Is Turkish Airlines Good for International Flights?

Introduction of Turkish Airlines

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines (TK) has a fleet of 328 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to more than 120 countries and 340 worldwide destinations.The airline's corporate headquarters are on the grounds of Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul.The airline's main base is Istanbul Airport in Arnavutköy.

As of 2024, it operates scheduled services in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas, making it the largest mainline carrier in the world by number of passenger destinations. The airline serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in the world, more than any other airline.With an operational fleet of 24 cargo aircraft, the airline's cargo division Turkish Cargo serves 82 destinations.

The Airline was choosen by Skytrax as the ‘Best Airline in Europe’, by APEX as “World Class Airline” and “5 Star Global Airline”. With a rich history, a host of awards, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service, Turkish Airlines offers its passengers an experience beyond the ordinary. When you choose Turkish Airlines, you're not just booking a flight; you're entering into a partnership that values your time, comfort, and safety above all else. 

The Main Features of Turkish Airlines

Over the past 88 years, Turkish Airlines has quietly grown to become a global powerhouse. Here are 10 things you should know about Turkish Airlines.

• Connect with Europe’s best

Connect to 300+ destinations with Turkish Airlines, named Europe’s Best Airline by Skytrax for eighth time. 

• Connect to amazing flavors and destinations

In 2008, Turkish Airlines joined the global airline confederation, Star Alliance. Upgrades to our catering services aiming to maximize your travel experience. Their collaboration with Turkish Do&Co provides passengers with delicious meals above the clouds specially made by the flying chefs. Fly with Turkish Airlines. Awarded the best Business&Economy Class Catering by Skytrax. 

There’s complimentary beverage service on all flights, and even domestic flights often serve simple hot or cold meals like sandwiches in economy class and full meals in business class on many routes.

• A member of Star Alliance

Turkish Airlinesis  a member of Star Alliance meaning you can earn miles in programs like United Mileage Plus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Lufthansa Miles & More when flying Turkish Airlines. You can also redeem miles in these programs for flights on Turkish Airlines.

• Awarded in-flight services and features

Their in-flight entertainment system is jam-packed with the latest movies, music, games and more providing the passengers with a pleasant, fun-filled journey. Additionally, passengers stay connected to the world with the in-flight Wi-Fi service they offer.

• No hidden extras

When you book a flight with Turkish Airlines, everything is included in the price! Checked baggage, seat selection, and meals are included. Not only are all of these included in the price of your ticket but the allowances are very generous too. You have a whopping 23kg checked baggage allowance in economy class as well as an 8 kg cabin baggage allowance.

•  Comfortable seats

Turkish Airlines have wide spaces between seats and a comfortable 32 inch seat pitch with a foot rest, making them more comfortable than an average economy class seat. The seats reclined 7 and a half inches and the movable head rest was so handy.Business-class comes with lie-flat seats for all passengers.

• Their hub is one of the worlds largest airports

Turkish Airlines moved into its new hub in Istanbul in 2019 and its currently the world's largest airport. Comprising one massive terminal with five different concourse piers and some 143 aerobridge passenger gates.

• Excellent lounge

Turkish Airlines has an excellent lounge at their Istanbul (IST) hub. Along with thousands of square feet of space, there are loads of different cooking stations where lounge staff are constantly whipping up excellent fresh Turkish food. >>Learn more

• Free layover hotel in Istanbul

Economy passengers with a 12-hour or more layover in Istanbul (and business class passengers with at least nine hours of layover time) can avail themselves of a free hotel, courtesy of Turkish Airlines. To get the free hotel stay, head to the Turkish Airlines hotel desk in the international arrivals section (where you pick up your luggage) at Istanbul Airport. Their, an employee will confirm your eligibility and give you a hotel voucher.

• Free Istanbul tour

If you have an international flight with a layover in Istanbul Airport for more than six hours (and less than 24), you can take advantage of TourISTanbul. This service is offered at no cost to travelers with international Turkish itineraries, and the tour takes you to sights like the Yedikule Fortress, Walls of Constantine, Golden Horn and the Aqueduct of Valens — all while killing time between flights.

