The leg MAD-IST on TK would be the first of a 4 flight segment ticket with TK and LH, MAD-IST-TBS-MUC-LHR. This was in conjunction with another ticket with TAP FNC-LIS-MAD/LHR-LIS-FNC. All the trip was booked for the weekend of 30 APR to 3 MAY, but, due to the announced TAP strike I changed all the trip to 19-21 APR.
The MAD-IST flight would be operated by A320 TC-JAI delivered in Oct 2007 to IndiGo. The incoming flight IST-MAD was 30 min delayed so the departure would also be delayed. The departure from the gate would be 40 min after schedule and after 15 min taxiing, the take-off was at 0h52. Due to a short flight time, the arrival would be only 5 min behind schedule time at 5h00, local time.
The flight was almost full in Y class. 40 min after take-off, it was time to overfly the city of Barcelona heading east into the Mediterranean sea. Crew then started distributing the menus for the dinner service. This would consist of a starter of kidney beans marinated in olive oil and for the main course would be option between chicken with satay sauce, ratatouille/rice or prime beef burger, sautéed eggplant with tomato sauce and potato grain (my choice). Bread was offered to each passenger from a basket and crackers and cheese was on the tray. For dessert there was almond cake. Very nice and tasty meal, as usual on TK flights. Due to the time of the flight, many passengers refused the meal. Plenty of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages was available. After the meal service the crew switched off all the cabin lights, so most of passengers could sleep for some 1-2 hours.
At the arrival time at IST, at 5h00, was still complete dark outside. At that time the airport was still calm and the A320 would park at a remote position. Then it was time to head to the Turkish Airlines lounge before the flight to TBS.
