To kick off the trip to Germany with my parents, I flew Turkish Airlines’ Airbus A350 business class from Chicago to Istanbul. This wasn’t just any A350, but rather it was one of Turkish Airlines’ handful of A350s that were intended to be flown by Aeroflot, but that’s no longer happening due to sanctions (for…
Continue reading: Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class A350 (ORD-IST)
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Great review!
I have a question: There are two daily THY flights from MIA. Curious why you chose to fly via ORD instead.
@ KK13 -- Thanks, and great question. I chose this flight for two reasons -- not only did it have award availability (while the Miami flights didn't), but I was also curious to fly the ex-Aeroflot A350. So it worked out.
Odd you had to clear transit security in IST. Usually, flights originating in the US do not need to re-clear. Its a bit hidden though, you need to present your onward boarding pass on the jetbridge and they will let you skip security and straight into the terminal.
On the moving map, you need to hit the view map button to see the full modern map.
The fact that you found 45k saver awards 4 days out is mine boggling.
Also, could this have been found and booked with Aeroplan?
@ RetiredATLATC -- Yep, it also showed as bookable through Aeroplan, though obviously for more points.
@ Noah -- Interesting about not having to clear security, as there was no one there to direct anyone in that way, and I just followed the standard signage. I did hit the button to try to view the full map, but it was still only a fairly low quality option that wasn't very customizable. Could it maybe be specific to these A350s?
Gosh that looks so much better than the 787 which I flew IST-IAD this past March. I found that shell around the seats to be very uncomfortable and made the seat feel very narrow. Plus I couldnt see out the window, which I hated. Plus, my service was just not good. I'd be willing to try it again, but am scarred from my bad experience.
In case of being denied access (with no valid reason) to a partner lounge, how should you route a complaint? to the airline giving you a status or to the airline operating the lounge at fault?
I just took this flight yesterday. Definitely the best THY hard product. Looking forward to the return flight.
I personally found the food bland. I don't know why they can't serve at least one Turkish main course when leaving the States. Your fish was much better cooked than mine was. And no fish knife. The appetizer was unimaginative. Again, Turkey has great appetizers. Why can't they offer a mezze plate?
I hated the omelet. It was bland and too dry. It needed cheese.
I'm wider than you and did not found the seat narrow. Area for your feet was also fine.
Nice TR and impressive flight. Not a fan of the interior, though. And the ORD T5 lounge experience continues to befuddle.
The seats, especially from behind, look very boxy.
It's what I would imagine on a Japanese airline.
What’s with lounges denying access to business class passengers on alliance airlines?
Was denied at Lufthansa Lounge in Boston when flying United Polaris to London, the ignominious front desk person condescendingly told me to go to the British Airways lounge… I also know that Qatar also does not use the BA lounge, sending people to the Air France lounge, which needs some renovation!
Forget about the wine, they have a whisky above Chivas Regal! How awesome is that? As a whisky drinker I'm always disappointed that airlines seem to offer great Champagne but have whisky that costs less per bottle even if it would cost next to nothing per glas to have a decent one.
The seat looks quite good and the food is very impressive based on the photos. But:
- the lounge they send you to is dreadful, and then you were improperly denied access to a decent lounge
- poor communication concerning the boarding delay
- they messed up your seat allocation
- the seat has a remote control where you can adjust it by accident very easily (this would annoy the hell out of me)
- the pillow and the mattress are both noted as being thin, suggesting the bed was not particularly comfortable
How on earth does this get 5 stars?
Unless you're flying on a Skyteam airline, and then you get access to Delta's new Sky Club. Haven't been to it myself but it does look nice.
When we arrived this morning, there were people checking onward BPs and letting those with connections directly into the terminal. No additional security required. A nice benefit of coming from the U.S. The other option was to go up the escalator to arrivals.
So I know you love the Turkish Airlines food, but isn't it kind of a huge miss to not offer at least one Turkish main dish? The only local thing I could see on the menu are desserts. Whether or not they depart from the US or Turkey shouldn't be a factor, I'm sure they could cater Turkish food in the US. I remember this being such a huge disappointment when I flew them, the menu couldn't have been more boring even if the food was good.
