Rant Re: Turkish Airline Business Class Service During Corona
Sep 28, 2020, 4:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 13
Rant Re: Turkish Airline Business Class Service During Corona
Currently on a Turkish airline international flight. Here are my rants:
1. No amenity kit due to COVID. This is just plain ridiculous. I've flown on BA, Emirates during COVID and both offered amenity kits to business class passengers. Ok, Turkish, I understand if you want to save costs while using COVID as an excuse, but provide individually wrapped toothbrushes then. Or at least let passengers know this in advance so that they can adequately prepare before the flight.
2. No carry ons due to COVID. You do realize that my carry-on will also have the same potential contamination as the clothes I'm wearing, right?
3. Boxed meals that aren't even trying to be "premium." The tuna sandwich in the boxed picnic box was disgusting. The bread roll in the box was inedible -- why not provide pita bread instead to fit the Turkish cuisine image? Also, take off that damn picture on the monitors advertising what meals used to be like prior to COVID and reminding me that I can pick my own meal. That's just adding insult to injury.
4. No snacks during flight. Lolwut? How does COVID prevent you from providing prepackaged snacks and chips?
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
1. No amenity kit due to COVID. This is just plain ridiculous. I've flown on BA, Emirates during COVID and both offered amenity kits to business class passengers. Ok, Turkish, I understand if you want to save costs while using COVID as an excuse, but provide individually wrapped toothbrushes then. Or at least let passengers know this in advance so that they can adequately prepare before the flight.
2. No carry ons due to COVID. You do realize that my carry-on will also have the same potential contamination as the clothes I'm wearing, right?
3. Boxed meals that aren't even trying to be "premium." The tuna sandwich in the boxed picnic box was disgusting. The bread roll in the box was inedible -- why not provide pita bread instead to fit the Turkish cuisine image? Also, take off that damn picture on the monitors advertising what meals used to be like prior to COVID and reminding me that I can pick my own meal. That's just adding insult to injury.
4. No snacks during flight. Lolwut? How does COVID prevent you from providing prepackaged snacks and chips?
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
Sep 28, 2020, 11:46 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 13
But on the bright side, my bags made it to
Bodrum on a short transit connection (55 mins
because the international flight was delayed).
I love Turkish airlines!
Bodrum on a short transit connection (55 mins
because the international flight was delayed).
I love Turkish airlines!
Currently on a Turkish airline international flight. Here are my rants:
1. No amenity kit due to COVID. This is just plain ridiculous. I've flown on BA, Emirates during COVID and both offered amenity kits to business class passengers. Ok, Turkish, I understand if you want to save costs while using COVID as an excuse, but provide individually wrapped toothbrushes then. Or at least let passengers know this in advance so that they can adequately prepare before the flight.
2. No carry ons due to COVID. You do realize that my carry-on will also have the same potential contamination as the clothes I'm wearing, right?
3. Boxed meals that aren't even trying to be "premium." The tuna sandwich in the boxed picnic box was disgusting. The bread roll in the box was inedible -- why not provide pita bread instead to fit the Turkish cuisine image? Also, take off that damn picture on the monitors advertising what meals used to be like prior to COVID and reminding me that I can pick my own meal. That's just adding insult to injury.
4. No snacks during flight. Lolwut? How does COVID prevent you from providing prepackaged snacks and chips?
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
1. No amenity kit due to COVID. This is just plain ridiculous. I've flown on BA, Emirates during COVID and both offered amenity kits to business class passengers. Ok, Turkish, I understand if you want to save costs while using COVID as an excuse, but provide individually wrapped toothbrushes then. Or at least let passengers know this in advance so that they can adequately prepare before the flight.
2. No carry ons due to COVID. You do realize that my carry-on will also have the same potential contamination as the clothes I'm wearing, right?
3. Boxed meals that aren't even trying to be "premium." The tuna sandwich in the boxed picnic box was disgusting. The bread roll in the box was inedible -- why not provide pita bread instead to fit the Turkish cuisine image? Also, take off that damn picture on the monitors advertising what meals used to be like prior to COVID and reminding me that I can pick my own meal. That's just adding insult to injury.
