Advice Pls BHX/MAN-IST-MLE Business -New to Turkish
May 31, 2022, 6:16 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,368
Advice Pls BHX/MAN-IST-MLE Business -New to Turkish
Afternoon all, just booking a return business trip to Maldives for October and jumped to Emirates but wow, price was over £8k for two persons. Checked Qatar & Emirates and the like and is worse again.
Looking at Turkish at a cheaper alternative at about £6k. Better of course but unsure of their product. Would appreciate any guidance or opinion if it's a worthwhile option or likely be a disappointment. I heard very mixed reports.
I think it's small units out of the UK and A330's and similar IST onwards. But as I say, I have zero experience of their product, in the air and on land. Advice, suggestions, links etc would be gratefully received. Many thanks
Looking at Turkish at a cheaper alternative at about £6k. Better of course but unsure of their product. Would appreciate any guidance or opinion if it's a worthwhile option or likely be a disappointment. I heard very mixed reports.
I think it's small units out of the UK and A330's and similar IST onwards. But as I say, I have zero experience of their product, in the air and on land. Advice, suggestions, links etc would be gratefully received. Many thanks
May 31, 2022, 8:40 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
If you are familiar with EK mediocre (2-3-2, not even fully flat) C-class product on B777, TK on A330 is 2-2-2 and fully flat. So obviously a win...
All the rest is the same: both offer generally great soft product, but if something goes wrong be prepared to fight for your rights (but I guess with 99,9% of passengers everything goes smoothly).
Also: lowest EK and QR business class fares do not allow for lounge access. With TK all fares would allow you to use lounges... Might be another win...
All the rest is the same: both offer generally great soft product, but if something goes wrong be prepared to fight for your rights (but I guess with 99,9% of passengers everything goes smoothly).
Also: lowest EK and QR business class fares do not allow for lounge access. With TK all fares would allow you to use lounges... Might be another win...
May 31, 2022, 9:34 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,368
If you are familiar with EK mediocre (2-3-2, not even fully flat) C-class product on B777, TK on A330 is 2-2-2 and fully flat. So obviously a win...
All the rest is the same: both offer generally great soft product, but if something goes wrong be prepared to fight for your rights (but I guess with 99,9% of passengers everything goes smoothly).
Also: lowest EK and QR business class fares do not allow for lounge access. With TK all fares would allow you to use lounges... Might be another win...
All the rest is the same: both offer generally great soft product, but if something goes wrong be prepared to fight for your rights (but I guess with 99,9% of passengers everything goes smoothly).
Also: lowest EK and QR business class fares do not allow for lounge access. With TK all fares would allow you to use lounges... Might be another win...
I read that their catering and drinks service was good on board and at IST TK lounge. At BHX and MAN it's just third party lounges not even outstation. Not a huge deal if the on board service is solid.
Don't recall ever having a problem with lounge on EK or QR but all the same, interesting try something new if the product is as solid as it sounds. And more than £2k cheaper. Is a fair amount.
May 31, 2022, 9:48 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,832
The TK A321neo has very nice J/C class seats; obviously not lie-flat, but certainly spacious and comfortable; much better than Euro-style seats with other carriers. IFE is very good with a large screen. Wifi should work as well (free in J/C class)
Last edited by SK AAR; May 31, 2022 at 9:56 am
May 31, 2022, 10:15 am
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,368
So the A321 (one that runs out of BHX/MAN) is 2-2 it sounds like? And is the on-board food and drink as good as some reviews mention? Thanks for the information
May 31, 2022, 10:21 am
#6
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Location: Denmark
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Posts: 11,832
Turkish Airlines Catering Master Thread | Photos, Menus & Reviews ( 2019 onwards ) - Page 43 - FlyerTalk Forums
I had the meal pictured in #625 on a CPH-IST flight last week
Last edited by SK AAR; May 31, 2022 at 10:26 am
May 31, 2022, 11:15 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,368
Yes, a 2-2 configuration in J/C. Full meal in J/C; pretty good. Take a look in the TK catering master thread for what you can expect.
Turkish Airlines Catering Master Thread | Photos, Menus & Reviews ( 2019 onwards ) - Page 43 - FlyerTalk Forums
I had the meal pictured in #625 on a CPH-IST flight last week
Turkish Airlines Catering Master Thread | Photos, Menus & Reviews ( 2019 onwards ) - Page 43 - FlyerTalk Forums
I had the meal pictured in #625 on a CPH-IST flight last week
May 31, 2022, 1:48 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 145
I’ve just done FRU-IST on one of the NEOs (5hr40min) and thought the seats were quite comfortable. The food was good although I thought the breakfast main course was a bit bland (it was the cheese pastry).
Another advantage of TK is that coming from the UK you will likely not need to re-clear security in IST.
Jun 3, 2022, 9:03 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Jun 4, 2022, 2:13 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
There’s also a timetable to consider.
TK usually flies once a day to MLE but the others fly more than that.
TK is a 4 hour and 7 hour flight and the other is the opposite 7 hour and then 4 hours flight (on MAN-X-MLE).
Depending upon your requirements, one may suit you more than the other.
TK usually flies once a day to MLE but the others fly more than that.
TK is a 4 hour and 7 hour flight and the other is the opposite 7 hour and then 4 hours flight (on MAN-X-MLE).
Depending upon your requirements, one may suit you more than the other.