Short haul Business Class can be enjoyable
Flying business class within Europe, is not in my view what a premium class flight should be. For years the traveller has been induced into accepting that having an economy seat with an empty middle seat, no more leg room than in economy, a complimentary snack or meal and access to a lounge, justifies the excessive price of the ticket.
So flying to Istanbul was either with British Airways or Turkish Airlines. Having been on a few European so called 'Business Class' flights, I selected the much praised Turkish Airlines. Turkish use both narrow and wide body jets to Istanbul. The flights I picked were a narrow body Airbus A320 outbound and a Boeing 777 on my return.
I also made my choice, being aware that the A320 seating was 2x2 with wider seats and more leg room, and the 777 configuration which was the same as a long haul flight cabin, in a 2x3x2 layout.
Airbus A320 seat, wide and spacious
Pull out IFE monitor
The moment I stepped into the A320 aircraft, I was welcomed with a warm smile and directed to my seat. So this was a true Business Class seat - stylish black and grey colours, bigger, wider, adjustable headrest, footrest and comfortable, with ample leg room. There was a reading lamp, and pull out IFE monitor (from the armrest), along with noise-canceling headphones (which were handed out later).
No sooner had I settled in, I was offered a selection of soft drinks followed by hot towel. The cabin crew were friendly, and seeing me with my phone, even offered to take photos of me at my seat. Twenty minutes into the flight, the meal service began. I chose a traditional Turkish breakfast which included a selection of delicious appetisers, accompanied by Champagne, with refills.
The flight attendants were efficient, chatty without being intrusive, and looked like they actually enjoyed serving the passengers. Later, I fiddled about a little with the IFE, watched about half a movie, while downing some coffee and cognac. Although not a huge choice of films and programmes, it was perfectly adequate for a short journey.
Boeing 777 cabin
My return flight on the Boeing 777 was a delight. This was a long haul business class experience on a short haul flight. The seating was comfortable with huge amounts of leg room and large IFE monitor. There was extra storage space in front of the seat which when closed, connected with your seat as it stretched out to the flat bed position. The seat controls were easy to use, and by the seat was also a privacy screen which you could pull forward.
The cabin was less than half full on this flight, which made it look even more spacious, and the service began with a delicious mint and lemon welcome drink and hot towel.
As both my flights were in the morning, the meal that followed was almost identical to the one I had on my outbound flight, but still tasty! Even though the flight was short (around three hours and forty minutes), the cabin crew were busy, checking on passengers, offering more drinks and snacks. Again, they were engaging, asking me what I enjoyed most in Istanbul, what I saw or didn’t etc. Small talk maybe, yet ushered with friendlyness, that is lacking in some other airlines I can think of.
Boeing 777 cabin
Both my flights were thoroughly enjoyable. Note however, not all Turkish Airlines narrow bodies have a 2x2 layout with wide seating. Some of them have sadly caught onto the European style with 3x3, with the blocked middle seat, and with only a little more leg room. For the moment at least, it hasn’t been implemented on the London to Istanbul route.
I couldn’t really feel any disappointments, considering these were short flights. Having also flown long haul with Turkish, I can say overall their business class product is worthy of praise.
Airbus A320
Boeing 777-300
