Small seat space for 13 hours flight, they charged for baggage , very bad quality of food,
With a 4 hour delay its was a very basic flight which was just bearable. We were offered food vouchers for the delay and then they didnt work, so that was annoying. Also poor communication about the delay which got pushed out 3 times.
This is really the rating of two flights. JFK to IST then IST to NQZ. New York to Istanbul was good. Good crew and all positives. The flight to Astana was so bad that brought it all down. Crew was nonexistent above the minimum, seats were cramped, and it was hot on the plane. Turkish Airlines seems to be slipping down to US based carriers level.
Very good overall.... apart from the cost of extra check ed in luggage where they charge £17 per kg, and no option to just buy an extra bag allowance (at least on the route I took)
I use a wheelchair for mobility. Both in my flight from Houston and back to Houston from Istanbul, the Turkish airline staff asked that I claim my wheelchair at the luggage area. On arrival to Istanbul, parts of the wheelchair were in disarray at that time I raised no objection however upon claiming my wheelchair in Houston parts where outright missing. In both occasions, upon arriving in Houston and arriving in Istanbul, I asked multiple times why am made to pick up my wheelchair in the baggage claim rather than at the jet bridge. Getting the wheelchair at the jet bridge minimizes the probability of loosing parts because they can be hopefully reclaimed on the spot. I was told in Houston that a manager turned down my request to claim the wheelchair at the jet bridge in Houston. This is extremely frustrating because a wheelchair is not a set of clean underwear or a toothbrush- this is the way I move. A Turkish Arline staff took my complaint at the luggage claim area in Houston but as of the writing of this review the only contact I have received from the airline is because I initiated a claim rather than her as she told me she would.
The best food I’ve ever been served on an airplane. The security at the gate was frustrating as was the heavy editing of the films and television shows offered.
for the second time disappointed with TK, they like JAT = joke about time
This flight was in the air when the national power outage happened on 28 April 2025 in Spain and Portugal. As a result Lisbon airport was closed and the flight was diverted to Porto. There were no phones, internet or ATMs working and the Turkish Airlines ground crew in Porto were trying to find alternative transport to Lisbon (by bus). This did not materialise until late in the evening. The Turkish Airlines ground crew suggested that passengers may find their own way of getting to Lisbon. That in itself is a failure of Turkish Airlines, but understandable as there were no means of communication. The Turkish Airlines ground crew also said that any expenses insured for travel to Lisbon will be refunded by the Airline through their website. Unfortunately, I could find no way to travel back to Lisbon other than to hitch hike with an Uber driver. Because no systems were available and no credit card payment possible I paid the driver 140 Euros in cash with no receipt as systems were down. I arrived at my Lisbon hotel at 23:30 (flight was scheduled to land at 12:30). Upon contacting Turkish Airlines for compensation they are not willing to do anything as I do not have an invoice for my expenses. They do not even consider the 10 hours of delay and inactivity on their part as a reason to provide any sort of curtesy towards me. I find their behaviour appalling.
I recently flew with Turkish Airlines, and I can confidently say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I boarded, the crew was incredibly attentive, warm, and professional. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of throughout the flight. The highlight, however, was the food! I’ve flown with many airlines, but Turkish Airlines sets the bar incredibly high when it comes to in-flight dining. Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The variety of dishes, even on a long-haul flight, was impressive. It felt like dining at a high-end restaurant at 35,000 feet! The seats were comfortable, the entertainment options were great, and the overall atmosphere made the journey enjoyable. Turkish Airlines truly excels in combining luxury and hospitality. I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again—highly recommend!
Turkish Airlines overbooked the flight and they did not allow me to board the flight even though I had the proper boarding pass and was at the gate on time. Simply unacceptable.
