We recently flew both long and short-haul on Turkish Airlines (TK) via Istanbul. Here is our Turkish Airlines economy class review after four eight flights, six twelve meals and a total of 27 49 hours in their company.
Turkish Airlines (TK) Economy Class Update
Update August 2022: A lot has changed since our first review of Turkish airlines. The country changed from Turkey to Türkiye; the world has gone upside down with a global pandemic, and travel has seemingly changed forever.
In July 2022, I flew Turkish Airlines economy class again from Seoul to Johannesburg. I spent a few days in Turkey and also took a domestic return flight from Istanbul to Gaziantep on TK.
This review has been updated to reflect my recent experience flying economy class with Turkish Airlines.
While much has changed in recent years, Turkish Airlines maintains a superior product and offers exceptional value for money. We will definitely fly with them again in the future.
All the flights I took in 2022 were full to capacity, a testament to its success during and after the pandemic. Turkish Airlines became the first carrier to return to profit after Covid.
Our Turkish Airlines (TK) review will focus more on the overall experience that TK has to offer in economy class, rather than a rundown of minute details (who cares about the thread count in the upholstery, or exactly how hot the hot towels are anyway?)
Frequently voted as one of the best airlines in Europe, Turkish Airlines is a full-service flight that includes all meals and drinks, as well as a generous baggage allowance (30 kg on long haul and 25 kg short haul). TK flies to more destinations than any other carrier in the world. We were excited to fly and review Turkish Airlines, even in economy class.
In lieu of trying to build up suspense, riding a seesaw of pros and cons and having you wait until the last paragraph, let me get it off my chest. Ladies, gentlemen and dear children:
Turkish Airlines has blown us away with their economy class product and service.
We haven’t had this good experience with any other airlines in years, and they can be sure to see us again. Hopefully, very soon. All four flights had the smoothest takeoffs and landings we can recall, and the service was warm and friendly, like the turquoise coast around Kaş on the Mediterranean.
If you are thinking of flying long-haul with Turkish Airlines, we can wholeheartedly recommend them. Still not sure; then keep on reading.
Turkish Airlines: Hong Kong-Cape Town & Seoul -Johannesburg via Istanbul
We are flying on a one-way ticket from Hong Kong to Cape Town. But we decided to break the journey in Istanbul for three weeks. It’s really convenient to reach Azerbaijan and Georgia from Istanbul, so we tack on an open-jaw ticket flying out to Baku and returning from Tbilisi.
Read more here on how we spent three weeks in the Caucasus.
| Hong Kong – Istanbul (HK-IST) | TK 071 | Duration: 11h 15m |
| Istanbul – Baku (IST -GYD) | TK 332 | Duration: 2h 45m |
| Tbilisi – Istanbul TBS – IST | TK 383 | Duration: 2h 15m |
| Istanbul – Cape Town IST – CPT | TK 044 | Duration: 11h 15m |
Welcome Onboard Turkish Airlines
Shortly after boarding in Hong Kong and taking seats 15G and 15H hot towels are handed out, and the captain welcomes the ladies, gentlemen AND DEAR CHILDREN on board. We just love this announcement. We think it should be standard across the industry.
Nervous flyers that we are, we start fidgeting in the seat pockets to distract ourselves from what might be our usual flight course: hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror. Inflight magazine and duty-free shopping guide as expected, but it’s the amenity kit that grabs our attention.
Chopard branded, it’s stuffed with a pair of socks, slippers, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, as well as a small pot of lip balm. The amenity kits are only provided on the long-haul flights from Hong Kong to Istanbul and Istanbul to Cape Town. We also find complimentary earphones and a double plug converter if you choose to use your own headphones.
This leads to us fidgeting with the IFE system to further distract ourselves, and what a system it is! It’s a nice big screen which responds with the slightest touch of your finger- possibly the best we’ve seen in economy class. Good resolution, so no squinting and the headaches related to crappy screens.
Great selection of movies and TV shows, and we really liked the live news channels like Sky News and Al Jazeera. The safety video is something completely out of the box, and we actually watch all of it, something we haven’t done in years.
Update: The captain still welcomes the ladies, gents AND CHILDREN. I was waiting for the announcement and cracked a smile when I heard it.
I did not receive a hot towel, an amenity kit or a double plug converter on my flights in 2022.
The inflight entertainment system still provided hours of entertainment.
