Turkish Airlines.
Let’s talk about Turkish Airlines this time.
Turkish Airlines
Back then, on my trip to Turkey in 2019, I flew with Turkish Airlines.
The super long overnight journey from Jakarta to Istanbul was surprisingly not that bad with Turkish Airlines.
Gotta say, I’m giving this airline a big thumbs up.
No hiccups during the trip, just total satisfaction because their service is top-notch.
And get this, the whole idea that airplane food is meh, tasteless, or just blah got debunked by the food on Turkish Airlines.
Even though I was rocking it in Economy Class, the ride was comfy, no issues at all.
Let’s keep reading to check out the menu on this plane and get some stories from the flight.
Flying with Turkish Airlines: A Journey to Remember
Turkish Airlines is one of the best in the world.
I was pumped to finally hop on a flight with them.
The plane for this trip was a Boeing 777-300ER.
So, it’s boarding time – they let the fancy Business Class folks in first, and then us Economy Class folks followed suit, like always.
Happy Faces Excited for Turkey: Mbak Fen, Me, and Bundaaaa….
Whether you’re on a super long international journey or just a quick domestic hop, they say the comfort is always top-notch.
Turkish Airlines’ frequent flights definitely contribute to their excellent service.
The service on the plane, the stuff inside, and even buying tickets – everything’s done really well.
Oh, and guess what? Every Turkish Airlines plane has its own name.
Some are called Beylerbeyi, Canakkale, or other names of places in Turkey.
What’s the Airline’s Star Rating?
Turkish Airlines has a four-star rating, at least that’s what I remember from a SkyTrax review.
They’re part of this big group called Star Alliance, hanging out with airlines like Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, United Airlines, Air Canada, and a bunch more, if my memory serves me right.
And what’s Star Alliance, you ask?
It’s like this big club of airlines worldwide, kinda like OneWorld and SkyTeam. You’ve got Cathay Pacific in OneWorld and Garuda Indonesia in SkyTeam.
Turkish Airlines has snagged a bunch of awards too, including being named Europe’s Best Airline in 2015 during the SkyTrax Passenger Choice Award.
Ticket Prices & Promotions
Getting a ticket from Jakarta to Istanbul can be a bit pricey…
The Jakarta to Istanbul ticket prices usually range around 12 million IDR for a round trip, depending on the airline and the time you fly.
Watch out, prices tend to spike during holidays.
My advice is, snag those tickets early when there’s a promo going on.
That usually comes with a good discount.
But if you find yourself having to grab a ticket last minute, well, just roll with it and laugh it off, haha…
Check In Online
at Soekarno Hatta Airport…
At that time, we departed around mid-June 2019.
We were advised to check in around 18:00 – 18:30.
So we wouldn’t be in a rush and could be relaxed.
You know, traffic in Jakarta is unpredictable, so we did leave home earlier
. Which Terminal?
Turkish Airlines takes off from Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta.
While we waited, we prayed Isha and grabbed some snacks.
The mosque here is neat, and you can find a few spots to get snacks.
Grab some snacks at Soekarno Hatta Airport * The photo filter went a bit overboard, making the lips look super red….
I couldn’t wait to hop on Turkish Airlines..!
Which Gate?
It’s almost time to leave.
We’re heading to Gate 3 because Turkish Airlines is using it for boarding right now.
Baggage & Cabin
Turkish Airlines allows 20 kg for your checked luggage in economy class.
It’s a good idea to pack light when you leave because you’ll probably want room for souvenirs when you come back.
Also, you’re allowed one cabin bag weighing up to 7 kg and one personal item.
I took a picture with my luggage
Here’s what I’m taking into the cabin on Turkish Airlines: one cabin suitcase, one tote bag, and one shoulder bag for important stuff like passports, wallets, books, and such.
The cabin suitcase is pretty light, just has clothes and things I’ll need in Turkey since we can’t open the checked baggage right after landing.
Since we’re on a tour this time, we’re heading straight for sightseeing in Turkey as soon as we land, without stopping at the hotel first.
