• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Reviews » Flight Reviews » Review: Turkish Airlines A330-300 Economy Class
Flight ReviewsTurkish Airlines

Review: Turkish Airlines A330-300 Economy Class

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 12, 2024April 13, 2024 25 Comments

a plane on the tarmac

To begin my journey home from Istanbul, I flew to London first on a Turkish Airlines A330-300 in economy class. The flight was late (as always), but quite pleasant onboard.

In This Post:

Toggle
  • Turkish Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Review (IST-LHR)
    • Seat
    • IFE + Wi-Fi
    • Food + Drink
    • Lavatory
    • Service
    • CONCLUSION

Turkish Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Review (IST-LHR)

You might recall the saga surrounding my tight connection in London. In my experience, Turkish Airlines simply does not run on time and this flight was no exception. Planning tight connections around a Turkish Airlines flight is foolish.


> Read More: UPDATE – My 60-Minute London Heathrow Connection Went Sideways…


By the way, this was a $749.10 one-way ticket booked two days before departure into W-class, that took me from IST-LHR-ORD-LAX. Not bad, especially considering I was able to upgrade both United segments with 40 PlusPoints. I’ll review my London – Chicago flight tomorrow.

I arrived at Istanbul Airport about two hours before my flight…via taxi (always a mystery in Istanbul).

a car with a view of the road and a flag

two yellow cars parked on a street

a sign in front of a building

people walking down a walkway in a building

a group of people in a terminal
IST Airport was bustling as always

Because of my Star Alliance Gold status, I was able to use the Miles & Smiles premium check-in area, even though my flight was in economy class.

a black and grey wall with a logo

a group of people in an airport

I asked about an upgrade during check-in and was told the price was 499 USD…not bad, but not worthwhile for a relatively short flight on an A333 with a regional business class seat (non-lie-flat).

There are two security checks at IST Airport, one as you enter the airport and then a second after passport control. Thankfully, lines moved relatively quickly.

a group of people in a terminal

a large screen in a large room

After spending a half hour in the Miles & Smiles lounge, I made my way to the gate so that I could be among the first to board.

a plane on the tarmac

a building with a sign on the wall

a screen with a sign on it

Boarding began on schedule one hour before departure. I was hopeful we could finish boarding quickly and push back early…

Turkish Airlines 1985
Istanbul (IST) – London (LHR)
Saturday, January 27
Depart: 01:05 PM
Arrive: 02:10 PM
Duration: 04hr, 05min
Distance: 1,550 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300 (33S)
Seat: 12K (Economy Class)

We boarded through door 1L so I was able to walk through business class, which is nice enough (a much better seat than you’ll get on British Airways when flying the same route), but a far cry from the longhaul lie-flat product on other Turkish A330-300s:

a plane with black seats

an airplane with rows of seats

the inside of an airplane with seats

By the way, I reviewed this same flight (TK1985) in business class a few years back here.

Seat

Turkish Airlines has no premium economy cabin (any longer) so economy class on this A330-300 includes 261 seats (40 in business class).

a row of seats in an airplane

a group of people standing in an airplane

rows of seats in an airplane

a row of seats in an airplane

a row of seats with monitors on the side

a row of seats in an airplane

a row of seats with monitors on the side

a row of seats in an airplane

a row of seats on an airplane

These seats include an adjustable headrest and 31 inches of legroom, with three inches of recline and a seat that is 17.5 inches wide. There are no individual air vents. There was also no in-seat A/C power in economy class, though there was a USB-A port on the seatback monitor.

a sign on a wall

a black and red seat with a red stripe on the back

a seat on a train

a person's legs and a pocket in a seat

a speaker and speaker on a plane

Unfortunately, I chose a window seat that had no window…so do avoid row 12 if you enjoy looking out during the flight. Thankfully, I shared a window with row 13 so I could look out a bit. I also had the whole row to myself.

a window in an airplane

A pillow was placed on each seat and blankets were available by request.

a red pillow with a red strap on a black leather chair

IFE + Wi-Fi

The full library of movies, TV shows, games, music, Islamic religious material, and a moving fight map were available. Complimentary disposable headphones were offered prior to departure. The system could be controlled by touchscreen or via a passenger service unit located below the monitor.

a screen with a picture of a building and a bridge

a screen with a screen on it

a screen shot of a device

a screen with a map and time

a screen with a screen on it

a screen shot of a device

a screen shot of a device

a screen on a device

a screen on a plane

a plastic bag with green text on it

a close up of a panel

Wi-Fi internet was theoretically available for purchase, but idd not work on this flight (I confirmed with a flight attendant that it was “down”).

