New ST lounge in IST
Jul 6, 2013 | 11:16 am
#1
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New ST lounge in IST
Looks like SkyTeam opened up a new joint lounge (for all ST carriers) in IST, based off the LHR T4 joint lounge.
More info can be found here.
I'm surprised they picked IST, didn't realize there were that many ST flights operating there.
Any FTers have had a chance to experience the new lounge yet? Any reports?
More info can be found here.
I'm surprised they picked IST, didn't realize there were that many ST flights operating there.
Any FTers have had a chance to experience the new lounge yet? Any reports?
Jul 6, 2013 | 7:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 791
Looks like SkyTeam opened up a new joint lounge (for all ST carriers) in IST, based off the LHR T4 joint lounge.
More info can be found here.
I'm surprised they picked IST, didn't realize there were that many ST flights operating there.
More info can be found here.
I'm surprised they picked IST, didn't realize there were that many ST flights operating there.
Jul 7, 2013 | 8:38 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
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BKK has 2 lounges for ST elite plus members. China airlines dynasty lounge and KLM crown lounge. So there is no need to put a sky-team joint lounge in. I relise they might not be always open at the same times. But i am pretty sure 1 or the other would be open at any times. I know the CI lounge is usually open in the late evening 10pm-3am, 6am-6pm. So i think its mostly covered.
Turkey on the other hand probably doesn't have any lounges which are managed by sky-team airlines, hence they decide to do a joint operation.
I would say Australian top 3 airports Sydney,Melbourne and Brisbane need the sky-team joint lounges. (Sydney lounge is being built)
Turkey on the other hand probably doesn't have any lounges which are managed by sky-team airlines, hence they decide to do a joint operation.
I would say Australian top 3 airports Sydney,Melbourne and Brisbane need the sky-team joint lounges. (Sydney lounge is being built)
Jul 12, 2013 | 10:05 am
#4
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Of course it's smaller than LHR but still very nice.
Jun 12, 2014 | 10:14 am
#5
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Access
Hello from IST!
According to DL.com, Sky Club access should gain access to the IST ST Lounge..,
However, as I suspected, DL.com is wrong. Sky Club membership does not give access unless flying a SkyTeam airline. But the desk agent was very nice and let me take pics. I'll post later!
It's all good as *G means I'm in the awesome TK Lounge!
According to DL.com, Sky Club access should gain access to the IST ST Lounge..,
However, as I suspected, DL.com is wrong. Sky Club membership does not give access unless flying a SkyTeam airline. But the desk agent was very nice and let me take pics. I'll post later!
It's all good as *G means I'm in the awesome TK Lounge!
Jun 12, 2014 | 3:34 pm
#6
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Jun 13, 2014 | 2:45 pm
#8
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I have no inside information, but my interpretation has been that the location of the SkyTeam-branded lounges is focused on airports that:
There are presumably also factors such as the current provision of lounge facilities at any given airport (and hence the opportunities for cost-savings, etc), as well as the availability of a suitable space in which to put a SkyTeam lounge.
- Are not an existing hub of an ST airline (otherwise that airline would normally provide lounge facilities for the alliance); and:
- Are served by a reasonable number of ST airlines/flights (to justify the investment and the shared branding); and:
- Are important locations where ST wants to anchor its presence in the face of the competition (eg: LHR BA, plus London being an important travel hub anyway; IST TK; DXB EK; Im not so sure about SYD, but I guess Australias a white-spot for ST, and SYD is served by at least 7 ST members with long-haul flights)
There are presumably also factors such as the current provision of lounge facilities at any given airport (and hence the opportunities for cost-savings, etc), as well as the availability of a suitable space in which to put a SkyTeam lounge.
Jun 24, 2014 | 3:13 am
#9
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Could that be the reason they have chosen IST?
I have a lot of experience of different lounges around the world, but IMHO, the *G TK Lounge in IST is not just the world's best lounge, it is in a completely different category to anything else in the planet - for example much better than the EK First Lounge in Dubai...
So maybe Skyteam just felt they had to do [I]something[..../I]
I have a lot of experience of different lounges around the world, but IMHO, the *G TK Lounge in IST is not just the world's best lounge, it is in a completely different category to anything else in the planet - for example much better than the EK First Lounge in Dubai...
So maybe Skyteam just felt they had to do [I]something[..../I]
Jul 27, 2014 | 12:10 pm
#10
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Press release: SkyTeam Celebrates First Anniversary of its Exclusive Lounge in Istanbul
And with regards to my earlier post:
which confirms at least my first two points...
And with regards to my earlier post:
Originally Posted by SkyTeam
SkyTeam has colocation facilities across the globe in markets with no home carrier but where there is a strong collective SkyTeam presence.
Aug 11, 2014 | 3:14 pm
#11
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IST SkyTeam Lounge Photos
The lounge was modeled on the LHR T4 ST Lounge. Pics:
Outside sign:
Green wall (same thing at LHR T4):
Seating area:
Not the best view:
Oxygen bar:
Outside sign:
Green wall (same thing at LHR T4):
Seating area:
Not the best view:
Oxygen bar:
Aug 11, 2014 | 11:59 pm
#13
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Thanks a lot for the pics. Indeed, very inspired by LHR lounge. Very nice lounge ^. I'm just surprised they went again with this stupidity of O2 bar 
Jun 2, 2016 | 7:54 pm
#14
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Any recent reports on this lounge? Is it really open 24/7? I'm contemplating making a ~00:30-6:00 layover in IST and pondering how helpful this lounge would be. It doesn't look like there are sleeping rooms or anything quite that nice. Has anyone been here recently?
Jun 3, 2016 | 12:05 am
#15
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Here is a full review with pictures I did in the lounge thread of the AF forum. This was a year ago, but I was there again recently and there was no change.
No sleeping room as far as I remember, but you will see on the pictures that you have sofa in the TV room on which you may be able to lay down.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24894971-post79.html