If you are the type of traveler who spends hours scouring the internet for cheap flights to explore the world, you have certainly run across the name Pegasus Airlines. Operating as one of the leading low-cost carriers (LCC) on the planet, this Turkish airline promises to connect Europe to the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa for a fraction of the price of traditional airlines.
But is it a case of getting what you paid for? To answer that, Nick and I decided to test their services on an intense journey that started at 1:00 AM in Beirut, Lebanon, connected in Istanbul, and ended in Madrid, Spain. Since we were coming from an exhausting trip crossing the borders of Syria by land, our expectations for a comfortable flight were pretty high.
Below, I bring you a comprehensive, honest, and unfiltered review of what it is really like to fly with Pegasus Airlines, the secrets of their base airport, and the best tactics for you to save money without facing a travel nightmare.
Or watch my full experience with Pegasus:
What Is Pegasus Airlines and What Is Its Major Edge?
For those not familiar with airline technicalities, Pegasus Airlines is the second-largest airline in Turkey. While the glamorous giant Turkish Airlines dominates the massive Istanbul International Airport (IST) on the European side, Pegasus runs the show in the budget market, using Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side of Istanbul as its main base.
The greatest asset of Pegasus is not onboard luxury, but its massive route network. Their strategy is brilliant: they pick up passengers from almost every major airport in Europe, make a strategic stop at their hub in Istanbul, and from there, distribute travelers to fascinating destinations in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia (reaching all the way to Karachi, Pakistan), and North Africa.
If you want to take a Eurotrip and, on top of that, extend it to visit places way off the beaten path while spending very little, it functions exactly like a European Ryanair or a Spirit Airlines in the United States. It masterfully fulfills its role of getting you from point A to point B efficiently and on time—as long as you understand the rules of the game.
Onboard Life: Legroom, Comfort, and the Reality of the Seats
We started our journey flying out of Beirut on an Airbus A321, a modern, long, and well-maintained aircraft. The interior of the plane makes a good first visual impression: the seats are upholstered in dark leather, which gives off a sense of cleanliness and modernity. However, any similarities to the comfort of a legacy carrier stop right there.
The space for your legs and knees is quite tight. If you are a tall person, you will definitely feel a bit cramped. Another crucial detail for anyone planning to rest on long-haul flights: Pegasus Airlines’ seats do not recline at all, and they do not feature those adjustable headrest flaps to support your neck. This is the classic low-cost standard to maximize space and reduce aircraft weight.
We were lucky enough to find the first leg of our flight slightly empty, which allowed Nick and me to take up three seats each, improvising a makeshift “bed” to make up for the lack of recline. But go prepared: on full flights, your posture will be completely vertical.
In-flight Entertainment: A Very Positive Surprise
Here is a point where Pegasus Airlines completely breaks the negative expectations common to budget airlines. Unlike Ryanair, where there isn’t even a piece of paper to look at, Pegasus offers a wireless in-flight entertainment system that you can access directly through the browser of your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Initially, I thought all the content would be paid, but I discovered an excellent surprise: several movies and games are available completely free of charge (just look for the titles that do not have a padlock icon). For premium locked content, you can pay a fair fee of around 4€ for full access. There are also very detailed city travel guides for the destinations served by the airline.
Golden tip: There are no electrical outlets or USB ports in the seats to charge your devices. Since the flight from Istanbul to Madrid takes almost 5 hours, make sure you step onto the plane with your phone battery at 100% or bring a good portable charger (power bank) in your backpack.
The Danger of Starvation: The Cost of Food Onboard
While the entertainment was a pleasant surprise, the onboard food service was a reality check. Buying food or drinks directly from the flight attendants during the flight is, without exaggeration, highway robbery.
To give you an exact idea of the damage, a small canister of potato chips (Pringles style) costs a whopping 7€. If you want a hot meal purchased on a whim, the price can easily reach an absurd 18€. It makes absolutely no sense to pay the price of a meal at a fine dining restaurant for simple airplane food on an economy flight.
If you don’t want to find yourself in a tight spot or spend a fortune, adopt two essential strategies: buy snacks, sandwiches, and bottles of water at the airport itself before boarding, or, if you really want a hot meal, add it online directly on the Pegasus website or app during the check-in process, where the prices are usually much friendlier.
Navigating Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) in Istanbul
Your experience with Pegasus will inevitably pass through Sabiha Gökçen Airport. To be perfectly honest, it does not have the same glamour, massive scale, or futuristic architecture as Istanbul’s main airport. It is a simpler terminal, but highly functional and absurdly busy.
The infrastructure handles basic connection needs well, featuring a huge variety of food courts and well-known restaurants. However, the airport falls short in a few convenience details:
- Bureaucratic Internet: To access the airport’s free Wi-Fi, you cannot simply log on. You have to look for physical kiosks scattered throughout the corridors, scan your passport, and print out an access code. During peak hours, the lines for these kiosks get massive.
- Crowded Bathrooms: Due to the massive influx of flights departing at the same time, lines in the restrooms (especially the women’s) tend to be very long.
- Accommodation and Comfort: If your layover is very long or if you are exhausted from traveling, the airport offers private sleeping cabins, complete with a bed and a shower. Three hours of use cost an average of 15€. If you have credit cards with travel benefits, you can also access partner VIP lounges using programs like Priority Pass, LoungeKey, or Dragon Pass.
Practical Tips and Must-Know Tactics for Budget Flying
Traveling with low-cost carriers requires a shift in mindset. To ensure your experience with Pegasus Airlines is smooth and cheap, write down and apply this survival manual:
- Check In Online in Advance: Never leave check-in for the airport counter. The vast majority of low-cost carriers charge steep extra fees to those who require human assistance to print a physical ticket. Do everything via the official app days before.
- Strict Attention to Luggage: The basic Pegasus ticket usually includes only a small backpack that fits under the seat in front of you. If you show up at the boarding gate with heavy roller bags or extra items without having paid for them beforehand on the website, they will charge you a heavy penalty right on the spot.
- Lodging Location in Istanbul: If your final destination is the city of Istanbul and you are flying with Pegasus, remember that the airport is on the Asian side. Since the main historical and tourist attractions of the city are on the European side, ground transit can be time-consuming and expensive. Calculate whether the ticket savings outweigh the cost of transportation to your hotel.
- The Cash Economy: An interesting cultural quirk of connections in this region is how fast the local economy revolves around hard cash. Avoid relying 100% on international debit cards at small shops in the terminal.
Final Verdict: Is Flying with Pegasus Airlines Worth It?
The short and direct answer is: yes, it is very much worth it, as long as you travel with your expectations aligned. If your primary goal is to save money and invest your cash in experiences within the final destination, Pegasus Airlines delivers exactly what it promises.
They hand you a fleet of modern aircraft, experienced pilots, solid punctuality, and access to remote corners of the planet for unbelievable fares. The secret to success is planning. If you eat beforehand, carry your own electronics, respect luggage limits, and check in online, you will have a smooth, safe, and extremely budget-friendly flight.
What about you? Did you already know about this airline or do you want to take on an alternative itinerary through the Middle East? Leave your questions in the comments and I’ll answer them all!
