Jan 10, 2015, 2:41 am
Last edit by: starflyergold
Lounge Location
IST International Terminal. Near Gate 220
Video walkthrough of the lounge made on 2016-05-25
IST TK Lounge Walkthrough - YouTube
Getting In
Opening Hours: 24 hrs per day
Entrances: 2 entrances - one in the main terminal, another from the far-left side of the check-in area of the airport with separate passport control, Only for TK Business Class passengers or TK Elite Plus in Y, but not Elite or other *G cards, you need to go through main passport control and enter from airside). Entry in the main terminal is done by automated gates. You need a boarding pass with your status on it, if that is not present, please ask the lounge matrons and they'll manually let you in. It is also necessary to consult the front desk if you're bringing a guest(s).
Dedicated entry from the check in area (far left side as you face security/immigration) is only open from 5am to 12am midnight, outside of those hours you must enter the main terminal first and use that entrance.
Prior noted in this wiki, was that there was three entrances, however that one is an exit only that can be found in the lower level of the lounge.
Bag Storage: There are lockers right next to the main entrance on both floors. Lockers are emptied at night.
Eligibility:
Business Class travellers on international flights operated by Turkish Airlines,
Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members (they may invite their families or one guest),
Star Alliance Gold members (they may invite one guest),
First and Business Class travellers on flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines.
Must travel on Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance
The lounge cannot be accessed through Priority Pass or by paying at the entrance. There are many other pay lounges at IST.
Multiple Entries:
If you're connecting and want to visit Istanbul, you can enter the lounge with your connecting BP, enjoy the lounge then go back to Immigration, enter Turkey, and come back to the lounge after your visit.
To go landside from the lounge: leave the lounge on the upper level and walk straight toward the food court. Just before the food court there is a set of stairs on the left (look for signs to the mosque) that takes you down to the arrival level, and then to the immigration counters.
Facilities
Working
Free Wi-Fi (you get the code by scanning your boarding pass at machines dotted around the lounge)
Showers
Printers and computers
Eating
Extensive Food and Drink Areas
Upstairs:
Turkish desserts, ie baklava
Nut station
Coffee station + Demel cakes
Kofte/grill station
Pasta
Mezze
Beverages (alcoholic/non-alcoholic)
Fresh fruits
Fresh pide
Olive bar
Nut bar
Downstairs:
Turkish "special of the month"/chef's station
Coffee station + Demel cakes
Simit cart
Kofte/grill station
Pasta
Mezze
Make-your-own-tea/wellness tea station
Beverages (alcoholic/non-alcoholic), stands throughout the lounge
Fresh fruits
Fresh pide
Olive bar
Nut bar
Early morning food differences
"Turkish special of the month" chef's station serving breakfast foods instead (e.g. gozleme)
Kofte station replaced by made-to-order omelette bar/breakfast items
Mini-simits, croissants, and other breakfast pastries
Demel cakes not taken out until ~ 8am
Turkish desserts not taken out until after 8am
Mezze station replaced by muesli, yogurt station
Smoking
This is a non smoking lounge, smoking area is upstairs at the far end of the terminal.
Relaxing
Relaxation Rooms (see below)
Ironing service
Newspapers and Library
Media wall
Pool Table
Golf simulator
RC car track
Self-playing piano
2x Xbox systems with FIFA and NBA
Sleeping in the Lounge
There are 5-7 relaxation rooms.
Eligibility:
4-7 hour layover for TK Business and Elite Plus customers in Economy Class.
International to International connections only
Couches throughout the lounge.
You may be eligible for a free hotel outside the airport.
IST International Terminal. Near Gate 220
Video walkthrough of the lounge made on 2016-05-25
IST TK Lounge Walkthrough - YouTube
Getting In
Opening Hours: 24 hrs per day
Entrances: 2 entrances - one in the main terminal, another from the far-left side of the check-in area of the airport with separate passport control, Only for TK Business Class passengers or TK Elite Plus in Y, but not Elite or other *G cards, you need to go through main passport control and enter from airside). Entry in the main terminal is done by automated gates. You need a boarding pass with your status on it, if that is not present, please ask the lounge matrons and they'll manually let you in. It is also necessary to consult the front desk if you're bringing a guest(s).
