Turkish Airlines is one of the leading air carriers in Turkey. With the help of this company, more than 50 million passengers fly to different countries every year. Turkish Airlines gained worldwide fame thanks to the quality of passenger service and the presence of a modern aviation fleet that meets the highest safety requirements. Consider aspects of the company's work.
General information about the company
The carrier is assigned to the airport named after Mustafa Ataturk. In addition, the hub airports are Ankara Esenboga and Sabiha Gokcen in Istanbul.
Since 2008, the company has been admitted to the world's largest aviation alliance, Star Alliance. At present, Turkish Airlines' passenger turnover is over 50 million people a year.
The company was founded at the initiative of the Turkish Ministry of Defense in 1933, when the State Airways Directorate was established. In 1938, the company became part of the Ministry of Transport, and in 1955 it became a corporation, entered the international level and received its current name - Turkish Airlines.
According to the Australian airline Qantas, which has compiled a safety rating for air carriers for 2021 (based on data on plane crashes), Turkish Airlines is among the twenty safest air carriers in the world.
Throughout the entire period of work, the company focused on ensuring maximum comfort for passengers and on the technical condition of aircraft (Turkish Airlines' flight support service is one of the best in the world).
Route network
At present, Turkish Airlines aircraft operate regular and charter flights all over the world: the geography includes more than 110 countries and 220 airports. The most popular flights are to Europe and the Middle East, flights which last no more than 3 hours.
Thanks to its fleet, the company can fly transatlantic to major airports in the United States, Canada and South America. In addition, in recent years, the carrier has been increasing the number of flights to the countries of Southeast Asia due to the increasing demand for routes. For long-distance flights, special long-range aircraft B-777, A-330 and A-340 are used.
The company's airliners also fly from airports in Russia - from Moscow (Vnukovo), St. Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Sochi, Voronezh, Ufa.
Aviation fleet
The Turkish Airlines fleet is one of the largest in the world - it contains almost all Boeing and Airbus models that are used for passenger transportation:
- Airbus A310-300;
- Airbus A319-100;
- Airbus A320-200;
- Airbus A321-200;
- Airbus A330-200;
- Airbus A330-300;
- Airbus A340-300;
- Boeing 737-700;
- Boeing 737-800;
- Boeing 737-900;
- Boeing 777-300ER.
In total, Turkish Airlines has a fleet of over 250 aircraft with an average age of 6 years. Most of the aircraft are focused on medium-range routes. However, the company is actively developing long-haul routes, and also occupies a leading position in the domestic air transportation market. In terms of the size and age of the aircraft fleet, the company is one of the leaders in the world.
Customer service classes
As already mentioned, the air carrier pays special attention to passenger service. The carrier offers two classes of service, which differ in terms of prices and comfort.
Turkish Airlines business class is designed for wealthy people who do not spare money to pay for the most comfortable flight conditions. Here passengers are provided with gourmet meals, which have been repeatedly awarded with international awards in the category "Best Catering in Europe".
Business class seats are equipped with:
- personal reading lamp;
- seat control panel;
- massage function;
- a table that can be rotated and adjusted;
- power outlet;
- a partition with which you can retire.
Economy class travel is cheaper. However, this does not mean that the flight attendants here do not show the passenger the proper attention or that it is inconvenient to fly. You will be offered food and entertainment. It is clear that the level of comfort here is less than in business class:
- the chairs do not fully recline back, but 15 cm and can move forward by 3 cm;
- there is the possibility of adjusting the headrest;
- there is a power outlet;
- the presence of a USB connector.
How to buy a ticket
Now let's find out how to buy tickets for a Turkish Airlines flight. This can be done in the traditional way (at the checkout) or online. Turning to the ticket office, it is enough to present an identity document, pay the money and pick up the tickets. To register online, you need to go to the website and go to the ticket booking page. In the same section, you can carry out travel insurance, book a hotel and rent a car.
You can call by phone, the number of which is indicated on the website in the section "Contact us", in order for the specialists to provide assistance in buying a ticket. In addition, there are special applications for mobile phones with which it will also be possible to order tickets online.
Flights with children
There are a few things to know about traveling with children on Turkish Airlines:
- Unaccompanied children can travel between the ages of 2-12 with permission from their parents or guardians.
- There are no special seats for infants - during the flight, they must be in the arms of the accompanying person. However, it is allowed to take a baby stroller on board the aircraft. Infants up to two years old, sitting in the arms of an escort, must be fastened with additional belts.
- When a child needs a special meal, order it 24 hours before departure.
- If the child is traveling alone, a crew member can act as an escort. The service must be ordered 48 hours before the flight.
- It is allowed to carry liquid baby food into the aircraft cabin. The amount should be adapted to the needs of the infant during the flight.
- When buying tickets for children, there is a fixed rate:
- 34 Turkish Lira - on direct domestic flights;
- 39 Turkish Lira - on connecting domestic flights.
Check-in methods
Turkish Airlines check-in can take place at the airport or remotely. Let's figure it out in more detail.
At the airport, at the check-in counter, the passenger will be met by an airline ground handling officer who needs to present:
- identity document;
- travel documents;
- other necessary papers - for example, a doctor's prescription or confirmation of the right to a discount when buying a promotional ticket.
You can register online on the carrier's website (after the procedure, you need to print your boarding pass) or using a special application in your mobile phone (registration information must be saved).
Online check-in starts 24 hours before departure and ends 90 minutes before departure.
You should familiarize yourself with the procedure for remote registration in advance, since this function is not available in all terminals. After completing the online procedure, you must arrive at the airport at least an hour before departure if the route is domestic, and two hours if the flight is international.
