Welcome to my next trip report, a recount of my late winter trip to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines 2024 Trip Report
I’m not going to rehash the saga of actually booking this ticket, but it was quite a struggle….to say the least:
But at 45K Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles miles and about $290 in taxes, it was a great deal. I say was because in the last month, Turkish Airlines has devalued its Miles & Smiles program. A nonstop flight from the USA to Istanbul is still relatively reasonable (now 65K one-way in business class), but connecting flights are now priced additively, such that you will pay for each segment.
The flight itself—after all the drama—was lovely. So was my time in Istanbul. I spent one night at the Grand Hyatt and two nights at the Park Hyatt. Both hotels are lovely, but I really enjoyed the Park Hyatt (it has been quite some time…). I spent my two days in Istanbul mostly working, but did take time out for some nice coffee…and some Mexican food, hahahaha. I also attended a classical concert (Dvorák and Mendelssohn), which was lovely.
I will break the report into these segments:
- Star Alliance Lounge LAX
- Turkish Airlines A350-900 “Turkoflot” Business Class Los Angeles – Istanbul
- Grand Hyatt Istanbul
- Great Coffee In Istanbul
- Mexican Food In Istanbul
- Classical Concert At Atatürk Cultural Centre
- How Turkey Is Telling The Story Of The War In Gaza
- Park Hyatt Istanbul
- Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Lounge Istanbul (IST)
- Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Economy Class Istanbul – London
- United Airlines 767-300 Business Class London – Chicago
I won’t review my 757-200 flight from Chicago to Los Angeles since I slept through most of it…but I have reviewed that aircraft here.
Speaking of forbearance, the return was also a struggle with chronically late Turkish Airlines leaving me a very tight connection in LHR.
As always, thanks for reading…this was a short but really fun trip.
Turks are named “Duffel” , and are too clever by half . Greeks and Lebanese are the truly clever one’s over there .
The all-time classic “Transit” was when Carlos Ghosn was smuggled out of Japan in a music speaker box , transited on the tarmac through Turkey , without being processed , and went on to Lebanon .
Hope you tried Turk Fatih Tutak for the Eggplant Borek and Thracian Lamb Baklava.
Where is the article ? It is nowhere to be seen.
Which article?
The 3 dayIstanbul article, I would like to read it too, please
The chronically late statement has me a little concerned since I have a comparatively short international to international connection with them in a few months.
I don’t think I’ve been on an on-time TK flight in years.
Nary a week goes by without some schedule change either.
I must disagree we fly Turkish Airlines at least 4 times a year. Chicago to Istanbul. They can be a bit late leaving Chicago but we always arrive either a bit earlier than anticipated but always on time. Have never missed a connection yet. Just be aware the new airport is huge and the distance to the domestic terminal is great. Keep that in mind when looking at connecting flights.
So you had Turkish/Middle Eastern food in Bulgaria, and Mexican food in Turkey…maybe on your next trip to Italy you can have something Swedish?
@Aaron … +1 . Also Chinese food in Africa , and African food in China . Don’t forget Turkish food in Mexico .