A very warm welcome to all Flight-Report members and visitors for this exclusive series of Flight-Report's which was an easy way having a Star Alliance Gold status. In addition, in this series I had the chance to experience the brand new Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge at Istanbul Airport on the first day of its operation. This exclusive series would include 15 flights ( 14 on Turkish Airlines & 1 on SunExpress ) and 13 of these reports are flights to/from Istanbul Airport in Business Class. The other two flights are also domestic flights which are on Economy Class and they are not reports from/to Istanbul Airport. More details could be found in the routing section.
The third report of this serie would be a short domestic flight from Izmir to Istanbul in TK's 737-800 Business Class cabin. This report would also have an overview of the Elite Plus & Business Class section of the Turkish Airlines Lounge in Izmir.
The routing would look like this. All reports except #2 would include lounge reviews as well.
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3#3 TK 2031 ADB to ISL ( J ) 737-800
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
Pax for this flight
Business Class: %100
Economy Class: %90-95
ONLINE CHECK-IN
I was able to do the online check-in for flights #3 and #4, 24 hours before flight #3.
As my seats were pre-reserved, I hadn't changed them.
Conclusion page
As I had already printed my boarding passes at Antalya, the day before. I was ready to enter the lounge at that moment.
IZMIR Adnan Menderes AIRPORT - ADB
The lounge has a separate entrance at the arrivals level. Eligible passengers could use this entrance and even park to the special CIP parking lot which is in just across the door below.
Turkish Airlines LOUNGE IZMIR - IZMIR Adnan Menderes AIRPORT
After validating my boarding pass at the desk and clearing security without waiting anyone, I have headed to the Elite Plus & Business Class section of the lounge.
The food offering is the same as the lounges at Atatürk Airport ( of course domestic lounge ) and Ankara Esenboğa Airport.
Breakfast bar
Drink selections. Turkish Airlines doesn't offer alcoholic beverages in their domestic lounges.
TV area & newspapers
There is a boarding area at the gate which priority passengers are transferred to the aircraft by bus which avoids the walking of eligible passengers to the original boarding gate.
Todays aircraft would be TC-JVA named Sultanbeyli
On the left side of the aircraft, this SunExpress 737-800 was getting some fuel.
Fuselage shot
TK 2031 IZMIR Adnan Menderes AIRPORT TO Istanbul Airport
After being welcomed by the crew, I had arrived to my seat. The pillow was waiting for me there.
A quick view of the seat pocket
After boarding was completed, welcome drinks were handed. This time I have opted for an orange juice.
While the glasses were being collected, nuts were being handed by the crew as an aperitif and the menu was distributed.
Today's selection
Later on the safety video has started to be monitored. As you see, Superman is pointing the emergency exits.
We had started our pushback before our scheduled departure time. At that moment, the crew was taking drink orders which would be served with the meal.
We have left Izmir on time
Coastal Guard aircrafts
Military hangars
Izmir - Aydın freeway
We are continuing our takeoff
While I opened the personal screen, the Istanbul Airport ad was being screened
Downtown Izmir
The IFE system was on during this flight.
I was able to follow the route map at my seat
As this aircraft was equipped with the Panasonic ex2 IFE system, there were no power supplies today onboard.
Shortly after the seatbelt signs had been turned off, the meal service had begun
Fresh fruit salad
Homemade red chili pepper jam from Alaçatı
Trabzon countryside butter
Scrambled Eggs & Turkish Style Cheese Pastry with grilled tomato, pepper, mushroom
Regional cheeses ( Ezine cheese and aged cheese )
Smoked Turkey breast
Marinated Turkish Olives
While I was enjoying my meal, my orange juice arrived and I have asked for a simit from the bread basket
Later on, the bread basked had came for the second time; this time the basket also had some pastries
We were almost there when I have finished my meal
Arnavutköy area before landing
Airport roads
We had landed to Istanbul Airport before schedule
A construction site near the runway
The ATC tower with the fire station
UPS would also open a facility at Istanbul Airport
TC-JVD was heading to the runway as TK1132. This 737-800 would operate the Baku service that day
We had arrived to gate G8A. Now, it was time to leave the aircraft and go inside the massive terminal
IsTANBUL AIRPORT - ISL
The arriving passenger level is above the departures area at Istanbul Airport
Last views of our aircraft
Now, it's time to walk to the transfer area
Going down the escalators
And, the transfer area is located just before the baggage claim area. I had handed my boarding pass to the attendant and proceeded to the departures level without any other security check.
Now, it was time to explore the new Turkish Airlines Lounge Domestic, but unfortunately this report has came to an end. I would cover that lounge in the next report. Thanks for reading this report and hope to see you in another one.
There would be no coming up sections for the first 14 reports of this series as the upcoming flight could be seen from the routing section at the beginning of the report.
Hello, Eryorulmaz. My binge-watching of your mileage run continues!
Thoughtful detail on the Izmir lounge being available as entry to the airport, and then a private bus gate. Very nice. So security for passengers choosing this option is just pasty the entry into the lounge? All-in-all, a nice translation of some of the LH First Class Terminal experience. Very smart. Catering and comfort looks pretty solid too.
Ahhhh… there’s the flip-up PTV screen. I get it now. Glad it was activated for this flight.
Catering looks perhaps a bit less impressive than the previous TK shorthaul, but still well above average for an airplane breakfast. I love the addition of the cheese and olives.
And I’m left with the enticing cliffhanger of the new TK Lounge at ISL. I look forward to getting caught up with the continuation of this series.
Thanks again for sharing, and happy flying!
Welcome again and thanks for stopping by to this report as well,
"Thoughtful detail on the Izmir lounge being available as entry to the airport, and then a private bus gate. Very nice. So security for passengers choosing this option is just pasty the entry into the lounge? All-in-all, a nice translation of some of the LH First Class Terminal experience. Very smart. Catering and comfort looks pretty solid too."
- Just to mention that the private entry is also available at IST, SAW, ISL, BJV and ESB. As you said, security is only cleared once and once you're cleared, you're inside the lounge. It's a nice translation of the LH First Class Terminal but it's really hard to access there as I am not able to afford paid long haul First tickets or collect 600000 miles in Lufthansa Group within 2 years. My only chance to access there is award tickets. The catering in the lounge is OK and better than some lounges in Europe but the Classic Plus & Elite section has less options. I would cover it in report #15 in this series. But, the seats in both sections are comfortable.
"Ahhhh… there’s the flip-up PTV screen. I get it now. Glad it was activated for this flight."
- It's so annoying that it depends on the crew to activate IFE. Sometimes they forget to activate on short domestic flights.
"Catering looks perhaps a bit less impressive than the previous TK shorthaul, but still well above average for an airplane breakfast. I love the addition of the cheese and olives."
- For a breakfast service, I think it's impressive. As the breakfast type in Turkey is a bit different than Europe, I wasn't going to expect a charcuterie plate or a museli with some yoghurt for this flight. It's right that the fruits could be seen as basic but I think that the rest of the plate is above average short haul Business Class flights.
"And I’m left with the enticing cliffhanger of the new TK Lounge at ISL. I look forward to getting caught up with the continuation of this series."
- Two reports that contain the new ISL lounge is available at this time. You could find them on the routing section as #4 and #6. Number #4 covers the lounge more in detail than #6. As well, I'll hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
Thanks again for your comment and hope you to see you soon.