Anyone fly Turkish Airlines?

[starryfish]

Considering using them to go to Johannesburg with a layover in Istanbul. Anything I need to know? Its a $$$ ticket but they are the cheapest. Thanks!

[udscoobychick]

I'm flying them in April to Egypt. Good to know about the boarding pass!

[mam677]

They served us a full meal on a flight from Istanbul to Kayseri which was only 35 minutes. I love them.

[iammalcolmx]

As long as their kick ass premium economy is still around in July I am going to fly them to Dar Es Salaam.  They have good food.

[Deleted]

I almost took them on my routes to and from South Africa several times, but was lucky enough to be able to stick with Emirates and British Airways.

From my friends and colleagues that I lived with in SA they said that Turkish airways doesn't compare to Emirates, but it's fine. My friend also enjoyed exploring Istanbul on his layover. I was looking forward to doing that as well, but didn't book in time and Emirates was actually cheaper (surprising!)

So I'd definitely go with them if they're the most inexpensive.

If you need any tips for South Africa, just let me know!

[Wanderista]

I haven't flown with them but I'd consider it for certain itineraries. I wouldn't want to boomarang too far back into Europe even if it is cheaper. I've been considering the possibility of visiting Tbilisi and if so, I would strongly consider them. Good to know about the boarding pass.

[meltoine]

I flew them Cairo-Istanbul and back. Ditto PP who said they served a full meal on a ~1 hour flight. It was nice.

[starryfish]

Thanks all!

[scout8]

I did and it was fine.

[bullygirl979]

Jan 6, 2015 14:45:33 GMT -5 mam677 said:

They served us a full meal on a flight from Istanbul to Kayseri which was only 35 minutes. I love them.

I was going to mention this too. They definitely feed you a lot on their flights.

IST is a nice enough airport. Depending on how long your layover is, starryfish, they have a good hotel that's right in the airport. Totally worth it!

[msamyfarrahfowler]

This is our favorite airline. The food is great and everything is run efficiently. I don't remember waiting hours for a boarding pass. The layover in Istanbul is a great incentive.

[starryfish]

Jan 6, 2015 20:02:25 GMT -5 bullygirl979 said:

Jan 6, 2015 14:45:33 GMT -5 mam677 said:

They served us a full meal on a flight from Istanbul to Kayseri which was only 35 minutes. I love them.

I was going to mention this too. They definitely feed you a lot on their flights.

IST is a nice enough airport. Depending on how long your layover is, starryfish, they have a good hotel that's right in the airport. Totally worth it!

We are going to stay 2.5 days in Istanbul before we go on to South Africa

[cheezer]

Ahhh now I do remember an insanely long wait to check in.

I like them. Definitely better than US carriers for long haul but who isn't?

[udscoobychick]

So, for those that have had a long layover in Istanbul, any suggestions for how to pass the time, particularly at night? Our flight lands at 4:30 pm, and the next one doesn't depart until 2 am (ugh). I think I read that most tourist attractions close at 5 pm.

[sicilygirl]

We flew TA to Rome with a layover in IST in Nov/Dec 2013. It was a good experience! We didn't wait in line for a boarding pass. We upgraded to "comfort class" at check-in on the way there ($330/person although I don't know if they are still doing comfort class)and were lucky enough to get exit rows on the way back. This was big for us, especially since my H is 6'6", and it was such a long flight! We had lots of good food. Our layovers in IST each way were overnight, but relatively short. We landed at 4:30 on the way there and checked in to our hotel and then just wandered around Sultanahmet. We didn't get to go into the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia, but we got to see them from the outside and eat some great food.

I would definitely fly them again (and try to get a longer layover)!

[iammalcolmx]

Jan 7, 2015 10:23:33 GMT -5 sicilygirl said:

We flew TA to Rome with a layover in IST in Nov/Dec 2013. It was a good experience! We didn't wait in line for a boarding pass. We upgraded to "comfort class" at check-in on the way there ($330/person although I don't know if they are still doing comfort class)and were lucky enough to get exit rows on the way back. This was big for us, especially since my H is 6'6", and it was such a long flight! We had lots of good food. Our layovers in IST each way were overnight, but relatively short. We landed at 4:30 on the way there and checked in to our hotel and then just wandered around Sultanahmet. We didn't get to go into the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia, but we got to see them from the outside and eat some great food.

I would definitely fly them again (and try to get a longer layover)!

Yeah I heard a rumor they are phasing out Comfort Class which really stinks. However if its still around on the JFK-IST route for a July trip I will be flying TK. The Comfort Class seats look pretty nice.

[sicilygirl]

Jan 7, 2015 10:56:33 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Jan 7, 2015 10:23:33 GMT -5 sicilygirl said:

We flew TA to Rome with a layover in IST in Nov/Dec 2013. It was a good experience! We didn't wait in line for a boarding pass. We upgraded to "comfort class" at check-in on the way there ($330/person although I don't know if they are still doing comfort class)and were lucky enough to get exit rows on the way back. This was big for us, especially since my H is 6'6", and it was such a long flight! We had lots of good food. Our layovers in IST each way were overnight, but relatively short. We landed at 4:30 on the way there and checked in to our hotel and then just wandered around Sultanahmet. We didn't get to go into the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia, but we got to see them from the outside and eat some great food.

