$1,151 Find Cheap Flights to Istanbul

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to Istanbul departing on 31/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Istanbul

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Istanbul
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Istanbul
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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$1,955
Typical prices: $1,972-$2,731
China Southern
Thu 6/8Mon 31/8
AKL - IST • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way flight
$1,151
Multiple Airlines
Sat 31/10
CHC - IST • 2 stops
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 6 weeks in advance save around 25% compared to booking last minute.
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Istanbul!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Istanbul

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to Istanbul that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Istanbul

Thu, 6 Aug - Mon, 31 Aug
China Southern Logo
21:20 - 06:35
AKL
-
IST
42h 15m
2 stops
China Southern Logo
15:30 - 15:30
IST
-
AKL
39h 00m
2 stops
$1,955China Southern
Wed, 22 Jul - Sun, 23 Aug
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:45 - 05:00
AKL
-
IST
31h 15m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
01:55 - 11:25
IST
-
AKL
24h 30m
2 stops
$1,968Multiple Airlines
Wed, 22 Jul - Sun, 23 Aug
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:45 - 05:00
AKL
-
IST
31h 15m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
01:55 - 12:20
IST
-
AKL
25h 25m
2 stops
$1,970Multiple Airlines
Wed, 22 Jul - Sun, 23 Aug
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:45 - 05:00
AKL
-
IST
31h 15m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
01:55 - 11:25
IST
-
AKL
24h 30m
2 stops
$1,971Multiple Airlines
Wed, 22 Jul - Sun, 23 Aug
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:45 - 05:00
AKL
-
IST
31h 15m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
01:55 - 11:25
IST
-
AKL
24h 30m
2 stops
$1,973Multiple Airlines
Sat, 1 Aug - Sat, 29 Aug
China Southern Logo
09:00 - 07:15
AKL
-
IST
31h 15m
1 stop
China Southern Logo
14:20 - 15:30
IST
-
AKL
40h 10m
1 stop
$1,975China Southern
Sat, 1 Aug - Sat, 29 Aug
China Southern Logo
09:00 - 07:15
AKL
-
IST
31h 15m
1 stop
China Southern Logo
15:30 - 15:30
IST
-
AKL
39h 00m
2 stops
$1,980China Southern
Wed, 18 Nov - Sun, 6 Dec
Qatar Airways Logo
17:45 - 12:10
AKL
-
SAW
28h 25m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
13:40 - 00:30
SAW
-
AKL
24h 50m
1 stop
$2,588Qatar Airways
Wed, 4 Nov - Tue, 10 Nov
Qatar Airways Logo
17:45 - 12:10
AKL
-
SAW
28h 25m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
13:40 - 00:30
SAW
-
AKL
24h 50m
1 stop
$2,592Qatar Airways
Wed, 4 Nov - Tue, 10 Nov
Qatar Airways Logo
17:45 - 12:10
AKL
-
SAW
28h 25m
2 stops
Qatar Airways Logo
13:40 - 00:30
SAW
-
AKL
24h 50m
2 stops
$2,595Qatar Airways
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Istanbul

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to Istanbul to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights to Istanbul, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights to Istanbul is October, where tickets cost $927 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and December, where the average cost of tickets from New Zealand is $3,531 and $1,849 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is January with an average price of $780.

How far in advance should I book a flight to Istanbul?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to Istanbul, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price, you should book around 6 weeks before departure, which saves you about 25% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in Istanbul?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in Istanbul is Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), with an average flight price of $230.

Good to know – Book Cheap Istanbul Plane Tickets

Cheapest flight$1,151
Flight from Christchurch to Istanbul

When to book flights to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Istanbul based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. The information is for flights to Istanbul based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs - booking Istanbul flights

  • Which Istanbul airport is closest to central Istanbul?

    32 km away from Istanbul’s city centre, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport is the closest of the 2 major airports in the city. There are 34 km separating Istanbul city centre to Istanbul Airport.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to Istanbul?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Istanbul.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to Istanbul?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Istanbul is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to Istanbul?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Istanbul with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Istanbul?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Istanbul up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Istanbul

  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Istanbul flight deals.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Istanbul

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to Istanbul. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from New Zealand to Istanbul. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Istanbul? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3602 reviews
8.0Comfort
8.4Crew
8.1Boarding
8.2Entertainment
7.9Food
Airline reviews

As always Emirates is always dependent on the crew you get on the day and today was a good one. Everyone knew what they were doing and gracefully without hesitation . Great conversation all round even about the food and wine.

10.0 ExcellentWoei, May 2026
DXB - SIN
Read more Emirates reviews

As always Emirates is always dependent on the crew you get on the day and today was a good one. Everyone knew what they were doing and gracefully without hesitation . Great conversation all round even about the food and wine.

The crew were absolutely fantastic. They actively asked if passengers wanted refills and if they were comfortable. I was extremely impressed.

