Departure time and check-in at Arlanda airport
It took nearly 11 hours to finish off my last day at work and do the handover to those who would take care of my work while away and I finally arrived at home rather exhausted at 7.30 pm, still had not even had time to fetch my suitcase from the attic. Fortunately my flight would not leave until late afternoon the next day.
I left my house at 2 pm the following day. Getting to the airport for me is rather easy with the nearest underground station just around the corner and the airport bus stop two stations away, a bearable route even with heavy luggage.
Everything worked out as planned and I made the trip to Arlanda airport in just 55 minutes.
Because of the midsummer holiday the airport was very quiet this afternoon with a large number of the regular flights not operating.
Turkish Airlines had four check-in desks assigned in the old check-in area of terminal 5, one check-in desk for business class and Star Gold and three desks for economy class passengers. Check-in and ground handling were handled by Menzies rather than by SAS, which might explain why TK is not using the general Star Alliance check-in area in terminal 5.
The flight seemed to have a very good load with possibly 50 people in line for economy check-in, fortunately there was not a person in the priority line so after the economy class passenger who had been directed to the business desk was checked in it was my turn.
I had already prebooked seat 02F for this flight so the check-in process was rather quick, my baggage was tagged to IST and a priority tag was attached accordingly.
Rather annoyingly it was not possible to enter my SAS frequent flyer number on the Turkish Airlines webpage, they only accept TK FF-numbers, so had to ask the agent to it for me. She could only enter it for my upcoming flight but suggested I should visit the ticket desk opposite the check-in area so I could have it entered in the booking.
She also gave me an invitation to use the fast track immigration in Istanbul, which was very appreciated.
Pics
Turkish Airlines check-in area in Terminal 5
TK Business and *G check-in with the usual red carpet in front
The departure board, this is not what it usually looks like on a regular weekday afternoon
After visiting the TK ticket office to sort out the FF-number I used the fast track security to get airside. The fast track has previously only been available to SAS golds flying on SAS (and LH and KF I think) but it was recently reported in the SAS forum that SAS golds can now use it flying on any Star Alliance carrier the same day.
The dragon still refused me access though claiming that SAS and Turkish Airlines did not cooperate, but after telling him about the rule change I was aware about he decided to “make an exception” and let me through.
Passing the new tax-free area at terminal 5
There is a brand new shopping area airside in terminal 5 which is the best that has ever been available during my lifetime.
The 1700 sqm tax-free shop right after security opened in December 2008 and is actually very nice-looking and a real improvement to the airport. I read it recently won an award for the best newly-opened tax-free shop in the world, which I am sure the airport management are very happy about.
In April a few more shops opened including a pretty cool toy store and Designtorget, a shop selling mostly interior decorations designed by Swedish artists.
The only drawback of the large tax-free shop is that all passengers have to pass about 80% of it and you actually walk in the opposite direction of most Schengen gates. Although the majority of the passengers probably don’t care it gets a bit annoying if you’re a frequent traveller at Arlanda as you need to do a lot of unnecessary walking.
With a few other tax-free shops to visit during the trip I skipped the shopping, exchanged some money and headed for the lounge instead.
There were quite a few passengers at the service desk opposite the stairs to the lounge and one man was shouting rather aggressively at the poor SAS agent. Apparently a flight to Munich was nearly two hours delayed (late incoming aircraft) and many people were going to miss their connections.
Not an easy situation for the ground staff to handle, especially with few alternative flights to rebook to.
Pics
The brand new tax-free shop in terminal 5
Excellent whisky selection, too bad alcohol is only available for passengers travelling to non-EU destinations
The new toy store Koffert
Designtorget
SAS Scandinavian lounge, Stockholm/Arlanda
Just like the airport in general the lounge was rather empty this afternoon with only a handful passengers.
As I mentioned the departure of this trip was during the midsummer holiday which is one of the most important Swedish holidays celebrating the arrival of the summer and Midsummer eve is also the longest day (shortest night) of the year in a country where winters are cold and dark, especially in the north.
