This airline is a game-changer for Australians travelling to Europe
This new carrier has phenomenal inflight food service, chefs onboard, plants in the bathrooms and flies to 120 countries. Qantas better watch out.
This new carrier has phenomenal inflight food service, chefs onboard, plants in the bathrooms and flies to 120 countries.
In the know
Turkish Airlines launched its Melbourne service in March and plans to fly from Sydney by the end of the year. Non-stop flights between Australia and Istanbul are slated for 2026.
Take a seat
The grey-toned business cabin has 32 moulded seats staggered in a 1-2-1 formation with odd-numbered seats set by the aisle (with head-height privacy panel) and evens flush to the windows. Centre seats in even rows are closer together and better suited to couples.
The stitched felt and leather seats have adjustable armrests and a (lockable) compartment to store personal items and charge devices via USB port and universal power point.
Each converts to a 193cm flatbed (66cm wide); the post-meal turndown service involves a sleeping pad fitted over the seat, a quilt and ¾ pillow.
Ferragamo amenity kits contain a standard array of lotion, face mist, lip balm and toothpaste; the earplugs, eye mask and socks are all made from recycled plastics, as are the Anatolian slippers “to make you feel at home”.
Worth noting: one of the three WCs has a push-button bidet. All have Molton Brown toiletries, a large bottle of Turkish eau de cologne and potted, living ivy.
Tech talk
A strip of touch-panel icons by my elbow controls everything from seat recline to lighting and service, with call and “do not disturb” buttons.
Beneath it there’s a phone-sized remote for the 16-inch (41cm) touchscreen.
Denon noise-cancelling headphones provide quality sound. Internet access is free, with 1GB of data for business passengers (unlimited for Elite-status frequent flyers), but the wi-fi barely works once we reach Australia.
That’s entertainment
By the airline’s own reckoning there are sufficient video and audio programs to keep passengers entertained for 25 trips around the world.
The 1700 TV shows include HBO hits Succession, Game of Thrones and True Detective and special interest categories from science and sport to opera and mindfulness.
The 660-strong film festival includes award winners Killers of the Flower Moon, Anatomy of a Fall and Barbie. There are forward, downward and tail cameras for seat-bound sightseeing.
On the menu
Toqued chefs are the MVPs of the Turkish cabin crew, choreographing an impressive catering service that commences with warmed nuts, aperitifs and canapes and segues into trolleys laden with appetisers (smoked wild salmon, cocktail prawns) and desserts (tiramisu, apricot crepes, ice cream and traditional sweets).
On the Istanbul-Singapore leg, main courses run to a lamb medley of grilled cutlet and kebab and a filled ricotta pasta, eaten at tables set with porcelain, flickering battery candles, and miniature minarets (salt and pepper shakers).
The standout dish is a hot pea soup garnished with creme fraiche and pea shoots – as good as any I’ve eaten in a restaurant. Wines are mostly Turkish and French with a choice of three whites, four reds including a Chateau Lamothe Pontac 2018 Bordeaux blend, Taittinger champagne and vintage port, all poured into Riedel glassware.
In the bag
Business passengers are allowed 40kg of checked luggage and 8kg cabin baggage. Despite priority tagging, Melbourne airport manages to deliver the business class bags last.
At your service
Innate Turkish hospitality infuses the in-flight service, though language is an occasional challenge. “We do not have milk tea,” an attendant tells me. They do, however, have (very good) tea with milk.
On the ground
The 24-hour business lounge at Istanbul airport is a wonderland offering everything from free massages and ironing to sleep suites and a flight simulator.
Make your points
Turkish Airlines’ loyalty program Miles and Smiles is part of Star Alliance.
The bottom line
One-way business class flights are about $8000, based on an airline web search departing two months from publication
date.
The verdict
Turkish Airlines’ arrival in Australia is a game-changer for Europe-bound passengers. Besides the phenomenal inflight food service and Istanbul lounge, the carrier flies to more countries than any other (120+) and offers free Istanbul stopovers with two nights’ five-star accommodation.
Kendall Hill was a guest of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
FOR MORE AIRLINE REVIEWS, CLICK HERE.
If you love to travel, sign up to our free weekly Travel + Luxury newsletter here.
