​​​Hi Taz2 and welcome to FlyerTalk!

I would like to add to these questions for those who received an amenity kit on their flights.
Were the amenity kits provided onboard the Versace branded ones or another brand?

I am trying to figure out if TK handing out existing amenity kits that they had or have they ordered new ones from another company.

ISTFlyer, TK80 SFO-IST on 10/21 did give out Versace amenity kits according to my friend. He will get back in a few days and will know more about any changes.

Thanks for reporting about the amenity kits,

I assume that TK is handing out the old remaining Versace amenity kits and whenever they are out of them, they might not re-order more of them until these COVID cuts have ended.
Same for the Denon headphones, some people received them, some did get the plastic blue headphones and some have received single-use earbuds. There is no consistency in this as well.

Re BA restarting hot meals.

From OMAAT with photos:

https://onemileatatime.com/hot-food-...erm=2020-10-24

Come on TK what are you waiting for?? bring back your hot food.

Its called corporate greed and myopic business strategy

Dear FT members, I would still like to remind you that, yes, I also want TK to bring back their hot food.

However, there has been no change since June where TK had resumed operating flights:

1- TK is following a hygiene based marketing strategy rather than marketing their onboard soft-product.
2- TK does not have any COVID test requirements when transferring, plus no border restrictions for transferring at IST.
3- TK operates the most flights in Europe ( more flexibility and a wide schedule )
4- TK's Business Class product is currently one of the Business Class products that the loads are high. They are not flying with 5-10 passengers in J per flight like other European carriers.
5- TK still offers reasonable connection times and continues to offer their transit hotel service on long layovers. ( Many people would choose a 15h layover in IST compared to DOH, DXB, AUH, etc... )
6- Turkey is the main point of transfer for the high-demand EU-US market for non-US citizens/Green Card holders due to the Presidential Proclamation.
7- Turkey is the getaway point for most countries like Iraq, Iran, Libya, etc... where there are almost no flights from other countries.
8- TK is still a monopoly for passengers starting or ending their travel in IST. Many tourists prefer to visit Istanbul because there is no COVID test requirement and no quarantine upon arrival to Turkey.

These are what came to my mind.

TK still has these strategic advantages, why should they improve their food offerings? We have also seen people happy with the current offerings when TK is offering a decent hard-product and a good schedule.

For work reasons, I flew Vienna to Sabina Gokcen airport on Anadolujet today. Less than 2 hours flight yet the same offering of TK mainline on short-haul flights nowadays (water, orange juice, a disgusting super dry sandwich & a piece of cake) - without IFE of course. Thanks to my Elite status, I could even use the Austrian Business Lounge located at F gates in Vienna. I am wondering where is the incentive for a passenger to fly TK mainline (which is more expensive than Anadolujet) nowadays, when flying P2P to Istanbul? I do not get it. Pleasant flight I have to say. Strict hygiene measures in place & respected. Cheerful crew: asked them why no hot drinks / drinks other than water are being offered these days on TK / Anadolujet flights and they could not hide their laughs. Says it all.

So, the differences between TK & AJA on European routes.

- When flying AJA from SAW, you get no priority check-in, no priority security & passport check, and no lounge service when you have status. You would need to wait in the Y lines.
- TK aircraft that operates to VIE these days ( mostly A321neo's ) have Wi-Fi, IFE screens, USB ports and power outlets ( only in Business Class ). A traveler who needs to work online onboard would prefer to fly TK.
- TK aircraft have better seats and better legroom in Y.
- If I'm not wrong, the standard baggage allowance at AnadoluJet is 20kg while as on TK it's 30kg.

So the similarities between TK & AJA on European routes.

- Elites get their extra baggage allowance
- The catering is the same among both products

*********************************

As I've mentioned above, there are not that many differences between TK & AJA but a traveler could value Wi-Fi onboard or an elite could value the perk of not to wait in long lines ( especially during COVID ) and give the extra money to fly through IST.

TK J Sept 15/22 SFO-IST RT 789 boxed food. No amenity kits
TK J Oct 4/10 SFO-IST RT 789 boxed food. No amenity kit outbound, SHOCK! A Versace kit on return.

TK Nov J 3/10 ORD-IST RT 789 TBD, I'll come back and update post. Damn I hope they serve cocktails and some hot food UPDATE, : outbound, no hot food, no cocktails, no coffee. Versace amenity kit, yay. Side note ORD sucks so hard and so bad. Disaster of an airport. UPDATE, amenity kit, no ice, no cocktails and boxed food on return flight (Nov 10). I'll note the pear juice mixed with the white wine is surprisingly tasty. Also, all legs (TK domestic/TATL) were 100% ON TIME.

The boxed food is edible but in no way a pleasurable experience. The "cheese sandwich" is particularly revolting. TK Biz lounge in IST is ramping up hot offerings so that's one positive development.

Without the chef, the seats are the focus of the trips and I am coming to hate them more and more. Impossible to get through a flight without hitting the GD controls with elbow and either calling the attendant, turning on my overhead light or making the screen illuminate. Ugh. Terrible design for long haul.

One ray of sunshine: I've read in some posts people whining mightily about TK flights never being on time, I CAN say in 8 flights, int'l and domestic, every one has been on time or usually early to depart. So there's that.

Bottom line- without the chef the J experience is one to be endured.

PS- Turkey is awesome!
Update

I couldn't agree more.

Sitting on my TK flight from LHR-IST now. Only good thing I can say is it is not as revolting as the offering in the LH lounge . At least the wifi is working. If I get really bored in the next day or two (I have 24 hours quarantine to do) then I might even try a trip report.

Thank you DaveS for sharing.
Actually the cake, the salad, and the cacık taste really good, although it's still far behind what other European carriers are offering at the moment.

Yes, fair comment. You would not want to get on the flight hungry though! I am sitting here looking at my neighbours IFE which is still teasing with the proper food

That's true, the portion is not sufficient and the food in the box would not count as a meal.