TK 4
JFK-IST
1255pm-545am +1 (schedule)
220pm-605am +1 (actual)
Equipment: A330
Seat: 9G (Economy)
Configuration: 2-4-2

Boarding started at about 120pm. People with young children or needing assurance were boarded first. Then they called business and gold. There was a cart of newspapers and magazines on the jet walk. FAs were at the door pointing people to the right aisle but not greeting them. I was in 9G, an aisle in the 4th row of Economy. At my seat was a pillow and a wrapped blanket. What shocked me were the other 2 items. Slippers and a small red amenity kit!! In coach!! I had heard about this offering but this is my first time flying Turkish coach so it was nice to see it for myself. An hour after boarding there was still no announcement of any kind. The safety video started playing at random with no announcement. Finally, just as we were airborne there was a quick "welcome aboard" announcement. No details on altitude or flight time. I should note that each seat had a touch screen TV with gate-to-gate IFE and a USB port. I briefly scrolled thru the IFE. It was pretty boring.
The bathrooms were large by whY standards. They had wrapped towelettes, hand cream, soap and lemon scented cologne from a brand called Natural Creations. I'm not familiar with it, but they seemed to be decent quality. Shortly after take off, FAs came thru the aisle offering Turkish delight, I declined, as it's not kosher. Following the Turkish delight, FAs came around offering hot towels. A few minutes after hot towels were offered menus were distributed. Paper menus in coach are rare these days. Menu was in English and Turkish and had drinks list on a book mark. Turkish is damn impressive. All that was missing from the service were PDBs. There were 2 options for each course including anytime snack. I was just wondering what my KSML would be like. When I flew TK in J back in May '13 it was disgusting. Not bad, like KSMLs frequently are but simply not edible.
It wasn't offered on this flight but TK has free wifi on many international flights. It's so slow it barely works but I suppose it's the thought that counts . Drink carts came around and I had an Efes beer which was served with packaged hazelnuts. For what it's worth they were the same hazelnuts I got in business class back in May '13. The beer was cool and good. Unfortunately they were not serving the fresh raspberry soda I had in business class. Drink ware was collected and there was a but of a wait before the meal service began.
As the carts rolled down the aisle for the dinner (late lunch?) service, I got apprehensive. After my last experience with kosher food on Turkish, in business class to boot, I wasn't sure I wanted the tray. When the FA got to my aisle, she looked at me, looked at a piece of paper, went to they galley and got a KSML tray. No communication. Then she looks at me and says "to drink?" I ordered another beer. The KSML was by Borenstein. The tray had a wrapped bread roll, matbucha (a middle eastern tomato based dip) sautéed eggplant, a piece of cake, a small container of water, and plastic ware. The hot main was Asian style chicken. I have to say I was impressed. The food wasn't amazing but it was good. It was edible. I ate the entire tray except the eggplant. While the meal was being served cabin lights were dimmed. I have to say the service culture on TK is odd. I don't remember it being so brusque the last time. FTers think that TK has surly FAs. I find them just indifferent. Is it a cultural thing about the Turkish people?
It took an interminably long time for the FAs to collect the finished meals. Lights went out not long after the first service was completed.
I removed my contacts and put on the blinders supplied in the amenity kit which were surprisingly good and tried getting some rest. After about 2 hours I decided to check out the galley and see what was on offer for mid flight snack. They had packaged sandwiches who's filling I couldn't determine, a plate of fruit and a basket of muffins as well as standard beverages.
Midway thru the flight bottled water was distributed. Cabin lights went on about 2 hours, 20 minutes out and a few minutes later the FAs distributed the kosher breakfasts. The tray was by Borenstein and had a packaged roll, cup of orange juice, Dole fruit cup, and cream cheese. The hot entree was an omelette with roasted potatoes which was good but not superb. 10 minutes after the KSMLs were served the cart came around for general service. I asked for orange juice which was from a brand I never heard of called "juice bowl". It tasted artificial, kinda like Minute Maid. 70 minutes out they began collection if the trays. 2 neat features if the IFE I didn't realize until the end of the flight: live view of the planes cameras and the ability to call other seats. Not sure when I will need to call another seat but it's a neat feature.
We landed smoothly about 20 minutes behind schedule.