I liked everything: the service, the food, the cleanness. I flew last year with Qatar Airways, so I can compare. Emirates did much better! Especially their meals and service.

I would have liked less packaged snacky stuff, more fruit. The crew was great.

Emirates A380s are always wonderful to fly on. Their crews, food and service are always excellent. They are typically on time and the only thing I would change (maybe newer or upgraded aircraft have this) is bluetooth so I can pair my noise cancelling headphones without a cable.

Premium economy was worth it-comfort was definitely better than economy class. The seats were more comfortable, blankets and pillows thicker

Food was excellent. Leg room in economy, not so good; I’m 6’-1”.

The queue for checking for economy passengers was enormous! Only one desk open for economy faith s queue a mile long, whilst business and first class desks empty and unemployed. Will seriously consider changing to another next trip. Disappointed customer.

Food service must be faster and make vegetarian food in good quality

Flight good but it was 30min late taking off. Also don’t like landing then being loaded on bus and driven around the airport like it’s a sightseeing tour.

China Southern was not the problem. I booked my flight through Kayak and also received a booking reference and alert details regarding departure time and gate numbers… however Kayak NEVER actually booked my flight! We were stranded at the airport without a flight for a long awaited holiday!

The airport didn‘t give me the ticket. I called customer service to ask for a refund but they kept giving me a perfunctory response and refused to refund me.

The back of the chair - premium economy could not move back - not worth the price

Crew: Everybody was polite. People just need to get efficient and less reworking things. Entertainment: Could have move movies and games. The “music” section is a joke, only ONE available. Food: The food provided on the flights boarding in china needs a serious reworking. Too much oil, bad for your stomach, tastes too artificial and the eggs were a giant mass of green dough.

Never got the wheelchair service when my parents arrived at LA . My mom was 74 , also my dad was 84 years old, both don’t speak English. I double checked with the front desk at Phoenix airport, making sure that they will be taking care of.

Had some luggage loading delays but it was still a good experience

We bought the business class tickets. The check-in staff and onboard crew were excellent, providing commendable service throughout. However, it was disappointing to find that China Southern Airlines does not have a lounge at SFO. Instead, passengers were provided with a $35 per person food voucher, which fell short of expectations. Furthermore, the quality of the onboard food left much to be desired, marking a significant decline compared to our previous flight experience in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

1. I got very poor check in experience with the counter lady . This is the first airline I ever experienced that no combine check in weight allow . Even we have 4 of us but weight counter by piece . So we wasted lot of time argue and repack . This is super crazy 2. Next I left my Samsung tablet on the plane . And I started to escalate and finally spoke to southern airline lost and found in Malaysia and the amazing answer she give is : system nothing found and please try to call southern airline in china 🧐 . I have been flying many other airlines but this is my first encounterment with such irresponsible airline response and no empathy given to customer . My feeling is nobody bother whether how customer like me feel and I’m just too small for the management to take note .

The flight was okay it was the kayak customer service that was poor, I have been trying to change my name on my flight ticket 3 days before my flight and nothing got done about it even tho I messaged so many times and phoned, all I got in return was that is was being processed and still to this day nothing has been done about it, I think it’s disgusting and un needed stress to the trip.

Traveling with the Chinese airlines , their service superior to the US Airlines , they are much more friendly and the seats are comfortable , In the past I flew with United , now ,United Airline will become history for me .

Turkish airline does not care if the business class senior person has to go from one terminal to another. no guidance, no trolley, I would not travel on this airline again and also tell my friends.

Amazing! One of the best kept secrets in air travel!

We fly Bussines class and we didn’t feel like it is. Out luggage didn’t arrive and we have to return again next day from our hotel to airport to get them. Still waiting. No information from Turkish airlines Very poor customer service I think booking through kayak it was wrong decision

Three screaming and crying children in business class made it very difficult to rest. The crew made no attempt to address the situation. I might as well have saved the money and flown economy. The parents were oblivious to the discomfort their children were causing. The lounge in Istanbul is wonderful, but did not make up for the misery on the flight. My business class seat power outlet was broken and I have a cpap. The crew couldn't fix it or move me to better seat. Fortunately , the passenger in front of me allowed me to plug into his power outlet.

My seat/bed broke. Flight was delayed. Most of the cabin crew were very pleasant. Amenity kit was nice. Chairs and cabin was worn. Food was mostly quite nice.

I flew Business with my daughter and son. The service, friendliness of the staff and the comfort of the fully flat beds were phenomenal. Would definitely fly Turkish again soon.

I had 2 flights on the same day ( beautiful sunny non windy day)both had a touch and go -around on the runway. My husband said they were training a co pilot. The bathrooms were stinky dirty and the the floor was sticky. On one flight I had the worst food option I have ever had on an overseas flight.

