A recent business class traveler on Turkish Airlines had such a frustrating experience that they are urging others to avoid the airline entirely, regardless of the price. Flying from Rome to Hanoi via Istanbul, the passenger encountered issue after issue that made the so-called premium service feel more like a budget nightmare.
The problems began at the Touristanbul desk in Istanbul. Instead of helpful signage or clear guidance, passengers were met with loud, aggressive shouting from staff. There was no explanation given, just a staff member yelling at everyone nearby to move, creating an atmosphere of confusion and hostility.
Inside the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge, things did not improve. The lounge may look impressive at first glance, but essential services were completely mismanaged. Want to take a shower after a long flight? Be prepared to register and then wait two hours. This is not what travelers expect from a flagship lounge supposedly designed for comfort.
The in-flight experience was equally disappointing. The aircraft was an A350 with a 1-2-1 business class layout, but somehow had only one toilet for the entire cabin. On a long-haul international flight, that is unacceptable. To make things worse, while the passenger briefly left to use the toilet, flight attendants collected their headphones without asking. The flight still had two hours left and they were never returned.
And even before takeoff, the service was lacking. At Rome airport, business class passengers were thrown onto the same bus as economy because “the business class bus already left.” This happened even though the flight was still 40 minutes from departure.
Staff behavior throughout the journey was described as curt and commanding, lacking any sense of hospitality. While Turkish Airlines may offer cheaper fares, this experience shows that price is not everything. For a product advertised as premium, it delivered far from it.