Carriage of baggage
Hand luggage and baggage from Turkish Airlines have valid parameters, within which transportation can be free.
Carry-on baggage allowance:
| Class | Number of pieces of luggage | The maximum weight is 1 unit. | Maximum dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 2 | 8 Kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm |
| Economy | 1 | 8 Kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm |
| For kids | 1 | 8 Kg | 55 x 40 x 23 cm |
What is allowed / prohibited to carry in the passenger cabin:
| Allowed to carry | It is forbidden to carry |
|---|---|
| Medicines (can be transported even in liquid form if the original packaging is kept) | All kinds of weapons |
| Baby food | Weapon shaped toys and lighters |
| Masks, sprays to make breathing easier | Scissors and knives |
| Perfumery | Some tools and sports equipment (hammers, bats, clubs) |
| Cosmetics | Pointed end umbrellas |
| Hygiene products | Flammable substance |
| Contact lens fluid | Tool kits that include sharp objects |
| Self-defense equipment (batons, stun guns, gas cartridges, etc.) |
Free baggage allowance:
| Class | Carriage rates, kg |
|---|---|
| Domestic flights | |
| Business | 30 |
| Economy | 20 |
| International flights | |
| Business | 30 |
| Economy | 20 |
| For babies | 10, when determining the weight, the stroller is not taken into account, which is allowed to be carried on board |
Loyalty program
Turkish Airlines has a Miles & Smiles loyalty program. The bottom line is this: the more you travel with an air carrier, the more miles you accumulate, which can be redeemed for tickets in the future. In addition, under this program, the client of the company receives the following benefits:
- Free use of business class lounges for all Star Alliance members.
- Earned miles can be used to upgrade your service class at any time, even before departure.
- The more miles you have accumulated, the more baggage you can carry with you at no additional charge.
- When checking in for a flight, you don't have to wait in the general queue, but go to the business class counter.
- Pre-emptive right to book tickets.
- When purchasing goods at airports using the Miles & Smiles card, miles are also earned.
Services on board
The service on board Turkish Airlines aircraft provides a comfortable flight. Let's take a closer look at what services the carrier provides in the passenger cabin.
Power features
Meals on board Turkish Airlines depend on the class of service.
In Economy Class, the diet changes with the seasons. If for medical reasons a special menu is required, the passenger can order it.
In business class, meals depend on the distance of the flight:
- During domestic flights, soft drinks, dishes of world and Turkish cuisines are offered, in particular, shashlik, manti, karniyaryk and others.
- On international flights, depending on the time of departure and the duration of the flight, passengers are offered not only drinks, but also hot / cold breakfasts, main dishes and snacks. On some flights, meals are prepared on board. The main requirement for cooking is the use of the freshest ingredients.
- On transatlantic flights (as well as on flights when there is a transit through Istanbul), meals prepared according to the wishes of the passenger are served in china. The menu varies depending on the route. Passengers are definitely offered to try one of the famous Turkish soups.
On long flights, two lunches are served and an optional snack is available.
Available entertainment
During flights, passengers can:
- Listen to music using the dedicated music platform My Music Planet. The collection includes 750,000 compositions. Also available are recordings of live concerts, voice-overs and charts.
- Watch movies. You can choose works of world classics or novelties.
There are special films, entertainment programs and games for children. During the flight, little passengers can watch all the cartoons of the famous Disney cartoon studio.
Additional service
The carrier also offers its customers an additional service. One of these services is a free tour of Istanbul from Turkish Airlines. You can get acquainted with the sights of the capital of Turkey for free if:
- You are a passenger on an international transit flight, all stages of which are operated by Turkish Airlines.
- During the flight, the connection takes place at the Ataturk or Gokcen airport.
- The duration of the docking is 6-24 hours.
- You have registered for the tour at least half an hour before it starts.
An interesting additional service is the opportunity to make a stopover in Istanbul with a long connection at the expense of the airline. Stopover includes the provision of a free hotel for an overnight stay, as well as excursions at intermediate stops of more than 6 hours. For this you need:
- Buy a ticket for an international Turkish Airlines flight with a connecting time in Istanbul over 20 hours.
- Send an email to [email protected] with your full name. passenger, ticket number, etc.
- Receive a confirmation of your hotel reservation from the airline.
- After arriving in Istanbul, check into the hotel.
Reference Information
Air carrier feedback with passengers is an important element of the airline's work. The company's specialists are sure to answer every question. In Russia, you can also find out all the information about flights, delays, ticket purchases, and so on. The Turkish Airlines hotline in Moscow is 8-800-700-61-61. The call is free from any operator's number or from a landline phone.
The telephone of the central office in Istanbul is +90 212 463 63 63.
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: Turkish Airlines General Management, Building Ataturk Airport, Yesilkoy, 34149 Istanbul, Turkey.
The official website of Turkish Airlines in Russian.
Representative office contacts in Russia:
- phone +7 800 700 61 61 (information service where you can call for any questions you may have);
- email: [email protected];
- fax +7 495 933 55 23.
Call Center: +852 2747-3333.
The main hub is Ataturk Airport (IATA: IST; ICAO: LTBA).
Online scoreboard of the airport named after Mustafa Ataturk. With its help, you can find out the departure time, flight map, flight status and flight schedule.
The air carrier has an office in St. Petersburg, located at BC Stroganovsky, Nevsky Prospect, 19.
Moscow office of Turkish airlines: Moscow, st. Valovaya, 35, Wall Street business center.
Conclusions
Turkish Airlines is one of the renowned carriers in the world. Its aircraft fly to more than 100 countries around the world. The availability of business and economy class services allows the company to satisfy the needs of any customers. And the modern aircraft fleet of Turkish Airlines guarantees the safety of flights.
