Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul

Turkey Trip Overview
Booking Flights To Turkey
British Airways First Class Lounge IAH
British Airways 777 First Class IAH-LHR
Transiting Heathrow and British Airways A320 Business Class LHR-IST
Marriott Courtyard Istanbul Airport
Pegasus Airlines Istanbul to Izmir and Back
Ephesus, Mary’s House and Basilica of St. John
Swissotel Efes
Pamukkale Bus and Preiene
Ritz-Carlton Istanbul
Major Sites to see in Istanbul
Radisson Blu Bosphorus
Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul
Turkish Airlines 777 Business Class IST-IAH

As I mentioned in the second post in this series, I’d heard wonderful things about the Turkish Airlines lounge in the Istanbul Airport and wanted to check it out on my return flight.  The folks at SeaSong came and picked me up at the Radisson Blu Bosphorus and I enjoyed a private transfer.  My guide even came into the airport with me and ushered me through the ticket counter and up to the security checkpoint.  On our whole trip we enjoyed great customer service from the folks at SeaSong.

With a little time to kill, I set out in search of the lounge.  Maybe I didn’t know what to look for, signage-wise, but in the end I just stumbled upon it at the end of the concourse.After checking my boarding pass, I was allowed inside this huge, two-story lounge.  The entrance is actually on the top floor of the lounge and, as I’d read, it was fairly crowded.  Still, I enjoyed wandering through it, seeing the pool table, the garden area and all the other various seating spots.

Still, I made my way downstairs where it was definitely more quiet and not as crowded.  Both levels have restrooms and multiple food stations.  Knowing I’d be fed quite well on the plane I didn’t eat a lot but I still had to sample several things.

Though I don’t golf, I did want to see the golf simulator in action but sadly it was out of order while I was there.After about an hour in the lounge I made my way to the gate, which was just a short walk away.  I stood near what I thought was the boarding area, only to finally realize that the area beside the concourse actually led further down a ramp to where the actual gate waiting area was.  Note that there is another security checkpoint and passport control, at least for US-bound flights, so allow plenty of time to get to the actual gate before your flight here.

I was a little disappointed that even though business class still had its own security line, we weren’t always given priority in the queue.  I think I’m getting too accustomed to flying up front and not with the masses anymore!  (And I kinda like it!)

Eventually it was time to board my last trans-Atlantic flight for the foreseeable future.