#14 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings.
778 reviews
Report No: 2019-801E
Ladies and Gentleman,
Welcome to this report which would be a short domestic flight on the Turkish Airlines A321 from Istanbul to Dalaman in Economy Class. In this report, you could also find a small review of the Elite Plus & Business section of the Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge. A more detailed review of the domestic lounge could be found here at one of my previous reports.
The routing for this trip was like this
Pax for this flight
Business Class: %65-70
Economy Class: %75-80
As I didn't wake up that early for online check-in, the front row seats were all taken onboard this flight. Turkish Airlines does not offer free seating onboard their domestic flights onboard Economy Class ( even for their elites ) before OLCI, so it's essential to check-in early if you want a front row seat.
However, I was able to find a seat at row 12.
The morning of the flight, I have taken the H-2 bus from Mecidiyeköy, which now runs 7/24 and the journey took about 30-35 minutes.
Buses normally drop passengers at the departures level, but after midnight until the morning, passengers are dropped at the public transportation level.
So, I have entered the terminal from the arrivals level as there are no entrances from the public transportation level. The security checkpoint was empty early in the morning.
Even though Turkish Airlines has a special lounge entrance outside of the terminal, there are several Domestic Business Class check-in counters at the main building. There was no wait at the Business Class check-in. I have asked for a window seat at the exit row at that time and I was told that I could get 20F.
So, I have decided to sit at 20F.
As Turkish Airlines does not offer fast-track security for domestic passengers in the main building, after a wait shorter than 5 minutes, I have cleared security and started walking to the lounge.
That morning, the Elite Plus & Business section of the Domestic Lounge was empty.
The food offerings are always the same in the domestic lounge.
Just a reminder that the soup is not photographed in this report
35-40 minutes before our scheduled time, I have headed to the lounge gates where passengers could benefit a direct lounge-aircraft boarding by bus.
After a short bus, we had arrived to the remote stand where our A321 was parked. TC-JMK would be operating the flight that day. It would be my second time onboard this specific aircraft. My first time was 7 years before this flight on the same route Istanbul to Dalaman but on a departure from Atatürk Airport.
Fuselage shot
After boarding the aircraft, I have grabbed a pillow from the overhead bins and took my seat 20F. Seats 20D and 20E were empty throughout the flight.
The legroom at the exit row
The personal screens only had the route map loaded.
Some information, our flight distance would be 505 km.
The seat pocket had the safety card and the Skylife magazine.
I don't know why but TK is still advertising their old longhaul product instead of their new seats that they use on their 787-9 and that they would use on their A350's.
TK domestic route map
The TK fleet
And details of our aircraft
We had started our push back on time and at that time the old safety video, the Lego one, was being monitored from the personal screens.
Shortly after takeoff, the meal service had begun. Today's snack was a warmed white cheese sandwich which is served with a choice of drink.
A view from the exit door while we were on our way.
After the meal service, I have visited the lavatory which was clean.
After arriving ahead of schedule, we had parked to gate 33.
Last summer, the brand new Terminal 2 had opened to service. Currently, all flights operate from Terminal 2 as Terminal 1 is under maintenance.
As I didn't have any checked baggage, I have left the baggage claim hall and headed to the Havaş ( shuttle ) stop
FIDS, traffic in Dalaman could be a bit exotic
And after waiting the departure time of the shuttle, I have left the airport and this report has came to an end.
Thanks for reading and hope to see you in another report.
There is nothing special to mention except the weirdness of Turkish Airlines not allowing Elite Plus ( highest tier ) passengers to select free seats ( even regular seats ) for free before OLCI on domestic flights. Otherwise, the flight was a regular TK domestic flight and the lounge was the Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge as usual.
IST
(+) Reasonable wait at check-in and security checkpoints
Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge
(+) Comfortable seating
(+) Breakfast selection
(+) Entertainment options at the lounge
TK 2552
(+) Comfortable seats and great legroom at exit row seats
DLM
(+) Efficient airport
2 Comments
- I remember the days when these ex-Kingfisher aircraft had joined the fleet. At that time, the product was the most recent product that TK offered onboard their short/medium-haul flights. Now, these aircraft are generally used at short international or domestic flights. By the way, TK doesn't have competitors on most of their domestic routes.
Once again thanks for stopping by.
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