Turkish Airlines and Five senses
I roll my eyes a little, okay, a lot, when a Turkish Airlines commercial featuring Dr Oz starts, but it only takes a few seconds before it sucks us in and converts us. It speaks to our souls, and as we turn onto the runway to take off and the cabin lights go dark, we’re truly excited to be on this flight, ready to get out there, to explore and see and widen our world. Flying with TK truly is an experience for all five senses.
We like TK’s strong brand identity and how this identity is reinforced throughout our journey with them. Never does this branding feel overbearing or spammy, though. Travel for us is something that should be experienced, and it should not only be seen but felt and tasted. It feels like this commercial was custom-made just for us.
Update: Turkish Airlines continues to provide a strong brand identity throughout your flight.
Dr Oz has been replaced with Morgan Freeman, and when that man speaks, you listen. Morgan tells passengers about the supercontinent, Pangea, and how we were all one. Even today, with continents and oceans separating us, Turkish Airlines makes far feel close.
Slow clap 👏
What’s the Food Like in Turkish Airlines Economy Class
Jokingly I ask Jin if she thinks TK will be serving doner kebabs fresh from a rotisserie at the back of the plane. This joke dies a silent death when the flight attendants start handing out personal menus. While I’m sure no one flies economy class for the culinary experience, we are glad to tell you that throughout all our TK flights, the food was tasty and flavourful.
We liked how they focus on TURKISH food and flavours and not just any generic airline grub. The salads come with virgin olive oil and lemon dressing, just like you would find in Anatolia and the cafes of Istanbul. We like how the menu has options of hummus, cheese pie for breakfast, Turkish cheese and dried apricot mouse for dessert.
These are the flavours that we want when we fly to or from Istanbul.
The drinks menu is equally impressive. We are most impressed that we saw single malt on the drinks trolley (Glenlivet, if I recall correctly) even though we didn’t indulge. SINGLE MALT! IN ECONOMY! I’ll give you a few seconds to let that sink in…
We go with the homemade mint lemonade and red wine instead. Other interesting options are sour cherry juice, raki or Efes Pilsen. We did not go thirsty or hungry at all, and the service on all flights was outstanding.
Update: The food on Turkish Airlines remains very delicious, and personal menus are still provided.
Coming from Korea, the menu was bibimbap and kimchi (traditional Korean food) or grilled cod fish with vegetables. For breakfast, there was a yummy cheese omelette with mushrooms and grilled tomato.
On the domestic flight to Gaziantep (1h 35m flight duration), a warm sandwich was served with a selection of soft and alcoholic drinks.
On the Istanbul to Johannesburg leg, we had a choice of pasta or chicken. After a few days of gorging on Gaziantep food, I went with the lighter option of pasta.
Service in Turkish Airlines Economy Class
We felt like valued guests from the time we arrived at the check-in counter in Hong Kong all the way until saying our goodbyes in Cape Town. Service was relaxed yet professional, and we liked to see the human side of the flight attendants, if you know what I mean.
Every so often, it feels like it’s a robot who pushes the trolley down the aisle smiling too hard while handing out chicken or beef left to right. That was not the case on our flights. The flight attendants were warm and friendly, while still being professional.
Turkish Airlines economy class service and product ticked all the boxes to receive a five-star review from us. TK has the friendliest and most welcoming crew we’ve ever had the privilege of flying with.
Update: Service onboard Turkish Airlines remains of a high standard without feeling robotic or overbearing. Flight attendants were kind and helpful, adding to a good flight experience.
Check-in at Incheon Airport in Seoul was a disaster, though. I arrived at the check-in desk three hours before departure and stood in line for 2.5 hours! I had to run from the check-in desk to the gate to make it in time.
Other than that, Turkish Airlines still gets my two thumbs up.
Connecting at Ataturk Airport
Note: TK now flies to the new Istanbul Airport – read the update below.
Connecting at Ataturk airport in Istanbul is one of the best (and worst) things about flying TK.
Approaching Istanbul you are rewarded with views of bridges spanning the Bosporus with Europe on one side and Asia on the other. Don’t fret if you can’t take it all in as you will probably circle a few times since Ataturk is so congested with traffic.
The airport itself looks like an open day at the UN. As we mentioned before, TK flies to more destinations than any other airline on the planet, especially some exotic destinations in Africa and Central Asia.
It’s not every day that you get to see a woman in full headdress waiting for a flight to N’djamena rubbing shoulders with a family heading off to Tashkent while a group of Aussies at the Melbourne gate discuss exactly how and where the dingo ate the baby. This is all very fascinating to us.
