Swanhunter

FEasy

Alcoholic drinks have been plentiul during my TK flights. If I sensed they were somehow making a point that drinking is less welcomed, I'd stop flying with them at the drop of a hat. I fly mostly business, but even in econ there's free red wine (including, of course, a Turkish variety - I love that about these flag carriers).

I even recall a BRU-IST flight (business class) where one passenger got so drunk that he became a nuisance to others. The crew was quite accomodating, though not serving him drinks anymore, and thanks to their kid-gloves approach we made it without major incidents. Hat off to their social worker skills.

Full disclosure: I don't wear a hat.

Dover2Golf

Given that the TK lounge at Ataturk was pretty much at the top of the game and recognised as an exceptionally good business class lounge there wouldn't be too much benefit in increasing the offering significantly. If every business lounge was as good as that was frequent flyers would be much happier people.

hfly

That being said, it was at first a huge improvement and then several gradual improvements. When the former IST opened just before the turn of the century, the TK "CIP" lounge was absolute garbage and the BA lounge was far superior. A decade later, TK moved to the other side of the terminal, and although the lounge was much larger, it was still garbage, and the BA lounge was still better (they had essentially the same catering/caterer). It was not until about 3 years later that TK closed down the lounge for over 8 months and came up with what was a quarter of the final lounge, which was great, but way too small. It was coincidentally around this time that BA cut some more costs and closed its lounge and went for whatever that BTA lounge was, which was ok. Over the next 3-4 years TK doubled the size of the lounge by turfing out the horrible "Cafe Krem" and then doubled it AGAIN, by getting rid of the employee cafeteria downstairs..........and BA went a step crappier with the "Millenium lounge". So I had hoped that TK would be making even more improvements in their new home, and from what I have been reading, there really have not been so much (other than the fact that there are now two of them), OTOH, I believe BA will be using the IGA lounge (I have not flown BA from the new airport yet and currently won't be until next month) which from what I have seen is an improvement over the Millenium lounge , but then again almost anything is an improvement over that lounge.

As for those complaining about TK vs. BA on the route. So you were waiting for your drink on a 777 in Business Class? Was your seat in a reclined position? Did you have choices of Appetiser, Entree, and Dessert? Were you watching one of several hundred entertainment options? Because those are things that you would not be doing an a BA A320 on this route. If one wants to compare economy products it becomes more of a stark contrast (did you get water? food? entertainment? seat selection?).

dubistokay

travelsbyplane

Just throwing a thought out there. What do people think are the chances that BA may one day upgrade the ISL route to a long haul service, like they did with DME many years ago?

ISTFlyer

I don't think so, also I have heard that ex-BMI premium A321's would be reconfigured or leave the fleet in a few years.

Airprox

No chance. Zip, zilch, nada.

hfly

The issue with DME is/SAS that BA was regularly charging over $3k RT in club to DME and servicing the route worth short haul aircraft and everyone was eating their lunch to Moscow as everyone had a far superior product, that are forced to. IST biz cards have never been at that level, so they would not bother. BA simply had given up in Turkey, they can maintain a flight or two to IST but TK has pricing power on the route.

Swanhunter

NeilP

Prospero

Gate D7 isn't too bad - i was fearing BA aircraft would end up parking at one of Havalimani's outer limbs.



No fast track immigration is bad news - even with an e-visa the arrival experience sounds like a drag

Airprox

Havalimani is the Turkish word for airport, not the name of this particular facility.

ISTFlyer

Hi NeilP;

- There is a dedicated transfer security area and immigration booths for international to domestic. However, if you're reservations are on separate tickets you need to exit the international terminal by clearing the regular passport control, claim your baggage and recheck your bags at the departure level. Also, if you're planning to return to Istanbul and make a domestic to international transfer, be aware that, if your reservations are on separate tickets, you must claim your bags at Istanbul unless you figure to interline them.

- There is a fast track for non-TK airlines but I am not sure if BA contracts this service. ( currently only available at departures ). For a 1735 flight during a Ramadan Friday, you would be fine and the maximum wait in regular lane would be around 20-25 minutes for non-Turkish citizens. ( However, it could be less or more ). Also be aware that BA 677 is occasionally delayed, so you won't be in a panic in most circumstances.

binman