What Is It Like to Fly on Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER in Business Class?

I’ve had the pleasure of flying business class with Turkish Airlines a handful of times, most recently on a trip to India on the Boeing 777-300ER in business class. Among the many benefits of flying Turkish Airlines is the Istanbul stopover program, where passengers can factor in a stopover in Turkey. After purchasing the ticket, the airline will provide business class travelers with a 3-night stay at a 5-star property via a hotel voucher through the website. Istanbul is a beautiful city, full of history, architecture, culture, spice markets, and delicious cuisine. 

Photo: Istanbul, Turkey. Courtesy of Engin Yapici / Unsplash

Even guests who don’t have a few days to spare can get a taste of the city through Touristanbul. If you’re flying through and have between 6 to 24 hours, you can explore Istanbul, do some sightseeing, and try local food—all right from the airport. You’ll be picked up and dropped off in time for your flight, allowing you to experience a bit of the city. I’m a big fan of leaving the airport when I can. While it can sometimes be risky, there’s so much to discover! For example, during an eight-hour layover, I once went on a safari in Kenya for around $200 and saw rhinos for the first time. Just to give you an idea of what you can accomplish with a little planning. Anyway, I digress.

Check-In

For my flight from Istanbul (IST) to Delhi (DEL), check-in occurred at Istanbul International Airport.

Since I have spent a considerable amount of time in Turkey, I decided to visit the lounge on my way to India. Whenever I travel with Turkish Airlines in business class, the check-in process is smooth, with faster lines for business class passengers, allowing me to reach the lounge quickly for a glass of champagne.

Photo: Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge, Istanbul Airport. Courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

The Turkish Airlines business class lounge at Istanbul Airport is spacious and offers a variety of delicious food options, including many healthy choices that help you feel your best while traveling.

Boarding

The crew is always polite and accommodating. Boarding priorities are given to business class ticket holders, entering through a separate entrance and being escorted to the seat to avoid any confusion, stress, or extra time in line.

Photo: Courtesy of Denver International Airport

I felt quite special and as I was getting adjusted in my seat, the flight attendants walked down the aisle, greeting passengers and passing out drinks. My personal favorite is a lemon mint refreshment (nonalcoholic).

The Seat

As a full-time travel journalist, I often travel solo, and I generally prefer an aisle seat to have the freedom to get up and stretch whenever I want.

The seat is quite comfortable and features a reading lamp and a range of special amenities, including touchpad controls, a cocktail table in addition to the tray table, adjustable armrests, and lie-flat capabilities, which are essential for any business class seat. It also has power outlets and charging stations, privacy shields, and some unique features like a massage button.

Although my massage button worked at the beginning of the flight, it unfortunately stopped functioning later on, which was a bit disappointing. However, I enjoyed it for a while. Sometimes, with the advanced technology on planes, issues can arise, but overall, I appreciated the experience.

The Flight

After finishing my refreshing minty lemonade and hydrating with a bottle of water, the flight attendant came through, asking us to buckle our seatbelts and collecting our glasses in preparation for takeoff.

After buckling up, I flipped through the menu and explored the amenity kit provided to each business class passenger. The Salvatore Ferragamo kit includes essentials such as an eye mask, earplugs for a good night’s sleep, facial mist, and a dental care set for a quick freshen-up. There are also plenty of products to keep you hydrated, like lotion and lip balm, along with cozy blankets, a pillow, slippers, and socks to ensure warmth and comfort.

Photo: Business Class, Flying Chef service, Boeing 777. Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

Once we were in the air, the crew came down the aisle to place a tablecloth on the tray table and prepare us for our meal. Dining with Turkish Airlines is a big deal when it comes to food. They take pride in their flying chef program, emphasizing an exceptional culinary experience in the sky.

The meal service began with a cart full of small plates and appetizers, featuring a wide variety of dips, spreads, salads, smoked salmon, and other dishes. Once everyone had a drink and appetizers to enjoy, they served the soup. I opted for a piping hot coriander and carrot soup, which was quite flavorful. In the past, I’ve tried their sea bass, which was tender and decadent. This time, I chose the fillet of beef with grilled vegetables and roasted potatoes.

Photo: Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

I rarely finish meals on a plane because I usually can’t stand airplane food, even in business class. I often keep a backup option on hand, but this was one of the few times I found myself scraping the plate. The food was delicious, beautifully cooked, and they also brought around fresh bread to scoop up any sauce or drippings from the meat. It’s a challenge to provide a top-notch culinary experience in the sky, given the limited resources, but the flying chefs program truly delivers impeccable in-flight service with fresh ingredients.

Dinner service wrapped up with a cart of Turkish desserts, coffee, and tea. In addition to nonalcoholic options, there was a nice selection of wine, beer, and plenty of spirits to choose from. For breakfast, I enjoyed fresh juice and a berry smoothie, followed by yogurt, fruit salad, a bit of chicken and turkey, cheese, and honey to start—nothing too substantial. The main dishes included pancakes with vanilla sauce and maple syrup or an omelette with potatoes, avocado, and cherry tomatoes (which was my choice).

After the crew came around to make up the beds, I took a nap before utilizing my reading light to get a little work done, thanks to the strong WiFi and even stronger Turkish coffee available. Needless to say, I powered through my tasks thanks to that Turkish coffee!

Business Class service, Boeing 777-300ER. Photo: Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

After wrapping up my work, I browsed through the hundreds of movies and TV episodes on the entertainment system while wearing my noise-canceling headphones. I found it slightly odd that the crew tried to collect the headphones a little under an hour before we landed. Although I have my own headphones and could have watched something on my phone, I asked to keep them until the end of the flight. That minor issue aside, it was a lovely experience. That’s why I’ve flown with Turkish Airlines several times already, and I would gladly choose them again in the future.

Arrival

The aircraft landed smoothly at Indira Gandhi International Airport. New Delhi can be quite chaotic, so arriving relaxed and prepared to embrace the hustle and bustle of the city was a wonderful way to begin my trip to India.

Verdict

I highly recommend upgrading to business class on Turkish Airlines, which won’t come as a surprise since I’ve flown with them several times. The food is some of the best you’ll find in the air, the seats are comfortable, and in my experience, the crew is polite and helpful. I always arrive feeling rested and refreshed after traveling with them.