The Lemon Recommends - Turkish Airlines

I don’t think it’s often these days that someone would rave about an airline, or even look to fly on one specific carrier. Usually, and I include myself in this, I think many of us just look for which option would be less expensive. However, that is not the case when it is possible to fly Turkish Airlines. With Turkish Airlines, in my experience, you get so much more than just a flight from one destination to another. I will do my best to convey this experience in this article, and you can also check out this video I made about a recent Turkish Airlines experience here:

Turkish Airlines does several things differently that are just a part of their passenger experience: they are not add-ons, or extras, or only for those “in the know.” Now of course, there may be some exceptions to the experiences I outline here, so always check the terms and conditions that apply to your own unique ticket and route.

The first benefit of Turkish Airlines is how connected they are. In fact, they fly to more countries than any other airline on earth. Standing in the brand new Istanbul Airport and looking at the flight board, you will see destinations for every corner of the world.

Speaking of which, the new airport is beautifully designed, with places to rest, pray, and refill your water bottles with fresh water, which is not always a given.

Now, it does happen that you may have a very long layover in Istanbul, maybe the whole day or even overnight. For those who are able to enter Türkiye without a visa or who can obtain a visa, there are two options that Turkish Airlines offers free of charge for those who have a long layover.

For those with a long daytime layover, there is Touristanbul. You simply go through passport control, and find the Touristanbul desk. According to Turkish Airlines website, it seems you can even now reserve your tour in advance, and they have a schedule showing which tours are offered on which days and which sites you will be able to see. I actually did this back in 2018, which I wrote about on my personal blog here. The process was so easy: your bags remain checked through to your final destination (provided you are booked through on the same ticket, which you would need to be to participate in the tour so moot point), the transportation and meals are all arranged so you do not need anything, just a good spirit to meet your fellow travelers on the tour!

For those with a nighttime layover, the process is very much the same, except that instead of a tour, you may be able to take advantage of an overnight stay in a hotel. I have not personally experienced this, but it would be a great improvement over, say, sleeping on the floor of the airport.

Be sure to check the terms of these offers because of course there are specific conditions that must be met, such as the minimum time of connection and that one has permission to enter Türkiye.

I hope Türkiye can offer a solution for everyone with connecting flights to be able to have a stopover visa so that everyone can enjoy a tour of Istanbul, or at least not have to sleep in the airport. Perhaps in the future there could be accommodation and rest options within the secure area of the airport.

One of the best advantages I have had in my Turkish Airlines bookings, but which I cannot guarantee applies to all bookings, is something included in the price of the ticket. I have always been able to check two free checked bags. This is a huge advantage, as most airlines these days only allow for one checked bag, and sometimes even make you pay for that! Being able to check two bags has been fantastic through the years as I have moved across continents and brought home gifts and souvenirs. Again, be sure to check the terms and conditions of your own ticket as this may not apply on every route.

Another quiet luxury that Turkish Airlines does not skimp on are small amenity pouches on medium and long-haul flights, even in economy. The size and contents differ depending on the route and the length of the flight, but usually contain necessities like earplugs, a small toothbrush, and a small tube of toothpaste. I think on the longer flights there were also some comfy socks and an eye mask for sleeping.

One area where Turkish Airlines has really impressed me on their recent flights has been in their food service. This is something that surprisingly you cannot always take for granted on all airlines. As a rule of thumb, since I am a vegetarian, I always pre-order a vegetarian meal whenever possible. I find that these meals, which usually are listed as “Asian-vegetarian” (implying Indian) are usually much more appealing than the main cabin meals. On recent international Turkish Airlines flights I had little snacks such as a fruit salad, lentil salad, and an assortment of small cheeses accompanying main meals like potato or tofu curry with a side of rice.

I have also never found myself bored on my recent Turkish Airlines flights, thanks to their expansive in-flight entertainment library. Beyond the usual movies, tv shows, and music, they also had some fun on-screen games you can play, and you can even listen to the Qur’an. While on my medium-haul flights they provided the usual earbuds for those who forgot their headphones, on a recent long-haul flight they actually provided cushioned headphones (for in-flight use only). This was very nice as 11 hours with earbuds in can become uncomfortable. It is little touches like this that help Turkish Airlines stand out.

I think to sum up my impression of Turkish Airlines, I would say that for a reasonable price, you have first-class service. The availability of amenities and services, as well as the opportunity for a layover in Istanbul provide a layer of luxury that is sorely missing from other major carriers. In comparison with most western carriers, I mean. In my experience, other major carriers in Asia also reflect a higher standard of superior services.

What may seem like small things, things that some airlines simply overlook, add up to provide a superior product. Next time you have the option to fly Turkish Airlines, I suggest you give them a try.