THIS REPORT IS A PART OF THE FLASHBACK SERIES
Hi & Welcome to this report on my FLASHBACK SERIES. In this series of flights, I would share reports from flights that I've flown before registering this website. Just a quick reminder that I am the same human being with "turkishflyer1" on flyertalk so the reports posted can be the same as posted there.
This report would include my return flight from my Lebanon trip in 2016. The inbound sector was already posted 2 years ago and now it's time to share the BEY-IST flight experience. This flight is a short flight which dures 1 hours 30 minutes with an Airbus A320 aircraft.
Regular up to date reports would be continued to be shared shortly after the flight date.
Flights that I plan to share:
TK 9 Istanbul to Los Angeles ( Business ), Boeing 777-300ER / May 2012 ( click ), Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul
TK 10 Los Angeles to Istanbul ( Business ), Boeing 777-300ER / May 2012 ( arriving Dec 2019 ), Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles ( old TBIT )
TK 2312 Istanbul to Izmir ( Economy) , Airbus A340-300 / December 2012 ( click ), Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul Domestic
TK 2333 Izmir to Istanbul ( Economy ), Boeing 737-800 / December 2012 ( click ), Comfort Lounge International
LH 1305 Istanbul to Frankfurt ( Economy ), Airbus A319-100 / February 2013 ( click ), Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul
LH 456 Frankfurt to Los Angeles ( Economy ), Boeing 747-8I / February 2013 ( click ), Lufthansa Senator Lounge Z Frankfurt
LH 457 Los Angeles to Frankfurt ( Business ), Boeing 747-8I / February 2013 ( arriving Dec 2018 ), Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles ( old TBIT )
LH 1300 Frankfurt to Istanbul ( Economy ), Airbus A320-200 / February 2013 ( arriving Dec 2018 ), Lufthansa Senator Lounge B Frankfurt
XQ 9065 Istanbul-SAW to Izmir ( Economy ), Boeing 737-800 / August 2015 ( click )
XQ 9264 Izmir to Istanbul-SAW ( Economy ), Boeing 737-800 / August 2015 ( click ), Comfort Lounge Domestic
LH 403 Newark-EWR to Frankfurt ( Economy ), Boeing 747-8I / August 2016 ( arriving Jan 2019 ), Lufthansa Business Lounge Newark
LH 1298 Frankfurt to Istanbul ( Economy ), Airbus A320-200 / August 2016 ( arriving Jan 2019 ), Lufthansa Business Lounge B20-28
ME 266 Istanbul to Beirut ( Economy ), Airbus A320-200 / September 2016 ( click )
ME 267 Beirut to Istanbul ( Economy ), Airbus A320-200 / September 2016 ( you are here )
List subject to change due to photo availability, dates are estimated and changes can occur.
As these flights are reported you would be able to click on the sector to see the FR. Not reported flights would be written in italic.
As this is a flashback report no route&trip overview wouldn't be provided as some exceptions can occur.
ONLINE CHECK-IN
I have completed my online check-in 24 hours before scheduled departure time. Seats were already pre-reserved and I hadn't changed them.
4 hours before takeoff, our aircraft was assigned and it would be T7-MRD, which is in the Skyteam livery, was arriving from Malpensa before our flight.
BEIRUT REFIQ HARIRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - BEY
There is a security check to enter the check-in area as officers check passports before scanning baggages.
This checkpoint took 20 minutes to pass.
Check-in:
MEA had plenty of desks so I haven't had a wait for handing my checked baggages and receiving my boarding pass.
Travel documents
Passport Control:
The passport check, which is just after the check-in area, was crowded and I have cleared this checkpoint in 15 minutes in the "Other Nationality" lane.
After the passport check, this FD 738 was visible
ME aircraft at the terminal
Then it was time for the security check. This checkpoint was cleared in 5-10 minutes. Just a quick note that one of the security guards was very rude to passengers while inspection.
After the security check, this LH A320 appeared.
As well as this AZ A320
And, here comes our aircraft
The aircraft which took me from Istanbul to Beirut ( OD-MRO ) was there too.
Gate Area:
Boarding was on time and priorities were respected.
The aircraft was partially visible from the gate.
ME267 BEIRUT to ISTANBUL-IST
Seat:
The seat was comfortable and the legroom was OK. Each seat was equipped with PTV's but the entertainment system wasn't activated for this flight.
Pushing back
Passing by another ME A320
While pushing back, the safety video was shown to passengers
As we took of,
And the seatbelt signs had been turned off, the meal service begun.
The tray had mini sandwiches, a chocolate yoghurt, orange juice and water. The meal was good for a flight with a short distance.
Like the previous flight, the entertainment system opened for 1 minute and then automatically closed.
IFE:
As the entertainment system wasn't active, there was the Cedar Wings magazine and the Duty Free Catalogue available at the seat pocket.
Also, the safety card was present.
Descending:
Photos as we started to descend
Bursa YEI airport
Istanbul Anatolian side
Princess Islands
IST is visible
Florya park
And landed, EK122 to DXB was taxiing to the runway
KE A330 getting ready for his flight to Seoul
More photos
And we arrived to gate 216, next to this TK A321 which was preparing for his flight to Khartoum
ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT - IST
Passport Check:
I was lucky today, because the checkpoint wasn't that crowded and I have cleared this checkpoint in 5 minutes.
Baggage Claim:
Our baggages arrived safely at carousel 9, 10 minutes after we arrived to the belt.
So, this trip has also came to an end.
Thanks for this FR.
Decent service, closer to a European airline than a middle eastern one.
Wonder what the service is 2 years later...
Thank you for your comment KL651,
It is true that they are closer to an European airlines instead of a ME carrier. Unfortunately, their service level can't be compared to the ME3's.
As I could say to this route (IST-BEY), Middle Eastern has probably improved their service because they are now carrying almost the same amount of passengers with Turkish Airlines after starting their 3rd and 4th daily flight this summer. Also, some flights are operated by A330 aircraft instead of the A320 series aircraft which would make a difference on the flight experience, especially on Business Class.
So thank you again and take care.
Thank you for your Flight Report!
You are welcome.
Thanks for reading.