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
Mar 10, 2021, 1:55 pm
#571
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
Mar 10, 2021, 7:25 pm
#573
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 60
on March 7th, at TK lounge shower was closed with very limited food and soft drinks only..
Meatballs worth the trip though. But desert station was closed, only couple of high sugar cheap stuff no baklavas..
At IGA lounge shower was open, they serve liquors but food was not very good. We ate dinner at Turkish lounge than spent rest of the time at IGA lounge. They serve booze at the bar with server, no self service..
If you priority pass you can also use IGA Sleepods. We tried first time for a quick 1 hour nap and it was better than I expected. You can store your carryon under the pod. It has electric inside, and feels spacious inside. With priority pass you can use up to 3 hours.
Overall it was fun to spend 8 hours in Istanbul at the airport during our layover.. Hopefully Turkish lounge will go back to full service soon..
Only one complaint though, It was raining like crazy when we landed and they built the biggest airport in the world but still after 13 hours of flight it was not fun to catch a bus to the airport terminal. I have no idea why planes can not connect to the airport directly..
Meatballs worth the trip though. But desert station was closed, only couple of high sugar cheap stuff no baklavas..
At IGA lounge shower was open, they serve liquors but food was not very good. We ate dinner at Turkish lounge than spent rest of the time at IGA lounge. They serve booze at the bar with server, no self service..
If you priority pass you can also use IGA Sleepods. We tried first time for a quick 1 hour nap and it was better than I expected. You can store your carryon under the pod. It has electric inside, and feels spacious inside. With priority pass you can use up to 3 hours.
Overall it was fun to spend 8 hours in Istanbul at the airport during our layover.. Hopefully Turkish lounge will go back to full service soon..
Only one complaint though, It was raining like crazy when we landed and they built the biggest airport in the world but still after 13 hours of flight it was not fun to catch a bus to the airport terminal. I have no idea why planes can not connect to the airport directly..
Mar 11, 2021, 5:49 am
#574
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OTP
Programs: AF/KL platinum, Turkish gold, QR gold
Posts: 1,572
Overall it was fun to spend 8 hours in Istanbul at the airport during our layover.. Hopefully Turkish lounge will go back to full service soon..
Only one complaint though, It was raining like crazy when we landed and they built the biggest airport in the world but still after 13 hours of flight it was not fun to catch a bus to the airport terminal. I have no idea why planes can not connect to the airport directly..
Only one complaint though, It was raining like crazy when we landed and they built the biggest airport in the world but still after 13 hours of flight it was not fun to catch a bus to the airport terminal. I have no idea why planes can not connect to the airport directly..
I'm back in the TK lounge now as well after a long hiatus from flying Turkish. Can't say I'm too excited to spend the entire day here from 6am til 8pm... fun it is certainly not without any booze! And I miss my sweets/baklava/Turkish coffee!
How it was before...
How it is now..
Before COVID
And right now... sigh!
I still think its bizarre that you can get booze at the IGA lounge/SkyTeam lounge at IST - but not at the TK lounge. Like COVID-19 cares on which side of the central airport hall you drink a glass of wine, or whether you take a coke or beer at the TK lounge..
Mar 11, 2021, 6:10 am
#575
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: UK/Mauritius
Programs: EK Skywards silver Miles and Smiles Hilton Honours Hyatt Priority Club Kestrel A
Posts: 683
Thanks for the photos Romanianflyer and freefalcon.
Very helpful indeed.
Intrigued by the photo with signage by an escalator which signposts Pets Toilets.
Is this really a toilet for pets?
Very helpful indeed.
Intrigued by the photo with signage by an escalator which signposts Pets Toilets.
Is this really a toilet for pets?
Mar 11, 2021, 10:59 am
#577
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OTP
Programs: AF/KL platinum, Turkish gold, QR gold
Posts: 1,572
Mar 11, 2021, 11:49 am
#578
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,657
Mar 11, 2021, 12:40 pm
#579
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 I would like to add some nostalgia, the upper level in the TK International Lounge in Atatürk was always crowded, however, the lower level was significantly less crowded than the upper level. Many people enjoyed sitting near the coffee/dessert station and the pide station which made the upper level crowded.
Mar 12, 2021, 1:02 am
#580
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: TK EP, AF Platinum for life, something in Oneworld not worth to mention...
Posts: 420
Mar 12, 2021, 10:09 am
#581
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Red, HH Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Basic, Alitalia Status Match
Posts: 1,173
Mar 12, 2021, 3:18 pm
#582
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: CH, NL, US, IND
Programs: TK MS *G, LH MM *G
Posts: 6
Indeed, there was something special about the old lounge. The new lounges are big, but definitely lack the character. Also the observation about the lower level being less crowded is spot on. The bag lockers near the lower level were always empty, toilets cleaner, etc. Oh, I miss TK at its peak...
Mar 12, 2021, 3:35 pm
#583
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,347
and how fleeting it was.....People forget that prior to 2012, the lounge was garbage, and when the renovation was done, it was about 20% of the final size, with them first expanding sideways, doubling the capacity, the downstairs - taking the employee cafeteria, expanding perhaps another 120% and then the top floor another 20% when "Cafe Creme" disappeared. So the progression was roughly 2012, 2013, 2015 then 2016, and then by the end of 2018 it was gone........
Mar 13, 2021, 10:03 am
#584
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Red, HH Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Basic, Alitalia Status Match
Posts: 1,173
and how fleeting it was.....People forget that prior to 2012, the lounge was garbage, and when the renovation was done, it was about 20% of the final size, with them first expanding sideways, doubling the capacity, the downstairs - taking the employee cafeteria, expanding perhaps another 120% and then the top floor another 20% when "Cafe Creme" disappeared. So the progression was roughly 2012, 2013, 2015 then 2016, and then by the end of 2018 it was gone........