Originally Posted by
ISTFlyer
In EK it's a %100 chance to get a lie-flat on all flights; however, on ET or QR, not all African destinations that TK serves receives lie-flat or angled-flat Business Class seats. For example, ET uses 737's on some of their flights which the seat is similar to TK 737-900ER's. For the QR example, some destinations in Africa is served by A320/A321 aircraft which have recliner seats as well. Also a reminder that last minute aircraft type changes are popular at QR, you could be downgraded from a 787 to A321 just a few hours before your flight; obviously the opposite ( narrow-body to wide-body ) is also possible.
You are very right.
Take DAR as an example, where I have often been flying to/from.
You can either first fly DAR-ADD on ET which is a 2:20hr flight with very good chance of a wide body, from there straight to US (with a fuel stop one way).
On TK, until they recently started flying once/twice a week via LUN with A330, you would 100% be on a 7:30hr night flight DAR-IST on a B737-900ER.
You are right about QR, e.g. they currently operate a narrow body to DAR. But at least it is only 5ish hours to DOH, not 7:30. And the flight is daytime, that makes a massive difference. But then you might again end up with a long layover in order to catch a QR flight to US.
I believe same scenario goes for many other African airports. Question is how many of their potential clients on these flights will be ex-Africa. Perhaps more Turkish customers, or from Middle East/India/Pakistan region?