Review of Turkish Airlines flight from Antalya to Istanbul in Economy

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The domestic series would continue with this Turkish Airlines flight from Antalya to Istanbul onboard the Airbus A321-200. As the Turkish Airlines Lounge in Antalya was closed during my visit, there would be no lounge report this time.

Here is the routing for this trip

Loads for this flight

Business Class: 95-100%
Economy Class: 90-95%

ONLINE CHECK-IN

About 24 hours before departure, I have checked-in online for this trip,

I was asked to verify my ID number and HES code ( a code required for Turkish citizens when traveling domestically )

As I am a Miles&Smiles Elite Plus member I am able to select seats for free, otherwise, you would need to pay ₺35 ( about €4 ) to choose your seat. Despite having status or not, an exit row seat costs ₺50 ( about €5,75 ) for a domestic flight. 

I had sticked to my pre-reserved seats onboard this flight

Same situation for my onward flight

The OLCI confirmation page

ANTALYA AIRPORT - AYT

While entering AYT, two security agents were checking a confirmation of travel ( ticket, mobile boarding pass, e-mail confirmation, etc… ) for people who wish to enter the terminal. This is because that due to the new restrictions after COVID, only passengers are allowed to enter the terminal.

The CIP Lounge and the Business Class check-in area was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, there was a desk allocated for Business Class & Elite Plus customers at the regular desks, the wait was only 2-3 minutes which was better compared to the normal Economy desks.

At the desk, I have asked for an exit row window seat, however, only the 2nd emergency exit row which misses a window was available, so I decided to stick at my seat, however, due to operational reasons, my seat was changed to 08F rather than 11F.

As you could see, AYT is not that busy, however, at this day, most international flights departed from Terminal 2, so it's acceptable that the domestic terminal ( Terminal 3 ) and the adjacent Terminal 1 is empty.

Security was quick like a breeze, there was a wait but the wait was shorter than 3 minutes.

After security, most merchants were open, however, a minority of them being closed.

FIDS for the day

At the airport, the majority of the aircraft parked were Corendon, Freebird and SunExpress aircraft.

GATE AREA & BOARDING

About 30-35 minutes before scheduled departure time, boarding had started by a rear-to-front boarding model. Row numbers were announced and passengers whose rows were not announced were turned back. Also, a temperature check was made at the gate.

I have also noticed some Business Class passengers that tried to board early but they were asked to take a seat as Turkish Airlines does not offer priority boarding due to COVID. Also, as I was seated in the first row of Economy Class, I needed to wait until the majority of people have boarded.

Also there was a scale to measure the weight of backpacks and handbags but the majority of bags were not weighed. As you might know, due to the Turkish Civil Aviation Directorate decision no larger carry-on's are allowed onboard; everything should fit under the seat.

TC-JML would be the aircraft operating our flight and it would be my second time onboard this aircraft. The first time I have flown this aircraft was a flight from Istanbul to Warsaw last summer.

TK 2415 ANTALYA AIRPORT TO ISTANBUL AIRPORT

After being welcomed by the crew, I have took my seat.

The seats were the TSI Economy Class seats that are usually equipped in domestic configured TK aircraft.

The legroom was decent.

During boarding, a hygiene kit which contained a mask and an antiseptic wipe was provided.

Our neighbor was this Pegasus 737-800 that would head to Istanbul-SAW.

Before aircraft doors have been closed, there was an announcement that onboard literature would not be available so that passengers could use the PressReader app instead. I have quickly obtained my access code and downloaded some newspapers and magazines for this flight.

After that, the safety video was monitored from the overhead monitors.

Normally, this aircraft is equipped with the mobile Wi-Fi entertainment system, however, on this flight, it was not activated.

And we have pushed back on time

The apron while we were pushing back

A Freebird A320 and a Corendon 737-800

More Corendon 737's at remote stands.

The first international terminal ( Terminal 1 ) is empty.

After a 5-10 minute taxi, it was our time to take off from runway 36C.

Just before us, this Pegasus A320neo had landed

And it was time to take-off.

As you might have realized, there were many aircraft at Terminal 2. There aircraft were mainly the aircrafts of Russian carriers.

Nordwind Airlines 777-200ER and Aeroflot 777-300ER while we're departing

Terminal 1 and Terminal 3

And we're gaining altitude

After the seatbelt sign had been turned off, the water service had started. Turkish Airlines have suspended anything other than water on all flights shorter than 2 hours both in Economy and Business Class.

After reading newspapers onboard, it was time to do some spotting before landing. Starting with Lake Sapanca and Kocaeli Cengiz Topel Airport.

The new Northern Marmara highway construction

Intercity Istanbul Park racing track which would host Formula 1 after 9 years, this November.

Şile area

Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge

Anadolu Kavağı

Sarıyer area

Istanbul Airport at the back

Maslak area, Istanbul Technical University & Türk Telekom Stadium

Levent Plazalar and Etiler areas

Mecidiyeköy, Şişli areas

The Golden Horn strait

Merter and Bağcılar area

Topkapı and Cevizlibağ area

Veliefendi Horse Racing Track

Marmara Forum shopping center at the bottom

Atatürk Airport and Sinan Erdem Dome

Ataköy Marina

Atatürk Airport, mostly filled with cargo aircraft and grounded Turkish Airlines aircraft

Avcılar area

Ambarlı Port

Again, Avcılar area

Beylikdüzü area

Beykent area

Esenyurt area

Esenyurt area

Lake Küçükçekmece

Atatürk Olympic Stadium which would host the 2021 UEFA Champions League final

Başakşehir area

Arnavutköy area

Approaching IST

IST is visible

The massive terminal

And we've touched down to runway 35R

While taxiing, mostly Turkish Airlines aircraft was visible.

More Turkish Airlines aircraft parked at the F concourse

And we were going to park at gate F3a.

Next to this Boeing 737-800

Istanbul Airport - IST

Before arriving at our parking position, the cabin crew announced that deboarding would be made row-by-row and passengers were asked to remain seated until their row number has been announced. However, when the seatbelt sign had been turned off, people from the rear rows stood up and advanced to the forward of the cabin and didn't listen to the warnings of the cabin crew that was trying to sit people down. In the end, no row-by-row deboarding was so I was out of the aircraft before my row number had been announced.

After a short walk to the domestic transfer boarding pass check, I was up in the domestic departures hall

And, the journey would continue in the next report.

This report has come to an end. 

Thanks for reading and hope to see you in another report.