Apr 2, 2019, 3:31 am
Last edit by: starflyergold
Unlike like Atatürk Airport, at Istanbul Airport there is more than one international lounge. Eligibility depends on your travel of class and your frequent flyer card status. PLEASE READ THIS WIKI BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS.
For discussions and questions regarding outstation lounges ( Moscow, Nairobi, Washington DC ) and all other domestic lounges ( including SAW ) please refer to the respective forum.
For PriorityPass Lounges in Istanbul Airport (IST) please consult this thread in the Europe forum or the Istanbul Airport Master Thread for questions regarding contract lounges.
This thread covers TK Lounges at IST airport.
Chart of Eligibility for Lounges:
Thanks to DELLAS for sharing this chart.
International Lounges:
Miles&Smiles Lounge: This lounge is open to all Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Elite, Elite Plus card holders and Star Alliance Gold status holders along with one of their guests when flying Turkish Airlines or another Star Alliance member. Miles&Smiles Elite Plus members are also able to guest family members regardless of the number of people (spouse and children). Also Turkish Corporate Club members are allowed to access this lounge with one fellow guest who holds a valid boarding pass on Turkish Airlines.
To access this lounge take the elevators across gate C1 to the mezzanine level.
Business Lounge: This lounge would be open for all Business Class passengers on Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance partners. Unfortunately, no guests are allowed to this lounge.
To access this lounge take the elevators across gate E1 to the mezzanine level.
Both lounges are non-smoking. The nearest "terrace" (IST does not advertise smoking areas) is: For the business lounge: exit via the escalators, turn left and left again, past the public rest areas, and the terrace is on the right hand side. For the M&S lounge: exit via the escalators, turn right and right again, past the public rest areas, and the terrace is on the left hand side. In both cases a 3 minute walk.
Exclusive Lounge: No details, no plans as of yet
Arrivals Lounge: No details, no plans as of yet
Both the Business Lounge and the Miles&Smiles Lounge have showers, sleeping rooms and Turkish speciality food.
To use the sleeping rooms, you must have a connection time between 4h and 9h and the duration of one of your flights must be more than 8 hours. Unfortunately, Miles&Smiles Elite card holders and Star Alliance Gold card holders traveling in Economy Class are not eligible to use the sleeping room service. For sleeping room related issues please consult the this thread.
None of the international lounges have direct lounge access from the check-in hall; however, priority immigration and security checkpoint are available both for transfer passengers and passengers starting their journey in Istanbul.
Domestic Lounges:
The domestic lounge has two sections; one for Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Classic Plus and Elite card holders, Star Alliance Gold card holders and Turkish Corporate Club members (if they have a same day onward international connection); and the other one for Business Class passengers and Miles&Smiles Elite Plus card holders.
Miles&Smiles Elite passengers, Star Alliance Gold card holders and Turkish Corporate Club members can invite one guest into the lounge. Miles&Smiles Elite Plus passengers can also guest one passenger or their family members regardless of the number of people (spouse and children). Miles&Smiles Classic Plus card holders do not have the right to guest someone.
The lounge has a separate entrance and check-in lobby from the street, along with a special valet parking drop-off point. Transfer passengers and passengers who decide to use the main terminal building can also access this lounge by using the elevators across gates G6 and G7. Be aware that there are no lounge signs within the terminal so it's advised to follow signs for gates G6 and G7.
For discussions and questions regarding outstation lounges ( Moscow, Nairobi, Washington DC ) and all other domestic lounges ( including SAW ) please refer to the respective forum.
For PriorityPass Lounges in Istanbul Airport (IST) please consult this thread in the Europe forum or the Istanbul Airport Master Thread for questions regarding contract lounges.
This thread covers TK Lounges at IST airport.
Chart of Eligibility for Lounges:
Thanks to DELLAS for sharing this chart.
International Lounges:
Miles&Smiles Lounge: This lounge is open to all Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Elite, Elite Plus card holders and Star Alliance Gold status holders along with one of their guests when flying Turkish Airlines or another Star Alliance member. Miles&Smiles Elite Plus members are also able to guest family members regardless of the number of people (spouse and children). Also Turkish Corporate Club members are allowed to access this lounge with one fellow guest who holds a valid boarding pass on Turkish Airlines.