4. No snacks during flight. Lolwut? How does COVID prevent you from providing prepackaged snacks and chips?
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
Sep 28, 2020, 2:34 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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
Currently on a Turkish airline international flight. Here are my rants:
1. No amenity kit due to COVID. This is just plain ridiculous. I've flown on BA, Emirates during COVID and both offered amenity kits to business class passengers. Ok, Turkish, I understand if you want to save costs while using COVID as an excuse, but provide individually wrapped toothbrushes then. Or at least let passengers know this in advance so that they can adequately prepare before the flight.
2. No carry ons due to COVID. You do realize that my carry-on will also have the same potential contamination as the clothes I'm wearing, right?
3. Boxed meals that aren't even trying to be "premium." The tuna sandwich in the boxed picnic box was disgusting. The bread roll in the box was inedible -- why not provide pita bread instead to fit the Turkish cuisine image? Also, take off that damn picture on the monitors advertising what meals used to be like prior to COVID and reminding me that I can pick my own meal. That's just adding insult to injury.
4. No snacks during flight. Lolwut? How does COVID prevent you from providing prepackaged snacks and chips?
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
1. No amenity kit due to COVID. This is just plain ridiculous. I've flown on BA, Emirates during COVID and both offered amenity kits to business class passengers. Ok, Turkish, I understand if you want to save costs while using COVID as an excuse, but provide individually wrapped toothbrushes then. Or at least let passengers know this in advance so that they can adequately prepare before the flight.
2. No carry ons due to COVID. You do realize that my carry-on will also have the same potential contamination as the clothes I'm wearing, right?
3. Boxed meals that aren't even trying to be "premium." The tuna sandwich in the boxed picnic box was disgusting. The bread roll in the box was inedible -- why not provide pita bread instead to fit the Turkish cuisine image? Also, take off that damn picture on the monitors advertising what meals used to be like prior to COVID and reminding me that I can pick my own meal. That's just adding insult to injury.
4. No snacks during flight. Lolwut? How does COVID prevent you from providing prepackaged snacks and chips?
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
For the other bullet points, I wouldn't comment, however, I could tell that the keeping IFE screen advertisement + the billboard advertisements in Istanbul showing the pre-COVID Business Class catering is not a nice move.
Sep 28, 2020, 2:46 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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
Sep 28, 2020, 3:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
Programs: OWE AA EXP;*A TK Gold; Marriott LTT; Hyatt Globalist; IHG Plat; National VIP
Posts: 3,097
Sep 29, 2020, 1:48 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
This used to be an amazing airline with great service. Now it's just sad.
Sep 29, 2020, 6:09 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,347
IST, are you sure that the carry-on thing is for all airlines? I ask because I have flown several other airlines in and out of Turkey during Covid, and NONE have this policy in/out of Turkey (or at least not for me!).
Sep 29, 2020, 6:27 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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
There are also numerous reports on the BA board that passengers traveling to Turkey were forced to check their carry-ons.
It was also enforced on Pegasus domestic flights that I took this summer.
However, on one of my IST-DOH flights, one of the QR ground staff ( not outsourced Havaş agents; one of the superior agents employed by QR ) told me that if passengers made to the gate with a carry-on, they would not care about the regulation and allow it onboard.
Sep 29, 2020, 8:26 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,347
Pegasus does not surprise me as they are a Turkish carrier. I have not flown BA out of IST since March, so also cannot comment, but I CAN comment on several others such QR, AF, KL, and LH where I have not been subject to such limitations..........I should note that in each and every case I have done on-line check-in and just shown up at the gate. Actually now that I think about it, on two of my flights from IST they were checking in a lot of carry-ons at the gate, but in one case I was flying Biz and was not asked and in the other, one agent read my status and another said "Tamam" so maybe that is what got me out of it.
Oct 1, 2020, 8:11 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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
Regarding #2 . Can you bring a small backpack onboard?
Oct 1, 2020, 10:03 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Udon Thani, Thailand
Programs: TK E,*G, A-Club G
Posts: 869
I had to fly LX out of Bangkok and am 100% satistfied, TK is no longer my first choice, maybe rather the last?
My elite status got extende to April 2022, we will see what 2021 brings....
Oct 20, 2020, 4:48 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Delta Gold, UA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 275
Will report back on the amenity kit and any other changes.