Turkish Airlines New San Francisco To Istanbul Flight

Turkish Airlines quietly added a new flight between San Francisco and Istanbul, which launches April 13, 2015.

The amount of growth we’ve seen from Turkish Airlines in the past few years is nothing short of astounding. They serve more destinations in the world than any other airline, just to put into perspective how much they’ve grown.

They also serve a lot of destinations in the US, and are quickly getting “up there” in terms of serving the most US destinations for a non-US airline.

They also have a one of the better business class products, with a full lie-flat seat and one of the best lounges I’ve been to.

Turkish-Business-Class-1

Anyway, Turkish’s new flight from San Francisco to Istanbul will operate with the following schedule:

TK79 departing Istanbul 1:05PM arriving San Francisco 4:25PM
TK80 departing San Francisco 6:10PM arriving Istanbul 5:05PM (+1 day)

What makes this flight especially awesome is that Turkish has loaded a ton of business class award availability on the new route virtually every day – in many cases enough for an entire family to fly business class. Lately they’ve been rather stingy with award availability, so this is a welcome change.

The one thing to keep in mind is that since the new route has just been loaded, it doesn’t yet appear on the ANA or United websites. The Aeroplan and LifeMiles websites should show space, though, and it should be bookable by calling the other airlines.

Aeroplan Turkish Availability
Turkish flight on Aeroplan – no fuel surcharges!

Avianca Turkish Availability
Availability shows on the LifeMiles site as well

In terms of booking Turkish Airlines flights using miles, you have several options:

ProgramMileage RequirementTransfer Partners
Air Canada Aeroplan
57,500 MilesAmex Membership Rewards, Capital One
Avianca LifeMiles
63,000 MilesAmex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Capital One
Singapore KrisFlyer
69,000 MilesAmex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Capital One
United MileagePlus
70,000 MilesChase Ultimate Rewards
Redeem Miles for Turkish Airlines Business Class through these partners

Given that Turkish doesn’t have fuel surcharges, you really can’t go wrong with any of these options.

Turkish has quite a good transatlantic business class product, with fully flat beds and an onboard chef. Their catering is done by DO&CO, meaning that food is plated at your seat – it’s among the best airline food out there, in my opinion.

Turkish-Business-Class-2

I don’t expect this to last, so if this route interests you I’d suggest booking ASAP.

Has anyone booked this already? What miles did you use?

(Tip of the hat to Jeremy)

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R M Khatsuria Guest

We had booked wheel chairs for both of us, at SFO airport for our flight on 30 Sept 2015 for internal travel on Istanbul air port.. However, the experience was just horrible. No one was interested to attend to us at Istanbul air port. The behavior was rude and negligent. We finally decided to walk down, which came to be more than a km inside the air port. We got tired but had the satisfaction of avoiding rude behavior. What is wrong with TK? Every body is complaining about rude behavior. Should not they improve?

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A Pat Guest

Cannot believe the service we got from Turkish airline at the airport. We had heard so many good reviews about your line, so booked with you. I went on your website directly and booked. The site gave me 21 hrs of lay over so I called customer care and asked. She said that if lay over is over 10 hrs then the Turkish airline will give us hotel. So I booked with the Turkish air line. When came to the airport, totally different story. Never came across with so rude customer care ever. The first customer care lady asked me why you came today? Your flight is tomorrow? Why didn't you book tomorrow? How stupid is that? Our flight was coming at 3.40pm and our connecting flight is at 1 pm, how can we get that flight? They said that they do recording of the conversation, but I doubt it since the customer care was so rude and was full of liars, there is no way they are recording the conversation. Other guy said that we give hotel only if you come by last flight and going by the first one. No one told me that when I was booking at their site and talking to customer care when I was booking it. There was no other connection even available. i went to another desk, 6 guys and gals sitting and chatting, not a single bothered to lift his or her head to talk to us waiting in line. With this kind of customer service, I really see a decline of this airline. I will make sure that I or my family and none of my friends will ever come to Turkey or use Turkish airline. i will make sure none of my friends and family will ever go through the insult and torture and lies I have gone through.

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Ashish Guest

The flight is fine but your bags won't make it. I just flew Istanbul - SFO and arrived minus my bags which remain missing. Not to mention a horrible experience at Istanbul airport, crazy mad stampede with delays.

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Larisa Adeline Guest

My sister just had an awful experience with them. She was flying from Bucharest to Dubai and she had a connexion there. The flight had a delay and she lost her connexion. She and the others passengers that were in the same situation, had to spend the night there because they did not offer them any connexion with others companies. They were rude and they did not offer them anything, not even water. In the morning, my sister and other three passenger manage to take a flight back to Bucharest but they lost their luggages thou my sister insist to check carefully that they send it with them. We hope that they will find their luggages. She told me that in Istanbul Airport she met a girl from Brazilia that she was there for 4 days waiting to fly back home. They gave her a stand-by ticket but the flight were full and she was still in waiting. Some folks from Coreea were in the same situation and they were there for 2 days. For your sake, please avoid Turkish Airline as much as you can.

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yenny worle Guest

I bought turkish airlines because it is very cheap and they are in top 5 airlines 2015. Service is 1 out of 10. Airplane is not emirates, qatar or etihad standard. No playground for children in istanbul airport. Customer service is rude. The first and the last experience! Not recommended! I would rather pay 100GBP more with proper quality standard airlines.

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