Amazing trip! No delays, no broken or lost luggage, and amazing food.
The food we received during the flight was excellent. The service was very friendly. Definitely the best value for the money when flying across the Atlantic.
I use a wheelchair for mobility. Both in my flight from Houston and back to Houston from Istanbul, the Turkish airline staff asked that I claim my wheelchair at the luggage area. On arrival to Istanbul, parts of the wheelchair were in disarray at that time I raised no objection however upon claiming my wheelchair in Houston parts where outright missing. In both occasions, upon arriving in Houston and arriving in Istanbul, I asked multiple times why am made to pick up my wheelchair in the baggage claim rather than at the jet bridge. Getting the wheelchair at the jet bridge minimizes the probability of loosing parts because they can be hopefully reclaimed on the spot. I was told in Houston that a manager turned down my request to claim the wheelchair at the jet bridge in Houston. This is extremely frustrating because a wheelchair is not a set of clean underwear or a toothbrush- this is the way I move. A Turkish Arline staff took my complaint at the luggage claim area in Houston but as of the writing of this review the only contact I have received from the airline is because I initiated a claim rather than her as she told me she would.
The security at the airport was excellent. The one criticism is the boarding process just before entering the plane. There were only 2 boarding lines and there were no barriers thus leading to a mass rush to enter the plane. I suggest that they board by rows, eight or ten rows at a time to prevent the mass rush to enter the plane. Otherwise, I would highly recommend Turkish Airlines
I liked everything: the work of the flight attendants, the work of the crew, the frequency on the plane and in the toilet.
This flight was in the air when the national power outage happened on 28 April 2025 in Spain and Portugal. As a result Lisbon airport was closed and the flight was diverted to Porto. There were no phones, internet or ATMs working and the Turkish Airlines ground crew in Porto were trying to find alternative transport to Lisbon (by bus). This did not materialise until late in the evening. The Turkish Airlines ground crew suggested that passengers may find their own way of getting to Lisbon. That in itself is a failure of Turkish Airlines, but understandable as there were no means of communication. The Turkish Airlines ground crew also said that any expenses insured for travel to Lisbon will be refunded by the Airline through their website. Unfortunately, I could find no way to travel back to Lisbon other than to hitch hike with an Uber driver. Because no systems were available and no credit card payment possible I paid the driver 140 Euros in cash with no receipt as systems were down. I arrived at my Lisbon hotel at 23:30 (flight was scheduled to land at 12:30). Upon contacting Turkish Airlines for compensation they are not willing to do anything as I do not have an invoice for my expenses. They do not even consider the 10 hours of delay and inactivity on their part as a reason to provide any sort of curtesy towards me. I find their behaviour appalling.
Both my luggages were never sent from Istanbul. After 10 hour flight from DC to Turkey and another 12 hour layover in Istanbul Airport, I would’ve at least expected to find my luggages when I arrived in Addis Ababa, but that wasn’t the case. After 2 hours of waiting at the luggage carousel, we were told that our luggages would be arriving the next day after midnight. I was already so exhausted, that I hated having to come back to the airport the next day. Thankfully, I received both my luggages the following day. It’s just, the whole experience was exhausting.
The check in process at Istanbul airport caused my family a great deal of stress and disappointment due to the following factors: 1) WE HAD TO PAY US$330 for check on bags, despite holding Economy tickets that Turkish airlines website clearly states that flights from Istanbul to Miami had a 2 checked bags allowance. 2) Airport staff not only lacked empathy for senior travelers (75 yrs old and 71 yrs old), but were also rude as well. The supervisor at check it offered "if you don't pay for the bags, you can just remain and sleep at the airport for however long you wish. What a terrible way to treat customers !!! 3) We were bumped from agent to agent to agent FIVE times, showing everyone the communication we received telling us we had the 2 bags entitlement. Two elderly people lugging 4 suitcase around and around the Turkish terminal. Again, what a sad way to treat customers !!! 4) We need a case opened to get a refund for the amount we paid. Something is amiss, screams unethical, and sounds unscrupulous......At First , we were told we must pay for 4 bags. All of a sudden, it became 2 bags, and finally all 4 bags were checked on with payments demanded for 2. Why did it vary from agent to agent???? 5) OVERALL, A TERRIBLE AND SUSPICIOUSLLY UNSCRUPULOUS EXPERIENCE FLYING WITH TURKISH AIRLINES. WE ARE TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED AND SAD THAT OUR VISIT TO A BEAUTIFUL CITY ENDED IN SUCH A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE
5 unnecessary control before get in the craft. It is exagerated and very inefficient
I recently flew with Turkish Airlines, and I can confidently say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I boarded, the crew was incredibly attentive, warm, and professional. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of throughout the flight. The highlight, however, was the food! I’ve flown with many airlines, but Turkish Airlines sets the bar incredibly high when it comes to in-flight dining. Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The variety of dishes, even on a long-haul flight, was impressive. It felt like dining at a high-end restaurant at 35,000 feet! The seats were comfortable, the entertainment options were great, and the overall atmosphere made the journey enjoyable. Turkish Airlines truly excels in combining luxury and hospitality. I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again—highly recommend!
