Turkish airlines is having a promotion with flights from JFK to Athens through Istanbul Their reviews are all over the place. Anyone have experience with Turkish airlines?
Flying with Turkish Airlines is fine. However, having been through TA’s hub at the gigantic IST Airport in Istanbul is something I would avoid. The airport is the largest in the world and transferring there will add hours to the journey as you will first be flying past Athens only to backtrack to land there some 5-6 hours later. That is an unnecessarily long journey.
I flew economy on TA last year. The seats were so close together my knees were in constant contact with the back of the seat in front of me. Also, the return from IST to the USA was excrutiatingly long, especially in that cramped seat. If I hadn't been sitting on the aisle so I could get up once in awhile it would have been even worse! Also, they "lost" my vegetarian meal.
I had an excellent experience and outstanding flight with Turkish Airlines last September. My travel was in the first class cabin of their long distance aircraft. Unfortunately the very spacious seating is a 2-3-2 configuration which was okay since I was traveling with a friend. The aircraft was dated but clean. The flight crew were phenomenal. I would fly with them again but only if traveling with someone. I prefer the 1-2-1 configuration when traveling solo. Their hub (IST) is beautiful.
We arr on a two week tour of Greece and turkey .
We flew from ORD to instanbul and it was an ok overnight flight. At instanbul airport, tho, we went on about a two mile hike from where that plane landed to where our connection to Athens would depart from
Food was OK on the overnight flight, they had run out if chicken when they got to me so I ended up w the vegetarian pasta. Breakfast was impressive with several wedges of cheese, we never did get the "hot rolls" so I ate all of that cheese as is and had no use for butter and jelly.
We got another breakfast box on the athens flight
So I'd give the food an 80 percent approval rating, instanbul airport is enormous
I've been on them a dozen times. My favorite airline. IST is large but well organized and very efficient. Also a favorite.