Turkish Airlines

✅ Verified Review | Zurich to Bogota via Istanbul. Turkish Airlines might be the best in Europe due to their good product between Istanbul and European cities but their hard product on long haul routes is very outdated and horrendous. Especially on the A330-200. The planes are old, dirty and the seats often broken. To top it off, the inflight enterntainment did not work on a 13 hour flight. An airline should be consistent and offer the same hard product in C-class across their entire fleet. Their flight attendants are brash and lack the professionalism of other airlines in Star Alliance. I find the food very over-rated, in fact almost everything is almost tacky, starting from the presentation of the menu to the dinner service with the fake candle. This airline lacks the "finesse" of its biggest European competitors. When I asked my seat neighbour, who hails from Eastern Europe and now lives in Panama, why he doesn't fly with other airlines, his answer was simply "I like the price". His response actually explained it all to me. You get what you pay for! In future I will pay more and rather sit in clean and well maintained planes of other airlines, with a service and image that is a bit more polished around the edges.

✅ Verified Review | Montreal to Tehran via Istanbul. I have to say the products and services are okay. For instance, the IFE is OK (however the touch screens do not respond fast). The seats are comfortable. The legroom is OK. The food is very good (however, once we got food 3 hours into a long-haul night flight). The prices are affordable. However, the customer service is terrible, I can remember 4-5 terrible interactions with airline staff in various occasions (flight attendants, airport staff, ticketing). Ataturk Airport, is not well-equipped. You won't have access to even wifi. I do not recommend this airline if you're going to have a long connection time at that airport. All in all, the airline provides OK services. If you find a very affordable and temping price, it's worth it.

✅ Verified Review | Istanbul to Gatwick. Some new healthier food options at the lounge much appreciated. Both Gozen Security and TGS at the gate implemented priority for families and Status/J Pax. Organized boarding and on time departure. I have been getting consistently 737s or A321s with 2x2 seating on this route which is the best European business hard product. The IFE had the latest blockbusters and the interactive 3D flight map. The food was well presented and tasty, enjoyed the swordfish brochette, though the portions seem to have gotten a little smaller. The crew and the onboard Chef were proactive and smiling. Arrived ahead of schedule and was on the Gatwick Express in less than 30 minutes. When things go well, TK really is the best in Europe.

Houston to Kuala Lumpur via Istanbul. Ground staff was very helpful at Houston Airport, but ground staff at Istanbul airport are rather rough and rude. One of the cabin staff was not very cautious with food hygiene. Upon arriving Kuala Lumpur airport one of my check-in luggages was missing. I made a report and my luggage was delivered to my house the next end day.

✅ Verified Review | A direct flight from Dublin to Istanbul, which is often used for connections onwards to Asia or Africa, but this was solely for the purpose of visiting Istanbul. Turkish Airlines have gathered a very good reputation for themselves and this flight was no exception. The planes were extremely clean, the flight was on time, staff friendly and the entertainment very good. The food was also very nice, and is something they have been trying to constantly improve – they even make an air steward(ess) dress like a chef for the duration of the flight! Turkish delights handed out on take-off, as well as warm towels prior to landing. My only issue was with the price which was higher than average, but that was purely driven by the time of the flight (school holiday season). Classy airline due to their very satisfactory economy class service.

Istanbul to Washington IAD with Turkish Airlines. I tried to obtain an status match with another Star Alliance partner. They insisted upon a copy of the plastic card which my Star Alliance Airline cannot produce. My Star Alliance airline indicated this is not possible. TA's miles and smiles program website is impossible to use and slow.

✅ Verified Review | Flew from Vienna to Kuala Lumpur via Istanbul. On the positive side, food is excellent, service is attentive and overnight on long distance is a good as it can get on a plane. Transit in Istanbul has been reported as problem by numerous passengers. This is due to outsourcing to TAS Turkish Airport Services which is not part of TK. TK has made efforts to make transit as pleasant as possible in IST, such as allowing transit passengers to access the departure level without going through security control again and providing the most fabluous lounge in the world. If you have a jetty for departure, boarding is a very orderly process. Problems arise when there is no jetty and passengers just scramble into a shuttle. Bagage transit has worked very well even on occasions of short connection. On the negative side TK has grown too fast and also outgrown the available facilities at Ataturk Airport.

Hannover to Dubai via Istanbul. Once again a quite good experience. All 4 flights in time, in two cases landing ahead of schedule. Check in took a bit long in Hannover, and I wonder why online check in is provided but no baggage drop counter. Aircraft all clean, crew was friendly and food for economy class was good. Enterntainment system ok, just the provided headphones are not very comfortable. Transfer in Istanbul on both ways efficient. Can recommend Turkish Airlines, not sure if they are Europes number one but for sure they are among the best.

✅ Verified Review | This is the first time we have flown with Turkish Airlines and it was superb. Check in was quick and easy as was the priority fast track and boarding. On board the first flight the crew were friendly, helpful and attentive. The seats wide and comfortable and the food and wines excellent. The lounge in Istanbul was large but with plenty of seating and a wide choice of freshly cooked food and snacks. Not that we ate having had a delicious lunch. We boarded the plane to Mauritius and were immediately impressed by the welcome, the cleanliness and the comfort of the cabin. Straight after take off the Chef (yes they have an on board chef) came round with the dinner menu. Pre dinner drinks were served with small bowls of nuts and olives to be followed by a variety of hot and cold canapés served from the trolley. Our tray tables were beautifully set and dinner was served with all the little extra chefs touches just like in a first class restaurant. After an truly wonderful meal the cabin crew asked could they make up our beds. A bed pack was produced with mattress pillows and duvet. Our seats then became fully flat beds and I had a restful night. Having already chosen our breakfast we were wakened to yet another lovely meal. Arrival was on time and our baggage arrived quickly We had the same experience on our return flights nothing was too much trouble for the excellent staff. Having travelled to Mauritius many times in British Airways business class and experienced the scruffy aircraft and the lack of service, travelling with Turkish Airlines was a breath of fresh air much more @like being-in first class. I cannot recommend Turkish Airlines highly enough and look forward to travelling with them again. Turkish Airlines deserves 5*.

✅ Verified Review | Bangkok to Venice via Istanbul. New planes on both legs with the latest hard product, excellent food as usual. Flight attendants on the Istanbul to Venice segment were among the best I have ever had on a flight: young, polite, very professional, smiling. Turkish Airlines remains my only choice of travel between Europe and Asia.