Turkish Airlines offers connecting flights around Europe and the Middle East through it’s connecting hub in Istanbul, Turkey. In doing so, it typically offers a wide body flight configuration that has a proper business class fully flat seat. Its’ competitors usually offer business class with an economy class seat with a blocked middle. How would our wide body experience measure up for our medium haul flight within Europe?

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This post is one chapter on our trip to Jordan, Israel and France during the end of the pandemic. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and Alaska Mileage Plan. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us here or on social media through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for more travel tips and hacks on how to “Upgrade Your Travels”.

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Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class A330-200, Istanbul International Airport – Queen Alia International Airport Amman

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When I booked this flight, I deliberately routed us onto their Turkish Airlines Airbus 330-200 Business Class product. The Turkish Airlines Airbus 330-200 isn’t their most state of the art product, but its miles ahead of a Turkish Airlines narrow body Airbus 320 business class product that typically features a recliner seat.

I’ve flown Turkish Airlines Business Class several times on a trans continental basis. Most recently, there were on their older and more common business class products onrecently on Turkish Airlines Business Class Toronto – Istanbul, Turkish Airlines Business Class Istanbul – Toronto, and Turkish Airlines Business Class Istanbul – Montreal. We’ve always really enjoyed Turkish Airlines long haul services, so we’d be interested to see how their medium haul international services would compare.

This flight was booked directly online using the Turkish Airlines website. We would end up crediting these flights to Air Canada’s Aeroplan frequent flier program, allowing us to earn 110% Redeemable Qualifying Miles.

Connecting to Turkish Airlines Business Class:

We had arrived into Istanbul International Airport on Turkish Airlines Business Class Paris – Istanbul. After enjoying a nice layover at the Turkish Airlines Lounge Business – Istanbul International Airport, we headed over towards the D Concourse for our Turkish Airlines Business Class Istanbul – Amman flight (this review).

The Istanbul International Airport is a marked difference compared to the old Istanbul Atatürk International Airport. With large walkways along with high ceilings, the Istanbul International Airport marks a proper world class connection experience befitting of a world class city.

The Istanbul International Airport is a beautiful space. However, it does take some time to walk to your assigned gate. I’d recommend that you allow at least fifteen minutes in order to comfortably get to your assigned gate.

Boarding Turkish Airlines:

We had a medium walk out to Gate D12 of about eight minutes. Despite being the global hub for Turkish Airlines, there wasn’t any line management organized at the gate with no priority lines marked for express boarding. We ended up parking close to the front and we ended up being surrounded by the pushy types as we eventually made our way on board.

Although there was double jet bridge boarding set up with two jet bridges connected to our aircraft, we were funnelled all into the second jet bridge. We boarded at door 2L. We turned left into the Turkish Airlines Business Class cabin on their Airbus 330-200 series aircraft.

It seems that Turkish Airlines eventually connected Door 1L, but then people started using that door to avoid the long line occurring at Door 2L. As a result, we had several economy travellers streaming through the Business Class cabin’s left lane.

Turkish Airlines    

TK 812  – Business Class (J)

IST – AMM  (Istanbul International Airport – Amman Queen Alia International Airport)

October 11, 2022

8:55 PM – 11:10 PM (scheduled)

8:55PM – 11:15 PM (actual)

Booked: Airbus 330-200

Flown: Airbus 330-200

On Board Turkish Airlines Business Class:

Turkish Airlines operates several versions of their Airbus 330-200 series aircraft. If you want to read more about the other versions of the Airbus 330-200 series aircraft, please see our review of the Turkish Airlines Airbus 330-200 with lie flat seats, and the Turkish Airlines Airbus 330 with the herringbone seats.

This version offered lie flat seats in a 2 – 2 – 2 configuration. The seat style was similar to that on our older South African Airways Airbus 340-6 flight and contained a substantial amount of leg room and physical space between the seats themselves.

It’s worth noting that the seats in the center row are slightly offset from the aisle seats. The center seats are set back about a foot and a half. When you look across aisle, you won’t be looking directly into your aisle seat mate. This is great for privacy, but if you happen to be choosing a cross aisle seat hoping to engage in converstation with your seat mate, those on the outer seats will be arching your neck into the blind spot.

We made our way to our assigned seats in 3. As we were travelling with two of us travelling together, the double seat configuration worked well for our needs. If you happen to be travelling on your own, there is a small privacy screen between the two seats.

Despite the privacy screen, I wouldn’t expect a lot of privacy between yourself and your seat mate. Fortunately, there is enough space between you and your seat mate that allows you to cross from window to the aisle without circus contortion techniques.

I settled in and explored some of the features of the Turkish Airlines Business Class seat itself. Like with most aircraft of this generation, the Turkish Airlines seat was controlled through a centre console series of controls. The controls offered a 6 way recline and relax feature, along with an upper and lower lumbar support. There was also a timed massage feature, which was great to test out once, but something that you’re not likely to engage with during your whole flight.

Immediately in the arm rest, there was a wired remote that could be used for controlling the advanced video on demand system. There was also an Empower Seat power point. There was no direct to USB power point, so any use of the Empower required the appropriate adapter to USB in order to charge your phone. In a bit of a design shortfall, there also wasn’t any designated compartment to store your laptop or cell phone while charging. As a result, this seat takes at bit of a minus over different seats such as on their Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9 that offers a bit better functionality when charging your devices for relaxing or playing.

