Hello Flight reporters and readers
This report will bring the following itinerary to a close:
LGW-IST 26 jan 2017 : http://flight-report.com/fr/report/22019/Turkish-Airlines-TK1982-London-LGW-Istanbul-IST
IST-ADB 26 jan 2017 : http://flight-report.com/fr/report/22029/Turkish-Airlines-TK2336-Istanbul-IST-zmir-ADB
ADB-IST 29 janr 2017 : http://flight-report.com/fr/report/22060/Turkish-Airlines-TK2313-zmir-ADB-Istanbul-IST
IST-LGW 29 jan : you got it here!
Last episode was my arrival at Domestic terminal, flying from Izmir
I just think I did not use the same way from D to I terminals, last time I connected in IST; it seems shorter today ; I'll check this next time
I got my BP the day before, checking on line
I must now check the gate, but not on board yet, and picture is blurred
Istanbul International terminal is very busy, as usual? I try Passport control 1 but it is really crowded, so I walk on to PC 2, and find easily priority line.
Just one emigration officer for this line, but it gets rather quick and in 10 minutes I've cleared emigration and security
Still a blurred picture, but gate is actually 205
So now, let's find some landmarks; lounge is signed left and gate on the right; it says 15mn from the former to the latter; OK I've got it.
And I get close to "wonderland", which I have seen in so many FR
Very impatient to be inside, I won't notice the luggage lockers close to entrance, but my small carry on can go along with me everywhere.
I'm impressed by the size, and discover there is a lower level; upper level is very busy and I expect lower one to be quieter. It is! so I take a comfy seat in a quiet area.
Going round the buffets, I'm not impressed, but wide choice and amazing german style pastries… Pide are not available yet but being baked. I'll wait
It's very tasty and the apricot tart is even better
Let us finish with turkish pastries.
This lounge is overheated like domestic lounge, too much really
Here comes departure time, I'm soon on my way thru the "shopping arcade"
Actually it takes me just 5/6 minutes to walk to gate 205
…where boarding is nearly completed
Jetway to plane; good because it's very windy and freezing
New security check at gate, but not for me; good!
Onboard it's same layout as on inbound flight, 2-2
FA Chef accepts a picture, and will pose, so I can't think to blurr his face
After picture, he serves this delicious fruity lemonade
Safety instructions come down from heaven
Push back on time while I have my drink and bye bye Istanbul
Getting up quickly above western suburbs and their massive urban structures
I pull my screen out of seat armrest to follow flight information; they are also available on main screen
A look at the menu
We are above Thrace and the eastern coast of Black Sea
Crossing over bulgarian border, we can make out the port of Burgas
But first things first; lunchtime!
Served on a tray, but hot dishes will come on a trolley
I'm always suspicious concerning beef cooking, but this is perfect to me
Starter, main course, cheese and desert are all nice; this must be my 5th meal since I got up; no dinner tonite!
A glance outside; getting close to Carpathian mountains, somewhere south east of Timisoara, Romania
Snow is all over eastern Europe and we'll see it as far as Germany
High peaks
Tea refill has been offered…and accepted
I start reading, and we land at LGW 30 minutes under schedule (of course the latter is not a consequence of the former)
Some "miles", up and down in corridors; no doubt we landed at LGW
The arrival hall is almost empty
Automatic control and I clear immigration and customs in one minute
And there I am on the railway platform
A picture, personal memory, as LGW and this station were my first approach to UK, first time I went there some 50 years ago.
Btw, same weather as 50 years ago; so some people will say "of course it's always raining in UK "; but we all know it's not true!
And this will be the end of my LGW-IST-ADB return trip
Thanks for reading
Till next time
Hello, LTLQGW, and thank you for this FR!
I remember my first time arriving in the UK about 20 years ago.. It was raining, too :P. I guess that's a standard "Welcome to Britain" weather :)
Lounge offering certainly looks good. Did you get the complimentary massage treatment, or the complimentary champagne to go?
Was priority boarding enforced for premium passengers? Or did they just go all-in since it's a narrow-body jet anyway?
TK owns up to its reputation as one of the best airline foods in the sky with the beef, it seems. How was it cooked? It somewhat looks like medium-well to me. And how was everything else on the plate (i.e. the cheese board and dessert)?
Nice spotting photos taken at Atatürk airport, and of the Carpathian mountains, as well.
Thanks again!
sorry I made a mistake, please find answer here under
hi, thanks for reading and comment
every other year or so I spend summer or spring holidays in UK, including northern parts of England and I always have nice or very nice weather, so it seems tradition is no longer what it used to be...
i did not request any massage, or champagne since i dont drink alcohol
there was a pririty libe for biz pax at gate, but since I arrived late there were just a few pax on line and I did not bother for priority
Grilled beef was a bit over medium, perfect for me, and very tender
all the rest was nice and tasty
very enjoyable flight and definitely best european airline I've used, even in Y, and I think I've flown about 20 of them...
Thank you for sharing this final leg of your trip report.
Indeed the lower level of the TK lounge is quieter than the upper one. If it is not busy, I personally like to sit by the "tea garden" in the middle. It has such a unique atmosphere.
Sometimes it seems that the lounge can't keep up with demand. As soon as the food is taken out, it is gone in a few minutes. However, I personally appreciate that TK provides freshly cooked dishes. The desserts are always good and thankfully the lines there are not too bad. Neither is the line for the salads. ;)
Nice service aboard and the catering lives up to its reputation once again.
thanks for reading and comments