Turkish Airlines Business Class Special Amsterdam – Istanbul – Singapore

Turkish Airlines Business Class Special Amsterdam – Istanbul – Singapore

All over the world, you see the large advertising campaigns about Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines forged ahead with its rapid expansion plans, adding new airplanes and destinations by the day.
If you see the TV advertisings, you may think that Turkish Airlines is a 5 Star Airline, but is this so ?
Time to explore the Business Class service from Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines offers their passengers an unique service to explore the amazing city of Istanbul.
A place that we always wanted to visit, but never had time for.
If you have a layover time in Istanbul, not shorter than 6 hours and no longer than 24 hours, you can join the free Istanbul Tour
Turkish Airlines has several daily flights from Amsterdam to Istanbul, so it was time to plan a flight with a long layover time, but not longer than 24 hours.

We found a great red eye flight from Amsterdam to Istanbul with flight TK1956 leaving at 23.55 and arriving in Istanbul at 04.20.
Connecting with flight TK0054 to Singapore at 01.20 the next day, leaving us over 20 hours to visit the highlights from Istanbul.

The checkin at Amsterdam Schiphol was great, funny and not too fast.
But we where in time, so we did not mind that it took a little bit longer.
It was the first day at work for the ground stewardess,  she was very friendly and needed some help from her colleagues.
But she did a great job, but there was a problem with the flight, the inbound aircraft would be late by one hour she informed us.

It was time to visit the Aspire Lounge at Schiphol Airport.
Turkish Airlines is using this lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
The Aspire Lounge is a normal lounge with great views over the tarmac and runways.
There are many seat available, but as it was close to closing time, there where not many passengers in the lounge.
The Aspire Lounge offers you some hot and cold snacks, a large selection of beverages and complimentary WiFi.

The Aspire lounge closes at 23.00 and our flight was delayed by 1 hour.
Our plane would normally depart at 23.55 and by the time we got closer to the departure time, we where delayed until 01.55.
We had to walk, across a nearly closed Schiphol Airport, for over 2,5 hours.
The Turkish passengers where also angry at the gate and started shouting and screaming.
Priority boarding was announced, but this did not work at all.
All the Economy class passengers wanted to board the airplane first.
Finally we boarded the Airbus 321 and all I wanted to do, is get some sleep.
But also in the plane the Turkish people kept on shouting and screaming.
It must be part of the culture I was thinking.
This was not a good start of our flight, but we arrived 2,5 hours delayed at Istanbul Airport and where transported by bus to the terminal.
It has been ages ago, that I used a bus transfer.
There is no special pick up service for the Business Class Passengers.

There was a large line of passengers, waiting to clear customs.
For the Turkish Airlines Business Class Passengers, there is a special line to clear customs and saved lots of time.
The fast track lane is much faster, but don’t forget to arrange your online visa for Turkey before you leave your Country.

We still had a few hours left, before our Istanbul tour would start at 09.00.
For the Business Class Passengers, there is an opportunity to visit the special Turkish Airlines CIP Arrival Lounge after the immigration.
In the Arrival Lounge you can take a shower, have a breakfast and a Cup of Coffee.
The catering is provided by Do and Co catering Turkey.
A great company with an excellent service.
The only thing we missed, where beds to lay down.

It was time to visit the amazing city of Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines offers three tours, 2 for about 6 hours and one for 9 hours.
We went for the full tour, leaving at 09.00 and returning at the airport at 18.00
A bus takes you to a nice Turkish restaurant for breakfast and continues after lunch for a view from the bus over part of the city.
With a professional tour guide, they drop you in the middle of the city.
Within walking distance you can visit all the highlights from Istanbul.
Visiting the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome: German Fountain, Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and Topkapı Palace.
It was time for a nice lunch and then continued the tour, visiting Basilica Cistern and the Grand Covered Bazaar.
The bus driver told us, that due to a big traffic jam ( election time ) the roads where closed around the airport and that we had to take the Tram and Subway to the airport.
With our guide we saw the city also in a different way.

