#15 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings.
778 reviews
Hello dear flight readers! Today I will post a flight I was on yesterday, to took us to visit for the second time Istanbul.
This time around we will rather focus on the remains of Constantinople.
We book this return trip with Turkish Airlines, about 80 euros more expensive than with Air France. We choose this over AF, even though I am a Skyteam gold member, and it was more expensive, the flight was direct and AF had just one flight landing at 3am in Istanbul, which isn't the best way to start a weekend away!
The only thing with miles and more is that - they expire after 12 months.
Miles & More miles earned with this flight: 125
Miles Status earned: 32
We checked in online using the app… that is reall well built.
From the beginning of the Covid Crisis, the airport shrunk to operate only from Terminal 2, up until last week when Terminal 1 re-opened with the airlines previously operating from there.
Check in hall was really busy, we only had 2 cabin luggages so we skipped this part..
Just like on Terminal 2, boarding passes should be scanned prior to access security.
Having flown with Air France during all the difference phases of lock down from Terminal 2, I got used to a population mainly made of professionnal and this was a shock… It took for ever with families, babies, people not ready to open their suitcases, declare their laptops….
Passed this point ze rushed through the duty-free zone and this iconic "place des lumières" - a bit dark on my picture!
We went upstairs at the Passport control, where they were one policeman and a policewoman checking passports; the Lady was exceptionnally grumpy. She called a Lady to check her passports and this one turned her back to her as her husband was also calling her, the Policewoman took this as an incredible offence and a 15 min long argument started… worrying me a bit as the boarding limit time was just 15 min away.
Finally we were able to reach C09 boarding hall.
This boarding lounges are really more spacious and comfortable comapres to Terminal 2.
our bird of the day next to TO
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271 Neo
Registration: TC-LFT
Engines: 2x PW1134
Age: 1 month old
Layout: C20 Y162
Observation: Brand new A321Neo, amongst 30 others.
My first time onboard an A321Neo.
Turlisk Airlines doesn't seem to have figured out a boarding procedure… Everyone just boarded without order.
And when I go for my seat 7A, i discover that an old lady was on it... I told her I bought my seat and asked if she can move.. The old lady told me her knees were hurting and then she pretented not to speak english anymore.
A cabin crew was nearby and I told her that was my seat and I like taking pictures when I flew… The answer was something like I am sorry but she is old and she will let you take pictures… I tried @Pititom's strategy, to book seats at A and C but it didn't work for me..
My other half told me to drop it otherwise people will look at us like some sort of petty person.
I am sure you FR people share my frustration!!
The plane being brand new, so was the cabin… The pitch is actually average, but the IFE, thickness of the seat, hearplugs given, USB plugs are a nice plus, especially in economy.
You couldn't recline the seats though.
Safety video…
Taxiing to 35L
And take off
Scenes over the Alps…
Cruise mood lights… I am actually really impressed by the A321Neo, it is super quiet..
And again, the food is impressive for a J class..
Bread and butter, Salad, cake,
Wine of course, I might as well start to try the local specialities!
The main meal was a tad small in portions i found.
Mood lighting changed whist we were over Greece.
I wish I could had a better picture of the winglet but you that woman didn't even go to the toilets once!
I wish I could make a magazine review as usual but there wasn't any, not even on the app. However there was Wi-Fi onboard, but it was quite dear so I didn't use it.
Turkish Airlines proudly says they are the best with Covid measures… I am not sure if it is true but they do give a mask and cleaning towel just like AF.
On final to the new IST airport.
After landing, we taxied for some time and reached a gate at the terminal, where we unboarded by a jetway; I took advantage of being in the queue to show the Business seats that really seem interesting. Really a big plus compares to European legacy short haul business class.
Not sure if the new Airport will be renamed after Ataturk just like the old one.. The airport is indeed brand new, very high ceilings.
Unlike what I have read, it was fluid, not so many people even at passport control.
To finish, a nice view from Galata Tower where our hotel is
The stamp on arrival.
TK: My first flight with them, overall a good impression for a 2,5 hours flight in economy - better than European legacy carriers.
Hard product is overall better - IFE, plugs, WiFi, but no magazine.
Soft Product - a complimentary propper meal with free booze
Staff didn't handle the problem with my seat according to what you pay for - minus for that.
LYS: Efficient, although you can tell the staff at T1 hasn't worked for a very long time - really lack of patience and habits.
ISL: Brand new indeed, spacious could be cleaner and is really far from the city.
Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 8 avis concernant 1 compagnies sur la ligne Lyon (LYS) → Istanbul (IST).
La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Turkish Airlines avec 8.1/10.
La durée moyenne des vols est de 3 heures et 5 minutes.
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2 Comments
- Unfortunately, that's a problem that we see a lot with TK even pre-COVID; they do have boarding groups on their boarding passes but the enforcement is generally weak. They just did a COVID show for a year boarding from the back to the front and ditching priority boarding for status and J class pax and now as it seems, it looks like a mess.
- I do share your frustration, I am also a person that enjoys the window seat. I hope that you'll able to enjoy the window on your return.
- Wow! TK restored wine and presumably beer on international flights in Y. They previously didn't served alcohol. This is a positive improvement that I'm learning from your Flight-Report. For reference, TK doesn't share these small updates in a publicly available channel.
- Also just to let you know that the new airport is coded IST and not ISL. As Atatürk Airport is still operational for general aviation and cargo flights, the new airport would not be named under Atatürk.
I hope that you're having a great time in my hometown at the moment and enjoy the rest of your stay!
Tesekkurler for stopping by and for your comment :)
Yes the boarding is quite pre 2010's fashion, I don't know if it is a bad or a good thing.
Yes on the return flight I first made sure not to board last but also jumping on my seat!
Yes and I was pleased to even have the choice: one white bottles or 2 reds, amongst which 1 was one french, the other one turkish. When I chose the latter the hostess told me it was the good choice ah!!
I thing this really makes TK standing out: the meal and the drinks - an era that is almost in the past for some other legacy carriers.
Duely noted, I will change that to IST. Yes and on a side note, I have the feeling that the current president isn't the number one fan of Ataturk anyway ;-)
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