Travel Insider

Reasonable business class fares are making this airline appealing for Aussies

The international carrier is expanding its presence in Australia.

Travel Insider

Turkish Airlines' business class.

By Natascha Mirosch

Updated April 1, 2025, first published October 21, 2024

Flight Review: Turkish Airlines flight TK209, Singapore to Istanbul

Frequency and duration: Four times a week, 11 hours and 10 minutes

Class and price: Business. Return flight about $3330

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Turkish Airlines is ramping up its presence in Australia, launching flights from Melbourne to Istanbul via Singapore earlier this year, and from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur this December. After flying from Australia to Singapore in economy using points, I've splurged on Turkish Airlines' very affordable business-class leg from Singapore to Frankfurt via Istanbul.

CHECKING IN: Check-in is swift, with no queue at the business-class desk. There's a 32kg baggage allowance; hand luggage of up to two pieces with a maximum of 16kg, plus a personal item such as a handbag. The airline doesn't have a dedicated lounge at Changi, but uses the Marhaba Lounge, which is a bit lacklustre but does the job. We have a drink and a snack before heading to the gate where we're fast-tracked through security.

THE FLIGHT: There's a slight delay in boarding, then we sit on the tarmac for another 20 minutes. In the end, we're in the air at 11.20am, just under an hour late. Before take-off, a variety of fresh juices are offered and a toque-wearing chef delivers our menus. There's plenty of storage space for my belongings, including a small lockable cabinet. I put my shoes into the shoe bag in the compartment under the seat, exchanging them for the provided slippers, and after meal service and a movie, put on the noise-cancelling headphones and manage to get a decent five or six hours sleep.

THE CLASS: I'm in aisle seat 6G in a business cabin on the airline's A350-900, with a 1-2-1 configuration. The lie-flat seats are very comfortable, with multiple settings and a memory to re-set to your favourite. Toiletries are English brand Molton Brown and we're given a Ferragamo amenities kit that includes eye mask, face mist, body lotion toothbrush, toothpaste and socks. I don't use the 1GB of free internet.

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FOOD AND DRINKS: Expectations are high, with the setting of our trays with starched linen, tiny salt and pepper shakers with gilded dome tops and even a little faux candle flickering in a paper bag. A trolley delivers a selection of hot and cold starters and three choices of mains. Unfortunately, my salmon is dry, the zucchini is cooked to an unappealing khaki and the "mousseline" celeriac is lumpy. The drinks list includes three white and three red wines, champagne and ports. A sumptuous breakfast of fruit salad and yoghurt, cheese and a choice of omelette or sweet crepe is served just before landing.

ENTERTAINMENT: There are about 50 new-ish movie releases - a good opportunity to catch up on films from Aquaman to Dune, or to re-watch old TV favourites like Parks and Recreation. I'm amused to find some of what's on offer has been edited to exclude even the very mildest of swear words.

THE SERVICE: Warm and generally efficient, although I had to ask for my amenities bag while my husband was automatically given his.

IN A NUTSHELL: We've flown this route before and been highly impressed by the food, which was also far better on subsequent Turkish Airlines flights on this trip. Even given this less-than-perfect (hopefully one-off) experience with the food, the keen business class prices, welcoming service and broad range of destinations make Turkish Airlines a very appealing option.