The new Istanbul Airport opened just a few months ago along with a brand new Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge. I’ve visited the lounge several times now in the few months it’s been open and absolutely love it.
Location
The business class lounge is on the mezzanine level of the airport, directly above the main duty free shops which are located just past passport control and security. For passengers entering the airport from the city, walking distance is minimal to the lounge. However, for many connecting passengers the walk to the lounge can be up to 20 minutes depending on the gate you arrive at.
How to Access
The business class lounge is open to all Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance business class passengers. There is a second identical lounge called the Miles and Smiles Lounge open to Turkish Airlines elite members, as well as all Star Alliance Gold members. While business class passengers cannot bring a guest with them into the lounge, Turkish and Star Alliance elite members are allowed to bring one guest, though they must also be flying with a Star Alliance airline same day in any cabin.
The Lounge
At the lounge entrance, an attendant will take a look at your boarding pass before giving the okay to board the escalator to go up to the lounge.
Once you step off the escalator, you arrive at the lobby with a long table of Turkish Airlines staff who are able to help with any issues regarding your trip. Adjacent to these staff are the lounge entrance gates where you need to scan your boarding pass to enter.
Just next to the entrance is the luggage storage area where any guest can store their bags while enjoying the lounge.
To one side is a small business center, a few lounge chairs, as well as the concierge desk where you can reserve a shower or nap room (though you must meet very strict requirements to get one). Also located here are the prayer rooms and shower suites.
To the other side is the main area of the lounge with several food stations, plenty of seating, kids play area, coffee bar, golf simulator and more!
Food and Drinks
I think Turkish has the best food options on offer of any business class lounge in the world. With an incredible variety of freshly made and delicious food, it’s a lounge I always visit on an empty stomach!
Although some of the food on offer is changed on a daily basis, they seem to always have fleshly grilled meats, Turkish ravioli (my favorite), as well as other rotating Turkish delicacies and Asian dishes.
There is also a vast salad and cheese buffet, freshly baked bagels, popcorn, desserts, and a range of drinks located all around the lounge.
Is your mouth watering yet?
Amenities
Aside from the traditional lounge amenities, the Turkish Airlines Lounge provides some nice amenities not offered by most airport lounges.
The lounge features a golf simulator, kids play area, movie theater, business center, luggage storage, shower suites and napping rooms. All of these are complementary to use by all passengers with lounge access aside from the nap rooms. These have strict guidelines for who may use them, and you likely won’t qualify which is really unfortunate.
Aside from the disappointing restrictions on the napping rooms, I do appreciate the other amenities and they are a large part of what makes this a great lounge!
Where are the power outlets?
The lounge is seriously lacking enough power outlets! Each time I struggle to find one available and often can only find one after unplugging a lamp! It’s tough to believe that a brand new lounge can’t solve a trivial issue like having enough power outlets.
Bottom Line
Turkish Airlines has always been well known for having one of the best airport lounges in the world and that certainly hasn’t changed with the opening of the new lounge at the new Istanbul Airport. This lounge is gorgeous, spacious, has excellent food options and some unique amenities as well. It certainly ranks among the top business class lounges worldwide if not the best.
I’ve already visited this lounge six times since its opening and plan on many future visits to come!