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
Apr 2, 19, 4:04 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 13,924
TK in Istanbul Airport: Thread #2 - Lounges
As there is a lot of discussion going about the lounges on in the TK ops from Istanbul Airport forum, and as all the discussion about which lounge offers what, the access requirements, and the future lounge openings ( Exclusive, Arrival ) would be useful for most of TK passengers so I had wanted to create a separate thread for this discussion.
Also, we all know that this forum would have hundreds of questions in the next few days about lounges so it would be really useful if you contribute the thread by sharing your experiences and share photos of the lounges if you have visited them.
I am creating a small WIKI for this thread as well and of course, you are welcome to edit the WIKI.
Also, we all know that this forum would have hundreds of questions in the next few days about lounges so it would be really useful if you contribute the thread by sharing your experiences and share photos of the lounges if you have visited them.
I am creating a small WIKI for this thread as well and of course, you are welcome to edit the WIKI.
Apr 2, 19, 9:37 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Brasil
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 66
I'll arrive Istambul for transit on April 4th, (local time 18:00)... will there be anything left on the lounge? 
Also wondering about DutyFree shops, any Sale going on?
By the way, nice work ISTFlyer for your WIKI on ISL new airport!
Also wondering about DutyFree shops, any Sale going on?
By the way, nice work ISTFlyer for your WIKI on ISL new airport!
Apr 2, 19, 9:51 am
#5
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 13,924
At Atatrk Airport, sale is going on for duty free shops and don't worry in the 4th of April, some parts of the old lounge could be closed, however it would still have the necessary amount of seating, food areas, etc...
Apr 2, 19, 11:28 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Red, HH Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Basic, Alitalia Status Match
Posts: 1,152
Apr 2, 19, 12:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,086
Thanks for the wiki, ISTflyer!
reporting for duty: flying through IST April 8th/9th, will report on the lounge situation.
Am still hoping that E+ will eventually get a little more airport/lounge perks than what is apparent at the moment.
reporting for duty: flying through IST April 8th/9th, will report on the lounge situation.
Am still hoping that E+ will eventually get a little more airport/lounge perks than what is apparent at the moment.
Apr 2, 19, 12:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Brasil
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 66
Since they won't need to cater for any lounge visitors after the 6th, the food will have to be eaten or thrown away. @stevespam - you need to help them avoid wasting that food
I know a few lounges, IST is one of my favourite, nice selection of food/drinks.
Apr 2, 19, 12:20 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,124
Anyone know what will be the differences between the different lounges besides that I would expect the more generic *A Gold lounge will be more crowded, but from facilities/food/service - any differences? I did not really catch any of these differences in the wiki/discussions.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Apr 2, 19, 1:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 96
Anyone know what will be the differences between the different lounges besides that I would expect the more generic *A Gold lounge will be more crowded, but from facilities/food/service - any differences? I did not really catch any of these differences in the wiki/discussions.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Apr 2, 19, 2:16 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Terceira Island
Programs: TP Gold, *G Star Alliance
Posts: 251
Very good to hear TK will have a lounge only for J. The old lounge was good until it was rush hour, after that it was terrible, no place to sit, 3h to have a shower etc.
Also hope the new airport has larger corridors than the old one, where reaching a gate is not the most pleasant experience.
Also hope the new airport has larger corridors than the old one, where reaching a gate is not the most pleasant experience.
Apr 2, 19, 6:08 pm
#13
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
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Posts: 13,924
For photos of the IGA Lounge ( the contract one ) you could visit the Istanbul Airport Master Thread in the Europe Forum.
Apr 2, 19, 6:10 pm
#14
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 13,924
Anyone know what will be the differences between the different lounges besides that I would expect the more generic *A Gold lounge will be more crowded, but from facilities/food/service - any differences? I did not really catch any of these differences in the wiki/discussions.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Apr 2, 19, 7:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,124
Cheers!
