iGA Buggy at Istanbul Airport: Prices, Free Riders and How to Book (2026)
Yes, you can book a buggy at Istanbul Airport. The official service is called iGA Buggy: electric carts with 3 or 5 seats run on the departures floors, from marked buggy stations to the boarding gates. On international departures a ride costs 18.75 EUR + VAT for adults and 9.38 EUR + VAT for children aged 3-12. You buy it on igapass.com, in the Istanbul Airport app or at the desks on the departures floor, then scan your QR code at any buggy station. Passengers aged 65+ and pregnant travelers ride free. There is no buggy service on the arrival floor. Details checked against the official iGA pages in July 2026.
iGA Buggy at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price (international departures) | Adult 18.75 EUR + VAT, child 3-12 years 9.38 EUR + VAT |
| Where it runs | Departures floors, buggy stations to boarding gates; carts seat 3 or 5 |
| How to buy | igapass.com, Istanbul Airport app, or desks C1, E1 and G; QR code at the station |
| Free riders (international) | iGA Pass members, Meet & Greet guests, passengers 65+, pregnant travelers |
| Free riders (domestic) | iGA Pass members, 65+, pregnant travelers, plus families with children aged 0-2 |
| Arrival floor | No regular buggy; only an offline «Taxi Buggy» on international arrivals, subject to availability |
| Free alternative | Reduced-mobility assistance via iGA Cares / your airline, at no charge |
What is the iGA Buggy and where does it actually run?
Istanbul Airport is enormous. The walk from security to a far gate can swallow 20 minutes at a brisk pace, and the iGA Buggy exists for exactly that stretch. Small electric carts shuttle along the International Departures passenger floor (and the domestic side) between marked buggy stations and the boarding gates. The stations are shown on the airport map and signposted on the floor itself. A cart picks you up at a station rather than at an arbitrary point in the terminal, which keeps the service predictable during busy waves.
The one thing the buggy does not do is meet you at the aircraft or serve the arrival floor. Regular buggy sales simply do not exist on arrivals. The only exception is a «Taxi Buggy» on the international arrivals floor, offered when vehicles happen to be available and sold on the spot only, never online or in the app. If you are landing and dreading the long walk to baggage claim, the realistic options are the free assistance service described below or a few extra minutes of patience.
How much does it cost and how do you book it?
On international departures the ride costs 18.75 EUR + VAT for an adult (12+) and 9.38 EUR + VAT for a child aged 3 to 12. Booking takes a minute, and there are three equal routes: online at igapass.com, in the Istanbul Airport mobile app, or at the iGA Pass sales desks and the buggy desks C1, E1 and G on the international departures floor. Either way you end up with a personal QR code. Scanning it at a buggy station is the whole boarding procedure: no reference numbers, no reception desk, no advance forum thread, whatever older articles may claim.
A practical note for connecting passengers. Transfer traffic at IST moves through the same international departures floor once you clear the transfer security check, so the buggy covers tight connections too. If your inbound flight is late and the connection looks painful, buying the buggy in the app while you taxi to the stand is a legitimate move. The purchase is tied to the QR code, not to a time slot.
Who rides free?
A surprisingly wide circle. On international departures the buggy is free for iGA Pass members, Meet & Greet customers, all passengers aged 65 and over, and pregnant travelers. On domestic departures the free list covers iGA Pass members, passengers 65 and over and pregnant travelers, and adds families traveling with children aged 0 to 2 (Meet & Greet is an international-side product). For the senior discount there is no paperwork beyond your passport age, and it is part of a broader package of age-friendly perks: our guide to the 65+ priority services at IST covers the rest, from dedicated security lanes to lounge discounts.
Traveling with a baby? On the domestic side your family rides free, and either way the cart spares you the stroller-plus-luggage march across the terminal. The wider family toolkit at IST, from baby care rooms to the family buggy, is in our infants guide.
When is the buggy worth the money?
Think of the fare as buying back 15-20 minutes and a sweaty march. It earns its price in three situations. First, a tight connection: when the transfer security line ate your buffer and the gate is at the far end of the pier, 18.75 EUR is cheap insurance against a missed flight. Second, a far gate with company: the child fare is half price, and one cart takes the whole family with the cabin bags, so a group of four pays less than many airports charge for a single lounge entry. Third, anyone for whom the walk is genuinely hard but who does not qualify for free assistance.
Skip it when your gate is near the security exit, when you have two hours of buffer and no mobility issues, or when you are in a free category anyway and only need to show a passport. And always check the free list first: a 66-year-old traveler buying a buggy ticket is paying for something the airport already gives them.
What if you need assistance rather than a shortcut?
The paid buggy is a convenience product. If someone in your group genuinely cannot manage the distances, whether because of reduced mobility, a recent operation or age, the airport runs a separate assistance service through iGA Cares, and it is free of charge. You request it through your airline when booking or at the assistance desks, and staff escort you with a wheelchair or cart through security, passport control and to the gate. The full picture is in our guide to assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility. The rule of thumb: pay for the buggy when you want to save time, ask for assistance when you need support; do not pay for what the airport already provides free.
FAQ
Can transit passengers use the iGA Buggy?
Yes. After the transfer security check you are on the international departures floor, where the buggy operates. Buy in the app or at desks C1, E1, G and scan your QR code at a station.
Is there a buggy on the arrival floor?
No regular service. On international arrivals a «Taxi Buggy» is sometimes available and is sold on the spot only, never online.
Do passengers over 65 really ride free?
Yes, on both domestic and international departures, as part of the airport’s age-friendly program. Your passport is the only proof needed.
How far in advance should I book?
There is no time-slot system. The QR code works when you scan it, so buying minutes before you need the ride is fine.
Is the buggy the same as wheelchair assistance?
No. The buggy is a paid time-saver; assistance for reduced-mobility passengers is a separate, free service arranged via your airline or iGA Cares.
About the author
Anastasia Maisuradze is the airport editor for istanbul-ist-international-airport.com. She checks this guide against the official iGA Buggy and iGA Cares pages.