So, no chance to open the checked baggage for a while.
How many hours is the Flight from Jakarta to Turkey?
The Turkish Airlines plane we were on was pretty packed, and it felt like there were hardly any empty seats.
Here’s what it was like inside the plane.
How many hours is the flight from Jakarta to Turkey?
The flight from Jakarta to Turkey lasted 12 hours.
Fly with Turkish Airlines
During the journey, I kept myself entertained by watching the clear and organized AVOD screen showing our flight route.
There was plenty of useful information, like the arrival time and how much longer until we landed in Turkey.
Travel to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines
Surprisingly, even though the flight was scheduled for 12 hours, we completed it in just 11 hours and 45 minutes, 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Alhamdulillah.
Turkish Airlines Facilities
Now, let’s talk about the cool amenities on Turkish Airlines..
Seat
Let’s start with the seats…
The seats on Turkish Airlines, even in economy class, are quite spacious.
As seen in the photo at the beginning of the article, the economy class seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 layout.
The distance between my seat and the one in front is not cramped, and there’s a footrest, like on a train.
The legroom is comfortable, even for someone with long legs like me.
To give you a better idea, I’ve included a video from Turkish Airlines. Watch it first; the video is short, and then continue reading, haha…
During the flight, we also received a small pillow and a blanket. Sleeping was really comfortable…
View from Turkish Airlines window
Now, check out this photo snapped from the airplane window.
My friend got the window seat, and I ended up in the middle, quite far from the window.
On Board Meal
On-board meals from Turkish Airlines are a real treat, even in economy class.
The food is always delicious and has won awards for on-board dining.
Oh, and we were given a menu card with two options for dinner. Here’s what I went for.
- Steamed Meat and Egg in Broth (I forgot what the fancy name is hahaha…)
- Shrimp Salad
- Sauteed Vegetables
- Cheese Cake
- Bread
- Butter
- Jam
- Orange Juice
Check out what I had in the following picture
Turkish Airlines On Board Meal
The food is really good – tasty and of high quality. The portion sizes are just right, and they offer a variety of menu options. What’s cool is that they provide actual stainless steel forks and spoons, not those plastic ones. It gives a premium dining feel, almost like having dinner on land.
The menu depends on the airline’s policy. While there’s a Middle Eastern touch, they make adjustments. Surprisingly, the food tastes great, even for someone like me who isn’t familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine 🙂 The menu could include Rendang Beef Curry, Chicken Breast with Penne and Tomato Sauce, and other options, varying on each flight.
They usually throw in Shepherd Salad and Sautéed Vegetables as side dishes. Dessert could be Chocolate Cake or Cheese Cake. The best part is that whenever we’re hungry, we can grab a Chicken Sandwich or Rendang Sandwich in the Galley.
And the go-to drink on Turkish Airlines is Homemade Lemon with Mint. People say it’s really refreshing and delicious, but the stock tends to run out quickly.
This is what I regret because at that time, I just kept drinking Orange Juice again and again…
For Turkish Airlines’ menu, it’s said that you can request special meals 24 hours before departure if there are specific dietary needs. For example, if you’re vegan, need a meal for children, have a nut allergy, diabetes, or need gluten-free options, you can order them in advance. There are even special menus for babies, served in jars, reportedly. However, I haven’t tried asking about the baby menu.
All of these special requests don’t come with additional charges, as long as you notify them according to the schedule.
Now, this is the menu when I returned from Turkey to Indonesia. Equally delicious.
The menu when returning was quite diverse and completely different from what I had when leaving.
- Mashed Potato + Eggs + Mushrooms + Tomatoes
- Olive Fruit Salad + Turkish Cheese
- Muesli + Yoghurt
- Roti
- Butter
- Jam
- Kamidiye Mineral Water
- Berry Juice
In Flight Meal Turkish Airlines
The way they pack the food before serving is also neat and clean like this.
The bread is served one by one by the flight attendant, not just placed like this. I’m the one who asked for it to be placed there 🙂
Hygienic On Board Meal Turkish Airlines
Now, let’s talk about breakfast on Turkish Airlines.
