Jan 30, 2014, 11:28 am
Last edit by: cheesedawg
Lounge Location
IST International Terminal. Near Gate 220
Getting In
Opening Hours: 24 hrs per day
Entrances: 2 entrances - one from the main terminal, another from the far-left side of the check-in area of the airport with separate passport control. Automated gates. You need a boarding pass with your status on it.
Bag Storage: There are lockers right next to the main entrance. Lockers are emptied at night.
Eligibility:
Business Class travelers on international flights operated by Turkish Airlines,
Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members (they may invite their families or one guest),
Star Alliance Gold members (they may invite one guest),
First and Business Class travelers on flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines.
Multiple Entries:
If you're connecting and want to visit Istanbul, you can enter the lounge with your connecting BP, enjoy the lounge then go back to Immigration, enter Turkey, and come back to the lounge after your visit.
Facilities
Working
Free Wi-Fi (get the codes next to the computer desk or also throughout the lounge)
Showers
Printers and computers
Eating
Extensive Food and Drink Areas
Relaxing
Relaxation Rooms (see below)
Ironing service
Newspapers and Library
Media wall
Pool Table
Self-playing piano
Sleeping in the Lounge
There are 5-7 relaxation rooms.
Eligibility:
4-7 hour layover for TK Business and Elite Plus customers.
Couches throughout the lounge - anyone confirm?
You may be eligible for a free hotel outside the airport.
IST International Terminal. Near Gate 220
Getting In
Opening Hours: 24 hrs per day
Entrances: 2 entrances - one from the main terminal, another from the far-left side of the check-in area of the airport with separate passport control. Automated gates. You need a boarding pass with your status on it.
Bag Storage: There are lockers right next to the main entrance. Lockers are emptied at night.
Eligibility:
Business Class travelers on international flights operated by Turkish Airlines,
Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members (they may invite their families or one guest),
Star Alliance Gold members (they may invite one guest),
First and Business Class travelers on flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines.
Multiple Entries:
If you're connecting and want to visit Istanbul, you can enter the lounge with your connecting BP, enjoy the lounge then go back to Immigration, enter Turkey, and come back to the lounge after your visit.
Facilities
Working
Free Wi-Fi (get the codes next to the computer desk or also throughout the lounge)
Showers
Printers and computers
Eating
Extensive Food and Drink Areas
Relaxing
Relaxation Rooms (see below)
Ironing service
Newspapers and Library
Media wall
Pool Table
Self-playing piano
Sleeping in the Lounge
There are 5-7 relaxation rooms.
Eligibility:
4-7 hour layover for TK Business and Elite Plus customers.
You can only use them only if you are connecting to/from a longhaul Turkish Airlines flight (8+ hours) AND your layover is between 4 and 7 hours.
You may be eligible for a free hotel outside the airport.
TK's Flagship IST *G Lounge [prior to 2015 Master Thread]
Jul 9, 2012, 4:17 pm
#331
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
One of the best *gold lounges I've visited.
Jul 26, 2012, 5:10 am
#332
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LHR GVA HKG TLV PVG JFK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,952
Access to relaxation rooms/suites
Sorry if this has been hashed out in the hundreds of previous posts.
What are the rules for access to these relaxation rooms? Can you pre book them?
What are the rules for access to these relaxation rooms? Can you pre book them?
Jul 26, 2012, 5:24 pm
#333
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: TK Elite Plus; UA Gold Elite; Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 106
You can't prebook them. Just go to the desk near the rooms and sign up - first come first served. There are also limitations as to who can use the rooms based upon how long your layover is. Seems to be somewhat variable in the postings here.
Jul 27, 2012, 4:07 am
#334
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: LHR GVA HKG TLV PVG JFK
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,952
coming from shorthaul to longhaul (long layover) is that acceptable? does it matter if you are just *G or flying in J has advantage?
