T RIED AND TE ST E D FL IGHT
Turkish Airlines B777-300ER HONG KONG–ISTANBUL
B A C KGROUND Turkish Airlines (TK) currently flies to 121 countries – the largest number served by any single carrier. A recent order will see 60 widebody B787-9 Dreamliners and A350-900 aircraft join the fleet starting from next year.
C HEC K - IN I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at 2100 for the 2300 flight to Istanbul. As a business class passenger I was invited to Plaza Premium lounges in Hong Kong (of which there are four in Terminal 1). I headed to the newly renovated Plaza Premium East Lounge but found a large queue of 40-odd people, so decided to skip the lounge entirely.
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BO A RDING I arrived at the gate at 2225 to find boarding in full flow. Embarking passengers were greeted by cabin crew and an onboard chef. I was surprised to find the overhead locker filled with passenger blankets. I rearranged the contents to make space, but would have appreciated some assistance.
THE SE A T The business cabin is set up in a 2-3-2 formation, which isn’t ideal, but there is plenty of legroom for each seat. Storage options were good too; a large ottoman felt more secure for storing valuables. A shared armrest and a small drinks
tray were the most awkward parts of the neighbouring seat design (aside from the window passenger having to step over their neighbour when reclined), however a divider does allow for some separation. The lie-flat (177 degrees) bed is
extremely comfortable and generously wide, and the bed recesses behind its own shell to give a decent amount of privacy.
THE FL IGH T We pushed back at around 2300 and took off promptly. Wifi is available on Turkish Airlines flights
and is free for business class passengers, as well as Miles & Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members. (Prices for non-business class passengers are US$9.99 for one hour
SEP T E M B ER 2 0 18
BE ST FOR ...
Onboard chefs, fantastic meal options and standout attention to presentation
P R ICE Internet rates for a return trip in
mid-October in Business Semi Flexible start from US$3,757.
F L IGHT TIME 11 hours 25 minutes
C ONF IGUR A TION 2-3-2
S E AT WID TH 22in/56cm
or US$14.99 for 24 hours). Around 2345 the crew began to make
passengers’ beds by laying a ground sheet and a quilt. A hot towel at midnight was followed by a drinks order – I chose a full- bodied Sevilen Plato (Southern Plateau) Syrrah, with earthy, peppery notes. A visit to the bathroom revealed
surprisingly spacious facilities, with Molten Brown amenities, green plants and a pleasant floral fragrance. Dinner tables were laid at 0015, with dinner served at 0045. The presentation was fantastic, but what stole the show was a “flickering candle”. The clever light bulb in paper illusion was a lovely touch remarked upon by several passengers. I browsed the IFE system while enjoying
my appetiser. The large screen is too far to reach by hand, but can be operated by a responsive touchpad device located next to the shoulder. The movie selection was wide-ranging, with Hollywood hits accompanied by an IMDB rating – another nice touch. There was also a selection of TV shows, live news (namely BBC and Al Jazeera), music and games. Adjustable noise-cancelling headphones by Denon were effective and lightweight with comfortable cushion padding. My main dish of grilled cod with
Tuscany-style vegetables, herbed potatoes and lemon parsley sauce was tasty and satisfying, but was beaten by the silver spiralled dessert trolley bearing a selection of classic desserts: tiramisu, panna cotta and brownies plus cheese, fruits and coffee.
BED L ENG TH 78in/198cm
C ONT A C T
turkishairlines.com
What stole the show was a “flickering candle”. The clever light bulb in paper illusion was a lovely touch remarked upon by several passengers
After dinner I managed to get a really
good sleep – so good, in fact, that I slept right into the breakfast service, with only about an hour to landing.
A RRIVA L We touched down at 0450. Turkish Airlines business class passengers are eligible for the fast lane at immigration – but must show their ticket stub. I had no checked baggage and was swiftly through by 0515.
VERDIC T Despite the 2-3-2 layout, this turned out to be a very decent product with a comfortable bed allowing for a good rest. I particularly liked the ottoman storage solution, the top-notch F&B service and presentation, good selection of IFE and friendly cabin crew service. Tamsin Cocks
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
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