To access this lounge take the elevators across gate C1 to the mezzanine level.
Business Lounge: This lounge would be open for all Business Class passengers on Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance partners. Unfortunately, no guests are allowed to this lounge.
To access this lounge take the elevators across gate E1 to the mezzanine level.
Both lounges are non-smoking. The nearest "terrace" (IST does not advertise smoking areas) is: For the business lounge: exit via the escalators, turn left and left again, past the public rest areas, and the terrace is on the right hand side. For the M&S lounge: exit via the escalators, turn right and right again, past the public rest areas, and the terrace is on the left hand side. In both cases a 3 minute walk.
Exclusive Lounge: No details, no plans as of yet
Arrivals Lounge: No details, no plans as of yet
Both the Business Lounge and the Miles&Smiles Lounge have showers, sleeping rooms and Turkish speciality food.
To use the sleeping rooms, you must have a connection time between 4h and 9h and the duration of one of your flights must be more than 8 hours. Unfortunately, Miles&Smiles Elite card holders and Star Alliance Gold card holders traveling in Economy Class are not eligible to use the sleeping room service. For sleeping room related issues please consult the this thread.
None of the international lounges have direct lounge access from the check-in hall; however, priority immigration and security checkpoint are available both for transfer passengers and passengers starting their journey in Istanbul.
Domestic Lounges:
The domestic lounge has two sections; one for Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Classic Plus and Elite card holders, Star Alliance Gold card holders and Turkish Corporate Club members (if they have a same day onward international connection); and the other one for Business Class passengers and Miles&Smiles Elite Plus card holders.
Miles&Smiles Elite passengers, Star Alliance Gold card holders and Turkish Corporate Club members can invite one guest into the lounge. Miles&Smiles Elite Plus passengers can also guest one passenger or their family members regardless of the number of people (spouse and children). Miles&Smiles Classic Plus card holders do not have the right to guest someone.
The lounge has a separate entrance and check-in lobby from the street, along with a special valet parking drop-off point. Transfer passengers and passengers who decide to use the main terminal building can also access this lounge by using the elevators across gates G6 and G7. Be aware that there are no lounge signs within the terminal so it's advised to follow signs for gates G6 and G7.
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #2 - Lounges
Jun 1, 2019, 3:02 am
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,050
I've skimmed up this thread a bit but can't find details. Perhaps it was another thread where somebody mentioned that directions to one lounge are well indicated and that the other lounge is hard to find.
I'm E+ flying in J in a few days (connecting from BCN) so it shouldn't really matter (apart from preferred the less busy lounge if possible). Anybody care to comment about finding the lounges? I'm used to just arriving "clean" at Ataturk and almost auto-piloting my way to the lounge...
I'm E+ flying in J in a few days (connecting from BCN) so it shouldn't really matter (apart from preferred the less busy lounge if possible). Anybody care to comment about finding the lounges? I'm used to just arriving "clean" at Ataturk and almost auto-piloting my way to the lounge...
Jun 1, 2019, 9:43 am
#197
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO, DUS
Programs: BA Gold (OW Emer), TK ELPL (*G), Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 528
I've skimmed up this thread a bit but can't find details. Perhaps it was another thread where somebody mentioned that directions to one lounge are well indicated and that the other lounge is hard to find.
I'm E+ flying in J in a few days (connecting from BCN) so it shouldn't really matter (apart from preferred the less busy lounge if possible). Anybody care to comment about finding the lounges? I'm used to just arriving "clean" at Ataturk and almost auto-piloting my way to the lounge...
I'm E+ flying in J in a few days (connecting from BCN) so it shouldn't really matter (apart from preferred the less busy lounge if possible). Anybody care to comment about finding the lounges? I'm used to just arriving "clean" at Ataturk and almost auto-piloting my way to the lounge...
But basically, the M&S Lounge is opposite gate C1 and the Business Lounge is opposite Gate E1.Enjoy!
