We taxiied around the terminal, past the TG A346 I'd recently arrived on.

After take off I received headphones, amenity kit, menu, another drink. In a sign of things to come, I had to ask for a pillow and they forgot to hand out slippers, remembering them about an hour into the flight.

I'd read reports on FT that the Turkish first class cabin crew were not polished or as well trained as you'd expect for longhaul first class, but I'd hoped these reports were either overstated or just a temporary effect as they got up to speed on the added expectations of first class passengers. Unfortunately, my experience was similar - enthusiastic and friendly, but not at all polished and lacking in some fairly basic elements. As an example there was an inconsistent approach to coasters under the glass, sometimes yes and other times no. It is unlikely the service manual would be inconsistent.

Indeed I've had many business class and economy class flights with "better" service, although rarely with so many waiting on me hand and foot. Maybe my expectations are too high but I don't think it unreasonable to expect (in a premium cabin) someone to periodically check up if I want something (assuming I'm not asleep). This only occurred sporadically during the flight, and I found myself using the call button more than I would normally and also wandering into the galley far too often to request a refill.

But, the service wasn't all bad and really there is only so much pampering I can take.

As with previous times where I've been the only passenger in first class I felt guilty about the huge quantities of food being prepared just in case I wanted each particular item. For example for the fruit plate they had prepared (cut and arranged) half a dozen kiwifruit, two whole melons of different types, a couple of oranges, and more besides. I figure that times like this the cabin crew gets lucky with better than normal food to eat for themselves.

I took my time with supper, and finished a whole movie well before I was done eating (and drinking). I then tried to sleep but only managed a brief doze due to the uncomfortable seat. So I then watched another movie with some more drinks and watching lights of towns and cities drift by in the night outside my windows. I tried dozing again and eventually gave up. I watched a 3rd movie over breakfast and timed it just right as it finished less than 5 minutes from touchdown.

We landed in the dark, and had a long taxi right around the terminal. Hmmm this is getting to be a bit of a pattern. We pulled into the gate slightly late. There were two agents waiting for me inside the airbridge to take me to the lounge by buggy. Our gate was some distance from immigration and transfers so we wizzed by at high speed. I already had the boarding pass for my next flight so no need to stop at the transfer desk. There is no priority lane for the boarding pass checks to go to departures level, but the agents barged their way to the front of the queue and I tried to follow in their wake. Upstairs another buggy was waiting to take me to the lounge at the far end of the terminal (I don't understand why Turkish agreed to locate here, it is very inconvenient for both transfers and also in respect of walking to the gate there is a moderate degree of doubling back required). Since the departures level was crowded even at this early hour, this second buggy ride was slow and barely more than walking speed.