A very warm welcome to all Flight-Report members and visitors for this exclusive series of Flight-Report's which was an easy way having a Star Alliance Gold status. In addition, in this series I had the chance to experience the brand new Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge at Istanbul Airport on the first day of its operation. This exclusive series would include 15 flights ( 14 on Turkish Airlines & 1 on SunExpress ) and 13 of these reports are flights to/from Istanbul Airport in Business Class. The other two flights are also domestic flights which are on Economy Class and they are not reports from/to Istanbul Airport. More details could be found in the routing section.
The last report of this series would be a report to Atatürk Airport instead of Istanbul Airport. As I needed to book a late-evening flight and my only options were to fly to SAW and IST which were at the same price. I have decided to fly Turkish Airlines to Atatürk Airport which only had a ₺5 difference ( less than a euro ) than Pegasus, and I had chosen this flight to fly with one of the TK 777-300ER aircraft that I have last flown 7 years ago. Also I haven't flown on a 777 in the last 3 years so it would be a difference for me. This report would also include a review of the Classic Plus & Elite section of the Turkish Airlines Lounge in Izmir.
The routing would look like this. All reports except #2 would include lounge reviews as well.
Flight routing
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- 14
- 15#15 TK 2337 ADB to IST ( Y ) 777-300ER
Pax for this flight
Business Class: No idea
Economy Class: %85-90
ONLINE CHECK-IN
At the first point, I have forgotten to check-in online for the flight 24 hours ago, I had started the OLCI process an hour later and the bulkhead rows were already taken, so I have chosen seat 26K. But then at the counter before my same day flight from Istanbul, I have asked the check-in employee to have an exit seat and had seat 24K which was an exit seat.
Before arriving to the airport, I have spotted the incoming aircraft. Today we were going to fly with TC-JJT named Çukurova.
IZMIR ADNAN MENDERES AIRPORT
As I mentioned in the previous reports in this series, the lounge at ADB has a private entrance from the outside that permits passengers to park in front of the lounge and enter the building at a separate entrance.
Turkish Airlines Lounge IZMIr - IZMIR ADNAN MENDERES AIRPORT
After validating my boarding pass and clearing security within 5 minutes
I headed to the Classic Plus & Elite section of the lounge.
This section has less to offer than the Elite Plus & Business section. There isn't a hot dish in this section and has packaged sandwiches instead. But, there was a soup available for people wanting something hot.
For those visited the Millennium Lounge in Istanbul, this lounge has the same offerings. Unfortunately, most non *A carriers including BA contracts that lounge in Istanbul which offers these products as a premium international lounge
Cookies were also available
However, the furniture is the same with the other section.
Few minutes before our scheduled departure time, boarding was announced from the CIP gate and we were transferred to our aircraft by buses directly from the lounge.
Today's aircraft
It would be my first time on TC-JJT
Which is named after the region Çukurova
Fuselage shot
TK 2337 IZMIR ADNAN MENDERES AIRPORT TO Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT
After being welcomed by the crew and the boarding pass check, I have headed to my seat 24K which had enormous legroom. Pillows were present at each seat.
While boarding was being continued, I have visited the lavatory which was larger than other aircraft and had better toiletries.
Shortly after I took my seat, the safety video had been monitored
Our aircraft was equipped with Live-TV, onboard Wi-Fi and Data-SMS services.
But, it was not good to have a closed IFE today
And a non working Wi-Fi even though the login screen worked
The Mobile IFE app didn't work either.
The only thing to do on this 777-300ER was to read one of the magazines in the seat pocket.
Or, watch the route map from the common screens
Like all TK domestic flights, a kaşar-cheese sandwich was served with a choice of drink. Just be aware that sour cherry juice and ice-tea with peach are exclusive drinks for Economy Class passengers and not available at the Business Class menu.
We had landed on time and it was nice to see the forward camera while landing which was monitored on the common screens.
Istanbul Atatürk AIRPORT - IST
After arriving to Atatürk Airport, as there is no gate at the domestic terminal that could handle a 777-300ER, we were parked to a remote stand.
777-300ER is a massive aircraft that I can't take a photo in whole in one shot.
After a short bus ride, we were in the domestic arrivals hall. I won't guarantee, but this could be my last flight arriving to Atatürk Airport.
After exiting the arrivals hall, I have proceeded to the metro station and return back to my place.
Once again, thanks for reading the whole series at it's the end of it.
I wish that we would meet in another report or serie.
