Turkish Airlines Business Class Review: 6 Things We Love and 1 Thing We Hate

Over the last decade, we dreamed of traveling to Southeast Asia together, but the distance and price of airfare always held us back. We finally made it happen when we found a great business class fare from Washington, DC into Bangkok and out of Kuala Lumpur. Considering we spent more than 45 hours in the air on this trip, comfort was essential. But was the upgrade worth the price? Here are six things we loved, one thing that was disappointing, and the best strategies for booking this trip.

This is our honest review from our own personal travel experience. We are so glad we’ve had this amazing opportunity and hope we can help you make the best choices for your next adventure.  

6 THINGS WE LOVED

1. The Smooth Airport Experience

Business class tickets on Turkish come with priority check-in, a dedicated boarding area, and a separate entrance onto the plane at all four of our airports (Dulles, Istanbul, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur). Istanbul International Airport takes it a step further with its own business class and elite check-in area, which eliminated any check-in or boarding chaos. The lounge access was the real standout, especially in Istanbul (more on that below).

Pro Tip: Ask airport staff about priority services at every stop, including immigration. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport had a separate business class immigration line with about ten people in it when we arrived alongside thousands of other travelers. We had to ask a few employees to find it, but it saved us a significant amount of time.

2. The In-Flight Meals and Service

The flight crew was kind and attentive on every leg, and the food was absolutely exceptional. Turkish Airlines brings its own chefs on board, and the difference is noticeable. The meals were so extensive we had to pace ourselves across the flights to avoid overdoing it.

The wine selection was also impressive and featured several Turkish options. We finished one dinner with a glass of port, which felt like a nice indulgence at 35,000 feet.

A few dishes across our four flights didn’t land as well as others, but the volume and variety meant we could pick and choose with no worries about going hungry. For a long-haul itinerary, that flexibility matters.

I should note that water got a little scarce inflight but I was able to find a crew member to get me a glass. Next time I’ll bring a big refillable bottle and a fan. The lack of individual air vents made the cabin hot for me.

3. The Amenity Kits

When we flew, Turkish was offering beautiful Salvatore Ferragamo kits. But they’ve since transitioned to Lanvin, with a UNESCO Türkiye Series appearing on select routes as well. The quality has consistently been high across their partnerships, and the bags are genuinely reusable. We collected different colors across our four flights and left a few as hotel tips (along with cash) during our trip. The kits include a really sturdy eye mask, socks, a dental kit, and some great lotions and potions.

4. The Lie-Flat Seats

For a multi-leg journey with flights ranging from 9 to 11 hours, lie-flat seats changed the flying experience entirely. Rather than surviving the flight to get to the trip, the fun starts on the plane. We slept for meaningful stretches on each long-haul leg, which made a real difference arriving in Istanbul, Bangkok, and even home.

After meal service, the crew added extra padding, pillows, and blankets to set up for sleep. It’s a small detail that some airlines skip, and it was really appreciated, especially for such a long journey. The one caveat – which we cover in more detail below – is that the seats are noticeably narrower than some competing products in lie-flat mode and Turkish still uses a mix of older and newer models that vastly differ. This is worth knowing before you book.

5. The Lounge Experience

On such a long journey, the lounge access made a huge difference. While the Turkish Lounge at Washington Dulles is included with our Priority Pass (and is one of our favorites), our long-haul business-class ticket gained us access to the super-premium United Polaris lounge (as a Star Alliance partner). It’s in a different terminal than Turkish, so give yourself 30 minutes to get from Terminal C to the gate at Terminal B before boarding begins. If you’re up for an adventure, Dulles is one of the greatest airports to lounge hop, starting with United Polaris and ending at Turkish.

🥂 Best Lounges at Washington Dulles Airport and How to Get In

The real star of the show, however, is the relatively new Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul. We had a 5-hour layover (which was kind of nice between two 10-hour flights) and found everything we needed (and more) at this world-class lounge. The lounge is gigantic with plenty of seating, entertainment options, and even a golf simulator and cinema. Not to mention that the food options are seemingly endless and delicious, highlighting Turkish and international cuisine.

We even got to reserve times to use a private shower room. We have taken advantage of these amenities in the past at other airports but were not expecting it to be so luxurious in Istanbul. This was so appreciated in the middle of a long journey. You can also reserve a private room with a bed if your layover is long enough. We also had some champagne while people-watching in the open area that looks out over the terminal.