The CIP Turkish Airlines Business Lounge is a massive lounge with different areas.
You will find an elegant piano bar, a pool table, a golf course simulator, a cinema and many restaurant area’s.
The food is delicious and provided by Do and Co Catering Turkey and the staff are extremely attentive and friendly.
The CIP Lounge has two floors and can host many people, but you also see that the floors need some maintenance.
But overall an excellent lounge.

Again our flight to Singapore was delayed.
This time with more than 90 minutes.
If you check the arrival and departing screens, you see many delays.
It looks Turkish Airlines is expanding so rapidly, that they have a shortage for airplanes.
This time we had to take the bus service again, and there was no special boarding for the Business Class Passengers.
The crew was waiting for us, but the first real disappointment onboard happened.
Sorry mister Smulders, but I have to inform you that you seat is defect, broken down and we have no other seats available in Business Class.
What………. a red eye flight leaving at 02.00, for a 11 hours flight to Singapore and my seat does not recline at all.
Yes, also manually it will not work, your seat is really broken down, but we have one seat available in Economy Class.
Well I can tell you this, I paid for a Business Class ticket and I am not going to sit in the Economy Class, leaving my wife in the Business Class.
I will use this Business Class seat, but I will make a complain about this and sort it out later, I told them.

Lucky for me my wife told me, just relax have a nice trip and have a drink.
Yes, thanks darling.

The Do and Co catering chef onboard, offered us a great welcome drink

I still found a way to get a little bit of rest and I was happy that the cabin service on this flight was great.
Do you like to have your breakfast now Mr Smulders ?
I think a small accident happend on the way to us, because the napkin was wet.
But the steward fixed this by folding the napkin under the tray.
The dinner was also great, and Do and Co Catering and his Chef, did a great job.
The Catering was excellent, not the best in the world like Qatar Airways, but close to it.

The Inflight Entertainment onboard was good, lots of movies and music on demand.
The system is a bit hard to handle, but after a few minutes you know how it is suppose to work.
Due to a problem with my seat, there was also a problem with the Inflight Entertainment System.

On my flights from Amsterdam to Istanbul, Istanbul to Singapore and Istanbul to Amsterdam, we had a great crew.
Friendly, helpful and very professional.
On our flight from Singapore to Istanbul we had a not so friendly purser.
Telling me that I was not allowed to make photo’s onboard and being a bit too bossy.
Everybody makes photo’s so do I.
The problem started because also on this flight ( Singapore to Istanbul ) my seat was broken down, including the full IFE system.
Also a little bit irritated my Iphone felt in a small space, where normally the menu card would fit.
So no IFE, No Seat that would recline and also lossing your Iphone 6 in a small space, without being able to take it out.
Than the purser came back and told me not too break the seat to get my Iphone out.
For me it was very clear, we would never become friends, even if there are only two people on this world.
It was a long flight not been able to watch a movie our listen to your own music on your Iphone.
At Istanbul, Turkish Airlines Mechanics had to remove part of the Business Class seat, to give my Iphone back.
They did a great job, thanks guys.

Making photo’s from the Turkish Airlines crew is almost impossible, I say almost.

Also delayed over two hours, we finally arrived at Changi Airport.
It was time to sleep, because that is all what I needed.
A great bed.

Is Turkish Airlines a 5 Star Airline ?
No, not by far, but they can become one in the feature.
The hardware is mainly available, now only adjusting the software.
At this moment we rate TURKISH AIRLINES as an average airline.
They need to work on their service on the ground.
They have to keep there planes maintained ( cabin wise )
Twice a broken Business Class seat ( always row 3 ) and this on several different aircrafts, is not a good sign and the Business traveller will not come back.
Provide a better service for the Business Class Passengers like chauffeur driven busses to the aircraft.
Be on time, there are too many delays.

Turkish Airlines has a great CIP Business Lounge and offers great catering in the Lounge and onboard.

Youtube, GoPro movie about all aspects covered.

Here you can find a GoPro Movie about the latest developments and how my trip went.
Sometimes a movie says more than words.

Flight Amsterdam – Istanbul – Singapore

Flight Singapore – Istanbul – Amsterdam

For me Turkish Airlines is an AVERAGE airline
I will fly Turkish Airlines again in a few years time, make sure that you have improved the negatives remarks and keep hold on your positives aspects

More photo’s on www.persfoto.com
For more information please check Turkish Airlines

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