As long as your layover isn’t too long, Ataturk is bearable.
Great people-watching, shopping, and eating options will keep you busy for a while. Few of the duty-free shops offer free samples of Lokum, better known as Turkish delight, and this alone keeps us busy for quite a while. However, the food court is always packed and getting a seat is not the easiest task.
If your layover is longer than 6 hours, TK will take you on a free city tour of Istanbul. Laying over for longer than 10 hours, you can choose to get a free 4-star hotel instead of the tour. This alone, for us, is a reason to fly TK. Istanbul is an unbelievable city and one of our favourites. We will never get tired of Istanbul.
If you’re planning on staying longer in Istanbul (YOU REALLY SHOULD!), take a look at our take on the best things to do in Istanbul.
*Update: Turkish Airlines moved their hub to the brand spanking new Istanbul Airport. Istanbul Airport (İstanbul Havalimanı) will be the main international in Istanbul and hopes to accommodate 200 million passengers a year. We can’t wait to fly Turkish Airlines again to go and check out the new airport (and go eat dondurma ice cream near the Hagia Sophia 🙂 )
So, I did fly TK again to go check out the new airport as promised 🙂
Update: The most significant change to flying Turkish Airlines is the new Istanbul Airport. TK’s new hub is a welcome change from the drab Ataturk Airport.
The new Istanbul Airport (İstanbul Havalimanı) is enormous, with ample options for eating, shopping and relaxing. Unlike the old airport’s food court, restaurants are spread across the departure terminal, making finding an open table easier for a more relaxed dining experience.
Being so big, prepare to spend some time taxiing after landing and then bussing back to the terminal building.
Like the old Ataturk Airport, lines at immigration look chaotic but move fast.
Overall, the new airport is a huge improvement.
Seeing Istanbul on a Layover
We have 7 hours between flights but are booked on two separate tickets though, so we do not qualify for the free city tour. This doesn’t stop us from going on our own. With good public transportation to the city and the value of the Turkish Lira, it doesn’t make sense to spend more time at Ataturk than needed.
Immigration lines can be long and might look like Boxing day sales at the Grand Bazaar, but they move fast. Ataturk can feel a bit chaotic at times.
We get the HavaBus to Taksim, then catch a taxi across the Galata bridge to Sultanahmet. After having a fantastic dinner at Sultanahmet Köftecisi we go for dessert at Hakkizade 1846. The dondurma here (Turkish ice cream) alone is worth the trip from the airport.
We stock up on Turkish delights for the family at home. We stroll around the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia area before getting a taxi back to Ataturk.
Turkish Airlines Economy Review: Conclusion
As the captain and crew bid the ladies, gentlemen and dear children farewell in Cape Town, we know one thing:
Turkish Airlines has earned two new, hard core fans.
We won’t hesitate to fly Turkish again; in fact, we will probably try to fly with them whenever possible. Up until now, we thought that the Middle Eastern airlines (Qatar, Etihad, Emirates) were untouchable in terms of value for money and superior service. Turkish Airlines proved us wrong.
We were treated like valued customers, the service, food and hospitality, the added extras, and attention to detail, such as the personal menus and amenity kits, go a long way. There is nothing economy about Turkish Airlines economy class. It’s a premium experience which we recommend to each and every lady, gentleman…and all the children.
The bottom line:
Book your tickets already!
Update: Turkish Airlines remains our favourite when flying internationally. Perhaps because Turkey (Türkiye) is such an exciting country to explore, we will always look for an excuse to visit.
The excellent service, comfortable seats, delicious food and wide range of destinations will bring us back to TK.
While much has changed in the world and travel, Turkish Airlines remains our first choice when flying.
That’s a wrap! hope you enjoyed our review of Turkish Airlines in economy class. Have you flown with TK? Who is your favourite carrier? Let us know in the comments below.
This review was extremely helpful!!! I’ll be traveling from LAX to Cape Town with a 8 hour layover in Istanbul. I hope to qualify for the free(WHAT?!!) tour. I love that we share the budget traveller mindset & Turkish Airlines seems to provide excellent value. Thanks
Welcome to South Africa!
I flew with Turkish again last month from Seoul to Johannesburg and it’s still damn good. The new Istanbul Airport is also a huge improvement.
Go to the Turkish Airlines website to search for the tour schedules. No need to book anything, just show up at the hotel desk an hour before. If the schedule doesn’t suit your times, perhaps try to get a free hotel.