How r u able to identify it’s the Aeroflot A350? TK changes their plane all the time, it’s lucky enough not to fly their 777, but so fortunate to fly this A350.
What’s ur tips to identify and locate this A350 to fly it?
@ Chris -- The ex-Aeroflot A350s have seven rows of business class, while the standard ones have eight rows. Turkish seems to be pretty consistent with the markets in which it flies these planes, and we don't see too many last minute swaps.
@ Clem -- Agree with you 100% on that. Though in the past I've usually found the airline does have at least some Turkish main course options. I'm surprised that wasn't offered this time around. Very strange.
@ RichM -- No product is 100% perfect, and I try to be detail oriented in my reviews, noting both the positives and negatives. There's not a product in the world that doesn't have some downsides, and I'd say this easily ranks in my top five business class products out there. So I do think it's worthy of five stars for that reason, even with a few areas for improvement.
@ Aaron -- I don't know why, but it does seem to be a pretty common issue, eh?
@ Ben - I last flew them about a year and a half ago, and it was that way already, FWIW (it was out of JFK).
@ hbilbao -- It's a great question. I'd imagine you'd either want to direct the complaint to the lounge operator or to the alliance as such, though I suspect you probably won't get very far. Sometimes it doesn't seem like airlines are very interested in actually following alliance policies.
@ Ryan -- Happy to hear you enjoyed the hard product! I thought the food quality was good, though yes, I totally agree the airline should have more Turkish food options, and those would be a bit more exciting. Regarding the omelet, it just shows you how we all have different preferences, and it's why there's no perfect product/meal. Hope you have a great trip!
@ Clem -- Then Turkish really needs to improve that. For what it's worth, my two previous (non-long haul) Turkish flights both had a lot more Turkish food options available.
I love TK's soft product and their 787/350 hard product. I love when I find 45k flights to Istanbul (and keep a stash of Citi points for this reason).
Everything is very good with them, except when you have a flight cancellation or the like. Dealing with Turkish Airlines is probably a notch above your local DMV, if you are lucky.
That seems to be the gamble.
What's the best airline food you think is better than Turkish?
It's not definitely any North America airlines,I can bet on this.
What about a normal Turkish seats? Because as you wrote this is far much better than standard Turkish seat
I would not travel with Turkish Airlines ever again after nightmare experience last December- total lack of respect for passengers. They overbooked and offloaded a father of 3 young travelling with his wife and mother-in-law. No empathy whatsoever.
oh woah thanks for ur reply. And what other cities these ex-flot a350 fly to? I wanna fly this seat too because of ur review
US/UK should not have to clear. They should switch the sign for incoming US flights. Make sure you do not go up the escalator, and if you're first off the plane sometimes you have to wait a moment for a person to let you out. Easily saves you 15-30 mins.
I flew their J for the first time this year on both the 777 and the 787. The turndown service on both flights was very chaotic, with many passengers needing to stand up at the same time, shuffling all our things into storage, pads and sheets all over, and finding a way to make room for multiple cabin crew moving around at once. And at least in one case it happened before the meal service, which made everything feel even more messy. Has anyone else experienced this? It was the one uncomfortable moment in an otherwise very nice flight.
Only question is here is how you book two award tickets. Every time I try to increase the number of tickets I’m booking (greater than 1) I get a message telling me they can only do the first ticket in my name (this is fine) but then do not allow me to buy a second ticket (less than fine).
You slept for only 90 minutes. Had you been on a night time flight you would have found the seats too narrow for sleeping comfort. Sort of like sleeping in a casket. I belong to the apparent minority who like the comfort of wider sleeping space afforded on the older 777s.
Furthermore, for those paying in currency, rather than points, while the Turkish lira has substantially depreciated the dollar cost has doubled, making the product uncompetitive.
While I enjoy the Scotch on the flight, why is it no longer available in the lounge in Istanbul?
Otherwise I love the Turkish product as much as you do.
