5 Star Sky Chefs on Turkish Airlines
A Turkish Airlines Business Class Experience.
Kiss Those Annoying Travel Pillows Goodbye!
Recently, I was packing for a trip. I grabbed my trusty u-shaped travel pillow and began the familiar act of snapping it onto my carry-on as I have done many times before. This particular pillow might even have its own passport at this point! As I was about to clip it on to the handle of my luggage, I suddenly realized at that moment that my pillow wouldn’t be going anywhere. I wouldn’t need to cart this cumbersome economy class necessity around on this trip. A wave of sheer excitement washed over me. Instead of finding different ways to twist my body for any slight bit of comfort on a long-haul flight in economy class, I would be able to perhaps stretch out. Perhaps have a proper blanket. Perhaps actually lay down flat to go to sleep! I tucked that tired and loyal pillow back into its cabinet, gave it a little pat and told it that I would be the only one getting frequent flyer miles on this itinerary. Then I was off to make the drive from San Diego to LAX.
The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX.
Arriving at the sliding glass doors of the Tom Bradley terminal in LAX, I have a familiar and fluttery excitement in the depths of my belly. For those who don’t know, the Tom Bradley terminal at LAX is the international terminal. Any time I find myself here, I know I am about to embark on an exciting trip to a far-off destination. There is a giant screen that greets you upon entering the terminal. It displays current flights and destination points. Stockholm, Seoul, London, Buenos Aires, Panama City: it is like the table of contents of a National Geographic magazine. The mind tends to run away with itself, daydreaming of these exotic locales. I snap out from daydreaming and one destination comes to mind. I am headed East – to Istanbul, Turkey on Turkish Airlines! My Flight TK10 was scheduled for an on-time departure! Time to check-in!
Turkish Appetizers in the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX.
Baklava Bars in the Turkish Airlines
CIP Lounge in Istanbul.
Finding the Turkish Airlines check-in counter was quite easy. With its red carpet fit for the likes of Dr. Mehmet Oz (the famous American Doctor of Turkish descent), their Business Class check-in was easy to spot. The agent at the counter flashed a warm smile! I felt the legendary Turkish hospitality as he aptly checked me in and provided me my bag tags and boarding pass. It took roughly 15 minutes or so to get through TSA security. From there, I took a long escalator up to the second floor in search of the Star Alliance lounge. With a quick scan of my special boarding pass, I was able to proceed into the spacious lounge.
There was a wine bar, self-serve cocktails, and plenty of delicious snacks available in the tranquil, yet elegant setting. About an hour before my flight, I headed out of the lounge to grab a few supplies (aka 3 water bottles) for the thirteen-hour flight, and to find my gate. I like to be well prepared! Upon boarding the plane, I hooked a sharp right to the Business Class section to find my seat, 4D.
My 4D Business Class cubicle.
I felt like a kid in a candy store. I really wanted to push all the buttons and explore what they did. I was longing to find out the fancy options that would be at my fingertips during my flight. My prim and proper manners kicked in and I put myself on restraint. For goodness sakes, all the talk I have heard concerning the elegance and luxury of the Business Class experience on Turkish Airlines was true! What a joy to experience first-hand! My seat afforded me plenty of space, (almost like having my own cubical in a Manhattan office building). I was fortunate enough to have two amazing seat mates, (which is always a good thing when one is about to spend the next 13 hours with them). I sunk into the comfortof Business Class.
The cabin crew to passenger ratio was impressive and within a moment of being settled, I was offered a lovely selection of refreshments. It was remarkable to see how quickly the approximately 350 passengers were loaded and clicked into their seat belts on the Boeing 777. With Turkish Airlines having a daily direct and non-stop flight to Istanbul, they clearly have it down like clock-work.
Having a background in the fashion industry and a nostalgic love of vintage flight attendant uniforms, I love seeing how each airline approaches their style differently. While some have the fashion sensibility of a London fashion house and others might be mistaken for a drug store clerk, it is apparent that Turkish Airlines takes great pride in how their teams look. From the cute red hats of the lovely flight attendants, to the properly tailored clothing, both the men and women of the cabin crew presented a sharp and put-together image. What really stood out were the men in chef hats! I had to know more about them!
5 Star Sky Cuisine by the Flying Chefs.
Candlelight Dining in the Sky.
Since 2010, Turkish Airlines added Sky Chefs or Flying Chefs to their cabin crew. This position is no joke! In order to be a current Flying Chef for Business Class on Turkish Airlines one must have the following qualifications; a minimum of three years of 5-star culinary experience, knowledge of current food and restaurant trends. and be fluent in both Turkish and English. While they may not be grilling your kebab on an open flamed grill tucked away somewhere on the plane, they do take great pride in the gourmet and high-quality foods that Turkish Airlines serves to their Business Class passengers. Let me bottom line it for you – I can easily say that this is the best in-flight dining experience I have had, hands down.
As this was an overnight flight, I had very little time to be hungry or even thirsty for that matter. Our Flying Chef would come by with his beautifully prepared cart and would artfully plate my food based on my preferences. Some of the highlights were the amazing array of fresh salads and the desserts. My neighbor had his first taste of the Turkish Raki on the flight. With its strong anise flavor and relatively high alcohol percentage, it is sure to give one a zing! With a full belly, the lights dimming and settling into the on-board entertainment system, it was time to take seat 4D for a joy ride! Up, Down, Forwards, Backwards, Legs Up, Legs Down, oh and wait for it…A Flat Bed! Yes, that is right. The cabin crew came by and added some delightful blankets for added comfort. After watching a movie from their large selection of English and International titles, I checked the flight map one more time and I was quickly asleep by the time we were over the Atlantic Ocean.
For the duration of the flight, this cycle of 5-star service, fantastic food, entertainment and sleep continued round and round. Before I knew what happened due to my 5-star time-warp, the lights of Istanbul were beginning to come into focus in the distance. I have truly been spoiled. The idea of me having to use my U-pillow was becoming more of a distant memory. Turkish Airlines Business Class is really the way to fly. I can assure you that this will not be my last flight on Turkish Airlines. The question is will I be able to fly Business Class and really kiss that travel pillow goodbye for good? I surely hope so!
Turkey is famous for its variety of olives.
Tips:
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- Turkish Airlines is known as one of the best valued Business Class tickets in the industry
• Turkish Airlines has won a multitude of industry awards such as “Best Business Class Lounge” by Skytrax
o For more information on their awards, click here:
www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/press-room/awards/index.html
• Although there are many nonstop flights from LAX to European destinations, what is impressive is that the LAX –
Istanbul flight can connect a passenger to over hundreds of destinations in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa
and depending on how long your layover is, Turkish Airlines has some hotel layover programs.
• In October 2018, the new airport in Istanbul will open with the capacity to service over 200 million passengers annually.
- Turkish Airlines is known as one of the best valued Business Class tickets in the industry
Feature and photos by by Michelle Schoser-Davis, Jetsetters Magazine Writer/Editor/Social Media Director.
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