What I Loved Most About My Recent Turkish Airlines Business Class Experience [IST-JNB Review]

Turkish Airlines is widely regarded as one of the best airlines in the world for many reasons. So when I had the opportunity to fly the product again, this time in Turkish’s flagship business class, as part of my Round-the-World award, I was super excited. In fact, this was the flight I was looking forward to the most on the entire trip.

Though I’ve flown Turkish Airlines business class before, that was on the less common Airbus A350-900s originally intended for Aeroflot with a completely different business class product.

Here’s a look at some of the things that I loved most about my August 2025 Turkish Airlines business experience on the Airbus A350-900 between Istanbul (IST), Türkiye, and Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa.

1. Seamless Airport Experience in Istanbul

Although I always try to check in for a flight before arriving at the airport, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Unfortunately, that was the case for my Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Johannesburg.

Since I was flying out of Turkish Airlines’ hub in Istanbul, I was expecting a hectic airport experience, as I would be flying out of one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. Fortunately, it was the exact opposite.

The check-in process (and by extension, security and immigration) was painless for many reasons. First, and most importantly, business class passengers flying on Turkish Airlines from Istanbul can access dedicated business class check-in counters. These are completely separate from the regular economy check‑in lines, which are much busier, so you avoid much of the wait.

Here, passengers received a faster and more comfortable check-in experience. Although there was a decent number of people flying business class to destinations around the world, several check-in counters were available. The queue to speak to a check-in agent was less than 2 minutes.

The dedicated check-in area also featured a seating area where passengers could sit and relax before or after checking in for their flight. I thought this was a nice touch, as it provided a place for people to patiently wait.

Turkish Airlines business class passengers can also use the dedicated fast-track security checkpoint lanes directly behind the business class check-in area. This was also quite convenient — security and immigration were completed within 10 minutes.

Hot Tip:

Want to book Turkish Airlines business class with points and miles yourself? Our guide details how.

2. Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge in Istanbul

One of my favorite things to do before a business class flight is to experience the business class lounge. Fortunately, Turkish Airlines has a fantastic lounge in Istanbul.

The Turkish Airlines business lounge at Istanbul is considered to be among the world’s largest and most impressive lounges. It is open 24 hours a day and is near gate E1, one level above the main concourse.

The lounge is massive and can accommodate over 500 passengers at once. It also has a long list of amenities, including lots of varied seating, dedicated workspaces, quiet zones, a multifaith prayer room, an airport concierge service, luggage storage lockers, multiple televisions, several flight information boards, massage chairs, a kids play area, and a business center complete with several desktops and printers.

It also has many novelty amenities, including a golf simulator, a flight simulator, an airline history museum, and an incredible flight tracker machine that shows all Turkish Airlines planes in the air at any given moment.

The lounge has numerous food stations, including some where you can watch chefs prepare freshly made dishes. You can also find a full buffet with hot and cold dishes, sweets, and a dessert spread, including traditional Turkish delights.

The lounge also offers private relaxation suites for business travelers in transit, though the access criteria are quite restrictive. However, the lounge has a massive shower facility with numerous individual shower suites, which all business class passengers can use.

The Turkish Airlines business lounge at Istanbul is considered one of the world’s best Star Alliance business class lounges. Although it is massive, it can get quite busy at peak times.

Hot Tip:

Upgraded Points contributor Greg Stone has a thorough review of the Turkish Airlines international business class lounge in Istanbul.

3. Sleek Business Class Seats and Cabin

Turkish Airlines’ Airbus A350-900s feature 32 business class seats spread across 8 rows of seats in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access. The staggered seating means the window seats alternate between being closer to the window (even rows) and closer to the aisle (odd rows).

Since privacy is paramount in business class, I was in 6K, a window seat (closer to the windows) on the plane’s starboard side.  

The seat (and, by extension, the cabin) perfectly balances visual appeal and practicality. The seats feature shades of gray, making the product look sleek and modern.

Of course, the seats are very comfortable. While the path to the seat is a bit narrow and can make getting in and out slightly awkward, it feels much more spacious and comfortable once you’re seated.

The seat’s console was to my left since I had a window seat closer to the window. The console featured ample space to place items and a unique storage area that could be locked using a 3-number combination lock. Inside, I could also find the seat’s AC power outlet and a USB port.

The seat’s headphone jack and controls were on the side of the console below the armrest. The seat controls allowed me to adjust numerous things, including the seat’s lighting and positioning adjustments. Below the seat controls was the touch screen IFE remote control.

