Lounge Review – Turkish Airlines Business Class CIP Lounge, Ataturk International Airport Istanbul

Verdict – I’d been looking forward to experiencing this lounge as I had heard a lot of good things about it. Perhaps the only knock on it was that at times it could be a crowded, but this wasn’t the case when I was in there and it would have to be pretty busy to feel crowded with it having some 6,000 sqm capable of holding 1,000 customers after being expanded in 2013 and 2014. Everything about the lounge was impressive, large and spacious spread over two floors, I didn’t use the showers but they are supposed to have specialty toiletry kits, the food was plentiful, diverse and freshly prepared, the beverage options extensive, the entertainment options numerous. To be short it was a lounge I would be happy to spend quite a bit of time in and if you can get in and experience you should.

Entrance – The entrance is located on the departure level near gate 220. The lounge has a reception desk or you can just swipe your boarding passes on readers on some turn styles to enter the lounge.

Showers and toilets – The toilets were large and nicely laid out, as I said above I didn’t get to use the showers as I was enjoying the other facilities of the lounge, but the showers are meant to have their own toiletry kits and I can imagine that these would be in keeping with the high standard of the rest of the lounge.

Computers and Wifi – There were several banks of computers available, one of the ones I used the mouse wasn’t working quite so well and it was very slow to bring up information I was seeking on Istanbul, but I was able to move to another, look up the required information and then print it out for free. Wifi was also available throughout the lounge.

Food – There was a wide selection of local foods available and much of it freshly prepared, and so it was a good opportunity to try some local Turkish dishes over a few courses. Foods available included a special salad bar with a wide range of choices, desserts (including as you can see from some of my selections Turkish Delights, baklava and cheesecake), Turkish pides and böreks, various chicken and mince dishes straight from the grill, Turkish ravioli, pies, bagels and a range of olives, nuts and other snacks. The selection and the freshness I found impressive.

Beverages – There was a good selection of alcohol and spirits available for self service and several large refrigerators full of mixers and soft drinks. There were also several stations where a wide selections of teas and coffees were available. In short it was well stocked.

Entertainment – There was an extensive selection of entertainment options to keep one amused including local and international papers/magazines, a library, a cinema, numerous tv’s, a grand piano on the bottom and top floor, a golf driving simulator (which I tried a couple of drives on), a playroom for children and a table set up with racing cars for the kids (and the big kids) and a billiard table.

Ambiance – The lounge was well lit, nicely designed with modern and traditional Turkish influences and laid out with a number of large, open zones for sitting and eating. There were also several stair cases and a lift connecting the ground and first floors of the lounge. Nice views out of the windows we also available. It was definitely the sort of environment that you would enjoy spending some time between flights or waiting for your flight to depart.

Staff – Staff seemed efficient and willing to help, plates were removed and tables cleaned relatively quickly and food freshly prepared by cooks.

Airlines serviced – Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers, Turkish’s Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members, Star Alliance Gold members, Star Alliance airlines First and Business Class travelers and Turkish Corporate Club card owners

Other facilities – The lounge is well equipped with a range of other facilities including luggage storage, meeting rooms, a teleconference room, a prayer room, a suit rooms and massages.

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