Airline review: One of the cheapest and best economy cabins to Europe

I’ve checked in on a European leg from Frankfurt to Istanbul. Being on a base fare, seats are allocated and changeable only for a fee, luckily families are seated together. We have a six-hour layover which is ample time to explore the new Istanbul Airport (IST); a hub that is expected to host more than 200 million passengers by 2025, becoming the biggest airport worldwide in terms of passenger traffic. Travelling with children, the highlight is an incredible airport playground (one of multiple) complete with aviation-themed plane, control tower and energy-burning trampolines. Access to the airline’s CIP Lounge is available for economy passengers if holding Star Alliance Gold status, a next-level enclave with piano playing, showers and freshly cooked pide and gozleme stations. Other paid lounges are available if connecting to or from Australia. A vaccine certificate is required at check-in.

The seat

It’s a 3-3-3 configuration where seats have a 32-inch (81cm) pitch and 17.5-inch (44cm) width. We have three seats in the middle (14-D-E-F). I had hoped the almost-cruel departure time and random Europe-Indonesia route (one of the cheapest full-service carriers at the time of booking) would deter other passengers but it’s full of travellers also using unlikely Jakarta as a hub from Europe to Asia or Australia. The cabin is stylish and immaculate, the palette mirrored in the staff’s smart grey uniforms with pops of red (I’m particularly taken by their chic shoes). I’m also grateful for the rare footrest, a boon for vertically challenged passengers.

Baggage

An overly generous 30kg is allowed with an additional 8kg of cabin baggage and a personal item of 4kg (the interpretation of that seems open). Hypothetically, the three of us could fly with 126kg of luggage.

Entertainment

There is a strong list of new titles and international fare, but where the entertainment excels is in the children’s section. It’s an absolute bonanza with Minions, multiple series of Ice Age(s), Harry Potter and an entire Disney subsection.

Service

Courteous and friendly service is taken next level with surprising amenity packs, which most airlines have foregone in economy. For me, that’s a Mandarina Duck case complete with slippers, socks, ear plugs and toothbrush. Meanwhile, my children are busily turning their suitcase-shaped packs (also with slippers) into cross-body handbags, with a secondary surprise pack containing an enthusiastically received toy pilot dog.

Food

The Frankfurt-Istanbul leg had featured a seasoned, juicy chicken with potato mash, both exploding with flavour and deliciousness. When ordering the chicken again, it’s not the same dish – the words “dry” and “unyielding” come to mind.

One more thing

The new airport is an hour from the city on the European side (on a good run). So rather than hoping to visit Istanbul on a long layover, schedule a stopover and soak up this exciting, culture-saturated city.

Verdict

As Turkish Airlines don’t fly directly into Australia, you would fly them as a Star Alliance partner into Europe from another port. If you haven’t heard much of them, it’s not due to the standard – in economy, they surpass many. The airline is definitely playing its part in its home-base Istanbul Airport’s “premier global hub” intentions.

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

Flip Byrnes travelled at her own expense.