The Turkish Airlines Airbus 330-2 also featured individual overhead air nozzles. This is something that I really appreciate and makes your flight all that much more comfortable by being able to control the temperature in your personal space.

Waiting for us on the seat itself was a small lumbar pillow. The pillow was pretty thin and didn’t actually offer much in the way of a lumbar support.

Pre Departure Services:

We had a pre-departure offer of orange juice, water or the terrific lemon mint beverage. I went with the lemon and mint. MrsWT73 also enjoyed some sparkling which was delivered “on request”.

Departing Istanbul Internatonal Airport:

We had an on time departure from Istanbul International Airport. We had. along taxi over to Runway 8, where we departed Istanbul in darkness.

Unfortunately, the in flight tracker entertainment system was not operational throughout the flight. As a result, I was not able to follow along on the exact flight track.

In Flight Entertainment System:

Once we were airborne, I played with the entertainment system.

Turing towards the entertainment system, there were over 272 movies on board. There were more than enough movies to keep someone entertained, especially for a long haul flight.

The entertainment system was provided through a stow away monitor that was hidden in the seat console. This design feature does tend to require a viewer to arch their neck a little in order to watch any entertainment.

Despite this, there were a reasonable amount of movies on board and more than likely enough entertainment to keep you satisfied during any regional flight.

The Meal: A Dinner

After we got to cruise altitude a towel service was offered. Turkish Airlines headphones were also distributed in a dual pin format with an eco friendly plastic bag.

Similar to our last flight, I was also offered a printed dinner menu. Along with the darker Turkish Airlines Business Class cabin, the menu presented with a darker look.

I was asked for my drink order and I ordered the Turkish Red Wine – Kavakidlere Egeo Blend of Merlot – Syrah – Cabernet Sauvingon. The dinner was presented on a tray all at once, I enjoy having the meal presented all at one on a shorter flight as it allows you to maximize your time.

I enjoyed the first course which was a “Potpourri of Seafood”, served with a seasonal salad with lemon olive oil dressing.

After the entree was finished, I was presented with the grilled lamb chops with potenta crespelle, and ratatouille. It was pretty tasty and a very enjoyable lamb dish to have on an aircraft.

I concluded with the attached cheese plate selection of cheese. Although the menu read that we were being offer profiteroles, instead we were offered a chocolate moose.

I enjoyed a second glass of the Turkish Red Wine – Kavakidlere Egeo Blend while I watched No Time to Die and caught up on the planning of some of our activities in the Lonely Planet – Jordan edition.

Much like my last regional meal, it was a full meal, although the portions were not overly large. The amount of food served was certainly a lot less than the Turkish Airlines long haul services that often offer a four course meal, including soup. Despite this, the DO & CO catering was much better and the lamb dish was really tasty and flavourful.

Landing at Amman, Jordan:

I didn’t really know what to expect as we approached the Kingdom of Jordan. Given that much of the Kingdom of Jordan was covered in sand, I was expecting something like descending into Africa. Instead, I was surprised the electrical grid was so powerful, not like usual landings in to Africa which were really sparse by comparison.

We had an approach that led us into a hard right banked turn to land at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan.

We disemarked off our flight. Business Class was given priority to get off and we wandered into Queen Alia International Airport.

Prior to travelling, we had purchased a Jordan Pass, which is a tourist pass that provides entry to all tourist attractions. It also waives the visa on arrival fee. We presented ourselves to the Visa on Arrival desk where our Jordan Pass was processed from paper copies that I had printed.

We then were stamped into Jordan at the next immigration counter.

We descended into the baggage claim hall, which was packed with tours of older Europeans.

While we were waiting for bags, I took the opportunity to change some money at the change counter in the baggage hall. The rate was pretty average, along with a fee charged on top of the currency exchange. I would later find more competitive rates at money changers in the tourist areas of Aqaba, Jordan.

Our checked bags also arrived without any incident. The transport was fee of theft or any other complicating issues.

After arriving, we headed off to Hertz Rental Car in order to pick up a rental for a 1,265 kilometre driving adventure through Jordan. I had some questions about self driving in Jordan so I wrote a separate post on “What to Expect While Driving in Jordan“.

We headed off toward the Dead Sea Marriott Resort, to start our adventure in the Kingdom of Jordan.

My Thoughts on Turkish Airlines Business Class:

Our Turkish Airlines Business Class experience on the Airbus 330-2 was better than legacy carriers that consist of a blocked middle economy seat for business class. The seat was pretty old, but met the mark for in flight comfort and the catering on board was excellent as always. While the Turkish Airlines Airbus 330-2 wasn’t the most state of the art aircraft, it was much better than the alternatives; a narrow body jet or an inferior business class seat.

Despite this, Turkish Airlines falls down on the non flight experience. The check in process was pretty dis-organized. My issue with crediting my frequent flier points remains unresolved for six weeks after my flight involving appeals to Air Canada’ frequent flier program to address Turkish Airlines ticketing issues, and the boarding process was pretty hap hazard, disinterested and disorganized, as always. Otherwise, it was pretty terrific once on board and a far better regional experience than in an economy class seat. I imagine myself flying with Turkish Airlines again in the future.

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If you flown Turkish Airlines within Europe, how do you find it’s regional services surrounding Turkey ?

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