During the Turkish Airlines flight, we get treated to two hearty meals – dinner and breakfast.
After dinner, they also give us a bottle of Sirma mineral water and a snack of Roasted Peanuts.
Sorry for not having a photo; I forgot to take one, haha… Understandable since it was bedtime…
Because not long after that, the cabin lights started to dim until they were completely turned off. And then, it was time to sleeeeep…
As morning approached, another round of food was served. This is the breakfast menu. It’s usually served around 2 to 3 hours before landing in Istanbul.
The menu is quite similar for both departure and return flights.
- Scrambled Egg + Mushrooms + Tomatoes
- Salad and Cheese
- Yoghurt + Fruits
- Roti + Butter + Jam
- Orange Juice
Turkish Airlines: Breakfast time
Sorry, the photo is a bit tilted because I tried to rotate it, so in the result it looked strange, haha…
Chef On Board
Oh, by the way, there’s something special and fascinating for business class called “Chef On Board.”
When it’s mealtime, business class passengers get their food served directly by the chef, and they even come dressed in their chef attire.
There used to be cooking demonstrations on the plane, quite a show, huh? Hahaha…
This Chef thing adds a unique touch to the entertainment for business class passengers.
Unfortunately during the pandemic, they say they’ve changed the service procedures a lot to avoid direct contact with passengers.
In Flight Entertainment
In Flight Entertainment Turkish Airlines
Traveling long distances with Turkish Airlines is really enjoyable because there’s so much to watch here.
I kept myself busy watching documentaries about tourism in Turkey. The generously sized AVOD screen, perfect for a single passenger and as wide as the seat, is delightful for watching during the flight. The screen is incredibly clear, and there are plenty of channels to choose from. Dozens of movies await to be enjoyed.
However, since our journey was overnight, many chose to rest, as the schedule would be quite hectic after landing.
Under the screen, the remote is neatly stored, and below that is the tray table used for meals. On the left side of the screen, there’s a coat hook for hanging things.
There are charging ports too, so no need to worry about the battery running out before landing. It’s a complete setup, ensuring a safe and comfortable 12-hour journey in the air.
WiFii on Board
For in-flight WiFi access, (unfortunately, I wasn’t too concerned), it’s said to be available for around $9.99 for 1 hour and $14.99 for 24 hours, correct me if I’m wrong. I’m sure most of you would choose the $9.99 option, right?
Surprisingly, many opt for the 24-hour package, especially passengers in transit at Istanbul who will be taking another Turkish Airlines flight. Instead of paying $9.99 again after the layover, it’s better to just buy the 24-hour package.
However, if you’re flying only to Istanbul, the $9.99 option is sufficient. Passengers from Indonesia might not activate this package frequently; it’s a bit pricey, and they often sleep during the flight since they plan to explore Turkey the next day.
Business class passengers usually get free WiFi, and they say the internet speed is quite fast and reliable. Signal loss might occur only when passing certain parts above the sea or something like that.
As for me, during the flight, I’m busy eating, watching, and sleeping. Of course, after taking photos until I get bored and chatting with the neighbour, haha…
“You’re Never Bored on Board” is indeed a fitting slogan because I was never bored at all during the flight.
Turkish Airlines: Your’re never board on board
Oh, by the way, Turkish Airlines planes have a Live Camera at the front bottom part of the aircraft. So, you can see the scenery beneath the plane.\
Unfortunately, my journey was at night, so I couldn’t see anything… I could only witness the nighttime city lights for those seated by the window.
For those flying during the day, you can see something like this – the view of the Earth from the camera beneath the plane. For example, like this.
Live Camera in Turkish Airlines
And at the bottom of the screen, there’s always an indicator showing how long we’ve been flying and how much longer until we reach our destination. Cool, right!
Amenity Kit
And it turns out that even when sitting in economy class, we still get an Amenity Kit.
This Amenity Kit is a small bag containing several items that might be needed during the flight.