To qualify, sign up at the hotel desk in the international arrivals terminal of the airport. You should get an e-visa beforehand if you need one.>>Learn more

From the incredible route network to the cuisine, the world-class lounges to the base in one of the largest aviation hubs in the world –Istanbul Airport (IST) – Turkish Airlines should be on your radar for your next trip.

Turkish Airlines App

Now,pretty much every airline offers an app where passengers can search for flights, check-in, select seats and more. While Turkish Airlines is no exception.It currently takes less than a minute for customers to book tickets on their user-friendly mobile application.

Furthermore,Customers can now view their website in English, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, China and Russian amongst other languages.

App Download: iOS; Android

Turkish Airlines Cabin Classes

The airline offers both business and economy class travel.

• Economy Class: Discover the privileges of Turkish Airlines at an affordable price. With Economy Class, we take your plans to travel at the price most suited to your budget one step further.

• Business Class: Turkish Airlines' Business Class will make your trip one of the most pleasurable experiences ever. Including award-winning dishes, the latest in-flight entertainment system, and comfortable seating.

Business Class Privileges:

• Preferential check-in:Passengers who choose Business Class can avoid airport queues by checking in at one of our dedicated Business Class counters.

• Extra baggage allowance:Traveling in Business Class entitles you to extra baggage allowance and also means you can collect your baggage much more quickly after the flight, thanks to your Business Class priority baggage label.

• Earn more Miles with Miles&Smiles: Explore the benefits of Miles&Smiles with Business Class travel and earn more points than in other travel classes.

Turkish Airlines Seat Selection

Many travelers want to pick their seats when flying on Turkish Airlines. Choosing your seat allows you to select which row you're in and avoid being stuck in the dreaded middle seat. With Turkish Airlines seat selection, you can select seats with extra legroom, emergency exit seats and more for a fee.

Seat Properties

• Seats with 79 cm knee room for larger movement area, and seats that can be inclined for 15 cm

• 46 cm seat width on long distance flights

• Middle seats that can be turned into a bed thanks to erectable arm support

• Four-direction head support

• Personal monitors in sizes 12 or 13.3 inches

• Adjustable foot support

• Battery charging facility with the universal sockets located under the seats

• USB inputs between seats

Seat Prices

When selecting seats on Turkish Airlines, most passengers will pay a fee. The fees vary based on your ticket class, where you're flying and the seat type.

Special Fees Table for Flights Departing from Canada:

How to select seats on Turkish Airlines flights?

You can select seats when booking your ticket or up to six hours before your flight departs.

• During ticket purchase

To select your seat, follow these steps.

1. Visit the Turkish Airlines homepage.

2. Enter your flight details.

3. Select your flight.

4. Enter your personal information.

5. Select your seat.

6. Complete checkout.

• After you've purchased your tickets

1. Visit the Seat Selection page on the Turkish Airlines website.

2. Enter your ticket number or reservation code and your last name (aka surname).

3. Select your seat.

4. Pay the Turkish Airlines seat selection fees.

Turkish Airlines Deals & Promotions

Visit the flight deals page to find the best flight deals and purchase your flight ticket with Turkish Airlines privileges to create lifelong moments.

Flight Offers

• Torino flights take off with 25% Mileage Discount on Promotion Award Tickets!>>Learn more

• Special for Baku, 30% Mileage discount awaits you on Award Tickets!>>Learn more

Students Discount

• Discount advantages: Up to 20% discount on domestic flights, up to 15% on international transit flights, up to 20% on flights between Türkiye and TRNC.

• Baggage allowance: 40 kg on international flights (2*23 kg on flights implementing the Piece Concept), advantageous excess baggage fees for domestic flights.

• Free ticket change: One-time free ticket change right for international flights (charges are applicable if the new ticket is a different fare class).

• Earn Extra Miles: 25% more Miles to be earned from all flights by the end of 2024

• Welcome Miles: An extra 1000 Miles for new memberships and 2000 Miles in total

Special discounts and advantages for students with Miles&Smiles memberships widen the borders of exploration and learning. Verify your student status in your Miles&Smiles account and enjoy domestic and international flight opportunities.>>Learn more

Best Flight Deals

Discover the most popular flight destinations starting from TRY2,220.>>Learn more

Extrabux Cashback

If you like online shopping, don't forget to sign up at Extrabux！(What is Extrabux) , then you can enjoy up to 2.7% super cashback on your purchase from Extrabux when you book a flight on Turkish Airlines official website!