I would definitely fly them again (and try to get a longer layover)!

Yeah I heard a rumor they are phasing out Comfort Class which really stinks. However if its still around on the JFK-IST route for a July trip I will be flying TK. The Comfort Class seats look pretty nice.

Yeah, we heard that too.  I hope you're able to get it!  It really is nice on such a long flight (12 hours for us, flying from Houston).  

[starryfish]

Jan 7, 2015 12:59:39 GMT -5 sicilygirl said:

Jan 7, 2015 10:56:33 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Yeah I heard a rumor they are phasing out Comfort Class which really stinks. However if its still around on the JFK-IST route for a July trip I will be flying TK. The Comfort Class seats look pretty nice.

Yeah, we heard that too.  I hope you're able to get it!  It really is nice on such a long flight (12 hours for us, flying from Houston).  

Whats diff about the comfort class? We will have two 12 hour flights each way (from Houston too!)

[sicilygirl]

starryfish

Comfort class was an upgrade from regular economy, and the seats were much larger and had tons more leg room. Just our two seats were together, so we weren't sitting next to anyone else. My 6'6" husband could stretch his legs out completely straight. It was a totally different cabin, not like on some American-based airlines where you can upgrade seats, but they're all still together in one cabin. We got nicer food, a nicer little stash of goodies (slippers, eye mask, etc.), and stuff like that. We were in it solely for the space though!

[wanderlustfoodie]

We flew them last year from JFK to Rwanda then from Tanzania back to JFK. No complaints. Was a better experience than I was expecting. And IST is awesome.

[GilliC]

Jan 7, 2015 12:49:53 GMT -5 @mx said:

Jan 7, 2015 9:57:02 GMT -5 udscoobychick said:

So, for those that have had a long layover in Istanbul, any suggestions for how to pass the time, particularly at night? Our flight lands at 4:30 pm, and the next one doesn't depart until 2 am (ugh). I think I read that most tourist attractions close at 5 pm.

Turkey now requires visas for US citizens--so plan ahead if you plan to leave the airport. Unfortunately the airport is quite far from the touristy parts of the city and traffic is abysmal. If you don't mind the visa issue you can go out for dinner and maybe have some time to see the Sultanahmet sites lit up (you won't be able to go inside them, but it's very pretty in the dark). Definitely plan on 2 hours to get from the airport to the city especially if it is a weekday and close to that to get back.

Haven't they always?! When I went in '08 or '09 I needed a visa. Could have done visa on arrival but didn't want to wait in the queue at the airport, so I got one at the embassy while we were there for XH's.

[iammalcolmx]

Jan 7, 2015 14:25:19 GMT -5 starryfish said:

Jan 7, 2015 12:59:39 GMT -5 sicilygirl said:

Yeah, we heard that too.  I hope you're able to get it!  It really is nice on such a long flight (12 hours for us, flying from Houston).  

Whats diff about the comfort class? We will have two 12 hour flights each way (from Houston too!)

This is it. I usually fly Business International but I am willing to give this a try. They don't offer it on the Houston flight though, I am leaving from Atlanta and am going to have to fly via New York. H's family is in Istanbul so this is another reason I am seriously considering TK for this flight:

[iammalcolmx]

Jan 8, 2015 10:56:46 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Jan 8, 2015 10:46:27 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

This is it. I usually fly Business International but I am willing to give this a try. They don't offer it on the Houston flight though, I am leaving from Atlanta and am going to have to fly via New York. H's family is in Istanbul so this is another reason I am seriously considering TK for this flight:

See, these seats are ugly even in this pic and in person they were worse.  But I guess extra legroom is extra legroom.

I don't care much about the appearance of the seats I am all about comfort for long hauls.

[udscoobychick]

Jan 7, 2015 12:49:53 GMT -5 @mx said:

Jan 7, 2015 9:57:02 GMT -5 udscoobychick said:

So, for those that have had a long layover in Istanbul, any suggestions for how to pass the time, particularly at night? Our flight lands at 4:30 pm, and the next one doesn't depart until 2 am (ugh). I think I read that most tourist attractions close at 5 pm.

Turkey now requires visas for US citizens--so plan ahead if you plan to leave the airport. Unfortunately the airport is quite far from the touristy parts of the city and traffic is abysmal. If you don't mind the visa issue you can go out for dinner and maybe have some time to see the Sultanahmet sites lit up (you won't be able to go inside them, but it's very pretty in the dark). Definitely plan on 2 hours to get from the airport to the city especially if it is a weekday and close to that to get back.

Thanks for the info!

[mich1]

Just be aware that Turkish Air flies into both airports in Istanbul.

I had a brain fart and scheduled us into one and out of the other. We had a very hairy and expensive cab ride to get on the other side of the Bosphorus to catch our connection. This was my goof though.

Otherwise, we took them to fly throughout Turkey the month we stayed there and they were good, I'd fly them again, and they are the only airline my Turkish friend flies to the US on.