Dedicated entry from the check in area (far left side as you face security/immigration) is only open from 5am to 12am midnight, outside of those hours you must enter the main terminal first and use that entrance.
Prior noted in this wiki, was that there was three entrances, however that one is an exit only that can be found in the lower level of the lounge.
Bag Storage: There are lockers right next to the main entrance on both floors. Lockers are emptied at night.
Eligibility:
Business Class travellers on international flights operated by Turkish Airlines,
Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members (they may invite their families or one guest),
Star Alliance Gold members (they may invite one guest),
First and Business Class travellers on flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines.
Must travel on Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance
The lounge cannot be accessed through Priority Pass or by paying at the entrance. There are many other pay lounges at IST.
Multiple Entries:
If you're connecting and want to visit Istanbul, you can enter the lounge with your connecting BP, enjoy the lounge then go back to Immigration, enter Turkey, and come back to the lounge after your visit.
To go landside from the lounge: leave the lounge on the upper level and walk straight toward the food court. Just before the food court there is a set of stairs on the left (look for signs to the mosque) that takes you down to the arrival level, and then to the immigration counters.
Facilities
Working
Free Wi-Fi (you get the code by scanning your boarding pass at machines dotted around the lounge)
Showers
Printers and computers
Eating
Extensive Food and Drink Areas
Upstairs:
Turkish desserts, ie baklava
Nut station
Coffee station + Demel cakes
Kofte/grill station
Pasta
Mezze
Beverages (alcoholic/non-alcoholic)
Fresh fruits
Fresh pide
Olive bar
Nut bar
Downstairs:
Turkish "special of the month"/chef's station
Coffee station + Demel cakes
Simit cart
Kofte/grill station
Pasta
Mezze
Make-your-own-tea/wellness tea station
Beverages (alcoholic/non-alcoholic), stands throughout the lounge
Fresh fruits
Fresh pide
Olive bar
Nut bar
Early morning food differences
"Turkish special of the month" chef's station serving breakfast foods instead (e.g. gozleme)
Kofte station replaced by made-to-order omelette bar/breakfast items
Mini-simits, croissants, and other breakfast pastries
Demel cakes not taken out until ~ 8am
Turkish desserts not taken out until after 8am
Mezze station replaced by muesli, yogurt station
Smoking
This is a non smoking lounge, smoking area is upstairs at the far end of the terminal.
Relaxing
Relaxation Rooms (see below)
Ironing service
Newspapers and Library
Media wall
Pool Table
Golf simulator
RC car track
Self-playing piano
2x Xbox systems with FIFA and NBA
Sleeping in the Lounge
There are 5-7 relaxation rooms.
Eligibility:
4-7 hour layover for TK Business and Elite Plus customers in Economy Class.
International to International connections only
You can only use them only if you are connecting to/from a longhaul Turkish Airlines flight (8+ hours) AND your layover is between 4 and 7 hours.
You may be eligible for a free hotel outside the airport.
TK's Flagship IST *G Lounge [2015 onwards Master Thread]
Jan 22, 2015, 4:01 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Jan 22, 2015, 5:29 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Jan 23, 2015, 12:23 am
#48
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,586
Jan 23, 2015, 2:00 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
Respectfully disagree.
It is better than all UA GF lounges. Better than ICN OZ F lounge. Better than ZRH Swiss F lounge and Vienna *A F lounge and better than LAX A* F lounge and as good or better than SQ SIN F lounge (aside from private room)
IMO, the only *A F lounges that top it are LH at FRA/MUC and TG BKK, and SQ SIN PR.
