For the outbound portion of the trip to Germany with my parents, I flew Turkish Airlines Airbus A350 business class from Chicago to Istanbul, and then connected to Turkish Airlines’ Airbus A330 business class from Istanbul to Frankfurt. In this installment I wanted to review that second segment.
Continue reading: Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class A330 (IST-FRA)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Would you go out if your way to fly Turkish and back track vs a non stop?
If I knew I could check in or had a bed waiting I think I’d rather just get there and get a nap in.
@Ben I believe the seats on these A330's come from Turkish Airlines own 777 Premium Economy section that got removed a couple of years ago (but with changed upholstery).
@ Alec-14 -- You definitely can't beat the convenient of a nonstop, even if the product isn't as good. I routed through Istanbul because I'm an avgeek who enjoys flying, and also because I figured it would make an interesting review of a product I've been wanting to try. But more than doubling the length of a journey isn't justifiable from a practical perspective.
Wonder why they didn't install parallel diamonds instead, parallel diamond have a pitch of 60.
I think so too... if i remember correctly, back in the day the upholstery was white (sort of)
Good call! They are indeed. I remember the coat hooks and “old-fashioned” seat controls. So weird that TK took PE out before many airlines even put it in. It was a very good product for its time, and would still be very competitive.
@hbilbao I seem to recall them in a dark brown sueded fabric, but I could be wrong.
These seats are identical or nearly identical to the seats installed in Business Class on their A320/321ceo and B737NG fleets that I have flown several times.
Back then, their Premium Economy was awesome on their 777, a seat that remains unmatched even now. These seats offer remarkable comfort, and the legroom available on their 777 was truly exceptional for PE.
"Admittedly this is Turkish Airlines’ weakest wide body hard product"
Ok but admittedly, how many flights to Europe does Turkish offer with a wide body plane? More often than not it will be on a narrow body, so this type of seat is what most people should expect anyway.
As a 1K United member, I've traveled business class on Turkish Airlines on several occasions with exceptional experiences. Onboard cabin staff have always been first-rate and especially pleasant. Most accommodating as well! At all times and without exception, food and service were OUTSTANDING! In comparison, Polaris meals have been mediocre during the past few years with some recent improvement.
One things Turkish FAs is not good at is recognizing their elite or elite plus members. I am ELPL and I have been thanked for being an elite member a few times, it caught me by surprise because it happens so rarely.
The issue is also the timing of Turkish flights.
Istanbul like many airports in the middle (and near) east operates a lot at night. I have flown this plane in Asia between Tbilisi and Istanbul, which is only 2 hours, but it was departing at 2am, so it was really bad to sleep.
I'd rather fly a narrow-body from a European Airline in the middle of the day than a better plane with a stop over in the middle of a night.
Hi Gregg,
It is important to me that TK FAs not only recognize my elite status but kneel in front of me, take off my shoes, wash them, and put them in the socks and slippers in the amenity kit.
Thank you for asking and giving me the opportunity to clarify.
I am severely disappointed that this review did not offer an assessment on the Raki - I am left wanting ........
They’re definitely not new. It’s been a minute since a new seat’s had an iPod connector AND an Ethernet port.
During Covid I flew ORD-IST business class on a TK 777 in a 2-3-2 configuration. The seat was crap but the service and food was excellent. After an overnight layover, I flew IST-CDG business class on the A330, and I selected the last seat on the left. Now granted the section was half empty, but the crew, food and service were the best of any flight I have had. Scads of legroom, comfy seat and generous beverage service. If only that had been the TATL leg.
The problem with TK is lack of consistency. Their hard product changes a lot. I have found myself paying business class and flying their crap configuration in the A321 or 737 max for both flights. Equally so for their crew. More often than not they are unfriendly. All great if you fly the A350 but less so if they put you on a 737 max to Point Noire via Libreville which makes for 11 hours in that business class seat.
Just did a CMB(Sri Lanka) to IST on this A330 config. 9 hours overnight and it was horrendous. Uncomfortable, old, worn out, shameful! Paying Biz long haul prices for short haul product is beyond disappointing. It was a last minute aircraft change but I’ll be writing to ask for compensation. I personally find the service on TK to be adequate but never particularly friendly. If you’re coming from North American carriers or some European carriers then it’s better .. but it’s a FAR cry from Asian based carriers. Maybe I’ve been unlucky … every time.
Flew on this AC yesterday. NEVER AGAIN!! Many seats had trouble reclining and required crew assistance to be reclined and then returned. My foot rest fell off each time I rested my feet. To recline my seat FA's had to push the seat backwards. This product should not be used for business. My IFE was froze up and eventually wouldn't work.
Crew were very overwhelmed due to equipment change and many seat issues with seat assignments in economy, this results in limited preflight service.
Given the marketing TY uses for their business class this hard product shouldn't be used. Many in pax in Y were seperated from family and that shouldn't have been allowed.