Turkish Airlines has quietly become one of the most talked-about ways for Australians to get to Europe, and a recent review of the Singapore-Istanbul leg shows why. The writer scored a last-minute upgrade from economy on TK55, an 11.05pm departure from Changi to Istanbul on a Boeing 777-300ER — about 11 hours door to door, running 18 times a week and climbing to 22 in the northern winter.
The cabin itself is showing its age. The 2-3-2 layout means window and middle seats lack direct aisle access, a layout most rivals have moved past. Seats are 21 inches wide and convert to a fully flat 78-inch bed, with Lanvin toiletries and slippers as compensation. Turkish is now flying newer Airbus A350-900s on the route too, and plans non-stop A350-1000 flights between Istanbul and Sydney and Melbourne from around 2027.
Where the airline genuinely earns its 4.5-star rating is service and food. The breadbasket comes tagged as "the world's oldest bread", based on a 12,000-year-old recipe using ancient grains. Dinner ran from ginger carrot soup to chicken tikka masala and a plate of traditional Turkish desserts, with chefs in white hats adding a bit of theatre to the cabin. The drinks list spans French, Turkish, Portuguese and Argentine wines, with Taittinger Brut Rserve as the champagne pour. On the entertainment side, Planet In-Flight carries more than 600 films, including a dedicated Turkish Cinema section.
Practicalities stack up well. Business class includes 40kg of checked baggage across two bags, two carry-ons and a personal item. Turkish is a Star Alliance member, and its Miles&Smiles program covers award seats, upgrades and baggage perks with partners, though award availability takes some hunting. The airline has SAF in its fuel mix and targets carbon neutrality by 2050, with optional passenger offsets.
The sleeper perk is the Stopover in Istanbul program. International passengers connecting through Istanbul with at least 20 hours between flights can get free hotel accommodation — up to two nights in a 4-star hotel in economy, or three nights in 5-star digs in business class. The reviewer spent two complimentary nights at the Mövenpick Bosphorus and praised its location and breakfast. The catch: every flight on both the outbound and return must be Turkish Airlines-operated, so codeshares don't count, and the fine print is worth reading.
Price is the real story for Australian travellers. Business class returns from roughly $6800 on the Sydney-Istanbul route — competitive against legacy carriers that charge far more for a lie-flat bed to Europe. Since Turkish launched Istanbul flights to Melbourne and Sydney via Asia in late 2024, its aggressive fares have pushed price competition on the Kangaroo Route in travellers' favour. For anyone weighing up a Europe trip, this is a full-service, flat-bed option that costs noticeably less — just be ready for a slightly dated seat on the 777s until the A350s take over.
Full review courtesy of Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald).
