Pegasus: Is the airline dubbed “Turkish Ryanair” as bad as people think?

In a world full of budget airlines, it can be difficult to know what you’re going to get. When I was looking to book flights from Manchester to Bishkek, in Kyrgyzstan, one airline kept coming up dramatically cheaper than its competitors: Pegasus.

When I asked around about the airline, the comparisons to Ryanair came thick and fast. It’s unsurprising. The fares are low, but the baggage allowances, food prices, and seat selection are all add-ons. However, Pegasus’ network now extends to 161 destinations in 57 countries, including 39 domestic destinations in Turkey and 122 international destinations. It’s a huge variety of routes, with some that are rarely served by anyone else.

So, curious by this Turkish equivalent to Ryanair, I booked a ticket with two four and a half horu legs, separated by a short layover in Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, the airline’s hub. Here’s how Pegasus measured up from someone who has travelled all over the world, and on Ryanair more times than I’d like to admit.

Baggage Allowances

The first thing that people complain about on any low-cost airline is the baggage situation. On Pegasus, the free under-the-seat bag measures 40x30x15 cm and has to weigh under 3kg. This is 5cm smaller than Ryanair’s under-the-seat bag, and they don’t tend to check weight. For the larger cabin bag, it has to measure 55x40x23 cm and weigh under 8kg. While this is 3cm larger than Ryanair’s same paid-for cabin bag, you can have up to 10kg in weight on Ryanair.

Much like any budget airline, the cost of your baggage depends on the route, and that goes for both cabin and hold luggage. I had cabin and hold luggage, taking the bag I usually take for Ryanair and had no issues. No one tried to weigh the cabin bag, and the hold luggage was checked all the way through to Bishkek, despite online warnings that I’d have to self-transfer in Istanbul.

Onboard Experience

Something that grabbed me about Pegasus was how early we were told the gate number and how quickly we boarded. They started boarding 50 minutes before take-off. If you’ve been on the other European low-cost airlines, you’ll know it’s usually 30 minutes before, if not less.

Pegasus also boards by row group. This is something I really liked as it was more methodical and meant you weren’t causing a traffic jam putting your bag in the overhead locker every two minutes. While the early boarding seemed like a great start, it really just meant we were all ready and sat earlier, waiting for our time slot to push back from the gate.

The seats are your classic low-cost width and amount of legroom. I’m short, so I’m not usually bothered, but it was about the same legroom as you’d get on Ryanair. The thin pleather on the seats had seen better days, but it wasn’t bad for the price.

The main gripe I had about the seats was the fact that there were no pockets on the seats in front. That means nowhere to put your water bottle or your book while you’re having a nap, if your bag is in the overhead. This would be particularly annoying if you’re sat in one of the exit rows.

If you’re planning to sleep, which I was on the second flight, be aware that the automated tannoy announcements are very loud. The reminder to keep your seatbelt on, even without any turbulence prompts, was volume overkill, wresting me from my much-needed slumber more than once.

Food and Drink

The price onboard Pegasus for food and drink makes Ryanair look like a bargain. You can order in advance on the app for 20% off, but still, the sandwiches were tiny, and a cup of Lipton tea was five euros. If you wanted a beer, you could get an Efes or a Heineken for seven euros, but they were 250ml cans, versus the 6.50 euro price for a 330ml beer on Ryanair.

Overall, the hot meals did look reasonable, and dishes like meatballs and veggies or chicken with salsa sauce were 14 euros, which for a flight price, isn’t horrific. However, knowing the exorbitant prices in advance, I’d packed a Tesco meal deal for the journey.

In the four-and-a-half-hour journey, there were two food and drink services that came around, which was nice to see, and of course, all the duty-free offerings.

Transiting through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport

If you’re flying with Pegasus mid-to-long haul or to Istanbul, you’ll be flying into Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), not the main Istanbul International (IST). I was preparing myself for your typical second-city airport, with online reviews saying that there were no seats, no WiFi, and nothing to do.

I arrived and saw designer shops, dozens of coffee shops, and shiny new seating areas all around. It seems that these reviews need a serious update. I didn’t have to self-transfer as suggested online, as both legs of my journey were on one booking and both international with Pegasus. However, I did double-check at the Pegasus desk upon arrival. I’d received emails from Pegasus about when you need to self-transfer and when you don’t, but it was confusingly phrased, and I’d much rather stand in a queue for five minutes than land in Bishkek with no clothes.

Final Thoughts on Pegasus Airlines

So, is Pegasus Airlines, the “Ryanair of Turkey”, as bad as people think? Well, the short answer is no. It’s your classic, no-frills, low-cost airline. You’re going to have to pay for just about everything, but the base fares are already pretty low. Given that few legacy airlines give you food and drink for free on short-haul anymore, or include reasonable baggage, you might as well save some money on the no-frills instead.

While Pegasus was by no means my favourite airline that I’ve ever flown with, it was completely fine. It left and landed on time, twice. Check-in, bag drop, and transfers were all straightforward. Yes, I’d have to sell a rib for a beer and a bite, but with some prior planning that can be avoided. The price difference between Pegasus and Turkish Airlines running the same route with one-stop in Istanbul was over £300. For that, I can deal with the lack of a seat pocket.

Disclaimer: Rebecca was a guest of Pegasus Airlines