Entertainment system is okay, flight attendants were ok. Leg space very narrow, I couldn’t get what I wanted to eat, dinner nor breakfast.

Staff are friendly and the pilot when we landed very smooth.

Turkish Airlines made a long flight from YVR to IST a great flying experience. From the attendants, to the food, to the entertainment program to all the extras, a twelve hour flight ‘flew by’. Late departure and arrival was not the airline’s fault.

The flight from HYD to DOH was delayed by 3 hours and we missed the connection from DOH to MIA. We had to wait 24H more to get the MIA flight. It was a total disaster. If the flight crew had waited 1 more hour to accommodate their 3 hour delayed flight, we would not have lost a whole day !

Impressive as always. It is the airline of my choice, The dessert on the 2nd flight DOH-IAH was somewhat dry (the cake with cream etc) Check-in and boarding experience was fantastic, with the exception of CCU airport where chk-in staff refused to help with aisle seats stating the flight was full and accommodations were beyond him. Once I boarded there were plenty of available aisles. I was disappointed that this could not be done by self during online chk-in nor at the airport. Nothing more to add. Overall a good experience, TY QTR

Flight departed punctually on time. Unfortunately it seems because the destination airport is a secondary airport the airline sees it fit to operate a plane with lower comfort and offerings. There was no inflight entertainment, wifi or let alone a screen to at least track flight status for remaining flight time.

No difference between US airline and Qatar. Both cramp as many people. The airline seems to change planes without notice choice is seating when making reservations online doesn’t match the plane a passenger is on. Especially paying extra. Nothing special No different than US carriers.

Did not like anything. Seats were crammed, leg space was minimal and food was terrible. This was the first time traveling overseas in American Airlines and was the worst experience ever. Have learned a lesson to never travel in American Airlines.

riding in first class, you don't expect every time you order your dinner or breakfast that the first thing the stewardess says is Let me see if we have any left. Also, the food selection was not great: 3 of 4 entrees had mushrooms and I dont eat mushrooms, the 4th item was 'let me see if we have any left' and this was within 30 mins of entering the flight! Same experience level, it didn't feel first class this round.

They made us deliberate waste time by holding our passports and boarding passes making us miss the flight

The qatar airways flights were great, the code share with Indigo could have been a lot better. There is no option for web check in, there is not information on the tickets for the INDIGO PNR this caused a problem with security letting us into the airport. The indigo staff did not even want us to line up before they opened the counters. There is not option on the indigo flgith to request special meals.

This was a really enjoyable flight. Even though I was in economy, I had a great deal of leg space, I had a nice meal, and the flight staff was helpful and friendly. A really great flight.

Seats were not comfortable and touch free remote wasn’t working.

The flight was delayed. The staff made us wait in the room that is too small and it was crowded and with no seats available for waiting. They did not tell us why the delay occurred.

The flight was delayed by 2 hours, although to their credit they delayed my connecting flight so people could reach it. Also their site is a nightmare to navigate on a phone. Everything else was good.

CTU-KMG-CNX with 1.5 hr connection at KMG. Doable but just barely bc immigration exit from China is at the last flight leg, here: KMG to CNX. We hauled out of the domestic terminal to reenter at the international departures (luggage checked thru to CNX thankfully). Immigration had only two agents, even though KMG gets a HUGE number of foreigners. It took forever for such a shot line. Then security also took a while, so I just just made the connection. Recommend if you exit China with domestic international transfer, plan for 2+ hrs to avoid a heart attack. Airline personnel don’t suffer if you miss the flight, you do. Plan accordingly.

The temperature of the plane cabin is too hot. Sweat and uncomfortable. Also my food tray was broken down drinks fall off

For the price we paid, I couldn’t complain. Was good value for money. Service was excellent but food was mediocre. Crew were excellent and spoke English. You will never go hungry. The food was ample but was mediocre. Entertainment limited and wifi doesn’t all allow you to access some social media. The best part was comfortable seats and bed (business class) with a screen to close out the rest of the cabin.

Cheapest option from Gatwick £400 cheaper than Emirates and Qatar. Entertainment no where near as good as Emirates and Qatar, but saved £400 so all good.

Great staff and food. Seats pretty uncomfortable but plenty of legroom. Entertainment system outdated.

Gatwick London-Shanghai -Bangkok.. Would have liked entertainment screens, but I know these planes are not that new. Cheap flights at the time of booking, Emirates wanted double so you get what you paid for. I would fly again with them, but if Emirates was the same price I would go with them.

How do you run out of beer after one hour of a twelve hour flight?!

Couldn’t fly since they wouldn’t issue a boarding ticket. Something to do with not taking the departing flight since it was cancelled due to weather. No notice or anything about the trip being invalid. The app made it seem like I was all good for it. Never trusting travel agency

Everything you need to know for your flight to Istanbul

Cabin class types available on flights to Istanbul

Cabin classes available on flights to Istanbul. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.