Review of Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam in Business

Hello folks,
 
This is part of the following itinerary:

AMS/IST on march 23rd B787-9 TK Business
IST/ADB on march 23rd B777 TK Business
ADB/IST on march 30th B777 TK Business 
IST/AMS on march 30th B787-9 TK Business; only this one is reported

AMS/CDG on march 30th A321 Economy

Living in northern France I can choose to fly from/to CDG, BRU, AMS, LHR/LGW all within easy reach from home, I select either, depending on fares, carrier, schedule, aircraft. To and from IST, TK offers best value for price from AMS.

 French version at : https://flight-report.com/fr/report/56566/turkish-airlines-tk1953-istanbul-ist-amsterdam-ams
 
It is usual to start a report with preflight pictures and comments. As I was on board another flight I give you a few hints 

Breakfast in domestic business class, fresh bread will be offered with hot drinks

And that enjoyable full stretch which I do appreciate

At IST we parked at gate, but were not allowed to use the gangway for direct acces to terminal building; I can imagine this is because our B777  was then operating an international flight to Houston. So we had a transfer by bus, from which I could take a few, poor quality, pictures. But an opportunity to see an aircraft from Iranian company ATA Airlines and the cheetah painted on their A320 to celebrate their partnership with the iranian football team
 

and now you can see they were taken from the special business pax bus; it makes them more valuable, don’t you think?

So let’s follow the guide
 

My turkish is rather poor, but so far so good, I could manage without english
 

So let’s go upstairs
 

Footprint to remind you that « it » is not over yet

because of covid,  some exit and transfer zones are closed, so you have to walk back most of the way you drove on the bus, helped by moving walkways

This one is open

Last time I almost missed my connection because of long queue at immigration and closed fast track. This time i chose flights with a 3 hour layover and …. fast track is open and … nobody in line. So it’s pretty quick.

let’s walk our way to the lounge.
 

Because of covid, all shops in some parts of the terminal are closed, 
 You can see part of the lounge upstairs, from this closed area downstairs

Downstairs it’s a bit dull
 

The lounge is so long that it hangs over the busy parts of the main hall as well; a warmer area

 

I had never noticed this access by lift

I was downthere, now upstairs

Very tranquil chair/desks for passengers who wish to work or make a flight report

After a nice welcome by a piano, you can choose to dine "al fresco" or pamper yourself in one of those large and soft armchairs.

I prefer this cosy area

With a view on teagardens on one side

And a view on aircrafts on the other side with lots of TK and what seems a Mohan air in the distance
 

I don't know why, in all TK lounges at IST, those two signs go together

Easy folks, there comes a place where everyone can choose its own way

Mine was not prayer

Very clean and very well looked after

Exploring on my way back; i like the design of this terminal

One of the various food bars; they seems obsessed by this sign, don't they?

My flight will be a codeshare flight with PK, at gate B17

which means I should go by now

Last views of the lounge, with very tranquil areas for rest

I'll get my bag back from one of the 150 lockers

Never too late to mention it: you scan your BP and you get a ticket with access codes to free wifi

Out of the lounge by the main entrance which I find quite elegant; 

It's on top of escalators with an amazing view of this area with no shops, and large windows on airside

What's that

It's both a smoking area and an outside terrace

Shopping area from upstairs

It's not exactly what turkish people call "pazar" but it looks like it

On my way to concourse B

You can spend a lot probably, large choice.

To get to concourse A and B level, you must go down

B17 is at the very end, so more walk, helped once again by moving walkways

Getting closer, I was right to leave lounge at that time.

None at gate, or in gangway, I must have been the last pax; well there has got to be one after all.

On Anadolu and TK flights, a sanitary kit is available at the door of the plane; contains a mask and a sanitary towel; may be useful

There it is

24 seats, half full.

Today will be on 2K

I am not fan of this seat with a very narrow space for my feet; not fan either of the window hidden behind the surrounding seat, though privacy may be an interesting point

Lots of TK of course when taxiing, and a libyan friend

and a turkish freight carrier

and off we go, bye bye IST

We will soon be over the Black Sea coast heading towards Bulgaria

Let us explore the seat

From blue to dark

IFE remote control, and all commands for lights and seat; only snag is that when not in use, lights and seat commands are off and you do not see them, so I spent some time searching, until, my hand touched the surface and the icons went on

on seat side, three lighs, depending on what you need

Safety belt reminds me of the shoulder belt of a policeman outfit Father Christmas brought me many years ago

While I was so fussy on details, crew had got busy serving drinks and I chose the wonderful lemonade, so refreshing. But no more salted nuts, either on domestic or international; covid restriction? budget restriction?

here comes the menu

I am not into drinks, but you might be

A tray is served, with covers on each item; under cover, salad was freh and nice and not too cold so it was tasty. Fresh bread is proposed

Hot dish is served covered. I selected pasta, and they were wonderful; cheese and dessert were fine, especially rice pudding which is one of my favorite. All with still water and I finished with a hot tea.

Now you have seen most of it between IST and AMS

I'll try the last James Bond on the IFE, but got bored after 10 minutes and chose a little nap.

which takes us to borders of Hungary, Serbia, Croatia and Romania

On we go

Just in case you miss it

Time for a walk

Difficult to show, but I found this toilet rather large

and plenty of hot water, towels and anything you may need

might be useful too

this dashboard reminds me of a japanese loo

changing baby?

but baby must not be too big

Just over one hour left

A view from the onboard camera, just entering Netherlands

water everywhere, no doubt it is NL

And we land at Schipol

Lot of walking, up and down, at Schipol; a bit dull atmosphere

in spite of the bright orange signs; why orange? anything to do with the dutch dynasty?

I feared queues at NL/Schengen immigration; automatic gates are out of order, but I do not have to wait, and like last time, immigration officer does not ask any of the certificates you are supposed to show when you land from a non EU country …

On my way to departure C, to get my flight to Paris

Aircraft is already there

By the time we leave, night has come, bye bye Amsterdam

Just to compare with picture at beginning of this report; but what do you expect for 50€, except crammed legs and a flabby cheese sandwich served out of a delivery cardboard box, how elegant ! Anyway I would never pay the business rate on such a short flight, I guess AF thinks biz customers are all oil barons !