Review: Turkish Airlines 737 MAX Business Class (IST-CPH)

What an amazing business class offering in Europe! The food looks 100 times better than what LH and AF offer in their intra J class. I'm going to give TK a try next time I'm in Europe

Hey Lucky,

Thanks for another great review.

I've noticed that you so often choose your seats as far back in the business class cabin as possible. Just being nosey as to your reasoning why as I guess it's more common for flyers to choose seats as far forward as possible.

Thx

Really enjoying your reports, Lucky. Great to have you back in the groove again.

I'm guessing it's because you were there so early that the lounge was empty (judging by your pictures) but every time I'm there it's ridiculously packed. Also, was the other lounge still closed or have they opened it back up? It was closed 2 out of my last 3 visits, which I think contributed to the main Business class lounge being so crowded.

TERRAIN, TERRAIN….SINK RATE……PULL UP WHOOP WHOOP…PULL UP WHOOP WHOOP

I thought the exact same thing. I visited last year and I kid you not, almost nearly every single seat in that giant lounge was occupied. The biz lounge was closed so they put every one in that one. The showers had a 5 hours wait. The whole experience was so stressful because of the crowds that we just grabbed a coffee and went to sit in the terminal instead.

@ Abidjan -- Thanks for the kind words, and happy to be back in the groove!

@ Jason D -- That's a great question, let me address it in a separate post.

@ pstm91 -- I think at this point two of the three lounges are open? The lounge was indeed packed when we arrived (as that's a popular time), but it emptied out within about an hour.

Does anyone know the approximate times of the arrival and departure banks at IST?

Don't you love it when people complain about crowding, yet their presence does nothing to help the situation?

On a lighter note, I flew TK J a few days ago; their IFE sucked because the movies were nearly all from the 2000s and 2010s. GROSS.

Did you need any sort of COVID test to transfer in Istanbul or was a vaccine certificate enough?

Gosh their seats are so much better than most of what the US offers domestically.

I actually prefer the last row in domestic business, as with the divider it just feels more private...not much more private...we all have our preferences:)

@Lucky...you might want to check out today's TPG article that reveals the new Delta domestic business class seats, with plenty of photos. It looks even fancier/more private than the TK seat, amazingly. A game-changer for US domestic business class that I think will be impossible for AA or UA to ignore.

Yep, my feeling exactly. If I can help it I avoid 737 Max as I don’t want to end up in a statistic proving Boeing managers' greed.

Three weeks ago I flew HAM - IST on the Airbus 321, good seats, great food, service was even nicer and more personable than on the IST - GRU flight the next day. Recommendation: Start the flight with the delicious homemade lemonade with mint. It’s Turkish's signature drink.

Does anyone know the opening hours of the TK business class lounge at IST? In 3 weeks I have a TK flight from AMS - IST that does not arrive until 300am. Thanks.

I’ve been in the lounge at all hours so i am pretty sure it’s open 24 hours. But the wide food selection is not available overnight. At peak times the selection is fantastic. At other times it’s adequate.

Two weeks ago the Business Class lounge was open. It had been closed for a while and everyone had to use the Miles and Smiles lounge (the two are virtually identical). The Business class lounge was not crowded.

Ben, you are right about the fish in the paper. It’s a little inconvenient. I have had it twice and found it delicious both times - on long haul flights with the little ‘candles.’ And the Turkish wines are surprisingly pleasant.

I was stuck for 26 hours in Istanbul coming from Cairo to Manila. Good thing my business class ticket had access to the lounge. I noticed that the food selection is the same for 24 hours and at some point they won’t replenish the stocks. This was my meatball story. I think the spread is much more limited now compared to pre-pandemic because a frequent-flyer friend described the lounge to me as having a wide variety of food choices.

The business class seats going to Manila are much better. It has its own cabin. The breakfast meal though was quite disappointing. They didn’t serve what was on the menu. All were cold items, not ideal for breakfast.

But the overall experience was excellent. As a first time TK user, I highly recommend his airline.

It is open 24 hours.

I flew from IST to Athens on the 737 in business in December 2021/ return Jan. 2022. For such a short flight the meal was awesome as were the seats and service; I highly reccomend!

Surprised no comment about the fact it was a 737 MAX was this your first flight on one since they were grounded or at least your first flight since the doco on Netflix got released?

Know a lot about airplanes, do you? It’s pretty apparent from your comment that you’re inclined to believe what you hear. Do you know any details about the incidents with the MAX? I’m guessing you don’t, so let me enlighten you: Boeing took the moral high road; there was nothing wrong with the plane that standard CRM wouldn’t have fixed. Both incidents were ENTIRELY avoidable. My company operates both the A321neo and the 737MAX-9, and, while the 321 is a good airplane, the MAX outclasses it in nearly every category. I’d take the MAX over the 321 anytime.

Most horrible airlines, many bad experiences in business class. I remember the flight 2 years ago from Bangladesh tu Istanbul my seat was fixed strait with no movements. They told me or take it or leave the plane. No other option or offer.
Love Emirates or Ittehad Airlines both have best services

Great review !
I have a question: The website indicates the Lounge Business (as opposed to the Miles& Smiles Lounge next door) is open. I contacted Turkish through their Facebook page and they indicated the Business lounge is still closed at IST. Which lounge did you visit?

Also, re the nap rooms - how do you book? I'm flying in from Italy and get in at midnight and my USA connection is at 8:30 am.

Thanks Lucky !

Both lounges were open two weeks ago.

"The Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul continues to be excellent, with comfortable seating, fantastic food, and great coffee"

While it's great the showers have been reopened, how much of the food has returned to what was offered pre-pandemic? I haven't been to this lounge since October 2020, and back then there were only a coupld of cooking stations open, lots of cold side dishes and salads with plastic covers, and a few desserts also with plastic covers.

No hot buffet options, no salad bar, no spreads, no soups, and no variety of cakes and cakes...have any of these things been brought back?

Sounds like a one off experience. Not saying every flight has excellent service, but most bad Turkish employees tend to be indifferent instead of outright rude.

Emirates and Etihad are good, but best services? That's debatable.

The people at TPG tend to get triggered/freak out if they end up making more than 2 seconds of eye contact with strangers.

I love Turkish, however they let me down a little during the big snowstorm but I can't blame them too much. I took the time to make a nice video of the lounges available at IST.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yZkUj2ju68&t=1143s

No comment on the MAX? Was this your first time flying in one? Did you feel safe, how was it?

Go and travel business class on that same plane from Istambul to Pointe Noire, a 10+ hour flight with a stopover in Libreville, Gabon and then write a review. Would love to read after a flight like that what your thoughts about their business class are.