Inflight Review Posted on

Turkish Airlines Economy Class Review

Flying Turkish Airlines in economy class? Here's what to expect inflight!

About Turkish Airlines

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INTRODUCTION

If you’re flying Turkish Airlines from Australia to Istanbul and beyond, here’s what to expect in economy class.

Turkish Airlines offers one of the most consistent dining experiences in economy class, in my opinion.

a plate of food on a tray on an airplane.
Turkish Airlines food tray with orange juice.
A tray of Turkish Airlines food and drink.
Turkish airlines economy lunch with lemonade
Turkish airlines economy meal eggplant with rice

Yes, Qatar Airways might provide a delightful service with attentive cabin crew, but their food can sometimes miss the mark.

Turkish, on the other hand, reliably delivers quality meals in economy, no matter where you’re flying to and from.

Inside the cabin of a Turkish Airlines flight, passengers are comfortably seated, watching screens embedded in seatbacks while anticipating the delicious meals soon to be served.

My journey began in Melbourne and finished in Athens, with a quick stopover in Singapore and a slightly longer one in Istanbul. It’s a bit more of a stretch than the usual one-stop hop to Europe, so keep that in mind.

Note: In Singapore, you must disembark and complete security formalities again.

MELBOURNE TO SINGAPORE

Flight TK 169 departs Melbourne at 10:40 pm, arriving in Singapore around 3 am with a flight time of about seven hours.

Given the night-time departure, the airline provides a decent amenity kit – a nice touch for economy class, where such kits are becoming rare these days.

A pouch adorned with various architectural landmarks complements the Turkish Airlines meals as it rests elegantly on the airplane tray table.
An airplane amenity kit featuring a red eye mask, socks, dental kit, earplugs, and a toiletry case with a travel-themed print is displayed alongside Turkish Airlines meals on the tray table.

There’s some great items in that kit!

The inflight menu offers two meal services, similar to other airlines on this route, like Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

While some airlines provide up to three meal choices in economy class, Turkish sticks to two.

A Turkish Airlines menu rests on a tray table, featuring a gray cover with the airline's logo in orange and white text. Inside, passengers can explore the exquisite selection of Turkish Airlines meals, promising a delightful culinary journey at 30,000 feet.
On a Turkish Airlines meal tray table, savor the exquisite options for breakfast and before landing, featuring chicken calzone, cheese sandwich, and a delectable chocolate muffin.
The Turkish Airlines menu, elegantly placed on a tray table, showcases their delicious meals alongside a selection of beverages including tea, coffee, juices, and wines.

For the first meal, you’ll receive a hot meal tray with two main options, typically a meat and a vegetarian choice.

Service begins about 45 minutes after take-off, with special meal requests delivered first.

Airplane meal tray featuring a delightful Turkish Airlines meal: rice, chicken in sauce, eggplant, a fresh roll with butter, coleslaw, creamy hummus, a rich brownie for dessert, and a refreshing drink of your choice.

I opted for the chicken breast, which was pre-cut for easy eating. It was a visually appealing tray, featuring fresh items like hummus, a coleslaw salad, and a delicious chocolate cake for dessert.

A delightful Turkish Airlines meal featuring yellow rice, chicken topped with tomato sauce and capers, paired with grilled vegetables, beautifully presented in a white dish.
A hand holds a metal fork, spoon, and knife in an airplane with the aircraft cabin in the background, showcasing the refined dining experience typical of Turkish Airlines meals.
A Turkish Airlines meal tray is neatly arranged, featuring dishes covered in foil and plastic lids, accompanied by a wrapped butter packet and an empty glass.

Proper cutlery is provided in economy class, along with a good-sized tray.

There’s also a decent selection of beer, wine, soft drinks, and juices.

SECOND MEAL SERVICE

There was, however, some confusion over the second meal.

The menu listed a chicken calzone or a vegetarian sandwich.

I chose the chicken calzone, but unfortunately, it was served cold and wasn’t great.

