8 takeaways from flying Turkish Airlines for the first time — from the uncomfortable seats to the terrible breakfast

My two lackluster Turkish Airlines flights was not as glamorous as I expected.Brittany Chang/Insider

• I flew on two Turkish Airlines flights from New York to Istanbul to Helsinki and didn't have a stellar experience.
• Skytrax recently ranked Turkish Airlines the sixth best airline in the world.

Airline ranking company Skytrax recently named Turkish Airlines the sixth-best airline in the world for 2023. But after flying with them for the first time, I'm shocked by this ranking.

In May, I took two economy Turkish Airlines flights from New York City to Helsinki. My first 10-hour leg onboard an Airbus A330-300 brought me to Istanbul for a 15-hour layover while my second almost four-hour journey on the Airbus A321-231 delivered me to my final destination.

I had high hopes for both flights: Fellow travelers have gloated about their Turkish Airlines flight. But during my nearly 14 hours in the sky, I was met with lackluster food and the most uncomfortable seats I've ever had on a flight.

These are my eight primary takeaways from my experience.