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Review: Istanbul Turkish Airlines Business Lounge

Review: Istanbul Turkish Airlines Business Lounge

Note8.2/10

Lounge
Business Lounge
Airport
Istanbul Airport
Lounge Access Method
Classe Affaires
Terminal
International
Country
Turkey
City
Istanbul
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Foreword

Our visit to this lounge was rather hectic!

Indeed, when we arrived at the “Business” lounge, only 1 out of 12 showers was in operation! This involved several hours of waiting before we could get a place (and after a day of walking in Istanbul and before an 11am night flight we were really waiting for this shower!)

After discussions with the lounge supervisor, we were redirected to the “Miles and Smiles” lounge which is actually a perfect copy of the “Business” lounge:

  • same capacity (765 people in seating…)
  • same area of 5,600 m2 (60,000 p2)
  • same number of suites and showers
  • same play area for children

The only difference is the presence of a 130 m2 museum in the Business Lounge.

So we spent 2 hours in one and then 2 hours in the other before our flight to Kuala Lumpur!

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Useful information about the lounge

Location

The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge is located after security near the E gates of Istanbul Airport (BCN). The Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Lounge is close to doors C.

Review: Istanbul Turkish Airlines Business Lounge - deux salons turkish istanbul

It’s a 7-minute walk between these two lounges, which gives you an idea of how enormous this airport is.

Both lounges are located on a mezzanine.

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The airport was opened in 2019: everything smells like new!

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Opening hours and access

The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge is open 24/7. To get in, you must:

  • travel in business class on Turkish Airlines
  • or on a Star Alliance member airline on an international flight

If you have Star Alliance Gold status, you can access the Miles & Smiles lounge (you won’t lose out: the two lounges are identical).

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To enter the lounge, simply scan your boarding pass.

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In front of the entrance gates, a gigantic screen that displays videos of destinations served by Turkish Airlines. To welcome me, what better than a panorama of Nice in France, my birthplace, and Paris!

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And right in, you can drop off your carry-on baggage in a secure storage space if you wish.

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Kids’ area

Shower

Wi-Fi

Alcohol

Buffet

Refreshments

The different spaces for relaxation and work

With nearly 800 seats spread over 60,000 square feet, the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge is one of the largest in the world.

So there are different spaces to relax between 2 flights.

Such as a cinema:

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A “news room”:

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A library with dimmed lights:

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Multiple chairs:

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Spaces to work in:

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A museum:

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An electric car circuit:

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A Golf simulator:

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A grand piano (automatic):

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With the kids?

It is of course possible to access the living room with children, especially since it has a playground dedicated to them!

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What’s on offer:

  • a replica of an airplane cockpit
  • video games
  • movies on various screens
  • colouring books
  • various games and puzzles
  • plenty of kid-sized tables and chairs
  • a popcorn machine
  • and much more!
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The meal

The Turkish Airlines lounge is above all: food in abundance!

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There is an impressive variety of buffets and most international cuisines are represented, with many stations!

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For the most part, chefs are present and prepare food in front of you.

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And Turkish specialties are of course in the spotlight.

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Here is a collection of the different foods:

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And several sections reserved for desserts.

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And alcohol, you’ll might say? Several bars are self-service throughout the lounge!

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Showers and restrooms

As explained in the introduction, we were unable to visit the showers and rest rooms in the Business lounge. However, the ones in the Miles & Smiles lounge are identical.

To get a shower and a rest room, you need to let the lounge Concierge know: at certain times of day, the wait can be long.

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I was impressed by the quality of the facilities: the thickness of the carpet to the showers, the woodwork chosen, through the soundproofing of the different rooms.

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A flawless performance from Turkish Airlines.

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Unfortunately, all the restrooms were occupied, so we could not visit them(unlike our last visit to the old Istanbul airport).

Conclusion

This lounge is a must if you are connecting through Istanbul Airport in business class. Plan to spend at least 2 hours there to enjoy the facilities!

It’s a great option for having dinner before boarding your flight (often in the middle of the night) instead of staying awake for the onboard meal!

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