TK or BA
Mar 14, 2018, 4:45 am
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Abu Dhabi
Programs: Etihad Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 56
TK or BA
Both BA and TK are pricing well out of MCT at the moment to BCN. Both TK legs are on recliners while the BA flight is on a flatbed and then a blocked middle seat. Which would you pick?
Mar 14, 2018, 4:47 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Mar 14, 2018, 4:49 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,254
B789 on MCT - LHR flight which is very nice.
Transfer from T5 to T3 for connecting BCN flight - not a very premium experience
IST transfer is within 1 terminal so probably easier, but no idea on the in-flight service or flight times
BA flight from MCT is 9am departure, so just the breakfast offering (which I am not a huge fan of), but if sleep is important to you, the flatbed is definitely a plus.
Pilot37
Mar 14, 2018, 4:51 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,365
BA
+ Proper Club World for the largest part of the trip
+ TPs/Avios if you collect those
+ good record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, well trained Nigels at the front, would trust in most circumstances
- T5 to T3 transfer at LHR, bit of a faff, but many lounges to choose from at T3
TK
+ Probably a shorter trip overall?
+ Some people say better food and service, although this mostly applies to comparing TK to Club Europe not Club World
+/- IST can be chaos, huge crazy TK lounge
- very poor record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, all pilots are ex-Turkish Air Force cowboys, may or may not require you to evacuate the aircraft into the dirt when they bin it off the side/end of the runway.
+ Proper Club World for the largest part of the trip
+ TPs/Avios if you collect those
+ good record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, well trained Nigels at the front, would trust in most circumstances
- T5 to T3 transfer at LHR, bit of a faff, but many lounges to choose from at T3
TK
+ Probably a shorter trip overall?
+ Some people say better food and service, although this mostly applies to comparing TK to Club Europe not Club World
+/- IST can be chaos, huge crazy TK lounge
- very poor record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, all pilots are ex-Turkish Air Force cowboys, may or may not require you to evacuate the aircraft into the dirt when they bin it off the side/end of the runway.
Mar 14, 2018, 5:01 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, LH M&M Member
Posts: 2,705
TK
- very poor record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, all pilots are ex-Turkish Air Force cowboys, may or may not require you to evacuate the aircraft into the dirt when they bin it off the side/end of the runway.
- very poor record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, all pilots are ex-Turkish Air Force cowboys, may or may not require you to evacuate the aircraft into the dirt when they bin it off the side/end of the runway.
Mar 14, 2018, 5:11 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,365
Just as an example, we teach both the TK Kathmandu and Pristina events as human factors case studies containing some classic aviation poor decision making. Thankfully the outcome in both was good for all the passengers, although one did write off a brand new A330. Amsterdam, Sochi, Istanbul crash, the list goes on and on.
Last edited by Airprox; Mar 14, 2018 at 5:18 am
Mar 14, 2018, 5:27 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Silly
Mar 14, 2018, 6:02 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,693
I don't. TK safety record is enough for me to avoid them. I would choose BA based on this solely. Other more personal factors would also let me choose BA (I have trouble with airlines being the pet dog of wannabe dictators).
That @Airprox used two incidents at TK where the root cause was pilot error as teaching incidents does not surprise me.
That @Airprox used two incidents at TK where the root cause was pilot error as teaching incidents does not surprise me.
Mar 14, 2018, 6:06 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Mar 14, 2018, 6:11 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
The connection at IST is easier, that is if BCN arrivals are "clean" (I believe they are), which means you are decanted into the airside-proper and go straight to the extraordinary and delightful lounge: if you have to go through security, things can get messy.
Mar 14, 2018, 6:20 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
BA
+ Proper Club World for the largest part of the trip
+ TPs/Avios if you collect those
+ good record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, well trained Nigels at the front, would trust in most circumstances
- T5 to T3 transfer at LHR, bit of a faff, but many lounges to choose from at T3
TK
+ Probably a shorter trip overall?
+ Some people say better food and service, although this mostly applies to comparing TK to Club Europe not Club World
+/- IST can be chaos, huge crazy TK lounge
- very poor record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, all pilots are ex-Turkish Air Force cowboys, may or may not require you to evacuate the aircraft into the dirt when they bin it off the side/end of the runway.
+ Proper Club World for the largest part of the trip
+ TPs/Avios if you collect those
+ good record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, well trained Nigels at the front, would trust in most circumstances
- T5 to T3 transfer at LHR, bit of a faff, but many lounges to choose from at T3
TK
+ Probably a shorter trip overall?
+ Some people say better food and service, although this mostly applies to comparing TK to Club Europe not Club World
+/- IST can be chaos, huge crazy TK lounge
- very poor record at bringing the aircraft back into contact with the ground in a safe and controlled manner, all pilots are ex-Turkish Air Force cowboys, may or may not require you to evacuate the aircraft into the dirt when they bin it off the side/end of the runway.
Mar 14, 2018, 6:22 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008