Jun 1, 2019, 9:46 am
#198
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
The obvious entrances, elevators directly into lounge, werent working when I was there.
The normal and not as intuitive entrances arent that hard to find, they are on the north: you walk under the mezzanine when approaching from the south from the central hub. An escalator there will take you up to the lounge.
The normal and not as intuitive entrances arent that hard to find, they are on the north: you walk under the mezzanine when approaching from the south from the central hub. An escalator there will take you up to the lounge.
Jun 1, 2019, 1:32 pm
#199
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Udon Thani, Thailand
Programs: TK E,*G, A-Club G
Posts: 869
depending which concourse you come from find the nearest lounge E1 or C1 gate.
My flight landed F concourse and E1 was the closest.
Next flight departed from Bx and it was a long walk from business lounge to C1, a lot more to B concourse, plan leaving the lounge early enough, plan for a 15 minutes walk.
My flight landed F concourse and E1 was the closest.
Next flight departed from Bx and it was a long walk from business lounge to C1, a lot more to B concourse, plan leaving the lounge early enough, plan for a 15 minutes walk.
Jun 2, 2019, 8:42 am
#200
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: *A G, HHonors Gold, Marriot Gold, Skywards Silver
Posts: 23
Hi everyone, I am *G and travelling to IST next month. I noticed on all the images that the Business (International) lounge has the Star Alliance Gold banner, and decided to check on the Star Alliance website if the Business lounge shows. When checking on the Lounge Finder https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-finder, it appears as both the M&S and Business International lounges are part of the *G lounge access, which per the Lounge Access Policy at https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy, *G members are allowed into both M&S and Business lounges. That is, as long as there is a Star Alliance Gold banner on the entrance of it (which there seems to be).
This may be something to follow up directly to Star Alliance? Or TK?
This may be something to follow up directly to Star Alliance? Or TK?
Jun 2, 2019, 11:04 am
#201
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
Im not surprised: weve seen consistently bad/confusing information on lounges/access coming from the airport PR machinery. The *G website perpetuating this is bad.
Now the lounge dragons have the crappy job of having to tell irritated passengers that the signs are wrong, go to the other lounge - not a fun exchange for anyone involved.
Now the lounge dragons have the crappy job of having to tell irritated passengers that the signs are wrong, go to the other lounge - not a fun exchange for anyone involved.
Jun 3, 2019, 9:48 am
#203
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Istanbul
Programs: TK Elite (*G), SPG,Priority Pass
Posts: 131
Jun 4, 2019, 6:36 am
#206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Jun 4, 2019, 9:55 am
#207
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,347
Question is... why isn't IST acting and removing the *G signs for their Biz lounge! Surely it would have come to the attention of the higher-ups by now. Not to mention the information they are propagating to the *A website and other places!
Jun 4, 2019, 10:08 am
#208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
If the Exclusive Lounge would have the *G sign as well, this would mean that a chaotic situation would occur between the dragons and the *G pax who want to use it.The Elite Plus/Business direct lounge entry in Atatürk Airport had also a Star Alliance Gold sign, however, *G pax ( including M&S Elite ) were unable to use it when traveling on Y.
Jun 8, 2019, 6:38 pm
#210
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: SE 100K
Posts: 935
Hey everyone,
Flying KUL - IST in a couple days, landing @ 0505.
Day long layover and then depart at around 2000 for DBV.
Is the arrival lounge open yet? If not, are we able to use the standard lounge upon arrival or would that require exiting and re-entering through security etc...?
I'm Canadian so looking for a spot to catch the Raptors vs GS NBA finals game and figured the lounge may have it...
Then going to try to go into the city and explore a bit as well.
Flying KUL - IST in a couple days, landing @ 0505.
Day long layover and then depart at around 2000 for DBV.
Is the arrival lounge open yet? If not, are we able to use the standard lounge upon arrival or would that require exiting and re-entering through security etc...?
I'm Canadian so looking for a spot to catch the Raptors vs GS NBA finals game and figured the lounge may have it...
Then going to try to go into the city and explore a bit as well.