Which airlines are you flying?
Turkish airlines

I could see my friend not very happy with that name. After all he had travelled with this airline in the past and wasn’t too pleased by its service and performance.
However, I didn’t pay any heed to him. Being an international traveller I have experienced all kinds of airlines. But this was my first time with Turkish airlines and so I still wondered what it would be like.

Remember I was invited by Tourism board of Spain to their country ? We flew Turkish Airlines, which has become a major airlines operating out of India. The flight was from Mumbai to Madrid via Istanbul and back.

To start with, we were booked for economy class and I knew how bad it could be to travel in cramped seats of some airlines. When we reached airport, to our surprise we were upgraded to business class. And for all the sectors! Pampering had started then and there.

Priority check-in, escorted security check, breakfast buffet at the airport lounge, Wifi, and most importantly, big relaxing sofas to catch a quick nap. They were so comfortable that I heard some people snoring their heart out!

Inside the airplane, first thing that I noticed was the space allocation in business class. Fully reclining seats with a pillow and blanket, noise-canceling headphones, and an amenity kit awaited us.

I realized how civilized it is to fly business class on Turkish Airlines! After takeoff along with complimentary cocktail, a personalized menu with multiple choices was distributed for passengers to select breakfast items. By the time some hors d’oeuvres and the breakfast were savored and a movie was seen, the sleep deprived me wanted to cuddle up like a baby in the lap of luxury.

As for entertainment, even if you are flying economy class, don’t worry. Passengers in all classes are provided with the same entertainment choices, although the screens are different. Business class passengers get a swing-out touch screen to select movies, games, music, and Voyager, which tracks flight stats. Economy class passengers make the same selections from smaller screens embedded in seatbacks.

Have you heard their jingle “we are Turkish airlines, we are globally yours” ? One of the fastest-growing airlines in Europe, Turkey’s national carrier was the winner of “Best Airline Europe” Award in 2011.

Now comes the food. One feature on Turkish Airlines that elevates this class is the cuisine. They provided exceptional food during the flight and the in-flight staff was polite and helpful. Some excellent cheese, wine with breads, hummus, stuffed eggplants, zucchini, and what not!

We were in transit for a few hours at Istanbul International airport Atatürk, and we were guided to Lounge Istanbul, a VIP lounge. On the way to the lounge, I could see many shops selling everything from souvenirs to ice creams. The airport itself was a bit chaotic probably because of people going for pilgrimage.

A widespread buffet of Turkish delights such as mezze platters, breads, soups and veggies awaited us in the business class lounge, not to mention the desserts, chocolates and many varieties of tea including flavored Turkish Çay. A grilled-snacks stall and a piano at the far end made me wish for a longer transit period.
There was much more to explore but we remained content with delicacies and talks.

I must say, my relationship with Turkish airlines is going to last for a very long time.

However, I can see one area of improvement. The ground crew is solicitous but in most cases their English is rudimentary. I would like to see more English speaking staff when it comes to dealing with the public.

Oh ! Before I forget, the takeoff and landing were exceptionally smooth and quiet.

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