I'm not sure why is it bad that the airline reserves clearly strategic seats for prominent personages, people of social/political significance. It might not suit the geek in us who wants to be in 1A (or even1K at a pinch). But there's a clear logic behind the strategy. And, whether you like it or not, a Turkish minister of state travelling on TK for reasons official or unofficial has clout, and is always going to trump even an Elite+ M&S member in terms of entitlement

Airlines operating flights with with senior politicians and royalty routinely put them in the first row: it allows them to board last - slip virtually unnoticed into place, fuss free, and hop off quickly at the other end and down the airbridge stairs into a car.

I was on a TK 777 seated behind the former president of Lithuania (Dalia, the lady with the hair) in 1A. I doubt anyone else noted her on board: she and her secretary were already on place when boarding for the hoi polloi started. She was on an official visit to Thailand and I guess it was helpful for her and her secretary to be in the most secluded spot on the aircraft, just as it was covenient to have her in a position to get off first, to be met by the Thai dignitaries, and ceremonial guard of honour, waiting to greet her.



And as for politicians having their own aircraft, some heads of state may well have them, but (as in Lithuania's case) it's unlikely many will have long range aircraft available - or indeed the will to employ such inefficient means of transport. Here in the UK our royals get it in the neck from the press for using friends' jets for private trips.