Turkish Airlines

Advantages: regular loss of luggage, huge delays
Disadvantages: extremely cheap, extensive network in the middle east and central asia

Turkish Airlines leave you with mixed feelings wherever you look: most advanced Middle Eastern airline, but a service quality which looks more like Eastern improvisation than Western professionalism; an Economy Class designed for Anatolian cattle, yet a Business Class to make you feel like a Pasha. The verdict depends much on whether you view them as a Middle Eastern airline or as a European carrier, i.e. which standrads they have to live up to. ...
...only to be found onboard Turkish Airlines. ------------ NETWORK ------------ Turkish Airlines (or THY, short for its official Turkish name Turk Hava Yollari), stand out for their extensive connections to the Middle East and Central Asia. It is the only outside the former Soviet Union to serve ALL of the C.I.S. republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia almost on a daily basis (although Lufthansa's network in this region comes very close to THY's). ... Read review

Advantages: New aircraft, quite nice lounge at Istanbul
Disadvantages: Poor business class seat, crew not very friendly

...flown a few times with Turkish Airlines, at roughly three year intervals, and my opinion of them has changed each time! The first was in 1997, economy class on a five hour flight into Istanbul. I was not really impressed. The service was mediocre, the crew disinterested and if the seat next to me had not been empty I would have been really uncomfortable. The second was in 1999, in business class, and I thought how much they had improved. The seats ...
...737-800. Unlike many other airlines, Turkish seem to have taken a backward step, at least as far as business class comfort goes. This opinion is about a trip in late 2002 to Istanbul and back, five hour flights in both directions. CHECK IN On my flight to Istanbul, the check in was handled by a third party handling agent so was not Turkish Airlines themselves. On the return journey, checking in at Istanbul itself, I was struck by the new terminal ... Read review

Advantages: Good food
Disadvantages: Turkishness

Having recently flown with Turkish Airlines, I thought I'd give a brief review of their service. Food: This was generally good, in fact better than I had expected for a flight, and one run by a foriegn airline. There were two meals on the 10 hr flight, and one on the 4 hr flight. Each meal had a selection of items including some bread or crackers, some salad vegetables and/or fruit, some savory food and some sweet food. This meant there was always ...
...own headphones. Many channels played turkish music, at least I presume that was what it was. Two pop music channels, one for dancy pop music, one for gentle stuff. Also a classical sort of channel. Each channel played the same set of tracks over and over and over. T.V. showed random documentaries and "Friends" during the daytime, and then showed films at night. These included "The Bourne Identity" which was good, and others that were less good, ... Read review

Advantages: Competitive price, punctuality, comfort.
Disadvantages: Indifferent crew

...class. . I booked with Turkish airlines because they had the cheapest fare over the new year bank holiday period. This was around 440 pounds including taxes. I was slightly worried after booking as I read several negative comments on various consumer reviews. . Checking-in was quick and simple at Heathrow and baggage was checked through to Bangkok. Transfer at Istanbul was quick and easy. Istanbul is a bright and modern airport, ideal for short ...
...all I found Turkish airlines to offer a very average product. The plus points were punctuality, good seating and competitive price The negative points were inflight entertainment, no choice of meals and indifferent cabin crew. . I would fly Turkish airlines again but not for a long haul flight. ... Read review

Advantages: cheap flight from Heathrow
Disadvantages: bad food, indifferent service

I flew Turkish Airlines from Heathrow to Istanbul return, and while I liked the price, the service left a lot to be desired. The stewards were quite indifferent, and the food was terrible - cold pasta covered in hardened cheese. The plane itself was average, seats were ok for a 3 hour flight, but I certainly wouldn't have wanted to sit there for any longer. Plane seemed fairly old, making a lot of noise and shaking a lot for take off and landing. ...
...bonus. I booked on the Turkish Air website, and the only option available was to pay online with a credit card, and arrive early to collect the tickets at the airport. An e-ticket option would make things a lot more convenient. Overall, I felt you get what you pay for - a cheap, servicable flight from Heathrow to Turkey...best to bring your own food though! ... Read review