Turkish Airlines offers several complimentary internet options for its Miles & Smiles members and business class passengers, including:

Pass Type Complimentary Quota
Business Class Passengers with Miles&Smiles Elite or Elite Plus Membership Unlimited Internet
Business Class Passengers 1 GB and Unlimited Messaging
Miles&Smiles Elite or Elite Plus Members 400 MB and Unlimited Messaging
Miles&Smiles Classic Plus Members 250 MB and Unlimited Messaging
Miles&Smiles Classic Members Unlimited Messaging

Those without Miles & Smiles membership can buy packages at the following rates:

Unlimited Messaging 5 USD
100 MB 8 USD
250 MB 15 USD
Unlimited Internet For Short Haul 15 USD
Unlimited Internet For Long Haul 35 USD

a plane wing and wing of an airplane

an airplane wing and a runway

We flew over central London before landing at LHR and were treated to some beautiful views out the window:

the wing of an airplane over clouds

a river running through a city

an aerial view of a city

an airplane wing and wing of an airplane

an airplane wing with a city in the background

Food + Drink

A complimentary hot lunch was served after takeoff, with a choice between “beef” or “pasta.” Both are safe bets, but I like the beef ex-Istanbul (typically a lula kebab) and my lunch included a salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, with olive oil dressing), bread roll, and vanilla pudding. The beef was served with rice and ratatouille and had a cheese coating on top.

food on a tray on a table

food on a tray on a table

a plate of food on a tray

a bowl of vegetables and dip

a food on a tray

a plate of food with meat and eggs

a bowl of white liquid

a plastic container with a blue lid

I appreciate that Turkish Airlines uses metal cutlery instead of plastic (or even worse, paper).

a tray with a bowl of rice and spoons

Beverages, including beer and wine, were complimentary. I had sparkling water to drink.

a group of people sitting in an airplane

The meal service certainly distinguishes Turkish Airlines from its European peers, even carriers like KLM and Air France which still offer a decent snack onboard. I appreciated the meal and found it better than the dinner in business class I had on my connecting United flight…

Lavatory

Economy class has six lavatories: two in the front, two in the middle, and two in the back of the cabin. The lavatory I used was clean and offered skin creme and eau de toilette from Acqa.

a toilet and sink in a bathroom

a sink and soaps on a plane

Service

The crew was cordial onboard, though not overly friendly. There were no smiles. The meal service was robotic, as was the trash collection. No other beverages were offered after the initial lunch service.

a group of people sitting in chairs on an airplane

CONCLUSION

We landed late at LHR and I had to sprint to get to my gate…but I made my connection.

a group of people in a building

a hand holding a red and white card

Turkish Airlines is just fine in economy class, especially on a lightly-filled flight when the seat next to you remains open. It’s always a treat to fly in business class but the economy class onboard experience on Turkish Airlines was not bad at all.

an airplane on the runway

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Judge: Qatar Airways Cannot Be Sued For Strip Search Of Five Australian Women
Next Article United Airlines Considering Polaris Plus Cabin With “Press For Champagne” Button

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Delta Air Lines A321neo Economy Class Review

    Review: Delta Air Lines A321neo Economy Class

    May 14, 2025
  • United Airlines 777-200 Polaris Business Class Review

    Review: United Airlines 777-200 Polaris Business Class

    April 26, 2025
  • a row of seats in an airplane

    Review: Royal Air Maroc 737-800 Economy Class

    April 22, 2025

25 Comments

  1. Petya Reply
    April 12, 2024 at 3:18 pm

    “The meal service certainly distinguishes Turkish Airlines from its European peers”
    TK is not European airline, it is Western Asian. Türkiye is not in Europe(3% geographically), along with Central Asian Kazakhstan(10% geographically in Europe) and Northern Asian Russia(approx.23%).

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 3:22 pm

      That is certainly debatable.

    • James Harper Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 4:16 pm

      Dear oh dear, I think you need a geography lesson.

      You will find if you look that Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia and Istanbul Airport (IST) is definitely in Europe.

      • Petya Reply
        April 12, 2024 at 8:39 pm

        That is irrelevant. Airport or the capital location does not make the whole country or the national airline European when only 3% is geographically there.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          April 12, 2024 at 9:07 pm

          Is this some sort of Russian fixation?

          • Petya
            April 13, 2024 at 11:20 am

            Niet, tovarish Klint! 😉
            When something has only 3%, the rest of 97% could not be voided because it has absolute majority. Something like 12% of one race make 85% of all crimes 🙂

    • Jeremiah Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 11:24 pm

      Lol ignoring all of the historical context you’re apparently unfamiliar with, virtually every flight award chart in the world disagrees with you which, given the place you’re posting this, counts for a lot.

      • Petya Reply
        April 13, 2024 at 11:39 am

        You may want to look Miles&More award chart and especially the Europe section.
        Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia are classified as part of the eurozone. A bunch of European countries.
        In the other hand Zimbabwe rugby team has more white players than French football(the real football) team. 🙂
        TK award chart added Netherlands Antilles to North America while it is clearly in South America. Therefore award charts do not mean nothing geographically, just redemption business.

