A big thanks to Turkish Airlines for providing me with a complimentary lounge pass so I could write this detailed review of my experience.
The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge in Istanbul, one of the best business class lounges in the world, is an extravaganza of size, comfort and amenities. That’s not surprising since Turkey’s flagship carrier has claimed the world record of flying to the most countries in the world since 2012, officially recognized as such by the Guinness World Records.
Open 24/7, the lounge is available to all passengers traveling in Business Class on international flights with Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance member airlines.
At more than 60,000 square feet and accommodating 765 passengers, it sprawls on a mezzanine level overlooking the concourse opposite Gate E1. When you’re not lounging or eating, you can watch TV, play virtual golf, get a shoulder massage, take a shower and a nap, and let the kids watch cartoons while munching popcorn.
A bouquet of fresh-cut flowers and a self-playing grand piano in the spacious entrance welcome guests and set the tone for this stylish hideaway. It feels bright and airy thanks to soaring, vaulted ceilings and was bustling during the late afternoon that I visited.
Seating
An array of comfy seats in every shape and configuration are spread around the expansive space. There are white sectional couches and café-style tables and chairs under wooden pergolas (where I saw lots of folks on laptops).
Upholstered chairs arranged around Middle Eastern-style hammered-brass tray tables sit on Oriental rugs in the tranquil Tea Garden — a popular gathering spot during my visit. A small library has easy chairs and couches.
You can even make yourself comfortable in front of a TV. Take a seat before a bank of 12 screens, strap on noise-cancelling headphones and use a special device to tune into the screen of your choice. For such a large lounge, it offers a welcome sense of intimacy via assorted nooks and crannies that belie its size. I curled up on a couch at one end near the kids’ area and, though not quite private, it felt separate and cozy.
Food and drink
Food and drink are the real stars of this lounge and showcase Turkey’s varied cuisine. Ranging from self-service to chef-prepared, the options resemble a food court on steroids. But they’re spread around the vast space to prevent too much overcrowding in any one area, reducing wait times.
Half a dozen live cooking stations turn out handmade specialty meals from pasta, such as rigatoni with tomatoes, eggplant, black olives, parmesan and pesto sauce, to Turkish-style marinated chicken meatballs to eggplant moussaka to Turkish pide, or flatbread, topped with minced meat, cheese and more.
A soup station serves handmade bowlfuls and a large salad bar boasts 26 — count ‘em — different mezze plus all the standard salad fixings.
And talk about Turkish delights. Two dessert stations serve a dizzying array of sweets from traditional baklava and honey-drenched baked goods to every kind of cake, tart and confection imaginable. As if that weren’t enough, there’s a separate cookie station.
Polish off your meal with a cup of Joe or tea. Baristas at the coffee station are on hand to customize your latte or cappuccino, in addition to Turkish coffee, of course. A smaller self-service tea area offers several dozen specialty teas, from herbal to black and loose-leaf to individually bagged, along with cookies.
Several transparent refrigerated drink cases are scattered around, generously stocked with canned sodas (no American brands, however), bottled water, juices, beer and Turkish drinks. Alcohol carts serve red, white and sparkling wine, including Turkish varieties.
Work areas
A shared workstation with six computers at the ready stands next to half a dozen circular cubicle seats for private screen time. Need a more formal setting? A conference room can be reserved at reception. Free WiFi is available throughout, unlike the rest of the airport, which charges after the first hour.
Kids’ area
The family-friendly Kids’ Area is thoughtfully designed to appeal to any youngsters in tow. A popcorn cart, child-sized tables and chairs, a climbing structure with TVs projecting classic cartoons and a replica plane that invites climbing will win over any little ones.
Restrooms
Even the restrooms reach high standards. Spacious and serene, they’re swathed in marble and clean as snow. Miraculously, the ladies’ room, which boasts two makeup tables with seats and complimentary toiletries, was never crowded.
Extra amenities and facilities
Eligible passengers can take advantage of private sleeping suites if they have a connection time between four and nine hours and the duration of one of their flights is more than eight hours. Showers are also available, though you can expect long waits during peak periods.
There’s also a golf simulator, flight simulator and some massage chairs where masseuses provide short neck and shoulder massages, a soothing relaxant after a long flight. Carry-on warriors can stow their luggage in a storage area with plenty of transparent luggage bins.
All in all, this facility is a welcome haven for even the most jaded road warrior.
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