International DJ, frequent flyer extraordinaire and Jaunted contributor Max Graham drops his thoughts on hanging out in Turkish Airlines’ flagship lounge at Istanbul-Atatürk International Airport recently:
Flying from Hong Kong to London this past month, I stayed loyal to Star Alliance and chose to fly Turkish Airlines, which meant a stop in Istanbul and a visit to their large flagship lounge. Right away I was very impressed with the entry system. It goes like this: you scan your boarding pass and, if you’re allowed in, turnstile-like doors automatically open. This eliminates the need to wait in line while someone manually checks your boarding pass and keys in your frequent flyer number. It’s the future!
Gallery: Turkish Airlines Lounge at Istanbul Atatürk Airport
The lounge itself is quite spacious and includes an impressive selection of food options, including a chef’s station that makes omelettes as if it’s in a hotel and not in an airport. There’s plenty of local and international options for food as well as a staffed coffee/tea bar, which was quite lovely.
An office area has plenty iMacs, a kids section has Playstations and a stately library includes a pool table. The lounge’s seating areas are quite large on their own, with the bonus of secret quieter areas if you don’t plop down in the first comfortable seat you find.
What I Liked:
· Food options were extensive, both local and international.
· Decor is really cool with the curved ceilings and traditional Turkish inspiration.
· Bathroom was very nice and clean, with attention to detail.
· The Turkish coffee station is excellent with its fresh juice, teas and lots of options.
What I Didn’t Like:
· It’s really just one thing. The internet access details are not offered at the front, but rather at the back where an attendant behind a desk gives you a small bit of paper with the info on it. It’s a waste of paper and annoying to be sent back and forth.
Overall I give it a 9 out of 10. The Turkish Airlines flagship lounge is definitely a sweet two-hour interval between flights.
About the Author: As an international best-selling DJ and a million-mile-plus frequent flyer (and maker of awesome iPhone videos), Max Graham is “either in the studio or on a plane.” He spends more nights in hotels than in his own bed and arguably has one of the best jobs in the world. You can always follow his more immediate travel commentary on Twitter and his music and tour dates at his official website.
[Photos: Max Graham for Jaunted]
via Inside the Turkish Airlines Flagship Lounge at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport || Jaunted.
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