Long-haul flights with Turkish Airlines: inflight experience review

This review breaks down what it is actually like onboard: seats, food, service, and the overall experience of spending hours in the air with Turkish Airlines on long-haul flights.

Long-haul flights tend to fall into two categories. Something you endure, or something that slightly redeems the fact you are trapped in a metal tube for half a day. After flying Turkish Airlines on multiple long-haul routes, the experience sits somewhere closer to the second category than most carriers manage.

What stands out isn’t just the distance covered, but how the journey itself is handled. From onboard meals that feel like actual meals, to a level of service that doesn’t feel automated or indifferent. Turkish Airlines consistently positions itself above the standard long-haul baseline.

My first long-haul flight was to New York City. I searched a lot with which airline to fly. I flew a lot of the times before that, but only on short-haul flights. And to be honest, I was a little scared of flying long-haul. How I am gonna spend my ten plus hours, what will be the meals like, how I am gonna survive all of it? And, of course, I wanted to remain low on the budget.

Turkish Airlines was founded in 1933. Since then they are present on four continents and became a world-leading brand. Their frequent flyer program, the Miles & Smiles exists nearly 40 years. According to their website they are the airline that flies to the most countries in the world. They have a lot of awards beside that, e.g. best airline in Europe, best busines class onboard catering or Europe’s best in-flight entertainment award. 

One of my relatives, who flies a lot, already had flown with Turkish Airlines before and she said she was satisfied with them. I was a bit sceptical, especially because my destination was toward the west. But first I had to fly east to Istanbul from the middle of Europe and then from Istanbul to the west. And with flying there and then back I could loose hours from my day.

At first Turkish Airlines wasn’t my first choice. But, I choose them multiple times now, because the prices of the tickets was reasonable for the destinations I flew. Moreover, because I started to gather loyalty points with their Miles & Smiles program. I can use my miles e.g. to buy award tickets, lower the price of another ticket or buy seats with Miles gathered from previous flights.

Turkish Airlines is part of the Star Alliance group, together with 26 other airlines at the moment. With this alliance they cover 90% of the world. This means, with codeshare flights you can reach almost all of the world. They say they are present at 1150 airports across 190 countries. That makes connections and flying long-haul a bit easier and less stressful.

For the second and third time I flew with Turkish Airlines to Central America. I flew to Central America to my final destination with codeshare. This means, I bought my ticket on the Turkish Airlines website all the way to my final destination. However, not all the legs of my flight was operated by Turkish Airlines.

Most of the major airlines have codeshare partnerships, today three major alliances exist. For the airlines who are in the same alliance, this partnership allows to expand their global reach. It is useful also for the flyers, for passengers it makes connecting bit easier and clearer, and gives more alternatives. Besides, you can earn and redeem more points or miles in your frequent flyer programme.

I bought my tickets on the Turkish Airlines website. I think it is easy to navigate on the site. You can search for one way, return flights or there is even a multicity option. The latter means you can arrive to one city, but leave from another. With multicity you can buy both directions under one reservation. Last time e.g. I arrived to Mexico City and left from Cancun.

I also use the Turkish Airline app. You can manage your bookings or your Miles & Smiles loyalty account from the app, as well. Moreover, there is a section dedicated to the inflight entertainment in the app.

And another positive thing I can mention, and the other reason why I chose them, is because the ticket price contains two 23kg checked-in bags on economy class, and two 32 kg on the business class. Plus one cabin bag of 8 kg on economy class, and two 8kg cabin bag on business class together with a personal item of 4 kg on both classes. The two 23 kg checked-in bags is more than any other airline offers. The check-in experience was smooth on all of the airports.

Also, on my second trip with Turkish Airlines I flew with codeshare. Two days before departure I got an sms and an e-mail message that one of the legs of my flight had got cancelled. The last leg, the leg that was operated by another airline. I have never had such an event before, I only flew long-haul one time before that. So, I was very anxious and nervous what will happen, how am I gonna reach my final destination.

Because of this, I had to replan my route, and I only had a few options. The option I chose was that I leave one day earliner. The itinerary was the same as by original flight, just one day earlier. In the message I was told that I can rebook my flight without any extra fee. I tried to rebook it on the website, but it didn’t work for me. I could not do it on the website for free.

Therefore, I wrote to the chatbot on the website and asked for a human agent. The agent was very helpful and he did the rebooking process himself. I told him the new plan and he rebooked me to the new flight. I only had to wait a few hours until the process had gone through and I received an e-mail about all the changes.

Only one thing was missing. I knew that I would have had little connection time in Istanbul, therefore I booked a seat in the front on the original flight to Istanbul. My goal was to deboard the plane as quickly as possible. As they rebooked me they had not allocated me the seat on the new flight I payed for previously. So, I contacted the chatbot again and asked for a human agent. The agent was helpful again, and they allocated me a seat in the front on the new flight.

