Turkish Airlines
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"Turkish Airlines flights cancellation to and from Basra to Istanbul"
I had a very disappointing experience traveling with Turkish Airlines. I was flying from Manchester to Basra on 11 January 2025, with a return flight scheduled for 17 January 2025. On 11th January, my flight from Istanbul to Basra was canceled due to a visibility issue. However, upon arriving at Basra airport, I noticed that other flights had landed around the same time, which made me question the legitimacy of the reason for the cancellation. On 17th January, I received a message from Turkish Airlines at 01:59 informing me that my return flight was canceled due to "force majeure." I saw the message when I woke up at 03:00, which was too late to make alternative plans. After driving for two hours to Basra airport, I found that other flights were operating normally, and the weather was perfectly fine. It was only at 08:00 that Turkish Airlines staff provided any information, stating that the new flight time would be 15:50. What made this situation worse was discovering that this same flight had been canceled for the previous seven days. It became clear that the cancellations were not due to force majeure but likely to another reason. Turkish Airlines failed to provide transparency regarding the real cause of the cancellations and did not offer helpful information about the rescheduled flight times in advance. The lack of communication and clarity left me frustrated and inconvenienced, especially since the airline was aware of the situation but chose not to inform customers properly. This was a stark contrast to my previous positive experiences with Turkish Airlines, and I was extremely dissatisfied with how this situation was handled.
"Good Airline, Pretty Good Food, and Quick Service for Delay Causing Missed Connection"
The crew and ground staff were excellent. The ground crew provided just the right amount of announcements at a comfortable volume, and boarding was well-organized despite a full flight. The in-flight crew did a great job serving and keeping us informed throughout the flight. Unfortunately, I was seated next to the baby section—with three small children who took turns crying most of the way. While it makes sense to seat families together, I’d prefer they weren’t in my section next time! Dinner included complimentary wine, which was a nice touch. I always opt for the gluten-free meal to avoid pasta and heavier foods that don’t sit well during flights. However, I was disappointed to find that all the in-flight snacks contained gluten—no gluten-free options were available. The flight amenities were solid: pillows, blankets, and headphones were provided at no extra cost. The restrooms stayed clean throughout the flight. And yes, they happily refilled my wine a few times! My main issue was that my luggage didn’t arrive. The reporting process was relatively easy via a tablet at the airport, and I received a tracking code by email. But even 24 hours later, there was no update on its location. Due to a three-hour flight delay, I missed my final connection to Tampa. However, Turkish Airlines handled it well by quickly issuing hotel and meal vouchers along with a shuttle. I appreciated how efficiently they managed the situation.
"Thankfully a better experience than some other reviewers"
I was initially hesitant to fly Turkish Airlines due to the many negative reviews I’d read, but since we were using frequent flyer miles, it was our only option. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. We flew from Naples, Italy to Istanbul in the evening, arriving around 11:30 PM. We had a 9-hour layover, which we spent at the in-airport hotel, YOTELAIR—absolutely worth it for the convenience and rest. The 2.5-hour flight from Naples to Istanbul was smooth and on time. I was impressed to be served a hot meal on such a short flight, and it was better than average airline food. The entertainment screen was large with a generous selection of movies and TV shows. Finding the hotel inside Istanbul Airport was a bit confusing—better signage would definitely help. The next morning, our 8:30 AM flight to LAX departed on time. There were multiple passport and carry-on checks, and during one of them, the staff handled my belongings roughly, even after I mentioned I had fragile items. That was my only negative encounter with Turkish Airlines staff. The long-haul flight was surprisingly comfortable. I'm 5'8" and found the legroom and seat recline to be quite adequate—I even managed to sleep a bit. The large entertainment screen and selection of over 600 movies were excellent. We were served two warm meals, both very flavorful with a Mediterranean touch. I used my own noise-canceling headphones, but the airline-provided on-ear ones looked decent. Despite the long layover and extra $300 we spent on the hotel, I was genuinely impressed with the flight experience. The main downside for me was the extended total travel time—flying through Istanbul added about three hours compared to flying through Frankfurt or Munich. Still, if the timing worked out better next time, I wouldn’t hesitate to fly Turkish Airlines again.
