbul Airport is vast and well-maintained, but I found it disappointing that many airport staff had limited English proficiency. Given that Istanbul is one of the world's largest transfer hubs, with travellers from all over the globe, this language barrier could make navigation difficult for passengers needing assistance.

Our designated gate was A4A, located below the main departure floor. Since the plane was parked on a ramp, we were escorted by bus to board. Unfortunately, most morning flights were delayed, and ours was no exception, likely due to the global flight disruptions caused by a major windows outage the day before. To pass the time, I visited the main terminal to take advantage of the 1-hour free internet kiosks. After a 2-hour delay, boarding began, which took another 30 minutes.

The flight to Kuala Lumpur was operated by a 14-year-old Boeing 777 (TC-JJF) and had a flight time of 9 hours and 50 minutes.

Once airborne, the cabin crew quickly began the dinner service, offering a choice between vegetarian penne pasta or chicken rice. I opted for the chicken rice, which was well-seasoned, though the rice was a bit plain. However, the meal was complemented by a delicious coconut panna cotta. The pilot warned of moderate turbulence throughout the flight, and he wasn’t wrong. The majority of the flight felt like being on a washing machine, with frequent bumps. Despite the turbulence, the cabin crew regularly walked the aisles offering light refreshments, ensuring everyone’s comfort.

About two hours before landing, breakfast was served. The options were scrambled eggs with sausage or pancakes with strawberry compote. I chose the scrambled eggs, which weren’t the best I’ve had, but they were edible. The pastry accompanying the eggs, however, it was delicious and a great pairing.

Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, disembarkation took over 15 minutes. We had just half an hour to catch our next flight, but luckily, Turkish Airlines representatives were already waiting to guide us to our gate for the Batik Air flight to Perth. Once we boarded, the flight was delayed by almost an hour due to the late arrival of the inbound flight from Istanbul. The aircraft, a 9-year-old 737-800 (9M-LNV), had a flight time of 5 hours and 50 minutes. Interestingly, it still featured the old Malindo Air livery (Malindo Air was rebranded as Batik Air Malaysia in 2022). Unfortunately, the in-flight entertainment system was not operational, unlike the newer 737 MAX models.

After takeoff, the cabin crew began the meal service. Nearly everything on the menu was priced below 15 Malaysian ringgit, and since I was traveling on a Turkish Airlines ticket, I was entitled to a complimentary meal on Batik Air. However, after about three hours, the crew finally reached the back of the plane with the meal options: chicken rice or cup noodles. Once the meal service concluded, the cabin lights were dimmed, allowing passengers to rest for the remainder of the flight to Perth.

Overall, the journey felt a bit rushed, but I would highly recommend it. Turkish Airlines continues to impress with their service, and I’m excited about the potential for direct flights from Istanbul to Perth in the near future. This would undoubtedly make travel more convenient and enjoyable by reducing the need for multiple stops and long layovers.

Thank you for reading my first-ever trip report. I truly hope you enjoyed it!

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