Very nicely the usual lounge food had been replaced by some traditional Swedish midsummer food. Of course a rather limited selection of what is usually available in a midsummer buffet, but there was some herring, potatoes with dill, red onions and a delicious midsummer cake as dessert.
The buffet had also been decorated with a miniature midsummer pole which you can see on the photo of the buffet below. The real pole is a few meters high which you decorate with flowers and sing and dance around on Midsummer eve. The pole was in old times apparently also a celebration of fertility and with a bit of adult-oriented imagination you might see what the pole looks like, fortunately most people don’t know about this.
I spent about one and a half hour in the lounge having late lunch and some drinks before the monitors indicated boarding time for my flight to Istanbul around 30 minutes before scheduled departure.
Pics
Inside the SAS Scandinavian lounge
Computers with free internet and a bookshelf with books to read
The self-service buffet area
The midsummer food on offer and the miniature midsummer pole
Excellent drinks selection
Midsummer cake and pastries
The flight departed from gate 19 at the far end of the B-pier, quite a trek from the lounge in the beginning of the A-pier.
At the passport control a rather honest officer informed me the photo page of my passport was about to break away and that if it happened my passport would not be valid.
This was not exactly what you want to hear just about to depart on a longhaul trip with a tight itinerary that did not have any margins for embassy visits (and visiting countries that might not even have an embassy or consulate).
As a regular traveller who has shown this passport easily a few hundred times I should have known passports don’t break that easily and the small damage on the photo page had probably already been there for some time without me even noticing it, but it did continue to be a worry throughout the trip when check-in agents were bending or leaning over that poor piece of document. Oh well…
Stockholm/Arlanda-Istanbul, flight TK 1796 operated by Turkish Airlines
Departure: 17:15
Arrival: 21:40
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Class: Business Class
Seat: 02F
Most people had already boarded when arriving at the gate so there was no wait at all.
The flight to Istanbul was operated by a Boeing 737-800 but in contrast to my experiences of Turkish Airlines shorthaul flights (including B737) last year this aircraft had proper business class seats onboard. That was a very positive and unexpected surprise!
The aircraft had five rows of business class seats with a 2-2 configuration and a 35” seat pitch (in contrast to a 3-3 configuration in economy class). On the TK flights I took last year business class basically had economy class seats but with empty middle seats where a drink table had been attached.
The business class seats were in black leather and actually really comfortable and spacious, more than adequate for a 3-hour flight.
Only five passengers in business class on this flight (while economy class seemed almost full) so certainly no lack of space onboard.
After all passengers were seated pre-departure drinks were offered in business class, a choice of water, orange juice or champagne.
I started off my first of a large number of flights with the only appropriate choice, a glass of bubbly of course.
Newspapers were also distributed in the cabin before the doors were closed.
A timely pushback at 5.15 pm sharp and with few departures this afternoon we were airborne within five minutes from runway 01L.
Nice views of the Swedish countryside before we turned towards the Baltic Sea. The route to Istanbul would take us over the island of Gotland, then Lithuania, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria and across the Black Sea to Istanbul.
Pics
Lots of passengers waiting to board the TK Boeing 737
The business class cabin onboard with proper business class seats, very comfortable!
Another photo of the business class cabin
Pre-departure champagne
Take-off roll passing terminal 5 with Air China and Ethiopian Airlines planes on the apron
Swedish countryside
Meal service
After the seat belt sign had been switched off the meal service started with hot towels, drinks and peanuts.
Menus were distributed and here is what was on offer on the flight to Istanbul, a delightful menu for a three hour flight prepared by excellent Do&Co.
Pics
The business class menu, “Who is in the kitchen today?”