Sign-Up Bonus: Free to join it & get $20 welcome bonus! Student Benefits：As long as you are a student at school, you can get a free whole year long VIP Card worth $199.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Program

When it comes to the best airline loyalty programs, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles used to be a bit of a dark horse. In 2000, Turkish Airlines brought you Miles&Smiles, providing exclusive privileges.With its low award redemption rates and generally good award availability, it blew other frequent-flyer programs out of the water.Here's what you need to know about Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.

Miles&Smiles Elite Status

There are four membership tiers within the Miles&Smiles program: Classic, Classic Plus, Elite and Elite Plus.You’ll start with a Classic membership when you sign up for the Miles&Smiles program, and you can continue to level up to higher tiers by either earning a certain number of status miles or completing a certain number of qualifying flights within one year.

The following chart includes the requirements for earning each elite status tier, the requirements for maintaining that elite status tier and the benefit that you’ll enjoy at each tier.

Note: In addition to the Miles&Smiles Digital card, which can be accessed via the mobile application, the Classic plus, Elite and Elite plus members who wish to carry their Physical card with them can receive their cards instantly from the Miles&Smiles membership point located at the ticket sales area number 2 on the Departures floor of Istanbul Airport.

All preflight and inflight privileges:

>>Learn more

How to Join Miles&Smiles?

Joining Miles&Smiles can be done simply by filling out this sign-up form. It’s free to join.

How to Earn Miles&Smiles Miles?

1. Earn Miles from flights

You can earn Miles on flights with Turkish Airlines, Star Alliance member and other program partner airlines. Earn as you fly, fly as you earn!

The number of miles you earn will be based on a few factors: the cabin class of your ticket, whether the flight is domestic (within Turkey) or international, and your elite status level.

• Earn by flying on Turkish Airlines

The airline's award chart makes it easy to figure out how many miles you can accrue on specific Turkish Airlines flights.>>Learn more

• Earn Miles on flights with partner airlines

You can also earn miles by flying Turkish’s Star Alliance partner airlines and crediting those miles to your Miles&Smiles account. Turkish miles are earned according to the class specified by the airline operating the flight. Turkish has charts specific to each partner airline.

Star Alliance member:

Star Alliance non-member:

2. Earn Miles with bank partnerships

You can earn Miles by using Miles&Smiles credit cards. The more you shop with your credit card, the more Miles you earn; Benefit from our special airport services such as vale and lounge use. In addition, you can enjoy the privilege of discounts on partner brands!>>Learn more

3. Earn Miles with Program Partners

You can earn Miles by shopping with Miles&Smiles program partners. A wide range of choices await you with Miles&Smiles program partners! >>Learn more

Currently, no co-branded Turkish Airlines credit cards are available in the U.S. Residents of a handful of other countries have a few options, though:

• Miles&Smiles Garanti BBVA credit card

• Miles&Smiles QNB Finansbank credit card

• Miles&Smiles Kuveyt Türk credit cards (there are two personal and one business option)

• Miles&Smiles Pasha Bank cards (there are three options)

• Miles&Smiles Isracard credit card

• Miles&Smiles Investbank credit card

How to Redeem Miles&Smiles Miles?

With your Miles you earned, you can issue an award ticket, upgrade your cabin class, shop at shopandmiles.com, purchase extra baggage, pay a portion of your ticket by Cash&Miles, choose your seat for your flight and pay your taxes on award tickets by Tax&Smiles.

1. Redeem Miles on flights

Get award tickets for yourself or loved ones with saved up Miles and share the joy. Besides, you can upgrade your flight to a Business Class experience with Miles you earned.

To buy an award flight on Turkish Airlines, you can simply go to the Turkish Airlines homepage as if you were going to book a flight with cash, then click on the “Award ticket” box and sign in with your Miles&Smiles credentials.>>Learn more

• Flying with Turkish Airlines

Here’s the updated Turkish Airlines award chart:

The award rates in the chart above are for one-way award flights. You also can book round-trip award flights for twice the number of miles expressed in the chart above.

