Here is Part two of the trip report!
August 22, 2012
TK 9 IST-LAX Lv1245 Arr1630 Boeing 777-300ER TC-JJL “Kardeniz”
After a restful night of sleep, I headed back to the airport, and just a warning, there is a series of security checks and please come early to the airport. Three hours is the minimum for coach especially to the USA. Before entering the check-in area, there is a baggage check station, and yes laptop has to come out and belt has to come off. It is like your usual security checkpoint, but your check-in luggage will have to be screened too. That took a good fifteen to twenty minutes, since only two lines are opened.
The normal TK check-in area is at Aisle A and B, but priority check-in area is at Aisle E, and there is a separate line for USA/UK/Canada/sensitive countries passengers, as you have to go through a security Q&A with local security company. The staffs were friendly enough though and for a US citizen, there are not a lot of questions that they need to ask. After being cleared, I waited a while before being waved to an empty counter. Yes the staff addressed me by last name and said, “Mr. Carfield please go to that counter!” The agent was efficient and had to reenter my Turkish miles and more number into the reservation. The flight was full, according to expertflyer the evening before, so I did not ask for the bulkhead seat, as 4J, the seat next to me remained empty, and that was my best bet for a pair of seats.
Priority check-in counters – black is the color theme here!
Separate entrance for USA/UK/Canada… bound passengers
There is an express lane for immigration and security for business class and elite passengers, and there is no wait at all this morning. I have been here before and IST is like a giant shopping mall but not interested in it today. I headed to the newly renovated THY Lounge at Istanbul, and was amazed.
The lounge entrance had an automatic gate system now and you need to wave your boarding pass at the barcode machine.
Very fancy stuff but a bit unusual! This looks fancy but I feel that it is too impersonal for a premium experience. The staffs remained stoic and unfriendly. The men are the friendlier bunch and nearly all the women were stoic and seemed rather unhappy. Not sure why! Anyway, the lounge is huge, and here is a map of the lounge.
Lots of foods including a pizza station (well Turkish pastries), hot food station, salad station, mixed nuts station, olive station, and a pastry station that resembles a European coffee shop. The lounge was busy this morning, but there were plenty of rooms for everyone. I like the arch design and there is a mixture of Turkish and modern element. Showers, dayrooms and prayer rooms are available too. I will let the pictures do the talking, but this lounge is definitely one of the best business class lounges, if not the best, in the world. Even Cathay Pacific’s “Cabin” or Singapore Airlines Silver Kris lounge comes close, and it is unique while remain stylish. It has its character and breaks the generic airline lounge mode. The food is just amazing.
