Turkish Airlines

[Bostener]

If you do go, HSBC has a lounge in the airport. All you need to get in is to prove that you are a customer. I use to show my HSBC credit card and get in.

[damaxer91]

IF you look jewish (yes they can tell), and you want to visit Istanbul, stick to the touristic attractions.

Shtus. Nobody cares about Jews nor can they tell.

Istanbul is much safer for a Jew than Paris or Oslo

[Mordy788]

Shtus. Nobody cares about Jews nor can they tell.

Istanbul is much safer for a Jew than Paris or Oslo

To be honest I felt more uncomfortable in Heathrow's Terminal 4 than I did at IST.

[smart brit]

To be honest I felt more uncomfortable in Heathrow's Terminal 4 than I did at IST.

Come on
I'm taking this as an insult
But tbh how could you compare a country that is jews/isreal friendly to a country that hates isreal and is hostile to jewish people?

[L'Chaim]

Come on
I'm taking this as an insult
But tbh how could you compare a country that is jews/isreal friendly to a country that hates isreal and is hostile to jewish people?

+1, Better to be in a friendly place with a few haters, than in a hating place with a few friendlies.

[Mordy788]

I do not want to get political, therfore I am going to cease and desist.

[Mordy788]

Turkish Airlines wins Airline of the Year Award.

http://www.atn.aero/article.pl?mcateg=&id=42343

[yaakov]

what about amman? they have very cheap fares to tlv. has anyone done this?

[Mordy788]

what about amman? they have very cheap fares to tlv. has anyone done this?

I know people who have and were very comfortable.

[Chaikel]

what about amman? they have very cheap fares to tlv. has anyone done this?

It would be very dangerous for me as my wife would kill me. Otherwise, no problems

[YakovT]

I flew via istanbul since the flotilla and had no issues. I'm gold with united and the lounge there is BEAUTIFUL.

Something else interesting happened on that trip. I was flying tlv-ist-jfk and paid about $800 one way for economy but I received premium economy (they call it comfort class). I booked through kayak and selected economy so have no idea how. Also, there was only me and 2 other people in the whole cabin of about 40 seats. I looked behind the curtain and behold there was a full economy section packed.

and the seats were amazing, like a business seat.

[AJK]

Yes, the IST lounge is known to be fantastic, perhaps the best J lounge in the world.

Also, their comfort class (premium econ) is also known to be very good.

[bb_sam]

I just flew through IST to TLV (baseball hat) and I can honestly say I felt 100% safe.  The airport itself is very much like any other North American airport - shops etc.  There are a bunch of burkas walking around -- but most people were dressed very western I did not feel unsafe in the least. 

It is worth mentioning that if you can get access to the Turkish lounge, it is worth going in just to experience one of the best lounges in the world. 

I know TK is trying hard to promote its routes via IST to TLV and I can honestly say it was a pleasure flying with them.  They are flying the 77W on the YYZ-IST route which has WiFi too.  ElAl would be wise to upgrade their aging aircrafts flying out of YYZ because even with the layover in IST, my preference would now be to take TK versus ElAl.  I love to support ElAl when I can, but I love capitalism more --  -- I can't reward ElAl for treating us like fools with their horrible aircrafts.  Sorry.

[rochk123]

I wanted to know what people experiences were on Turkish Air? Any Problems ? Were you able to daven, was kosher food a problem etc..? Also what about the stopover in the Turkey Airport? Any problems?

Thanks!

[mmermss]

Welcome! 

Check:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=8526.msg100914#msg100914
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=26285.0
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=17285.0
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=20660.0
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=19290.0

[Mordy788]

I wanted to know what people experiences were on Turkish Air? Any Problems ? Were you able to daven, was kosher food a problem etc..? Also what about the stopover in the Turkey Airport? Any problems?

Thanks!

Personally, I have only had positive experiences with Turkish Airlines and Istanbul Ataturk Airport. I saw people davening on the plane in their Tallis and Tefillin and the kosher food made in Istanbul is much better than the kosher food made in JFK.

[Moishebatchy]

It would be very dangerous for me as my wife would kill me. Otherwise, no problems

+100

Must be a Cleveland thing.

[Cw3323]

I Just flew with Turkish Beautiful comfy Planes Wi-Fi USB Chargers and sleepers toothfull brush etc. (economy Class) on the long haul planes only, very nice flight attendants no problem with davening shachris on the back of the plane, IST Airport is a very busy Airport i saw only a handful maybe of women with the Muslim scarf, i felt very safe.

[Galitzyaner]

I just flew through IST to TLV (baseball hat) and I can honestly say I felt 100% safe. ... There are a bunch of burkas walking around -- but most people were dressed very western I did not feel unsafe in the least. 

Baseball hat?! Lol!
I davened with Tefilin out in the open in the airport.  I went through no less than 10 security checks connecting flights (and that's without leaving the airport or even the terminal, the whole airport is one terminal AFAIK).  Those Turks are paranoid.

I wanted to know what people experiences were on Turkish Air? Any Problems ? Were you able to daven, was kosher food a problem etc..? Also what about the stopover in the Turkey Airport? Any problems?

Thanks!

Their Kosher food in economy is really great (though sometimes portions can be small).

[Galitzyaner]

Their Kosher food in economy is really great (though sometimes portions can be small).

Now that it's on the homepage , I should clarify that the food was great, excluding the leg from NY to IST, which the food was from the USA = the regular gross stuff.  But the other three legs of the trip had really good food, made in Istanbul under OK hechsher (R' Chitrik in Turkey)!