    • PM Reply
      April 13, 2024 at 8:07 am

      Matthew’s comparison is absolutely valid as TK is by far the best option for flying between Western Europe and the Balkans, in both classes of service – indeed the onboard experience in TK Y is better, and often more expensive, than in Lufthansa C. When flying from/to ATH, SOF, SKP, SKG, OTP etc, the detour via IST is minimal and often outweighed by more frequent and/or better-timed connections.

      • Tobias Reply
        April 15, 2024 at 10:04 am

        I concur except Lufthansa part. I did do a short inter European flight w Lufthansa last week and had to pay 60Eur for one piece of checked-in luggage where THY never charges for checked luggage within allowance limits. In short, Lufthansa may seem less expensive on the surface but behaves like a low cost airline when amenities added.

        • PM Reply
          April 16, 2024 at 5:05 pm

          All Lufthansa business class fares include luggage- obviously TK is superior when comparing the same class of service, but my point is that, for flights within Europe, Turkish economy is probably better than Lufthansa business, and it can easily be higher priced too!

    • SAS Reply
      April 13, 2024 at 11:01 am

      Turkish Airlines has its largest hub at Istanbul Airport which is on the European side of the Bosphorus. That is why Skytrax lists it as a European Airline and hence has won the award for the best European airline.

    • Matt Reply
      April 18, 2024 at 1:27 pm

      What are you trying to say? That turkiye is asian?
      We are anatolian,balkan mixtured peoples so ,yes southern european….

  2. James Harper Reply
    April 12, 2024 at 4:15 pm

    I think it’s fair to say that economy class service between LHR-IST outstrips business class on British Airways on every occasion.

    • Aaron Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 6:38 pm

      Does BA serve a comparable meal on that some route, in terms of quantity at least if not quality?

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        April 12, 2024 at 9:20 pm

        These days, British Airways offers buy onboard junk food.

        Even when it used to serve a meal on this route years ago, it was not as good. I featured it in one of my old Meal of the Week reports.

      • James Harper Reply
        April 13, 2024 at 11:23 am

        I meant the BA business class meal – neither it nor the seats are up to TK economy standards.

  3. Mick Reply
    April 12, 2024 at 4:29 pm

    What would you have done if you had landed 20 mins later? Reached out to United on twitter? Found a United desk? Would an option to move to a direct lax flight be possible? Would you have stayed in business class if they had to move you?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 4:32 pm

      I wanted to take the nonstop to LA, but business was full (or I would have moved anyway…it left at same time as ORD).

      My backup would have been the 6pm to EWR with an overnight. Not ideal, but I would have been home by late morning.

  4. Alby Reply
    April 12, 2024 at 5:58 pm

    I flew Business class on this aircraft, same route. It’s was okay but definitely not a stand out product. I found the inflight service again okay but nothing memorable with a disinterested crew. I took a walk through the economy cabin which was only 50% full and was glad I was in business. What an ugly, underwhelming cabin (business class was also underwhelming). Quite depressing actually.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 9:21 pm

      I’m rather happy to fly economy when it is mostly empty. Makes it much easier and the catering isn’t bad at all.

    • PM Reply
      April 13, 2024 at 8:25 am

      It might also be worth bearing in mind that TK aren’t really interested in filling the business class cabin on these flights – their pricing is very optimistic indeed and the strategy seems to be selling a small number of very expensive tickets to completely price-insensitive pax while keeping most seats free for the purposes of selling last-minute intercontinental tickets and overselling Y (which then results in op-ups for frequent flyers – I have been upgraded a fair few on the A330 from/to AMS/LHR/MAN).

  5. Aaron Reply
    April 12, 2024 at 6:40 pm

    “Turkish Airlines is just fine in economy class”

    Would you say above average when compared to most European airlines flying routes of similar length in Economy?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 12, 2024 at 9:21 pm

      Absolutely, though I think the lack of in-seat power is a missed opportunity. Just cheapness.

  6. Ryan Reply
    April 13, 2024 at 5:58 am

    Hey Matt, quick correction. The regional configuration Turkish A333 has 40 business class seats, not 28. The 28 configuration are lie flat and do primarily long haul.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • a woman looking at a man
    He Flirted On A United Flight…Then Let Her Walk Away May 23, 2025
  • Jon Gooda United Airlines Newark
    United Airlines Promises Smoother Summer Travel At Newark After Weeks of Delays May 23, 2025
  • Delta Sky Club ATL F Review
    Review: Delta Sky Club Atlanta (ATL) – Concourse F May 23, 2025
  • a woman walking in an airplane with a luggage
    United Airlines Eliminates Instant Upgrades, Excursionist Perk, MileagePlus Upgrade Award Chart May 22, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.