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 fourteenth report of the series would be another flight from Istanbul Airport; but this time it was not for the miles, the trip was for a meeting and then I would return the same night. I had the chance to book another €39 J class flight 3 days before the departure date, so I went for it. This report would also contain a review of the brand new domestic lounge in Istanbul Airport.
The routing would look like this. All reports except #2 would include lounge reviews as well.
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14#14 TK 2030 ISL to ADB ( J ) 737-800
- 15
Pax for this flight
Business Class: %30-35
Economy Class: %80-85
ONLINE CHECK-IN
I had done my online check-in 24 hours before departure. Even though I was an Elite member at that time, the system marked me as Classic Plus which I was while I booked this flight.
Even though my return was the same day, it was in a separate booking as I booked it later, I wasn't able to check-in for the return flight that time.
This time I've used the İETT bus from Mecidiyeköy and arrived to Istanbul Airport in 35 minutes.
Istanbul Airport - ISL
A view of the terminal before entering the building
As I also wanted to print my onward flights boarding pass, this time I've headed to the regular check-in desks instead of using one of the kiosks. After representing my ID, the agent printed both of the boarding passes. And also, I have requested an exit seat for my onward journey, as TK doesn't allow to reserve exit seats online at OLCI, and I have gotten one.
Boarding passes for both of the flights
Later on, I have cleared security which was a breeze as there were no queues.
A view of the domestic concourse while on the escalators to the gate level.
After a short walk, I have reached the elevators for the lounge.
Turkish Airlines LOUNGE DOMESTIC - Istanbul Airport
As the x5 miles promotion had ended at that time, the lounge was empty. There were only 4 passengers from our flight.
The offering are the same as the previous reports. In addition to the bar below, there is another bar that you could see pictures of it at reports #4 and #8 in this series.
While I was in the lounge, I was tracking the inbound flight from Ankara. Today's aircraft would be TC-JHS named Gölbaşı
And here the bird arrives to gate G7b.
FIDS
30 minutes before scheduled departure, me and the other 3 of the passengers in the lounge was asked to board from the CIP gate. Even though our aircraft was visible from the departure point of the bus, we were transferred by the bus.
Chart of ISL at the bus
TK 2030 Istanbul Airport TO IZMIR ADNAN MENDERES AIRPORT
After boarding the aircraft, I have took my seat 2A. Seat 2B was empty that day.
As this aircraft was equipped with the Panasonic IFE system, the aircraft wasn't installed with power sources.
Before boarding had finished, I had a quick visit to the front lavatory which was clean at that time
While I took my seat, pre-departure beverages were offered by the crew. That day I've opted for an orange juice.
Later on nuts and menus were distributed
The menu was the same as my last TK 2030 flight, which was a few days ago.
While we pushed back the safety video had been monitored.
The domestic gates
Passing the terminal
TC-JUG had arrived from Trabzon that day
Turkish Technic Hangar
TC-JHA had arrived from Gaziantep as TK 2219. It's weird to see an 737-800 with an old cabin at Istanbul Airport. Flights from Istanbul Airport usually gets the newer cabins.
Turkish Do&Co catering facility
TC-JVF arriving from Baku as TK1133.
VIP terminal
After the flight from Baku had landed, it was our turn to take off and we were shortly in the air
After taking off
The IFE was closed during this flight
Despite the IFE being closed, the route map was available from the overhead monitors
Literature, covered in detail in report #13
Shortly after takeoff, the meal service had begun.
Mozarella & Grilled Vegetables
Turkish Style Minced Beef with Ratatouille Couscous and Grilled Zucchini
Lemon Tart
After my tray was collected, I've asked for a tea
Photos before arriving to Izmir
There is an airfield next to ADB which is used by the military.
And we have arrived to Izmir ahead of schedule.
Due to the heavy rain, I didn't spot aircrafts this time. We had parked to gate 235 at the domestic terminal.
IZMIR ADNAN MENDERES AIRPORt - ADB
After saying "thank you" to the crew I have left the aircraft and taken a last photo from the jetbridge and left the airport.
I would come back to Adnan Menderes Airport, a few hours later to fly flight #15 in this series.
This report has came to an end.
Thanks for reading and hope to see you in another report.