Turkish Airlines meals feature delights like butter chicken calzones served on an airplane tray, accompanied by a chocolate muffin, a packet of tomato ketchup, and a refreshing cup of orange juice.
A tray with a cupcake, a cup of orange juice, packaged cutlery, and two pastries on a foldable airplane table offers a delightful taste of Turkish Airlines meals.
The Turkish Airlines meal on a tray includes a partially eaten sandwich, a chocolate muffin, a glass of orange juice, and a pack of sugar.

After checking the packaging, I realised the crew should have heated it but mistook it for a sandwich.

Box labeled "Butter Chicken Calzone Duos," reminiscent of Turkish Airlines meals, with ingredient list, allergy information, and manufacturing details. Contains wheat, gluten, and milk. Made in Australia from at least 88% Australian ingredients.

On the bright side, it’s nice to have two choices for the second meal service, as most airlines only offer one.

SINGAPORE TO ISTANBUL

After a brief stop in Singapore, it was time to continue to Istanbul, where two meal services were again provided.

The menu consisted of the following options.

Close-up of a Turkish Airlines meals menu card featuring breakfast options like fruit, cheese, and omelets, along with before-landing choices such as white eggplant salad and grilled fish.

For my breakfast I opted for the cheese omelette with potatoes, served with cheese and fruit on the side.

Turkish Airlines meals feature a delightful airplane dish with an omelette, mushrooms, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Accompanied by a side of cheese and cucumber, the meal is completed with a refreshing dessert that includes fruit pieces.
A tray featuring Turkish Airlines meals: a delightful dish with slices of white cheese on cucumber and another with assorted fruits like watermelon and dragon fruit.
Enjoy a delicious Turkish Airlines meal featuring an omelette with potatoes and mushrooms, complemented by a side of fruit, cheese, and a fresh bread roll with butter. All served alongside a refreshing glass of cola on your tray.

This was a decent economy class breakfast option and I have no complaints.

A basket filled with packaged Greta snacks sits on a counter next to a metal tray of more snacks and plastic cups, reminiscent of the delicious assortment found in Turkish Airlines meals.

Between meals, there were limited snacks available in the galley, but disappointingly, there weren’t many water or juice runs by the crew.

SECOND MEAL

For the second meal, I opted for the fried rice with eggplant dip, a side salad that looked a bit sad, and a delightful mango cheesecake.

A metal spoon stands upright in a block of butter on a black dish, set on an airplane tray table next to a plate.
Turkish Airlines meals on a tray, featuring a foil-covered main dish alongside three containers holding salad, cheese, and a delightful dessert.
A delightful Turkish Airlines meal features a fresh salad with lettuce and tomato, complemented by a dish of creamy spread. Enjoy a small square of cake to satisfy your sweet tooth, all enhanced with a packet of extra virgin olive oil and lemon sauce.
Turkish Airlines meals on a tray table include rice, vegetables, salad, bread with butter, dessert, and a drink.

(I always appreciate when airlines serve a proper dessert in economy class instead of a pre-packaged ice cream.)

I wasn’t a big fan of the main dish, especially given it was catered out of Singapore, but you can’t win them all.

ISTANBUL TO ATHENS

My flight on this leg was just over an hour, but if you’re heading further afield to places like London or Paris, expect a more substantial meal like those on the previous sectors.

Turkish Airlines meals displayed on an airplane tray include a grilled chicken salad, chocolate mousse, water, and a wrapped sandwich, all with airline branding visible.

That said, the “picnic” concept that Turkish Airlines offers on short flights is a real treat.

A Turkish Airlines meal features a tray with tender chicken, fresh salad, a soft bread roll, water, and dessert, elegantly accompanied by cutlery and a napkin.

There’s a lot to get through for such a short hop – a fresh chicken salad, a cheese sandwich, and their famous chocolate mousse.

It’s a fantastic concept for a short flight!

CONCLUSION

I really enjoyed the food and service on Turkish Airlines.

While one meal didn’t quite hit the mark, Turkish Airlines still delivers some of the best economy class meals out there.

They stick to what works, so you might encounter the same dishes more than once, but there’s something to be said for consistency.

Bonus points for providing real cutlery most of the time.

However, the limited snacks in the galley and the lack of regular water or juice runs by the crew were a bit disappointing.

Overall, though, the crew were attentive and friendly.