Quote:
Menu Stockholm-Istanbul
Turkish Do&Co is at the work in the kitchen…
Assorted Turkish Appetizers
***
Shepherd Salad
***
Specials from Turkish cuisine…
“Külbasti” Turkish style grilled beef fillet
Eggplant puree
Grilled tomato and green pepper / buttered rice
Grilled chicken breast
Sautéed mixed vegetables / potato puree
Home made Rigatoni pasta
Creamy parmesan sauce
Sautéed broccoli and zucchini / cherry tomato
***
Assorted cheese
***
Home made chocolate and hazelnut mousse cake
***
Ovenfresh bread selection
Freshly brewed coffee or tea
Beverages
Champagne
Spirits:
Blended whisky, Bourbon, Whisky, Gin, Vodka, Raki
Selected Turkish and International wines
Beers:
Carlsberg, Efes Pilsen
Juices:
Orange, Tomato, Sourcherry
Soft drinks:
Cola, Cola Light, Sprite, Ice Tea Lemon, Mineral Water
Hot drinks:
Freshly brewed coffee, Tea
|
The meal was simply excellent. The Turkish appetizers were quite innovative (although a bit too cold), the main course (I had the Turkish Külbasti) was very tasty and so was the hazelnut cake as dessert.
I asked for some red wine to drink with the meal and chose the Turkish wine they had on offer. I finally finished off the dinner with coffee and a glass of Chivas Regal.
I had some more drinks during the flight and funnily every time I asked for something to drink I also got some more packaged peanuts, it ended up being a lot of peanuts…
Pics
Turkish red wine to drink and peanuts
Appetizer
Main course
Dessert, coffee and a glass of Chivas (and more peanuts)
Arrival in Istanbul
There was no individual inflight entertainment on the Boeing 737 (not even in business class) but they did show a movie on the overhead screens and if I remember correctly there were some music channels available as well, headphones were distributed to all passengers.
For a three hour flight it did not matter that much, especially since I had a laptop with several movies to watch.
The flight passed very quickly and somewhere over the Black Sea we started our descent into Istanbul, right during sunset which provided some very nice scenery outside my window.
Before landing hot towels were again handed out followed by a health declaration card from the Turkish authorities where we had to fill in our full permanent and temporary (while away) contact details. In case there would be any incidents of swine flu in Turkey that could be traced back to our flight they would have contact details to each one of us.
We were told we would not be allowed to disembark until we had completed the form. Although the form was rather extensive and time-consuming to complete there was not much to say about it, it’s good that the authorities take these things seriously and act proactively.
There was a lot of inbound traffic to Istanbul and we made most of our final descent over the Sea of Marmara and it was easy to see and follow all the traffic into runway 06 which was in use this evening.
We finally touched down at 9.35 pm local time and quickly taxied to the international terminal.
Pics
Beautiful sunset over the Black Sea
The flight map showing we are approaching Istanbul
Leaving the nice Turkish coastline to start final approach over the Sea of Marmara
Can you spot the four aircrafts on approach in a straight line to IST?
Welcome to Istanbul Atatürk airport!
The fast track immigration card
Sitting on the second row I was one of the first passengers off the plane and followed the signs for passport control and once there the signs for the premium passport control number 29 and 30.
With lots of subsequent arrivals the normal lines were very long and slow and I was very happy to have the fast track card with only two persons in front of me.
I was through immigration within five minutes and found the designated baggage belt at the far end of the baggage hall, and believe it or not the baggage delivery started the same second I got there with my priority-tagged bag third on the belt.
That’s what premium travel should be like!!
The time it took from touchdown to the bus stop outside the arrivals hall including immigration and baggage reclaim was almost exactly 20 minutes.
That takes some effort to beat!
Unfortunately it took a bit more than those 20 minutes for the hotel shuttle bus to arrive, but that’s a different story...
Pics
Lots of traffic also on the other side of the terminal building
Conclusion
Excellent flight with great food and drinks. I was very surprised to find a proper busienss class seat onboard, the seat was very comfortable and with the seat next to mine empty I had more than enough space onboard during the flight.
The arrivals experience at Istanbul was flawless, this should be the norm at all airports!
The crew onboard was friendly and attentive but although their command of English was OK they sometimes spoke so fast it was hard to follow with their Turkish accent.
I am a bit surprised how well the priority tag worked since the baggage handlers at ARN are normally completely useless when it comes to priority baggage handling. Perhaps Menzies (handling TK at ARN) is much better at this than SAS (handling most other *A carriers at ARN)?!
But overall, well done Turkish Airlines!