Kuwait City to Istanbul in Turkish Airlines Economy Class

A 3.5hr flight at 2:20a is not all that memorable, but a few observations from Turkish Airlines Economy Class—

1. New Airbus A321 with “real” business class seats

Unlike many of its European counterparts, Turkish is slowly introducing a “real” business class seat on its shorter, narrowbody flights. The seats are not lie-flat, but they are also better than the standard domestic first class seats offered on U.S. carriers. Turkish has such a pot pouri of aircraft interiors that is becomes difficult to know definitively what kind of seats your aircraft will have, but if you have an A321 chances are you will see a proper business class seat rather than merely a blocked middle economy class seat. Same story if you are booked on a 737-800.

2. A321 features superb in-seat IFE

You will be hard-pressed to find IFE on a European carrier, but Turkish is bucking the industry standard with IFE in the seatbacks of their new aircraft. Offering the same content as on their longhaul aircraft, there was more than enough content to keep me occupied during the flight.

3. Do&Co food remains great, even in economy class

The meal was a familiar one on late Turkish flights, a combination of a midnight snack and early breakfast—a warm ham and cheese sandwich, a small egg/potato triangle wedge, cooked spinach, a side of cheese, olives, and cucumber, and a small piece of cake. Very satisfactory for the short flight and filling too…at least until I reached the Turkish Lounge in Istanbul. Even a menu!

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Prior to landing, a packet of apricot-flavored fruit snacks was handed out.

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4. Same Surly Service I’ve come to Expect on Turkish

With the exception of a first class trip from Istanbul to Bangkok a few years ago in which service shined, I have never experienced stellar service on Turkish. I’m not sure why, but I have flown on TK over a dozen times and I have never received felt like the FAs particularly like their jobs or at least enjoy smiling. Maybe it is a cultural thing, but I notice the same thing every time.

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