tomparskate

Hi

Has anyone been at the BA Lounge/Oneworld Lounge at Istanbul Airport recently?

What is it like? I have visited it a few years ago and wasn't that impressed with it, miles behind the Turkish Airlines lounge.

arnie.

Nothing impressive. A very basic out-station, non-BA lounge. Not terrible either, though (and far nicer than some of the chaos that can be IST departure area).

Andriyko

There is no BA/OW lounge at IST. BA uses Millennium Lounge, which is not worth wasting time going to (unless you have a lot of time and need somewhere to sit).

ahmetdouas

What lounge lol.

Unless you have access to the TK lounge, you might as well have a nice juicy Burger King or kebab! I love the food options in IST!

Or chill in Starbucks!

FlyerTalker39574

It's OK, not near the gates though, no point if you are short of time.

Dover2Golf

No other lounge at IST comes anywhere near the TK one which is more like an F lounge. The others are all like a run down cafe.

ahmetdouas

Since Turkish has no F, it is technically an 'F' lounge! The only thing that lets it down is the alcohol section, otherwise, it is top notch. Amazing food, like a proper restaurant!

brightstar100

BA downgraded the lounge it uses in IST - now an absolutely dreadful one. Not worth going to.

ahmetdouas

Let's be honest here, IST is the route where BA really has an awful service compared to its direct competition, TK. I think they just keep a flight for prestige reasons.

baileysserpant

Don't bother going in, an awful place.

Andriyko

I would not say that the alcohol section is bad. TK does offer a wine or two that I quite like (I think they're all Turkish). Can't comment on hard liquor as I don't drink it. But agree about the food - simply amazing. And lots of it. And the variety is impressive. Not something I have ever seen in a BA lounge.

There is nothing awful about BA's flights to/from IST, and judging by how CE is filled with passengers I'd say that people quite like it. TK has downgraded its service in all cabins on all routes in the past few months. The reality bites.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turki...ervice-tk.html

Again, had it been about BA, with FT being an English speaking forum, the thread would have exploded...

Yes, my thoughts exactly. PS uses it as well, so I find myself there quite often... I feel bad for airlines that they have to pay this lounge to accommodate their passengers because there is really nothing to pay for.

BA6948

are you serious. Have taken TK last month to CDG and the experience and food were amazing. Better than BA CE. I have never eaten such nice and fluffy scrambeled eggs on a plane and it was in Economy. There was IFE and the legroom and seat comfort were great. Anyone chosing BA on that route over TK is out of his mind (unless collecting points).

lcyguy

As others have said do not waste your time with the millennium lounge. It is dreary in the extreme and a trek to the gates.
As for a downgrading of TK service recently., economy still gets a hot meal and free drinks . Business class on my flight yesterday ( 777 with a flat bed, wifi and good IFE (yes I know TK also operate narrow bodies on this route although they usually have US style domestic F seats) had a very nice mezze starter, salmon main , dessert and cheese followed by coffee and liqueurs. Crew also offered everyone 2nd main courses, not usual ill admit.
One area where BA win over TK onboard is that there are no pre dinner drinks on TK -it's straight into the meal which I dislike and they have no concept of refilling drinks during the meal service.

smokie36

Better than a 5 quid voucher in Aberdeen.

Andriyko

Yes, I am serious if you are referring to the link I have provided. I don't fly TK that much, but I too noticed that they have downgraded the food. Please do not attack me - feel free to post about your good experience on TK's forum. Posters over there will be more informed to let you know what changed and what has not. I mean, why keep posting bad things about BA when you can educate people who fly TK about how good that airline is despite what they experience? All i said was that TK has downgraded the food; I did not say that it was worse than BA's.

Regarding who chooses which airline on a particular route - I don't fly to eat so I can't really comment on that. If their food offering compels you to fly with them that's great, but it does nothing for me so I am not out of my mind. I prefer the BoB PS on the KBP-IST route rather than TK because the latter's schedule simply sucks and no amount of food will make up for that, and I only fly TK if the price is too good to turn down (and I do refuse that sandwich).

I think I'll take the voucher - that's how bad the lounge is...