Review: Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class

Business class on Turkish Airlines is always a pleasure, but the A321neo is such a wonderful alternative to the business class product offered by most European competitors.

I booked my ticket from Frankfurt to Atlanta via Istanbul using 55,000 Aeroplan miles for business class. Turkish does not always release last-minute award space, but I booked this ticket one-day before travel.

Check-in lines were long in Frankfurt, but a dedicated business class check-in line only had one passenger in it. I noticed upgrades were offered for 250EUR/each, which seems steep for a flight that is in the air for under three hours.

As is often the case on Turkish, our flight was delayed due a late arrival of the inbound aircraft. That just meant more time to relax in the Lufthansa Lounge, so it could have been worse. Turkish Airlines departs out of the B Gates in Frankfurt’s Terminal 1.

Boarding commenced at just after 3:00PM, right about our scheduled departure time.

Turkish 1592
Frankfurt (FRA) – Istanbul (IST)
Monday, February 3
Depart: 3:15 PM
Arrive: 8:05 PM
Duration: 3hr, 00min
Distance: 1,144 miles
Aircraft: A321neo
Seat: 4A (Business Class)

A flight attendant said hello as I boarded and pointed in the direction of my seat.

Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class Seat

The A321neo business class seat Turkish Airlines chose includes an adjustable headrest, manual recline and a footrest. Legroom is listed at only 34″ but was much more generous. The hard-shell privacy divider between seats acts as a place you can lean your head against and extends to provide some privacy from your neighbor, but not much.

A small compartment in the console between seats provides sufficient room for personal items and also includes a power port with separate USB charger and a headphone jack.

Pillows and blankets were available on demand.

Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class Food

Prior to takeoff, a selection of drinks was offered including lemon-mint juice, freshly-squeezed orange juice, and water.

Menus were also distributed for lunch.

Turkish does not take meal orders on shorthaul flights. Instead, meals are served via trolley and you choose our meal as it goes by. If meal choice is important to you, sit toward the front of the cabin. Lunch included Turkish mezze, cheese, a choice of main course, and a fruit tart.

Today, I tired the “Karniyarik” (stuffed eggplant with minced beef over rice). It was a nice treat and very tasty…all courses were tasty.

After dinner drinks were offered and after several cappuccinos in the Lufthansa Lounge, I just had a cup of tea…Turkish Coffee would have been a bit much when I was already over-caffeinated.

Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class IFE + Wi-Fi

Noise canceling headphones were distributed and the seatback IFE included a very generous selection of movies, TV shows, audio, and games. I was working and did not watch anything, but noted there were over 200 movies listed.

The only negative I have against the flight is that the Wi-Fi did not function, leaving me without internet for three hours during the middle of my working day. That was annoying, but I survived of course. Also, my screen froze once and had to be reset:

Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class Lavatory

The lavatory, located in the front of the aircraft adjacent to the flight deck, did not have the usual Molton Brown amenities or any plants/flowers…perhaps that is reserved only for longhaul flights. The floor was wet, but it was otherwise clean.

Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class Service

Great service onboard by the team of flight attendants who worked business class. I tend to find Turkish crews to be less warm and assigned that the language barrier. But that really wasn’t the case on this flight (or my connecting flight to Atlanta). I love the new uniforms as well…so nice.

CONCLUSION

Other than functioning internet, I really cannot ask for anything else on a three-hour flight. I enjoyed a multi-course meal, comfortable seat, and great service with great IFE. I have yet to have a bad flight on Turkish Airlines.