Whenever I fly to or within Turkey, my first choice tends to be  Turkish Airlines.  I have also had very positive experiences with British Airways.  However, my cultural experience begins the minute I check in with Turkish Airlines and I find this appealing.  Without exception, I have been delighted with the total experience and particularly their in-flight service.  On the return trip from my last visit, I made some notes about my experiences …

Istanbul Airport Security Screening
Airport security screening has been beefed up around the world since these notes were written.  However, even in mid-2009, the thoroughness of the procedure at Ataturk Airport was impressive with double-screening of all passengers.

Finding my Gate
Before heading to the gate noted on my boarding pass, I did some last-minute duty free shopping.  After meeting and chatting with Cindy, a creative type from London travelling with her husband, I made my way to the far-away gate … only to find it had been changed at the last minute and was back in an area close to where I had been shopping.

Traveller Tip: After you have checked in, always check the departure  boards before proceeding to the gate noted on your boarding pass!

In-flight Meal Service
The 3 hour flight on Turkish Airlines between Istanbul and London’s Heathrow includes a full meal service consisting of pasta with olive oil and eggplant, mushrooms or chicken, shrimp salad, warm bread roll, hazelnut and chocolate torte and a package of Turkish hazelnuts, as well as bottled water. Whole wheat crackers were also served, with butter and cream cheese. It was a delicious combination, beautifully presented and … equally impressive was the airline’s commitment to showcasing Turkey through this meal.  Everything was proudly stamped Made in Turkey.

Similarly, when I have flown Turkish Airlines on domestic flights within Turkey, economy passengers have received a simple but tasty fresh bread roll with cheese, plus a piece of fruit or other healthy food item, as well as bottled water and beverage service.  These flights were just one hour in length and the meal-service was efficient, friendly and delivered with smiles.  As well, the airline clearly recycles, as papers were collected separately from the few plastics supplied.  Again, everything was Made in Turkey.

Along with several other awards, Turkish Airlines recently received the ‘Top Airline In-flight  Catering’ award at the World Travel Awards 2009 Media Awards Ceremony held in Shanghai December 3 2009.   Turkish  Airlines was chosen for selection, preparation, taste,  and quality of its Business Class food service.

However, from my experience, the airline shines equally well with its Economy Class food service.

It never fails to surprise me just how indifferent are the meals on US and Canadian airlines in general, and especially on the US airlines.  That is, of course, when there is meal service.  And even when there is, unless travelling in Business Class, there appears to be little consideration given to the taste or presentation, resulting in small plates of unattractive blobs of bland, tasteless excuses-for-food.

Traveller Tip:  My experience suggests if you order a special meal, you may do better.   It will come ahead of others and will generally be more tasty and better-presented.  Perhaps if enough passengers did this, the airlines would improve the quality of their standard economy meals.

Flight Attendants
Male and female Flight Attendants on Turkish Airlines have proven enthusiastic (i.e. they clearly love their job), professional, well-groomed, friendly and helpful.  For example, as passengers moved into the aisle of the A321, the flight attendants smiled and moved to facilitate easy passage for passengers who did not have to wait behind a slow meal-service cart until it reached the kitchen.  In other words, passengers were treated with respect.  Nobody was made to feel a nuisance.

Aircraft Seats
The seats on Turkish Airlines’ flights are comfortable and often upholstered with soft leather, tinted turquoise to suggest, perhaps, the beauty of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast.  They also seem to be larger than those in the economy class of other airlines.

In sum, as Turkish Airlines continues to expand its fleet, we can expect even more from this world-class airline, also awarded the title of Best Airline in Southern Europe in 2009.

Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance and flies directly from Toronto to Istanbul, offering Canadian passengers easy access to the services of this world-class airline.

Click here to read Turkish Airlines’ excellent magazine, Skylife TK (a copy of which I always take home for future reference.)