The process was smooth and fairly quick, I only had to wait a few hours until I received the confirmation of the changes, until everything went through. After that I only had to worry about I had to leave one day earlier according to the new plan. So, I had only a few hours after work to pack all my things I wanted to bring to the three weeks adventure.

Overall, while the cancellation itself was frustrating, the rebooking process was smoother than expected and the issue was resolved without major complications.

In this section I want to tell you about how comfortable travelling on Economy vs. Business Class.

On economy class they offer wide legroom, inflight entertainment, delicious food and an amenity kit. You will also get a headphone, a pillow and a blanket.

Turkish Airlines gives travel sets to passengers in Economy Class on international flights, which lasts more than five hours. In the amenity kit you can find a toothbrush and a toothpaste, ear plugs, socks and slippers and a sleeping mask. Turkish Airlines collaborates with brands, right now they have a collab with Lacoste. Before that the travel set was in a Mandarina Duck collab toiletry bag.

On business class you will have maximum comfort and award-winning meals. Moreover, you can bring an extra luggage and you will get Lanvin Parfums amenity kit. The amenity kit contains luxurious premium products.

In addition, Business Class passengers in the business lounge can have a massage and sample some of the dishes. Or there are many entertainment options, including cinema, video games, media screens, golf simulator, and children’s playroom.

As a business class passanger you can avoid the queue at the airport and can check-in at the dedicated, Business Class counters.

On Economy class the seat has 79 cm of legroom and can recline up to 15 cm. The seats are 46-cm wide and they have a 4-way adjustable seat headrest, as well as, moveable armrests. I travelled on Economy Class and I reclined my seat. Fortunately, no-one was sitting in the middle, next to me, so it felt somewhat comfortable and I could sleep a few hours.

On Business Class the seat can fully recline into a 193 cm bed. The width of the bed can reach up to 66 cm with fully adjustable armrests. There is a massage feature, an adjustable head support and comfort cushion on the seat back. On Business Class you will also have an exlusive mirror, suit hanger, personal reading lamp and a closed and locked storage.

Cabin layout depends on the aircraft. If you are curious, you will find a lot of information about Turkish Airlines’ fleet if you click here. This page will tell you detailed information about all their aircrafts.

Noise level is huge. On transoceanic flights, they provide Business Class passengers Denon headphones. This headphone has noise cancellation and these are carefully disinfected between uses. The headphones on the Economy Class do not have noise cancellation. Therefore, if you fly on Economy Class and you want noise cancellation, bring your own headphones.

The inflight entertainment contains current and classic movies, TV shows, thousands of songs, podcasts, even games for kids.

In the Turkish Airlines app, in the menu you can find the inflight entertainment under Planet inflight entertainment menupoint. After you enter your flight information before your journey you will see all the movies, series, games or music etc. that will be available on your specific flight for your entertainment.

If you click on a specific e.g. movie, you can see what languages the movie is available and in what languages the subtitles are. Usually, English and Turkish can be chosen by all. In the description, you can see the IMDB rating, a short description and the cast, as well. Moreover, you can even mark your favourites in the app you want to see during your flight. The variety of the content is adequate. Blockbusters, award winning movies, new releases or animation are also on screen.

Screen quality is good. You can use the touchscreen or the controller to navigate in the inflight entertainment, it is easy to use. Additionally, you can connect your phone to it, and you can use the internet on board free or for a small fee.

On the screen you can also see some information about your flight e.g. speed, height or the route you already travelled. You can charge your personal electronic devices using the universal power outlets and USB ports on the seatback screens.

The menu can change based on flight duration and departure time, but usually contains a breakfast and a main meal. The breakfast menu includes egg dishes, homemade muesli, and cheese options. Main meal contains usually regional appetizers, pasta dishes or grilled selections.

On the short-haul flight (2 hours) to Istanbul they served food one time. Usually it was a sandwich and drinking water. They also served fruit juice and coffee or tea during the flight.

I have flown with Turkish Airlines 10 to 15 hours long-haul. Frequency of meals during long-haul flights was two times. First shortly after departure, and second approximately two hours before landing. They hand out a menu at the beginning of the flight. Usually they serve two different options and you can choose between the two.

If you fly on Business Class you can select your own service time. This means they will prepare and serve your meal at your chosen time, whenever you wish. They try to provide a full restaurant experience in the sky with a chef on board (on certain flights). Inflight menus change weekly and the dishes are prepared with the freshest and highest quality ingredients.

On Business Class you will get a welcome drink after boarding. From the beverage menu you can choose from a selection of special mocktails, detox drinks, herbal teas, and gourmet coffees during the flight. You will also get after-dinner treats, including Turkish sherbet pastries, warm tahini halva, tiramisu, Maraş ice cream, and a variety of seasonal fruits or snacks.

Special meals are available for infants and children, or for passengers who have specific dietary requirements.

