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Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is the national carrier of Turkey, headquartered in Istanbul. Established in 1933, it operates a vast network of domestic and international flights, connecting over 300 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Known for its high-quality service and hospitality, Turkish Airlines offers a range of amenities including modern cabin classes, in-flight entertainment, and gourmet dining. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance and its loyalty program, Miles&Smiles, provides rewards and benefits for frequent flyers.

Made with ingredients that date back 12,000 years, The Oldest Bread is now available on intercontinental flights

By Fergus Cole

September 24, 2024

The Turkish flag carrier is adding its second Australian destination with a brief stop in Kuala Lumpur

By Enrique Perrella

September 17, 2024

Suites will be installed on the airline’s new Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s from 2026

By Fergus Cole

July 29, 2024

As it launches its flight to Denver, Turkish Airlines is eying up connections to Charlotte, Minneapolis, Orlando, and Philadelphia

By Fergus Cole

June 14, 2024

From Abu Dhabi to the Azores or Panama to Fiji, here are ten of the best stopover programs around the world

By Fergus Cole

June 12, 2024

The new route between Istanbul and the Mile High city will launch this June with the airline's Airbus A350-900

By Fergus Cole

April 8, 2024

New flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, via Singapore, takes Turkish Airlines to its sixth continent

By Fergus Cole

March 6, 2024

The aircraft order, which was set to be the largest in aviation history, was delayed due to engine supply issues after its announcement in May

By Fergus Cole

August 16, 2023

The chairman of Turkish Airlines has hinted at the airline's plans to improve the Business Class seats on its long-haul aircraft, but full details have yet to be confirmed

By Fergus Cole

July 24, 2023

FAQ

What is Turkish Airlines' Miles&Smiles program?

Miles&Smiles is the frequent flyer program of Turkish Airlines and it’s free to join. Once part of the scheme, passengers earn points in a variety of different ways. The most common is by buying flights, either with Turkish Airlines or any of their partners, including Star Alliance members. Customers can also rack up miles by shopping with certain credit cards or purchasing a range of selected services, such as hotel bookings, car rentals or insurance policies.

When enough points have been earned, they can be redeemed in several ways. As always, the best way to do this will be purchasing airfare, either with Turkish Airlines or one of their partners. However, there are also other redemption options, such as buying petrol with Shell and Petrol Ofisi or making purchases via Turkish Airlines shopping portal.

Passengers who rack up enough status miles - a separate type of mile earned only by flying with Turkish Airlines - can work their way through the carrier's elite membership levels. Details of entry requirements and parks are below.

Classic Plus - 25,000 status miles

 Business class check-ins
 Lounge access for flights within Turkey
 Extra 10kg baggage allowance
 Star Alliance Silver Card

Elite - 40,000 status miles

 Benefits of Classic Plus
 Lounge access for international flights + one guest
 Extra 20kg baggage allowance
 Free seat selection

Elite Plus - 80,000 status miles

 Benefits of Elite
 Two free cabin upgrades on Turkish Airlines flights
 Extra 25kg baggage allowance
 Guaranteed seat in certain cabin classes

What are Turkish Airlines' ticketing options?

Unlike most airlines, Turkish Airlines only operate two main fare types, Economy and Business. Economy has three separate booking categories

Economy

 Last to board
 Standard seating
 USB power point
 Amenity kit
 Free meals on long-haul flights

EcoFly

 Assigned seats
 Carry-on and checked-in bag

ExtraFly

 Pick your own seat
 Carry-on and checked-in bag
 250 complimentary air miles

PrimeFly

 Pick your own seat
 Carry-on and checked-in bag
 Refunds available

Business Class

 Priority boarding and check-in
 Seat selection
 USB power point
 Carry-on and two checked-in bags
 Private booth with lie-flat bed
 Complimentary, restaurant-quality meals
 Lounge access
 Refund available

What are Turkish Airlines' baggage fees?

Turkish Airlines passengers are allowed to bring one 8kg carry-on free of charge as standard, and up to two checked-in bags that must follow the maximum weight of their fare type.

 EcoFly: 15kg
 ExtraFly: 20kg
 PrimeFly: 25kg
 Business class: 2 bags = 30kg each

Those holding Elite or Elite Plus Smiles&Miles status can bring one additional checked-in bag.

Excess baggage fees

Additional bags are chargeable for $160-$290 for the first two and up to $350 for bags thereafter.

Excess weight bags

Bags over the allowed limit are charged between $25 and $165 per five kilograms per flight.

Oversized bags

Although Turkish Airlines do have maximum dimensions for bags, they do not specify charges for bringing oversized bags onto one of their flights.