Just want to point out from memory that Philippine Airlines also had one of the best omelets you've had:
https://onemileatatime.com/philippine-airlines-a350-business-class-review/
And for the fish, comparable to the Cathay Pacific First reviews you did years ago:
https://onemileatatime.com/review-cathay-pacific-first-class-777-300er-new-york-jfk-to-hong-kong/
https://onemileatatime.com/review-cathay-pacific-first-class-777-300er-chicago-to-hong-kong/
Based on the omelets I've had, it was boring, bland. And the breakfast meats would just be greasy and soggy along with the potatoes that usually come with it. I wish airlines would be more creative with their omelets and meals in general especially plating and presentation. If I'm not feeling eggs, fortunately there are alternatives such as noodles, dim sum, congee, etc.
I also enjoy a good baklava, knafeh (from the photo). I wish more airlines would have some local flair especially with their desserts. Cakes get boring after a while.
Do you know if Canada is included in the no additional screening? I have a connection later this year from YUL through IST, and skipping the new screening would be nice.
If you haven't booked an award through Turkish before, they only allow you to book one ticket for yourself for your first award. From my understanding it's a security thing to prevent fraud. Once you book a ticket for yourself, you'll be allowed to book multiple tix in the future.
In addition to all this, from now on you can feel closer to your maker when you fly Turkish as they will from now on allow the pilots to pray in the cockpit... Have a safe flight guys 😀
I realize you don't have to, but please do not let lounges - particularly that SAS lounge at ORD - get away with turn away Star Alliance Biz passengers. They all act completely oblivious and have for years. They very much know what they're doing. If they at the SAS lounge do not like the rules, they should take it up with Swissport/Turkish/Star.
I am platinum with TK. Everyone praises them. But I wish you would publish a review of a 7-8 hours business class ticket from Istambul to plenty of countries in Africa operated in a 737 max in business class for which they charge very high fares. Ridiculous seats for business class. Please review that because by now we all know how great their in flight experience can be in the A350 or their new aircraft.
You can use LH lounge in Boston if you are a star alliance gold member. If you are not, then you use whatever lounge the airline you are using chose and paid for. I recently flew TAP out of Boston and being a star alliance gold member I could use LH lounge without a problem instead of the dreadful Jet Blue lounge TAP uses there.
"Baker's Field Cream" - interesting offering on the drink menu. Is that a knockoff product (I'm assuming to copy Bailey's) or just a bad translation? Did you give it a try?
The SAS lounge is not even open for the morning Turkish departure - it doesn't open until 1230, and it's a joke of a lounge anyways. Turkish really needs to contract with Delta to allow business class to use their lounge at T5 ORD.
Those seats are great except for the placement of the controls and lack of proper armrests. Everytime I rest my arm the seat moves.
I now skip the turndown service. I don’t find the seat cover comfortable. And it’s a pain when you want to sit later on. I just get the pillow case.
Perhaps I’m missing something, but I just flew TK from DXB to IST and then BJV to PRG (via IST). All three flights had multiple aircraft swaps (to abysmal recliners). And major delays. The food tasted alright, but no where near QR or SQ. It’ll be a long time before I seek them out again.
I can't see any 45k J availability from any US cities, either well in advance, or just 4 days in advance, like you booked.
Apart from Ben's point above regarding the seating plan differences to differentiate A350s, one funny way I've noticed is the following: if you see aircraft type as 'A350-900' on the Turkish Airlines mobile app it should be normal Turkish A350s. If you see it as 'A350' then those flights are planned with ex-AeroFlot frames. This doesn't work on TK website (desktop) as all a350 flights are shown as 'A350-900' there.
Just try harder, it will 'magically' appear 4 days before departure just when you conveniently need it!
How you find deal for 45.000 miles? I am looking for so many dates in OCT and NOV and all deals are 105.000 miles one way in BC.
I don’t understand all this admiration of Turkish - I really, really don’t. In my opinion, that admiration is now at least a decade old. The 777s they operate for instance between JFK/IST are terribly outdated - across classes. Crews are some of the most passive and unhelpful in the sky. Often downright rude. Food is subpar. Seats are the worst - where they didn’t even bother to remove the footrest when they shortened the pitch (you cannot use it anymore - it’s just, very annoyingly, in the way).
Has some outdated love made people blind?
IST as an airport is a mess. It’s massive and of course new - but you most often end up taxing around for at least 30 minutes. Super inefficient. All that national pride associated with it has made many blind to the fact that it’s not really a good and efficient airport. It’s just huge.