With the United passenger ejection story dominating headlines this week, I did not get a chance to put up the weekly Meal of the Week segment on Wednesday. This week, I’ll share pictures of the two meals and one snack I had on my Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Los Angeles yesterday.
With flight time of nearly 14 hours, TK 009 was the longest flight I have flown in economy class in over a decade. But it was okay. While the full flight review will be published sometime next week, I will get a jumpstart on the meals today because spending 60% of a day on plane does lend itself to hunger.
Lunch service began approximately 90 minutes after takeoff. Turkish distributes menus (and amenity kits and hot towels) on its longhaul flight and today’s menu read as follows–
I had a large lunch in the lounge prior to takeoff, but figuring I would get hungry if I did not eat, I chose the chicken satay. Meal service is on one tray and items comes wrapped or sealed.
The satay was perfectly average. I’d almost label it more chicken kebabs than satay because there was no sauce served with it. I could taste a slight peanut sauce cooked into the meat, but very slight. It came with a green salad, hummus, and fig chocolate mousse (a few fig sprinkles on top). Hot bread too that tasted fresh. Horrible hummus!
Turkish has real “silverware” in economy class and also its own-branded Turkish wine:
For whatever reason (like maybe because it was an economy class seat with tight legroom…) I could not sleep one wink during the flight and did get hungry about five hours in. In the galley, FAs had left cheese sandwiches and cherry cake. You could take as many as you want.
I thought the cheese sandwich was pretty good, though it was not “pide” as the menu indicated…
Three hours prior to landing (rather than the customary 90 minutes) the second meal service began. This time, every passenger received the same tray: Greek salad, macaroni noodles in a very oily bolognese sauce, and apricot mousse.
CONCLUSION
I love meal service in Turkish Airlines business class. While economy class meal service is perfectly fine, it is still economy class food…
Seriously who cares?
You cared enough to comment…
Lol
Lol
Hmm, perhaps it’s in part the pictures but I recall being served more appetizing-looking food than this on Turkish economy (always on short- or medium-haul flights to/from Istanbul), some of which were really fantastic. Still, these look better than average for coach.
Honestly, I was expecting better. I flew from Rome to Istanbul a couple days before and a had a much better looking meal.
Service began 90 minutes prior to takeoff? Did you have a long ground delay or do you mean AFTER takeoff?
That was in addition to a 90 minute ground delay, so really three hours after scheduled pushback. (I corrected the spelling error)
I was planning to fly with Turkish Airways in Jan. 2018 but after reading this article I am hesitant to book flight on Turkish. I always fly from USA to Pakistan with Emirates or Qatar, both airline serve good meals and bevrages in economy class.
I have found that Turkish’s food in economy is definitely better than many other options from Europe. I also love the little touches they put to it. As you say, it is still economy food but not that bad!
My favorite economy food has to be on Aegean. Really decent food on every flight!
Aegean has great food in economy class!
Do they still hand out Turkish Delights? I put my daughter on a flight a couple of years ago from Istanbul to Amsterdam and she was most impressed with the service as well as the economy food served.
No Turkish delights that I could see or was offered.
Love your reply to “Erick Trump”
Thanks for sharing. I like these posts. It’s nice to know what the other Economy meals are like on the other Star Alliance carriers. Too many bloggers on only review C and F. Many of us road warriors have to purchase the lowest fare.
Have flown a number of times with Turkish airlines. Having flown both economy and business class in several airlines i prefer economy food anytime. Business food is too flash for me.
I have a trip from Atlanta to Bangkok with a layover in Istanbul in two weeks with Turkish Airlines. This looks waaaaay better than AirChina!!! Thanks for this article.
Yes it is — you will enjoy it.
I’m about to fly both TK and SQ in economy class for separate journeys in the coming month. I was wondering if you’ve ever flown SQ Economy, and if so, how your experience compared?
Thanks!
Hi Rohan, I have flown Singapore Airlines Economy once from Narita to Singapore. I’ll actually make that the subject of my Meal of the Week next Wednesday. Food was very good. In fact, perhaps the best economy class breakfast I’ve ever had.
Since the TK flight left me a bit disappointed, I’ll guess that you’ll enjoy the food on SQ more.
My husband and I flew Montreal to Istanbul to Mumbai I mid November 2019
Disappointed
We were served the very same chicken platter
Montreal to Istanbul
Istanbul to Mumbai
That’s a severe caterer to rectify
Not funny at all
Please Turkish Airlines please look into it with your caterers and save your rising fame
Hi, I am curious to know if you can compare economy on Turkish with economy on Sri Lankan ?
I have a flight to book for the wife’s surprise 40th birthday present of going to the Maldives from the UK and curious to know if their is any differential between the two. Cheers Andy
Both offer excellent service and meals. Turkish aircraft have better IFE and wi-fi. I’d choose Turkish first.
Hey I wonder what’s that watery kind of thing in small bucket sealed with black top and blue margins ??
That’s drinking water.
I love traveling through Turkish airline. but this time my 4 year old will be accompanying me. she eats merely 4 things in all and is very very picky. I am just wondering where can i find out , as to what they serve in their ‘child meal’? I tried to look it up but failed.
Much appreciated.
Not sure what it is, but it will probably be something like chicken fingers or pasta with tomato sauce.
Thanks Mathew, who in US can I contact to make sure?
Thanks for a very informative post, Matthew, particularly the pictures of the various dishes and the menu. I had tried to get this sort of information from Turkish Airlines’ website, but it was not especially helpful.
The food has always been a step above most other airlines and well within fantastic. You can’t go wrong with Turkish hospitality and food options. Won’t fly any other airline
What is better…economy Turkish or economy Lufthansa? I found some reasonably priced flights to Greece on both from the US, and would like to know which is better in economy before booking. Please help!!!
I prefer Turkish Airlines, but both are acceptable. Not great, just acceptable.
If departing from the East Cost, Singapore Airlines to Frankfurt and then a connection to Greece is the best economy class experience.
https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2018/01/02/singapore-airlines-a380-economy-class-review/
I am impressed! I was looking for an idea of what THY serves since I’ve not flown with them for over 10 years internationally due to the fact I am a frequent traveler with AA. Impressive post and thanks for taking the time!
I think Turkish airlines are doing quite good. Hope they can maintain the stand6.