Aug 1, 2012, 8:20 pm
#335
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: PDX
Programs: DL
Posts: 13
So as a Delta Platinum...can I access free?
Aug 1, 2012, 11:40 pm
#336
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,586
Aug 2, 2012, 11:47 pm
#337
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 21
It is a fantastic lounge - I visited recently. Very good lamb kofte, the whole place is quite a sight in terms of decor. But I have to say it was very crowded. Very hustling and bustling. Rather unfortunate really.
Aug 5, 2012, 3:02 am
#338
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DSS
Posts: 827
It was for *G / J Pax with a 4 + stop over.Most of the time I was lucky to get a room at least for 1 h.
Now,26.JUL the concierge told me,that access is only given for Pax on Long Haul flights.
She had a printed list with the qualifying destinations.
They have either to enlarge the existing lounge or build a second one preferably at the other end of IST.
Aug 5, 2012, 10:57 am
#339
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
I spent a couple hours in the lounge recently and was completely blown away by how nice it was. It wasn't a particularly busy time, though (11am-1pm).
For comparison, other lounges I've been in are, in decreasing order of fanciness: LH tower FCL (though not FCT) in FRA, LH SEN in FRA, MUC, IAD, United FCL in IAD, and assorted other *A lounges.
For comparison, other lounges I've been in are, in decreasing order of fanciness: LH tower FCL (though not FCT) in FRA, LH SEN in FRA, MUC, IAD, United FCL in IAD, and assorted other *A lounges.
Aug 6, 2012, 6:09 am
#340
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: AMS,BRE,ABE
Programs: AY-G, TK*S, AB-S, EY, LH, DL, UA, BA, AA, all hotel programmes
Posts: 1,345
question: Is it possible in Turkey, to receive the bording pass the day before in ADB or IST? I am on a (one ticket, but not neccessarly long layover - so no free hotel,etc..) 22 hour connection from ADB via IST to Europe. So, wouldn't mind using the IST lounge on arrival (on day 1) and departure (on day 2)...
Aug 13, 2012, 1:39 pm
#341
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 56
What time does the lounge serve dinner or is there hot food all afternoon evening?
Aug 13, 2012, 4:07 pm
#342
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ACC
Programs: milesandsmiles elite+
Posts: 70
Food is always available
Aug 13, 2012, 7:47 pm
#343
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 7
Is it there any to get access to this lounge by simply being a FF or by trading in the free hotel offered for longer flights or maybe by paying a one time fee? I will be in IST the end of this month and would love to play a few games of pool there to kill some time. 
Aug 16, 2012, 7:04 am
#344
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Are you travelling out on a *A carrier and do you have status within *A? If so, can't see why not (assuming you leave from the same terminal etc.)
Aug 30, 2012, 2:45 pm
#345
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ECP
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 1,658
Am I correct in assuming that arriving in LH C and departing TK C will grant access to this lounge?
What if anything can anything be scheduled in advance as far as a massage or relaxation room? We'll have a 7 hour mid-day layover en route to MLE in January and trying to figure out:
1) if it's possible, or a good idea to head into town for lunch? Any idea on round trip cab costs just to enjoy lunch in IST?
2) what lounge(s) we'll have access to. Given that it's going to be very early morning our time (Washington), we may enjoy sleeping...
3) What's the story on massages? With 11 hours down and 7.5 to go (after 7 hour layover), it would certainly be welcome before boarding...
TIA
What if anything can anything be scheduled in advance as far as a massage or relaxation room? We'll have a 7 hour mid-day layover en route to MLE in January and trying to figure out:
1) if it's possible, or a good idea to head into town for lunch? Any idea on round trip cab costs just to enjoy lunch in IST?
2) what lounge(s) we'll have access to. Given that it's going to be very early morning our time (Washington), we may enjoy sleeping...
3) What's the story on massages? With 11 hours down and 7.5 to go (after 7 hour layover), it would certainly be welcome before boarding...
TIA