"Pros and cons of economy – depends on your destination"
Review of Turkish Airlines (6 years of flying experience) We've been flying Turkish Airlines for about six years, primarily for flights from North America to Asia. For those who can endure the 14-hour nonstop flights to Dubai, Emirates or Qatar might be a better choice. However, I can no longer handle those long flights, so Turkish is my go-to. PROS: Flight Time: Since Istanbul is roughly in the middle of the journey, it breaks up the trip into two 10-hour legs, making it more manageable for me. Stopover in Istanbul: You can break up your journey in Istanbul and hop to various European destinations on shorter flights. Comfortable Economy Seats: The seats on Turkish feel roomier and airier compared to Emirates and Qatar. The flat seat cushions are far more comfortable than the curved ones on the other airlines, which I find claustrophobic. Superior Food: Turkish food onboard is far superior to that of Emirates or Qatar. Plus, they serve delicious sour cherry juice, which is a real treat! Istanbul Airport: It’s much better than Dubai’s. For long layovers, the Yotel inside the airport is an excellent option, accepting bookings for a minimum of 4 hours. There’s also a fantastic pay-for-use lounge and an incredible Anatolian food court. CONS: Flight Crew: The flight crew can be grumpy, though they’ve tried to be more pleasant on my recent trips. Flight Schedule Changes: Turkish tends to change flight schedules more frequently than I’d like. Website Issues: The website is terribly designed and difficult to navigate. Customer Service: Customer service is generally lacking. I won’t go into details, but I’ve had some negative experiences in the past. Final Thoughts: Despite the cons, I will continue flying Turkish Airlines because of the pros, mainly the break in flight time. I simply can't handle those 13+ hour nonstop flights anymore, so I’d rather deal with a few connections. Hopefully, this helps others looking for a balanced and comfortable long-haul flight option!
"thankful"
Turkish Airlines is one of the best airlines! I flew with them on September 3, 2023, and just wanted to share some positive feedback. The service was great, and the pilots were amazing. Thank you, Turkish Airlines!
"ok to try"
The ticket price is reasonable and includes two checked bags per person, which is great value. They also provide overnight packs for both adults and kids—a thoughtful touch. I’d heard that some passengers had issues with lost luggage, but thankfully, I didn’t experience that. One downside is the long transfer times for connecting flights. The airline advertises city tours if your layover is more than around 5 hours, but if the transfer is during nighttime hours, there’s no tour available. They also offer hotel accommodation for layovers of around 12 hours or more, but our transfer was about 7–8 hours overnight—so we didn’t qualify for a hotel or a tour. Unfortunately, we just had to sleep in the airport while waiting for our next flight.
"Turkish Airlines – a flight of a lifetime – kudos!"
Exceptional Experience with Turkish Airlines My wife and I recently flew home after a 2 1/2-week trip to Greece and Turkey, and we had an outstanding experience with Turkish Airlines. Istanbul Airport: The airport is modern, clean, and very easy to navigate. Check-in service was efficient, and the staff was incredibly helpful in guiding us through security and to the lounge. Business Class Lounge: The business class lounge in Istanbul was by far the best we've ever experienced. The food was diverse and plentiful, with options that catered to various tastes. The space was spacious, quiet, and clean, making it the perfect place to relax before the flight. The Flight: The flight itself was fantastic. The crew was friendly and attentive, providing excellent service throughout the journey. The food and drink were of high quality, and the seats in business class were incredibly comfortable. The pods provided extra privacy, which made for a restful flight. In-Flight Entertainment: There was a great selection of movies, TV shows, and music in the entertainment box, keeping us entertained throughout the flight. Final Thoughts: Overall, this was one of our top travel experiences. From the airport lounge to the flight itself, everything exceeded our expectations. Turkish Airlines has certainly made a lasting impression, and we would highly recommend them to anyone flying internationally.
"Not impressed w the Business Class on Turkish"
Disappointing Business Class Experience with Turkish Airlines My recent Business Class experience with Turkish Airlines left much to be desired. The two major issues were: Unimpressive In-Flight Service: The flight attendants seemed to do the bare minimum, lacking the attentive, personalized service that is expected in Business Class. On some legs, they didn’t even offer the customary welcome champagne, which is a standard perk. Meals were served in rapid succession with no regard for timing or enjoyment. When I requested to have my main course served later, the attendant gave a questionable excuse that the food would "go bad" in 30 minutes. Uncomfortable Seating: The Business Class seats were surprisingly uncomfortable. They were hard, narrow, and offered little support compared to what I’ve experienced with other airlines. Additionally, the lounge in Istanbul was overcrowded and offered only average food. When compared to my experiences with Qatar Airways, which truly excels in Business Class, Turkish Airlines fell short in almost every category.
"Excellent cabin crew and clean cabin"
This flight was a codeshare with a budget Indian airline, so we didn’t have high expectations for the service. However, we were pleasantly surprised—the experience was comparable to that of a full-service carrier. As vegetarians, we appreciated being served a decent vegetarian meal, even though we hadn’t pre-ordered it. The cabin crew stood out for their professionalism and efficiency, responding to passengers' needs quickly and politely. The aircraft itself was clean and well-maintained, with comfortable seating. While the in-flight entertainment options were limited, it wasn’t a major drawback. One downside was the malfunctioning mobile charging port, which was inconvenient. Overall, it was a pleasant and satisfying flight experience.
"Not great. I was not impressed."
Turkish Airlines has significantly declined in quality since my last experience with them about 10 years ago. The wheelchair assistance for my parents was poorly managed; despite booking assistance for both, one of my parents was left without a wheelchair on three out of four occasions. Additionally, the staff at Istanbul airport seemed to expect tips for providing this service, which was unprofessional. In terms of inflight service, it was average, but my child was not provided with any kids’ packs, and there were no kids’ meals available on any of the four flights. Given these issues, I don't think I would choose Turkish Airlines again.
"Worst traveling experience."
