I flew over 22 hours in business class with Turkish Airlines. The food and airport lounge were unreal.

Kaila YuJun 25, 2024, 20:25 IST

I flew over 22 hours in business class with Turkish Airlines. I didn't know what to expect.Kaila Yu

I flew 22+ hours in Turkish Airlines' business class and stopped at its Istanbul airport lounge.
The food on my flights and in the airport lounge really blew me away.

I love flying in business class, but I don't often buy my seats outright because they can cost four figures.

I like upgrading to business class by booking flights using frequent-flyer miles and credit-card points. If that's not your thing, good news: Some data suggests flying business class is slightly cheaper than it was a few years ago (even though economy airfare costs are rising).

Recently, I used points to book a business-class flight with Turkish Airlines from the Maldives to Los Angeles. If I'd booked with cash, the one-layover flight would've cost me over $4,690.

Here's what it was like spending over 22 hours traveling in business class with Turkish Airlines.

The check-in process was extra fast because I was flying business class.

I didn't have to wait long to enter the airport. Kaila Yu

After making it through security, I had access to an airport lounge.

I wanted to save my appetite for the flight. Kaila Yu

My seat was located in the front row of the business-class section.

I was in the front of business class for the first leg of my flight. Kaila Yu

I was excited to get the business-class amenity kit.

The Ferragamo toiletry bag had lots of goodies. Kaila Yu

My first meal was a solid selection of appetizers.

Turkish Airlines definitely kept me fed. Kaila Yu

I chose a Turkish specialty for the main course, and it did not disappoint.

After my meal, I went immediately to sleep. Kaila Yu

About two hours before landing, the lights came on and I got another meal.

Brochettes are bite-sized marinated proteins. Kaila Yu

Then, I had a 16-hour layover at the Istanbul Airport.

I stayed in the airport during my layover so I could explore the Turkish Airlines lounge. Kaila Yu

I quickly saw why the lounge has a prestigious reputation.

The Turkish Airlines business-class lounge in Istanbul is huge. Kaila Yu

The lounge was easy to enter and leave.

I didn't have to wait in line to enter the lounge. Kaila Yu

Even the baggage storage area of the Turkish Airlines lounge looked stunning.

It seemed easy to find your bag after you checked it in. Kaila Yu

The bathrooms were incredibly spacious, too.

There were also two well-lit vanity stations in this bathroom. Kaila Yu

During my long layover, I even took a shower.

The shower felt rejuvenating after so much travel. Kaila Yu

Above all, the food options in the lounge blew my mind.

Dishes were being prepared right in front of my eyes. Kaila Yu

A coffee station had a barista making drinks to order.

You should try the Turkish coffee.Kaila Yu

I ate so much while I waited.

The food I ate in the lounge impressed me. Kaila Yu

Eventually, I headed to the second leg of my flight.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was newer than the other plane I'd been on before. Kaila Yu

Breakfast was my favorite meal on this flight.

I enjoyed most of my breakfast. Kaila Yu

Before the lights turned down in the cabin, a flight attendant came to make my bed.

This service wasn't offered on the first leg of my trip. Kaila Yu

Again, I enjoyed even more food.

I wasn't ever hungry for long on my Turkish Airlines flight. Kaila Yu

Overall, Turkish Airlines really impressed me — especially when it came to food.

Turkish Airlines had some great food in its Istanbul lounge. Kaila Yu

These are the best airlines in the world, according to a survey of travelers — see the full list

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