Apr 2, 19, 4:31 am
Last edit by: starflyergold
Unlike like Atatrk 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: This lounge will be Turkish Airlines's top tier lounge, no opening date is in sight. Business Class passengers holding Elite or Elite Plus status on Miles&Smiles will be able to access this lounge. There is no information about if non-TK-*G pax traveling in TK J will be admitted to the lounge. Also, the features of the lounge remain unknown.
Arrivals Lounge: Similar to Atatrk Airport, there will also be an arrivals lounge which will be opened in a future unspecified date. However, the lounge hours and eligibility are not known yet. In Atatrk Airport, the arrivals lounge operated from 04:30 to 12:30 for arriving international Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers and Miles&Smiles Elite Plus passengers on arriving international Turkish Airlines flights.
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: This lounge will be Turkish Airlines's top tier lounge, no opening date is in sight. Business Class passengers holding Elite or Elite Plus status on Miles&Smiles will be able to access this lounge. There is no information about if non-TK-*G pax traveling in TK J will be admitted to the lounge. Also, the features of the lounge remain unknown.
Arrivals Lounge: Similar to Atatrk Airport, there will also be an arrivals lounge which will be opened in a future unspecified date. However, the lounge hours and eligibility are not known yet. In Atatrk Airport, the arrivals lounge operated from 04:30 to 12:30 for arriving international Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers and Miles&Smiles Elite Plus passengers on arriving international Turkish Airlines flights.
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 30, 22, 4:49 am
#1036
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 9,329
Originally Posted by nov11
Not too sure if this was mentioned before, but there are no more pre-packaged food in the lounge. No more 3 half-sliced cherry tomatoes in a cup 
Jun 30, 22, 5:02 am
#1037
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP & Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+, SPG Plat, Hyatt Globlalist
Posts: 2,550
Originally Posted by SK AAR
The pre-packed sandwiches and cakes are gone? They were def. there early this month.
If anyone is planning to take a shower before the early morning Asia departure bank (0100-0300), just make sure you register as soon as you enter the lounge (and check if the M&S lounge has a shorter queue). The business lounge had a 1.5 hours waiting time whilst the M&S lounge had a 45 minutes waiting time (I walked over to the M&S lounge and spent my time there since there weren't much time after I was done with shower).
They need to open the Premium Lounge soon
Jun 30, 22, 5:22 am
#1038
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,547
Originally Posted by nov11
Until 2300. They start cleaning after. "Pide" (Turkish flat bread) is excellent tho (one fo the few hot food available after 2300).
And yes - no more pre-packaged food
PS> My post refers to the C Lounge
Jun 30, 22, 8:30 pm
#1040
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP & Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+, SPG Plat, Hyatt Globlalist
Posts: 2,550
Originally Posted by TPJ
My experience was different: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34361164-post1023.html
And yes - no more pre-packaged food
PS> My post refers to the C Lounge
And yes - no more pre-packaged food
PS> My post refers to the C Lounge
Jul 4, 22, 8:48 am
#1041
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 80
For those who have experience at the airside Yotel, what happens if you book for X number of hours starting at a given time, but your inbound flight arrives late? Will they shift the booking to give you the full X hours or does the passenger bear the risk of late arrival?
Jul 4, 22, 10:54 am
#1042
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
Entry Lounge IST
Hi, maybe someone here knows more than me. I'll be travelling with a group of friends (3 in total) via Istanbul in August with TK (all in economy). I've got a Star Gold status, so I can bring one guest with me into the lounge. For the remaining, is it possible to buy a day pass to the lounge or something similar? As we have a 5hrs layover it would be worth it, I think. Couldn't find anything on the TK website besides the domestic lounge.
Many thanks in advance!
Many thanks in advance!
Jul 5, 22, 7:20 am
#1044
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: ATL - Berlin - Quito
Programs: Delta FO, TK Elite, Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 868
Originally Posted by SCS
For those who have experience at the airside Yotel, what happens if you book for X number of hours starting at a given time, but your inbound flight arrives late? Will they shift the booking to give you the full X hours or does the passenger bear the risk of late arrival?
Istanbul MissionControl <[email protected]>
They usually reply pretty quickly.
Jul 15, 22, 5:21 am
#1045
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,376
Thanks for the Wiki, that is very helpful. I have a question about the domestic lounge, which side is the one for business class passengers, the one on the left or the one on the right?
Jul 15, 22, 6:08 am
#1046
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Krisflyer Gold, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 396
Originally Posted by SCS
For those who have experience at the airside Yotel, what happens if you book for X number of hours starting at a given time, but your inbound flight arrives late? Will they shift the booking to give you the full X hours or does the passenger bear the risk of late arrival?
Jul 19, 22, 2:21 am
#1048
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,547
Originally Posted by jacksonSFO
If I arrive on an intl TK flight to Istanbul, but connect to a domestic tk flight on a different ticket, woukd they still allow access to the TK lounge?
Jul 24, 22, 8:44 am
#1050
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: got2flyfar (YouTube)
Programs: SkyMiles Gold, TK Elite/*G, Simbad Gold, ITA Premium, Hilton Gold; BW Diamond Select
Posts: 284
Originally Posted by FlyerLX
On a flight in J to ECN, will there be access to the domestic or international lounges?