I had a terrible experience with Turkish Airlines that left me extremely frustrated. First, there was not enough overhead compartment space, and we were forced to place our bags between our legs, which made for an incredibly uncomfortable flight, especially considering Turkish Airlines prides itself on being one of the best. To make matters worse, my baggage was not loaded on board from Accra. I had no information about this issue until I arrived at my destination and couldn’t find my bag. I arrived on 28th April 2025, and as of 30th April 2025, I still haven't received my luggage. This has been the worst traveling experience, and I strongly advise others to avoid Turkish Airlines like the plague.
"Bad customer solutions"
I’ve had a few frustrating experiences with Turkish Airlines. First, on a flight from Germany to Istanbul during Christmas, I reserved and paid for three seats to sit together with my 80-year-old father, who needs to be in an aisle seat. However, at check-in, we found that one of the seats had been given away, despite having paid for it. The staff were unhelpful, offering us seats in the last row instead of the front where I had reserved. I eventually got one refund after a lengthy process, but not the three I expected. Secondly, on a flight from Istanbul to Lisbon, I encountered issues booking on the Turkish Airlines website. After multiple crashes, I mistakenly selected the wrong month for the flight. Customer service showed no flexibility, and I had to pay an additional 480 EUR to rebook the flight. This was particularly frustrating since I had booked directly through Turkish Airlines, unlike other airlines like Lufthansa, which would’ve helped change the flight for a fee. Lastly, my husband faced a stressful situation when trying to check in for a flight from Istanbul to Canada. The second leg of the flight didn’t appear in the app, and he couldn’t check in. The call center couldn’t help, and he had to go to the airport hours early to resolve the issue. Now, I’m facing a similar issue with my flight to the US, where the return flight isn’t showing up in the app. Despite Turkish Airlines having nice planes and entertainment, their customer service and handling of booking issues leaves much to be desired.
"Five star experience"
Amazing service, comfortable seats, and smooth landings—what more could you ask for? Everything came together for a great flying experience. I definitely recommend this airline to anyone considering it. You should absolutely give it a try!
"Made us pay for their mistak"
My experience with this flight was incredibly frustrating. Our flight arrived late, causing us to miss our connecting flight to Slovenia, which only operates once a day. Unfortunately, this meant that we were left stranded at the airport with no options to get to Slovenia until the next day. To make matters worse, we were forced to purchase a new flight at our own expense, as the airline offered no assistance in covering the additional costs. The lack of support or options provided in this situation was deeply disappointing, and it made an already stressful situation even more difficult to handle.
"Baggage Delay for 5 days without compensation"
I had an incredibly frustrating experience with Turkish Airlines that ruined our expensive holiday. My husband's luggage was delayed for five days without any refund, apology, or clear explanation. For five consecutive days, we traveled to the airport to inquire about the luggage, only to be told to come back the next day with no updates or assurances. The entire flight had no luggage for days, and we heard stories from other passengers who had to wait up to seven days for their belongings. When the luggage finally arrived, we went to the airport to request compensation, but we were told that we would need a Ghanian bank account to receive any funds. As foreigners, this was utterly ridiculous — why would we need a local account for compensation? Despite multiple attempts to reach Turkish Airlines through phone calls, texts, and emails, we received no resolution. Four months later, they are still avoiding paying compensation. As a result, I’m now taking this matter to the Aviation courts in the hope that Turkish Airlines will be held accountable for the way they treat
"Extremely Disappointing Experience with Turkish Airlines and Istanbul Airport"
I recently had one of the most frustrating travel experiences with Turkish Airlines through Istanbul Airport. Our flight from Islamabad was delayed, causing us to miss our connecting flight to Miami. Instead of offering proper assistance or taking responsibility for the disruption, Turkish Airlines rebooked us for a flight the following day—without any explanation, apology, or meaningful support. Things only got worse when we were forced to stay overnight at Istanbul Airport. We had to go through immigration, where the officers were shockingly unprofessional and dismissive. Despite traveling with a 4-year-old child, we were denied entry because his passport was due to expire in three months, which should have been considered in the context of a missed connection, not treated as a deliberate fault on our part. As if that wasn’t enough, we were then charged a $300 USD visa fee—an unreasonable amount given the circumstances. The entire process lacked basic empathy, transparency, and customer care. I expected far better treatment from a major international airline, especially at one of the world's busiest transit hubs. Unfortunately, both Turkish Airlines and Istanbul Airport failed to meet even the most basic standards of service. This experience has seriously damaged my trust in both.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines, officially known as Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı, is the national flag carrier of Turkey. As of June 2024, it operates scheduled flights to 352 destinations across Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. Turkish Airlines serves more non-stop destinations from a single airport and flies to more countries than any other airline in the world. Its cargo division, Turkish Cargo, operates a dedicated fleet serving 82 destinations, and the airline also owns a low-cost subsidiary, AJet.
Address
Ataturk Airport, Yesilkoy 34149 Istanbul Türkiye
Website
https://www.turkishairlines.com/
Email
https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/any-questions/get-in-touch/
Telephone
+90 212 463 63 63