They’re fine until you have a problem and they accept no responsibility and are completely unhelpful. I had a horrific return flight with them back in February and have since heard from 2 other people the same experience. I’ll never fly with them until they up their customer service
Sorry to hear about your bad flight with them, Jules. We hope you found a resolution.
What about legroom and space during the flight and I’ve also heard that the air vents don’t work is any of that factual?
Hi Mary,
I’m 187cm tall and the legroom was enough for me. My knees didn’t touch the seat in front. I found the seats to be as spacious as they get in economy.
As for the air vents (and all other amenities in the cabin), they all worked fine and looked clean on all the flights I’ve been on.
Denne anmeldelsen var super. Har aldri fløyet med TK og er veldig spent på min flyvning fra Oslo til Cancun i mars 2023.
Hi Svein,
Sorry our Norwegian is non-existent. We hope you enjoy your flight to Cancun in March – we think that’s what it means.
I have never flown Turkish Airlines but this review really cast a positive impression. I am sure the superior service is what caused Turkish Airlines to return to profits first after the pandemic. Thanks for sharing the pictures of the food served on the airlines. Great post and enjoyed reading such a positive review.
Could you please comment on the comfort of the A350-900 Widebody? We are 6 ft tall and are concerned about the leg room particularly when the passenger ahead reclines. Were you able to sleep on any of the long haul flights you took on this aircraft? Thank you
Hi Sandy,
We flew on the A350-900 on the Istanbul-Cape Town leg. Seats were comfortable, and we had a good flight. I’m 6.1ft tall, and my knees didn’t push up against the seat in front of me. We had a good sleep on the flight. Passengers reclining in front of me didn’t make it too uncomfortable.
Are you able to choose your seats in advance?
It depends on the booking class and fare rules. Make sure to check before booking.
hi, I searching the air ticket to fly with my parents which they are age 83 and 76. The layer over time is 9 hour 20mins. Can i know if we able to get a free hotel during the long transit time.
Hi Evon,
I believe this has changed and Turkish Airlines now only offer a hotel if the layover is longer than 12 hours for economy class passengers. Best to call the airlines directly to get the most up to date and correct information
Thanks for your comprehensive review. In August we are flying return Sydney- UK mostly with Turkish airlines for the first time. The food in particular looked appealing compared to recent meals on Etihad. So I now look forward to a long-haul flight!
Mel, Sydney-UK must be a beast of a flight. Good luck.The food and drinks are indeed very good on Turkish. We found Turkish more comfortable and the food much better compared to Ethihad. Portions on Ethihad are a bit small.
Turkish Airlines should change its slogan to, “First world in-flight service, third world customer service.”
Here’s my situation. I inadvertently booked two identical business class tickets, on separate reservations, for myself to fly to Dubai on Turkish Airlines. I showed up at the airport and boarded a Turkish flight to Dubai with no issues. I arrived in Dubai with no apparent problems. On the return flight, I was denied boarding, with Turkish claiming I had not used my ticket to arrive in Dubai, resulting in an automatic cancellation. What seems to have happened, after many many interactions with their horrible feedback form-based customer service, was that Turkish determined that since I didn’t use one outbound ticket, they would cancel both of them. Of course they have no policy that states this anywhere. At best, it’s a flaw in their computer system. Turkish has refused to acknowledge I was even on an outbound flight to Dubai even though I have sent copies of the frequent flyer mileage I obtained from these flights.
Turkish will not confirm that I’ll receive a refund minus penalities on the completely unused ticket. They will not acknowledge that I was on any Turkish flight and pretendthey were both no-shows. They won’t rebook me for a return flight. Speaking to someone on the phone is completely useless. No one that you actually talk to can solve the problem or has any power to do anything. Turkish uses a feedback form approach that no other major airline uses. It’s truly bottom of the barrel customer service. It’s like talking to a wall.
At the end of the day, I paid more than $4,000 for Turkish Airlines to fly me to Dubai and then leave me there stranded.
Hi Aaron,
That sounds like a horrible and expensive ordeal.
I suggest you contact the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority. We had some luck getting compensated for a delayed flight after TK would not budge.
First, use the contact form on Turkish Airlines to lodge a complain and get a reference number.
Then go to https://yh.shgm.gov.tr/. This is in Turkish only so I used google translate to translate the page. Then use ChatGPT to explain your situation in Turkish. Submit evidence ( boarding passes, credit card statements) and submit.
Yeah, they’re very good in the air, but their customer service on the ground can be much better.
Good luck, hope you get some money back.