I spent $2,260 to fly business class on Turkish Airlines. The perks were incredible, but I'd only do it again for a long flight.

Check-in at the airport in Toronto was seamless, and I could understand why people would pay more for efficiency and front-of-the-line access.

In hindsight, I didn't need to arrive the recommended three hours before my flight.

I think I could've managed with one-and-a-half to two hours because I was given priority status for check-in, luggage handling, and security clearance.

Once I was all set, the Turkish Airlines staff informed me I had access to an Air Canada sister lounge.

The dimly lit area was spacious and had plenty of seating, but it was very busy.

I snacked on mini burgers and guacamole while I waited for my boarding time.

When it was time to board, the process was seamless.

Once business class was called, we were quickly ushered into three lines and corralled into a specific business-class plane entrance.

The business-class seats had reclining and lie-flat capabilities and were quite spacious.

There was also a handy sliding partition for additional privacy between the seats.

I could even control my seat and maneuver it to my comfort level using a small panel in front of the armrest.

A large flat-screen entertainment monitor was in front of the seat, with more storage space to stow items like my jacket and shoes underneath.

The box-shaped storage space, which doubled as a footrest as part of the seat's lie-flat bed, was also cushioned.

To my top left was a small reading light and a smart control that looked like a gaming device.

This served as a remote for watching movies or live TV, playing games, and listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Business-class passengers received two blankets (one for casual use and one for a nighttime comforter), slippers, sanitized Denon over-ear noise-canceling headphones, and a Ferragamo amenities kit.

The kit was filled with a mist spray, hand and body lotion, earplugs, an eye mask, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and lip balm.

The items came inside a beautiful pink Ferragamo clutch, which I may reuse as a purse or makeup bag.

Before I tucked into my meal, I was given a warm towelette, silverware, and a flameless candle to emulate the feeling of dining by candlelight in the skies.

I sipped on the refreshing welcome drink I was offered when I sat down as a "flying chef" presented me with dinner and drink menus.

From the outset, I was impressed by the sheer variety of menu items. I could see why Turkish Airlines won Skytrax's award for best business-class on-board catering for 2023.

Each dish seemed to stay true to its Turkish roots, though I noticed a range of familiar North American fare, like a Caesar salad and an apple-crumble tart.

I thought the portion sizes were generous, and the flavors were on point.

My appetizer included a tabbouleh salad, hummus, and baba ghanoush.

I loved smearing these spreads onto the hot bread and finishing it with a drizzle of the supplied Turkish olive oil.

As for my beef filet, I was particularly impressed that the chef was able to pull off a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak.

I paired the filet with the Suvla Sur 2020 red wine, a cabernet-sauvignon blend with robust qualities that complemented the rich meat.

My dessert included a pistachio kadayif (a cigar-shaped pastry), traditional baklava (a layered dessert with filo sheets and nuts), and şekerpare (a fritter-shaped cake doused in syrup).

I appreciated that none of the dessert items were too sweet because I don't usually like foods with too much sugar.

When I was ready for bed, I brushed my teeth in the business class-specific restroom.

I noticed Molton Brown beauty products in the bathroom and tried the hand cream and facial mist from my Ferragamo amenities kit for a nice pick-me-up before bedtime.

When I returned, my seat was flattened into a bed with a sheet, pillow, and comforter.

The plane's ambiance and lighting also dimmed, relaxing our senses and preparing us for sleep.

I used the eye mask from the amenities kit and fell asleep.

I was awakened by the clinking of silverware and an announcement that we were an hour from landing.

I don't think I'd ever slept so well on a plane before — I was out for almost 90% of the flight.

For breakfast, I had a lavish spread, including muesli, a selection of fruit, chicken breast and roast beef, Turkish cheese, and French toast.

My favorite part of the dish was the muesli because the oat-based dish was hearty, not too sweet, and full of interesting textures.

Before I knew it, I had to clear off my tray table and stow everything away because we were landing.

From the moment I set foot in the airport, everything about my Turkish Airlines business-class experience was easy and worry-free.

I felt like I was actually able to embrace the journey rather than tolerate a long plane ride as a means to get to the destination.

I'd absolutely fly business class on Turkish Airlines again, but I'd only do so for fights that are 10 hours or longer.

Otherwise, I don't think I could justify the splurge.