Pegasus Airlines is Turkey’s second-largest carrier, operating as a low-cost airline since launching commercial flights nearly two decades ago. The airline goes by the stylised name Flypgs, which I’ve always thought doesn’t read particularly well in English. What makes Pegasus interesting is the hybrid approach: it’s undoubtedly a no-frills flying experience with budget prices, yet it offers features you don’t typically find on low-cost carriers, like the ability to book connecting flights.
Network and fleet
Pegasus operates an impressive network of over 140 destinations across 53 countries. Headquartered in Istanbul, Pegasus uses Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) as its primary hub on the Asian side of the city (don’t confuse this with the newer Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, where Pegasus also flies a couple of routes). The airline maintains several other bases at domestic airports, including tourist hotspots like Adana and Antalya.
The airline carries over 30 million passengers annually, reflecting steady growth in recent years. That growth has been supported by a modern fleet that’s now almost entirely narrowbody Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. Nine Boeing 737-800s remain in the fleet alongside the newer Airbus aircraft.
Pegasus also operates a network of connecting routes that greatly extend its reach. These can be transfers directly between Pegasus flights or, thanks to interline agreements, with other airlines including Emirates and Air Transat. Connections can be something of a minefield, as different connecting routes come with different rules, especially if you’re self-transferring.
When connecting, always check in for both flights independently. It’s also vital to know if your checked baggage needs to be collected at the transfer point or will be delivered directly to your end destination. Interline agreements mean the latter and also include guarantees for missed flights due to late connections.
Fares and classes
Pegasus offers economy class only, with four fare packages: Light, Saver, Saver Plus and Comfort Flex. With the modern fleet, that single-class setup isn’t necessarily a chore, as most flights take only a few hours. What sets Pegasus apart from typical budget carriers is how well it organises these fare packages.
I’m usually a stickler for the cheapest fare, but I’ve almost always found the price increases between Pegasus packages to be excellent value, especially on longer routes where extras like food, Wi-Fi or extra legroom feel worth the few extra pounds.
You can check in for flights online and via the Pegasus app from seven days up to 60 minutes before your flight. Due to the nature of some of its destination airports, not all routes offer online check-in, so be sure to check before you fly.
Light
The cheapest fare is available only on Pegasus international flights. It includes the bare minimum: your flight ticket and a 40cm x 30cm x 15cm personal bag that should fit under the seat in front. Pegasus is one of the very few airlines that also stipulates a weight limit for that bag, at 3kg. The only other thing you get is BolPoints, if you’re a part of the Pegasus BolBol rewards programme.
As is the usual case, you can add a raft of extras to your Light fare during the booking process, from cabin bags to checked luggage, seats, and meals. Light fares aren’t available on domestic flights, which means you’ll need to spring for the Saver fare if you’re flying within Turkey. Or perhaps that’s exactly why it’s not available, to force flyers into paying for the Saver fare instead.
Saver
The cheapest option for domestic flights, Saver fares include both a cabin bag up to 55cm x 40cm x 23cm and eight kilograms, and a checked bag up to 15kg on domestic flights and 20kg on international flights, including Cyprus. Saver fares don’t include seat selection or any food options by default, but you can add these as extras when booking.
A word of warning, Pegasus staff have quite the reputation of being sticklers for cabin bag restrictions. It’s commonplace to see them sizing up and weighing worried passengers’ bags at the gate, a ground worker poised in the background ready to issue an extra charge and whisk it into the hold. Don’t fall foul and stick to the weight restrictions, for both your paid cabin bag and your free personal bag.
Saver Plus
The next fare up adds to the pot with some nice in-cabin inclusions, alongside an increase in checked bag weight for domestic flights to 20kg. Notably, Saver Plus includes standard seat selection, excluding extra-legroom seats. When booking seats as a separate extra, Pegasus charges more for window and aisle seats than it does for the dreaded middle seat.
Alongside seat selection, you’ll get a sandwich included (though sandwiches aren’t provided on some flights for operational reasons, so check at the time of booking so you don’t board hungry) and access to the Pegasus in-flight Wi-Fi entertainment system, called Fly&Watch, on international and Cyprus flights. Note that you’ll need your own device to access this, as planes don’t have in-seat screens.
Comfort Flex
The premium fare package is Comfort Flex, which, as the name suggests, adds an extra level of comfort and flexibility to your booking. Seat selection includes extra legroom seats which are infinitely more comfortable than the standard option. Even better, you can change flights or cancel and get a full refund (minus the service fee) up to two hours before departure time. It’s a great option if you have any doubts about your plans or if they might change.
Onboard – seats, food and facilities
Pegasus’s modern fleet delivers a surprisingly good onboard experience. Seats follow the standard narrowbody setup (non-reclining, no power sockets or USB charging) with 30-inch pitch and 18-inch width, perfectly reasonable for short-haul but more challenging on longer flights.
What elevates it above typical budget carriers are nice touches like faux-leather seats, much better than the cloth covers most low-cost airlines use. If you’re flying three-plus hours, I’d definitely recommend upgrading to an emergency seat for the extra legroom.
International and Cyprus flights offer Wi-Fi and connectivity to the Pegasus entertainment platform, Fly&Watch. Some of the old 737-800s feature overhead TVs in the cabin, but these are largely useless for watching anything. Instead, if you’ve got your own device, you can connect online and dip into the reasonably extensive film and TV library. The real value of Fly&Watch is the Wi-Fi connectivity though, as most modern travellers are happy downloading content from their own streaming subscriptions before the flight.
Food comes via the Pegasus Café. You can order hot food either in advance when booking or directly on board, although don’t expect all flights to have all meal options available at all times. If you’ve booked a Saver Plus or Comfort Flex ticket, you’ll get a sandwich as part of the deal (on most flights). I’d rate Pegasus as having really good food for a budget airline. One thing to note: onboard purchases are card only.
Frequent flyer rewards
Pegasus’s rewards programme is called BolBol. Free to join, you’ll earn BolPoints on flights as a member, with some programme-specific rules and exceptions. Once you have 2,000 or more points (and you get 1,000 automatically on your first flight as a member), you can start using them to pay for a portion of flights.
The scheme has lots of nifty extras rolled in. There are several partner programmes for earning and spending points, including on car rentals and hotel bookings, and even a dedicated BolBol Youth scheme with added extras like additional BolPoints and free changes or cancellations for Turkish citizens aged 12 to 27.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up to date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