It is better than all UA GF lounges. Better than ICN OZ F lounge. Better than ZRH Swiss F lounge and Vienna *A F lounge and better than LAX A* F lounge and as good or better than SQ SIN F lounge (aside from private room)
IMO, the only *A F lounges that top it are LH at FRA/MUC and TG BKK, and SQ SIN PR.
Of course that is the case. It's been nearly 2 years now.
Always wondered why.
Not complaining, I do enjoy both.
Jan 23, 2015, 3:55 am
#51
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by nachosdelux
Respectfully disagree.
It is better than all UA GF lounges. Better than ICN OZ F lounge. Better than ZRH Swiss F lounge and Vienna *A F lounge and better than LAX A* F lounge and as good or better than SQ SIN F lounge (aside from private room)
IMO, the only *A F lounges that top it are LH at FRA/MUC and TG BKK, and SQ SIN PR.
Those are what I was thinking about. Throw in QF and few other.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHOPCHOP767
Do they still play the movies in there? I haven't been through IST in over a year. The chairs in there were very comfortable, but it was hard to relax with a movie or some sort of feature blaring noise.
Makes me chuckle every time, especially when I have a guest and say 'do you want to bet in the theater now they are airing either Michael Jackson or Coldplay "live from Paris" concerts ?'
Of course that is the case. It's been nearly 2 years now.
Always wondered why.
Not complaining, I do enjoy both.
Originally Posted by nachosdelux
Respectfully disagree.
It is better than all UA GF lounges. Better than ICN OZ F lounge. Better than ZRH Swiss F lounge and Vienna *A F lounge and better than LAX A* F lounge and as good or better than SQ SIN F lounge (aside from private room)
IMO, the only *A F lounges that top it are LH at FRA/MUC and TG BKK, and SQ SIN PR.
Those are what I was thinking about. Throw in QF and few other.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHOPCHOP767
Do they still play the movies in there? I haven't been through IST in over a year. The chairs in there were very comfortable, but it was hard to relax with a movie or some sort of feature blaring noise.
Makes me chuckle every time, especially when I have a guest and say 'do you want to bet in the theater now they are airing either Michael Jackson or Coldplay "live from Paris" concerts ?'
Of course that is the case. It's been nearly 2 years now.
Always wondered why.
Not complaining, I do enjoy both.
Jan 23, 2015, 9:21 am
#54
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Jan 23, 2015, 10:25 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BRS; PVG
Programs: BA Gold, A3 *G, EY Gold, AZ CFP (ST E+). Hilton Gold
Posts: 271
I only spent two weeks travelling in Turkey so I could be wrong. But I don't recall ever seeing pock in Turkey, at least they were not visiable to tourist.
Jan 23, 2015, 12:12 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
Jan 23, 2015, 1:45 pm
#57
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,586
Jan 23, 2015, 7:46 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
On our last visit here, MrsWT73 found a woman washing her bare feet in the sinks in the bathroom. Slightly unusual.
I'd have to agree. I don't find that a facility that seats approximately 1,000 people to be all that exclusive. It's up there but I think there are nicer ones out there. The LH FCT is among them.
I'd have to agree. I don't find that a facility that seats approximately 1,000 people to be all that exclusive. It's up there but I think there are nicer ones out there. The LH FCT is among them.
Jan 23, 2015, 9:42 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
We stayed at an Istanbul Hotel, and there was plenty of bacon on breakfast buffet. Same as Hotel in Tirana. Those that choose not to eat it like everywhere, can do just that.
We spent a week in Albania after Turkey which is 70% Muslim. Like Turkey it is a "soft" Muslim country, compared to many.
Pork products readily available in Albania and most of the population drink 40% proof Raki along with coffee -- cost the same per glass.
Try ordering Raki or a beer in Saudi or or Yemen or Libya etc.
Our guide was a Muslim who ate pork and drank Raki. His choice I guess.
Jan 24, 2015, 1:19 am
#60
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,586
Presumably this extends to the lounge catering.
All meals served on Turkish Airlines flights are included in the category of Moslem Meal (MOML) and are in accord with Islamic religious beliefs.