4. Fantastic Inflight Dining

Turkish Airlines is renowned for its inflight meal service, often regarded as the most complete dining service in the sky. For long-haul flights of over 8 hours, the airline features a dedicated onboard chef, providing an even more elevated experience.

The chef personally introduces himself to passengers, offering a personalized dining experience based on preferences. This is such a nice touch and really elevates the experience.

The Turkish Airlines dine-on-demand menu is extensive and features a great selection of Turkish and international cuisine.

For the starter course, I had the prawn cocktail, which was absolutely delicious. The cocktail sauce added plenty of flavor.

The onboard chef also offered me a bowl of creamy roasted red pepper soup, one of the other appetizers. Like the prawn cocktail, the red pepper soup was fantastic.

The menu featured several mains, including grilled sea bass and lemon rosemary chicken. As great as they sounded, I had the homemade tagliolini with burrata. It featured slow-roasted tomato sauce and fresh basil.

The pasta was tremendous and among the best entrées I have ever eaten on a plane. Every bite tasted homemade and incredibly fresh.

The flight attendants served breakfast about an hour and a half before landing. I ordered the sweet curd crepes served with fresh fruits and berry sauce. Like everything else, the breakfast course was delicious.

Bottom Line:

Turkish Airlines is renowned for its exceptional inflight dining, often regarded as some of the finest in the sky. While the airline doesn’t offer a first class product, its business class meals rival — and in some cases surpass — those served in first class on leading carriers such as Etihad, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, and Japan Airlines.

Thankfully, this flight’s meal service fully met my expectations. The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and exceptionally flavorful — possibly the best onboard dining experience I’ve ever had.

5. Comfortable Lie-Flat Bed

After a delicious meal on a plane, I enjoy resting, especially on long-haul flights. Fortunately, each business class seat on the Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900 reclines into a fully lie-flat bed at the press of a button.

The bed combines with the footwell to create a fully lie-flat bed. According to Turkish Airlines, the bed length is about 76 to 78 inches, which is plenty long enough. The seat is about 21 inches wide, which provides a good amount of space.

Turkish Airlines also provides a pillow, duvet, and mattress pad to enhance the sleeping experience. The bed was generally comfortable, though it felt slightly cramped at times, particularly around the shoulders. Still, I got several hours of uninterrupted sleep on this flight.

6. Genuine Onboard Service

Another shining characteristic of Turkish Airlines is the consistently genuine cabin crew inflight service, which is one of the most critical parts of the airline experience.

The cabin crew on this flight was excellent. They ensured I had a complete travel experience with Turkish Airlines. They remained friendly and personable while maintaining a professional demeanor.

Before takeoff, I asked one of the flight attendants if they had any extra amenity kits so I could take one home for my wife. Although the cabin was nearly full, the flight attendant took the time to locate any extra ones so I could have them.

I was taking pictures of my seat and the cabin when the chef came and introduced himself. He asked if I was a travel vlogger or content creator and assured me he would make the meal look more presentable so I could have better pictures and videos. I was thrilled to hear this.

7. Fantastic Onboard Amenities

Turkish Airlines also offers solid amenities for business class passengers, which make the experience more complete.

First, the seats feature a highly responsive, 21-inch, high-definition touch screen display. Of course, you can also use the IFE remote controller. Excellent content was available on my flight, including a library of over 500 movies and television show episodes.

Turkish Airlines also provides Denon-branded, noise-canceling headphones to help you enjoy the inflight entertainment. These headphones are incredibly comfortable, with plush ear cushions and a flexible band.

Turkish Airlines also provides business class passengers with a fully stocked amenity kit, which includes classic items like an eye mask, earplugs, socks, and a dental kit.

However, the best amenity for business class passengers may just be the 1GB of data and unlimited messaging. Better yet, business class passengers with Miles&Smiles Elite or Elite Plus status receive unlimited internet.

The Wi-Fi speeds on my flight were good enough for sending messages and light internet browsing. Unfortunately, I could not get the Wi-Fi to connect on my MacBook, so I used it strictly on my iPhone.

Final Thoughts

Turkish Airlines continues to provide an excellent business class product. On its Airbus A350-900s, passengers can expect a spacious and comfortable seat, which can also turn into a fully lie-flat bed.

The inflight dining and onboard service are top-notch, on par with many of the world’s best airlines. My flight offered some of the best food I have ever had on a plane, showing what Turkish Airlines has to offer.

Although I have flown Turkish Airlines business class several times, I am always looking for the next opportunity to do so. Fortunately, booking Turkish Airlines business class using points and miles is relatively easy.