Review of Turkish Airlines business class on Istanbul-Sydney route via Kuala Lumpur
Consensus Summary
Both articles provide identical reviews of Turkish Airlines’ business class on the Istanbul-Sydney route (TK174), highlighting key details such as the Airbus A350-900 aircraft, a 20-hour 15-minute journey with a stop in Kuala Lumpur, and a seat configuration with 44-inch pitch and 20-inch width. The review notes limited sleep due to turbulence announcements and the mid-flight stop, slow service, and mixed food quality, with a standout breakfast but a disappointing final meal. The airline’s baggage policy, loyalty program, and carbon offset initiatives are also detailed. Both sources confirm the flight’s 75-minute delay in Sydney due to strong winds and the airline’s avoidance of Iranian airspace. The review concludes that while the experience is functional, it falls short of top-tier carriers like Singapore Airlines, particularly in comfort and non-stop options. The articles are nearly identical, with no contradictions or source-specific details.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Flight TK174 operates daily from Istanbul to Sydney via Kuala Lumpur on an Airbus A350-900 with a total flight time of 20 hours 15 minutes (including the Malaysia stop).
- The business class seat (2A, aisle) has a pitch of 44 inches (111 cm) and a width of 20 inches (50.8 cm), with direct aisle access but limited footwell space for size 11 feet.
- Passengers can bring up to 40 kg of checked baggage (50 kg on BusinessPrime fares) and 20 kg of cabin baggage (split as two 8 kg bags plus a 4 kg personal item).
- Turkish Airlines’ loyalty scheme is Miles&Smiles, part of the Star Alliance, and reward flights can be booked via partners like Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
- The flight was delayed by 75 minutes upon arrival in Sydney due to strong winds, despite being on time for the first sector.
- The business class cabin includes an 18-inch HD screen with live TV and entertainment options, plus 1GB of Wi-Fi data (non-resetting for the second sector).
- The airline offers carbon offset options for travelers, including partial or full coverage, and purchases full offsets for all staff duty travel flights.
- Turkish Airlines currently avoids Iranian airspace on its Australian routes, flying over the 'Stan countries instead.
- The return business class fare from Sydney is approximately $8,900 AUD.
Source Articles
A safe route to Europe, but don’t expect much sleep in this business class
The seat feels tight, and this is a classic example of the difference between a “direct” flight and a “non-stop” flight.
A safe route to Europe, but don’t expect much sleep in this business class
The seat feels tight, and this is a classic example of the difference between a “direct” flight and a “non-stop” flight.