On international flights, you can pre-order special meals up to 24 hours in advance via the website, mobile app, call center, or sales offices. There are several options for special meals such as Hindu, vegetarian, vegan or Kosher. You can read about special meal service and about all the options here.

The cabin crew has great attentiveness. If you are thirsty or hungry, they will give you extra sandwiches or water, coffee etc. between scheduled meal times. They handed out hot towels on the Economy class, and you also get hand sanitizer wipes together with the meals.

I have never had any other issue except one time I wanted more food and beverage between meals. But I think the cabin crew would have tried to help me if I would have had any other problems, as well.

Istanbul Airport started operating in 2018. The airport is huge, you can find the terminal map here. It can very much likely be possible that you have to walk 30 minutes from one gate to another. But, there are signages all over the airport. The signages tell you in which direction you shall go to reach your gate and approximately how much time you need to reach it. Because the airport is massive, you shall give yourself enough transfer time. One hour is maybe not enough.

Because, if your flight is delayed you will not have enough time to reach it. If you fly international, it is possible that you have get through security check when transiting. And if you arrive at one side of the airport and your connecting flight will depart from the other side of the airport you will not get there until the gate is closing. If most of the flights are delayed because of some reason, it can occur that your connecting flight will wait and it got delayed, as well. That is what happened with me when I first travelled to New York City.

There are lounges in Istanbul Airport where you can spend you layover time. Moreover, you can take advantage of the Turkish Airlines stopover programme or explore the city of Istanbul with TourIstanbul for free.

What works well and what could be improved:

• Comfortable long-haul experience: on long flights, comfort becomes less of a luxury and more of a survival strategy. Turkish Airlines offers decent legroom, comfortable seating, and a cabin experience that feels more polished than many standard economy long-haul flights.
• Above-average food quality: airline food usually sets expectations somewhere near “edible.” Turkish Airlines consistently performs better than expected, with meals that feel more substantial and varied than typical long-haul offerings.
• Strong international route network: one of the airline’s biggest advantages is connectivity. Flying through Istanbul makes it possible to reach destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas with relatively smooth connections.
• Good inflight entertainment: the entertainment system offers a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games, which becomes increasingly important somewhere around hour eight of a flight when time itself loses structure.
• Helpful cabin crew: across multiple flights, the onboard service felt professional, attentive, and consistent. Small details matter more on long-haul routes, especially during overnight flights.
• Useful layover options in Istanbul: programs like TourIstanbul or Stopover in Istanbul and the large international transit network make long layovers more manageable and sometimes even enjoyable.

• Flight changes and cancellations can happen: during one trip, one leg of the journey was cancelled and required rebooking. While the situation was eventually resolved, disruptions like this can add stress, especially during complex international itineraries.
• Istanbul Airport can feel overwhelming: Istanbul Airport is modern and impressive, but also enormous. Tight connection times can quickly become stressful when combined with long walking distances.
• Economy sleep is still economy sleep: even with decent seating and service, sleeping properly on a long-haul economy flight remains difficult. Physics and human spine design continue refusing to cooperate with aviation.
• Prices can vary significantly: depending on the route and season, ticket prices are not always the cheapest option compared to competitors.
• Rebooking communication could be clearer: while the airline managed the rebooking process relatively well after the cancellation, communication during disruptions could sometimes feel unclear or delayed. Or you have go after everything yourself.

From seat selection advice to best layover strategies, what to expect on long routes:

• Choose your seat early: for longer flights, seat selection matters more than most people expect. Window seats work better for sleeping, while aisle seats make moving around easier during long overnight journeys.
• Leave enough time for connections in Istanbul: Istanbul Airport is massive, so shorter layovers can become stressful quickly. A slightly longer connection often creates a much smoother experience.
• Join Miles & Smiles before flying: even occasional travellers can benefit from collecting miles on long-haul flights. Since registration is free, it makes sense to sign up before travelling.
• Download entertainment before boarding: the inflight entertainment is good, but having backup movies, music, or podcasts on your own device is always smart for very long flights.
• Stay hydrated during the flight: long-haul flights are surprisingly exhausting physically. Drinking enough water makes a noticeable difference, especially on overnight routes.
• Consider TourIstanbul for longer layovers: if you have enough transit time in Istanbul, the free TourIstanbul program is a great way to experience the city instead of spending hours inside the airport.

According to this Turkish Airlines review, the airline manages to make long-haul travel feel less like a punishment and more like a structured part of the journey. It doesn’t reinvent flying, but it executes the basics well enough that the experience feels consistently reliable. After multiple flights, the pattern is clear: solid service, above-average food, and a level of comfort that holds up across long hours. It is not perfect, but it is dependable. And in long-haul travel, that matters more than marketing promises.

What is your review and experiences about long-haul flights with Turkish Airlines?

Do you recline your seat?

What is your opinion about where is it better to sit, window or aisle?

Disclaimer: I am not supported by Turkish Airlines by any means, these are all my real experiences and honest opinion.