Turkish Airlines’ Amenity Kit is usually produced by the brands Chopard and Institut Karite.
One is a well-known watch brand, and the other is a famous cosmetic brand from Paris. On the back of the pouch, there is usually a list of its contents, which includes:
- Slippers (sandal buat di pesawat)
- Comfort Socks (kaos kaki tidur)
- Eye Shade (penutup mata)
- Dental Kit (sikat gigi dan odol)
- Ear Plug (tutup telinga)
- Chopard Lip Balm (lip balm sesuai brand yang digunakan)
Toilet
A restroom is an essential place on the plane for me because I’m someone who frequently needs to use it, especially when I drink a lot, and the cabin air is cold; I definitely make multiple trips to the restroom.
Here’s a photo of my legs and Bunda while we were waiting in line for the restroom. We’re wearing slippers, one of the items from the Amenity Kit.
Waiting in line for the restroom in Turkish Airlines
In Turkish Airlines, if I’m not mistaken, there are several restrooms.
They aren’t too large but are regularly cleaned. It’s really good for Economy Class standards.
The facilities are complete, and they have a pleasant fragrance.
There’s Cologne and Body Lotion, with the brand Atelier Rebul.
The design is modern and simple, with regular airplane restroom lighting.
The basin colour is an elegant black, giving the restroom a luxurious feel.
There’s also a tulip flower decoration on the wall, perhaps to associate it with Turkey where the tulip is symbolic.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the inside of the restroom.
Service
The service on this flight is really TOP-notch. The flight attendants are friendly, and you’ll be amazed by their distinct Middle Eastern charm. As usual, when I see faces from the Middle East like this, I always think, if they were in Indonesia, they’d definitely be celebrities, haha…
Inside the plane, there’s the standard Safety Card for the 777-300ER. There’s also the Inflight Magazine from Turkish Airlines, named Skylife. The content is good, not overloaded with giant-sized ads. There’s Fleet Facts from Turkish Airlines, and a route map from Turkish Airlines. There’s also Turkish Airlines’ merchandise magazine. It’s very tempting, but you have to resist because you haven’t even reached Turkey, and you’re already shopping.
Moreover, if you want to shop, you can do it in Turkey or on the return flight from Turkey.
Pet Friendly
Turkish Airlines is said to be a pet-friendly airline, allowing passengers to bring animals on board.
However, I’m not sure if this applies to all flight routes or only domestic flights with short routes. Because during that flight, I didn’t see any animals at all.
Just imagine how lively it would be if there were animals sitting next to us, haha…
Istanbul Airport, Turkey
Welcome to Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul….
Finally, a happy landing at the Turkish airport.
The airport is spacious and nice.
Dominantly in black and white colours, plus accents of yellow.
Full of enthusiasm, I pushed my luggage towards the airport exit.
The view is like in an international airport, as usual…
Istanbul International Airport, Turkey
Next up, we strolled casually toward the Immigration counter.
Gotta keep cool when passing through there, haha…
Waiting in line for immigration checking in Istanbul International Airport
Well… I was super excited to explore Turkey.
Feeling so blessed to be stepping foot here.
Big screen in Istanbul International Airport
Just snapping some pics for memories… you know how it is!
With the stylish and always fashionable Mbak Enong…
The bus was ready to take us around Istanbul…
Get ready to board the bus!
Can’t wait to experience riding the bus in Turkey. Sometime later, I’ll write the story.
Getting ready for the Bus…
Fixed, I’m so happy to soak in the vibes of Istanbul, hahaha…
Turkish Airlines Review
All the flight attendants of Turkish Airlines are gorgeous 🙂
My time flying with Turkish Airlines was a blast! Hopefully, I get the chance to fly with them again, maybe to a different place.
But honestly, going back to Turkey with them wouldn’t be too bad, haha!
Everything about their service was awesome – the food, entertainment, seats, flight attendants, and even the toilets were top-notch.
Thanks, Turkish Airlines! Hoping for a reunion in the skies someday.
Turkey, June 19th 2019
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