6. The Stopover Program

You may be surprised to learn that Turkish offers overnight accommodations in Istanbul for all passengers (up to two nights for business class and one night for economy), if your layover on a long-haul journey is at least a certain length. You can read more about eligibility and procedures here. (If your layover is at least six hours you should check out TourIstanbul.)

We were booked at the Sheraton Istanbul Ataköy Hotel, which was super comfortable with a nice restaurant for dinner but not in walking distance to anything. So, to make the most of our 24-hour stopover, we woke up early and took a taxi over to the historic old city — the Sultanahmet area — to check out the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia.

After wandering around the historic sites, we journeyed up to a rooftop restaurant at the Seven Hills Sultanahmet Hotel to enjoy the beautiful views over an insanely bountiful and delicious Turkish breakfast. Signing up for the free hotel was totally worth it – as it was way cheaper to take taxis around to see the sights than pay for an accommodation in the historic area.

The One Thing We Hated: Some Things About the Seats

This needs its own section because it’s genuinely important context for anyone booking. There were multiple design issues that took away from the comfort you may be expecting with a lie-flat option.

Here are a few things that detracted from the luxe experience:

• Older models: Three out of four of our flights were on older model planes with an open floor plan, and two of our planes had a 2-3-2 configuration. So even in business-class, you could wind up in a middle seat with a stranger blocking your aisle access.
• Seat Switch: We booked our flights 11 months in advance, picked our ideal seats, and monitored for changes, but they changed planes and schedules several times – and on one leg they automatically put us in the dreaded middle row with three seats (but we were each in an aisle seat with the middle open). We could not change to any of the two-seat options on the side, as none were open. I checked multiple times a day for six weeks and nothing freed up.
• Left to Luck: Fortunately, no one booked that middle seat, so it was a comfortable and spacious experience in the end, but you should know that this can happen even with careful, advance planning. Once main reason to shell out the money or points for business class is to have aisle access and not sit next to a stranger – even more so for super long flights.
• Blocked from Partner: We had the newer, more private cabin design on our last leg with a 2-2-2 configuration. We deliberately picked the “couples seats” in the middle so we could talk to each other on this 11-hour day flight, but the privacy barrier was not adjustable. It’s a small thing, but an honest detail that might bother a couple traveling together. Why bother having any couples seats with that design?
• Narrow Seats for Sleeping: In the lie-flat position, the seats felt very narrow compared to other airlines – on the older and the newer models – so we had a tough time staying comfortable as the hours went by. We also got very hot, which is why I try to bring a tiny portable USB fan and wear layers.

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All that being said, while some travelers may not like the open design of older Turkish Airlines cabins and prefer private pods, we really enjoyed it. We felt kind of like we were in a swanky lounge or restaurant (especially with the food service.) We also really liked the benches for our feet rather than narrow foot wells in pods.

How to Book Turkish Airlines Business Class

Turkish Airlines is a transfer partner for several major travel credit cards, including Capital One Venture X, which means your points can go directly toward business class redemptions. If you prefer to book with miles, Turkish also allows upgrades using their own Miles & Smiles program.

Although we paid a full cash fare of $3500 each, we booked directly with Turkish Airlines the day the tickets were released and saved well over $1,000 for two people (compared to prices we tracked in the months that followed). The price never came close to that opening fare again. If you’re targeting a specific route, set a fare alert and be ready to act fast.

Pro Tip: Turkish also allows cash or points upgrades at check-in if seats are available in business class. This is a great option for saving on the base fare, but be flexible. If nothing is available, you’ll be flying economy with no premium cabin alternative. Turkish does not offer a premium economy cabin.

Was It Worth It?

Yes, this was an amazing experience. The food, service, lounge access, and stopover program are all genuinely strong, and Turkish flies to more countries than any other airline, which makes it a practical choice for routes that would otherwise require multiple connections on other carriers. BUT if the price was the same on another airline, like Qatar or Etihad, we may opt for those because the seats are an improvement on many of their newer models.

Booking when tickets were first released was the right move. The fare we paid was well below what the same itinerary cost even a few weeks later, and the savings were substantial enough to make a meaningful difference in the overall trip budget. This isn’t always the case with other airlines, but we’ve noticed it consistently with Turkish.

This was the most fun we’ve ever had on travel days considering the swanky lounge access, lie-flat seats, amazing meals, and priority service. Have you flown Turkish Airlines? Have you tried their stopover program? Let us know in the comments!

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