• Turkish Airlines upgrade with Miles

Click here to view Star Alliance and Partner Airlines award chart

2. Shop at Shop&Miles with your Miles

Meet the brand new world of Shop&Miles! You can now redeem your Miles to shop wherever you want, whenever you want. You can buy gift cards, convert them into program partner's points, or pay online with your Miles.

3. Redeem your Miles with credit cards

You can redeem your Miles earned from Miles&Smiles credit cards in POS devices of relevant banks.

4. Other ways to redeem Miles

• Tax&Smiles: Miles&Smiles Classic Plus, Elite, Elite Plus cardholders and Miles&Smiles credit card holders can use their Miles to pay tax on tickets bought with Miles.

• Extra Baggage: You can purchase extra baggage with your Miles and comfort your journey. 

• Seat Selection: You can choose the seat with your loved ones, and more comfort to your trip by choosing seats with extra legroom.

• Lounge Access: You can use your Miles to receive service in the selected lounges and bring your flight experience to the next level.

• Hold the Price: If you need to think while planning your trip, you can stop time and hold the ticket price with your Miles. Moreover, your Miles will be refunded when you purchase your ticket.

Turkish Airlines Baggage Allowances

Compared to some airlines, Turkish Airlines is generous when it comes to baggage, though you’ll have a different experience depending on which service class you book.

1. Cabin Baggage

For your Economy class travels, you may take one piece of cabin baggage with a maximum dimensions of 23x40x55 cm and a maximum weight of 8 kg. You may also take one piece of personal item measuring 40x30x15 cm and weighing a maximum of 4 kg. 

For your Business class travels, you may carry two pieces of cabin baggages, each measuring 23x40x55 cm and weighing 8 kg, not exceeding 16 kg in total. You can also take one piece of personal item measuring 40x30x15 cm and weighing a maximum of 4 kg. 

Infant passengers are entitled to one piece of cabin baggage weighing up to 8 kg on domestic and international flights regardless of Economy or Business class. >>Learn more

2. Checked Baggage

The amount of free checked baggage allowance on all Turkish Airlines flights depends on the weight and dimensions of baggage along with the class of cabins. >>Learn more

Turkish Airlines Domestic Flights Free Baggage Allowance:

International Flights Free Baggage Allowance:

If you have more items than your checked baggage allowance, you can save time by purchasing extra baggage allowance online and you can set off with peace of mind.>>Buy extra baggage

In cases where you do not need extra baggage allowance, you can take the items you want without leaving anything behind by adding weight to your checked baggage with the overweight baggage option.

You can use the baggage calculation tool examine destination-based checked baggage rights and find out extra baggage fees. Some conditions and rights may vary depending on the flight; moreover, the most accurate details can be obtained from the baggage information on the reservation and ticket.

Conclusion：Is Turkish Airlines Good?

Turkish Airlines is a comfortable airline that offers flights to hundreds of destinations around the world.The airline serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in the world, more than any other airline.From the food to the airport lounges, reviewers generally rave about their experience flying Turkish Airlines.

In addition, Turkish Airlines was recognized for the third consecutive year as a Five-Star Global Airline, based on flight experience ratings from passengers, and was awarded its first Diamond status, for providing hospital-grade health safety for passengers.

All in all, the experience of flying a international flight in a Turkish Airlines narrow-body aircraft was fantastic — even in economy class.And while the airline app certainly leaves something to be desired, the flight experience, entertainment options, and free stopover or tour options for international passengers can more than make up for it.

Extrabux is an international cashback shopping site, offering up to 30% cashback from 10,000+ Stores!

Booking.com, Ripley's Aquarium, Marriott, Pontins, Trip.com, Ripley's Myrtle Beach, The Brehon, ebookers, Away Resorts, Gleneagle Hotel, Agoda, Extended Stay America, Worldwide Insure, Malmaison, Scotts Hotel, Priceline, Zafiro Hotels UK, TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Discovery Cove, etc.

Join to get $20 welcome bonus now! (How does Welcome Bonus work?)