Turkish Airlines made a long flight from YVR to IST a great flying experience. From the attendants, to the food, to the entertainment program to all the extras, a twelve hour flight ‘flew by’. Late departure and arrival was not the airline’s fault.
Great food, and lots of it. They made us come to the gate two hours before the flight and you were stuck in the enclosure until you boarded with no bathroom or food or drink. My seat in business class was very claustrophobic, I could barely get into it and a large board blocked the window and made it even more claustrophobic
It was crowded… the bathrooms dirty and smelly. The seats have been made even smaller.
I missed the flight during my lay over in Istanbul, due to health condition. Customer service was awful. It was a nightmare. I had to purchase a new flight to my destination and was told that my return flight is compromised due to one segment of the trip being missed. NOBODY responded to my numerous calls and emails. I will never use Turkish airline in the future.
The entire experience in Turkish business class was superb. From the friendly greetings including the chef, to the polite and classy service, all was wonderful. The in flight entertainment is one of the best. The food was the best I’ve had inflight.
Seats were very tight with poor legroom - and I am average height. During the 12 hour flight, tiny paper cups of drinks we're only offered during the super and breakfast services, with the crew nowhere to be seen in between. One of the bathrooms was out of order, leading to long lines waiting to use the remaining two available to the economy class passengers.
Seats paid for in advance. Seat assignments changed by kayak 3rd party. Seats then changed again by Turkish airlines at the gate. Family seated on opposite sides of the plane yet money taken for seat assignments that were not honored.
They are absolutely impossible to get hold of. A death in the family caused us to delay our departure. They are impossible to get through to and after waiting 41/2 hours I was told they would not consider helping us. They cancelled our return flight and have not reimbursed anything. I strongly urge readers to consider a different airline.
We had requested a wheel chair assist for my husband who has Parkinson’s. The first seat we came to we got off the plane was staffed by 3 men-one was on his cell phone, one was sleeping and the fellow we spoke with was rude and seemed as if he didn’t care that we had a plane to catch in one hour. A person with a wheel chair came and took us to the center area for wheelchairs. Here we waited for 20-25 minutes while our flight went to “boarding.” Finally a woman came with a cart and we zipped through the airport.
Staff at the airport wasn't helpful or friendly. Probably the worst airport experience I have ever had, going and coming. The staff on the plane was better. Still not super friendly or personable. However, they were not rude like airport staff. They ran out of certain menu items. Maybe could have been prepared better? Overall just ok.
