Turkish Airlines is one of the world’s most connected carriers, linking six continents via its Istanbul hub and flying to more destinations than any other airline. It has even been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for doing so.
At current count, it flies to 14 U.S. cities amid its 350-plus global destinations in more than 130 countries. From its Istanbul hub, the airline can easily reach 90 of those cities within three hours. Turkish Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance.
Its business class is well-known for excellent catering and onboard comforts. Using miles or points, Turkish Airlines business class is within reach if you know how to maximize your mileage and credit card earning.
NerdWallet values Turkish Airlines miles at 0.7 cent each, based on recent analysis. Using your miles for business class can be a great redemption. The airline has only two classes of service: economy and business.
In business class, you can enjoy one of the world’s best airline lounges at its Istanbul hub and lie-flat seats and world-class service in the air. Let’s take a look at what the Turkish Airlines business class experience is like.
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What is business class on Turkish Airlines?
Business class is Turkish Airlines’ premium cabin on its aircraft. When you fly business class, you can check extra bags, enjoy more elaborate meals often prepared by an onboard chef, tons of legroom and inflight Wi-Fi, all as part of the airfare.
Turkish Airlines business class seats
When buying your ticket, it is helpful to know the type of plane you might fly on because the interior layouts differ. Lie-flat seats are the standard in long-haul business class and even some medium-haul flights in its network. Not every plane has all-aisle access, but a growing number of planes do.
Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350 planes have all-aisle access in business class in a 1-2-1 configuration. Its Boeing 777 has a 2-3-2 layout, which means there is a middle seat in business class. The Airbus A330 layout is 2-2-2.
The airline plans to reconfigure these planes to all-aisle access seats in the future. On narrowbody planes like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A321, business class is in a 2-2 configuration.
Food and drink on Turkish Airlines business class
Turkish business class is among the best in the air because of its inflight dining. It has been recognized in the 2025 Skytrax Awards for having the “World's Best Business Class Onboard Catering.” These are some of the onboard perks and amenities.
Flying chefs
Turkish Airlines works with Do&Co, which is known for top-tier catering services. The onboard chefs take inflight meal orders, can customize meals and plate each of the meals in true restaurant fashion. On long-haul flights, like the transatlantic trips between Turkey and the U.S., the dining experience is lengthy (around 2½ hours), but full of wonderful culinary surprises and elegant presentation.
During boarding on shorter flights, welcome drinks include fresh juices although you can select something else from the bar should you like. On longer flights, predeparture drinks, including wine, beer, juice and soft drinks, are available.
Impressive dining presentation
After takeoff, drinks, nuts and an aperitif arrive as you get settled. Then, the appetizer trolley rolls down the aisle. There is an expansive selection of different hors d’oeuvres, salads and soup. The flight attendant plates your dish with your preferred selections along with a selection from the bread basket.
Throughout the meal, you will find an array of Turkish ingredients that are highlighted in the printed menus. It includes butter from Trabzon, baklava from Gazientep, cheeses from Çanakkale and Kars, and tea from Rize.
Once you’re finished, then the flight attendant (or chef) clears your plates and brings your main dish. There are several main course options, and you can review the menu for your flight online before takeoff. On some flights, you can even pre-order your meal up to 48 before departure. My favorite selections are the Turkish options, but there is a wide range of flavors, including one vegetarian option.
On one flight, I devoured the Turkish içli köfte (like kibbeh or bulgur patties stuffed with beef) and the Köpoğlu (tomato and eggplant dish served with yogurt), both of which were on the appetizer tray. There’s also a wine list that highlights various wine-producing regions in Turkey among other international selections.
There are no trays used during the first meal service. Instead, your table is laid with a linen and set up as if you were in a restaurant. This also includes a faux candle that flickers as if you were at a romantic cafe. It’s a charming touch.
The world's oldest bread
Turkish Airlines serves what it calls “the world's oldest bread,” which uses Einkorn and Emmer wheats that were first used more than 12,000 years ago in Anatolia.
Along with this bread, Turkish butter as well as olive oil and various spices are served for dipping. Several other types of bread arrive throughout the meal.
During a recent flight, I took the suggestion of my flight attendant Serdar on which Turkish wines to try. He explained where it was from and what food it pairs with best. Refills of wine were plentiful as I enjoyed my bread and starters, and I especially enjoyed the homemade ayran (a traditional yogurt drink) served on the flight. There is also a long list of wellness teas designed for relaxation or digestion on the menu.
The dessert trolley
As if you weren’t stuffed already, save space for the dessert trolley. There is a variety of cheeses, fruit, Turkish and international pastries, and Turkish tea. Like with the appetizer selection, you can point to all of the things you want to taste.
While Turkish Airlines offers dine on demand options, where you can eat what you want from the menu and when you want it, you will miss out on this extravagant presentation and service. In between meals, there is a selection of snacks in the galley.
Before landing, there is another meal service, which usually has a traditional Turkish option on the menu. Flight attendants also pass by with a parting gift of chocolate-covered Turkish delight. I suggest saving some space for the lounge in Istanbul as the food there is equally impressive.
Amenities and other perks of Turkish Airlines business class
Each seat has universal power ports and noise-canceling headphones, and on widebody planes, you’ll find larger entertainment screens, massage features and better bedding with a large pillow and duvet.
A Lanvin amenity kit, small storage space and foldout mirror are available at the seat on long-haul flights. The amenity kit includes an eye mask, dental kit, lip balm, hand cream and socks in an attractive leather pouch you can later use to store toiletries or other small things.
Other perks of Turkish Airlines business class
Baggage allowance
Business class passengers can bring two pieces of cabin baggage plus a personal item and check two bags weighing up to about 70 pounds (32 kilograms) each for free.
Priority boarding
Business class passengers receive priority when it is time to board with a separate lane that bypasses other passengers waiting in line.
Lounges
Business class passengers enjoy lounge access in most departure airports, but the real star of the show is its sprawling Istanbul hub lounge. It boasts various seating areas, live cooking stations, a small museum, relaxation and shower rooms, and plentiful beverage refreshment points. There is even a roaming masseur that will give you a free 5-10 minute neck and shoulder rub.
During my many visits over the years, my favorite station is the enormous salad area with fresh vegetables, Turkish dips and specialties, and all kinds of olives. Then there is the homemade manti (Turkish dumplings), freshly baked pide (Turkish-style pizza or flat bread), ayran and meat and chicken grill station with delicious peppers and eggplant moussaka.
Then, you have the dessert area with all kinds of Turkish pastries and sweets plus Turkish coffee and tea. This is one of those hub airports where a long connection time is truly entertaining.
These are all of the things you can expect:
- Fast, free Wi-Fi.
- Ample seating areas.
- Chefs preparing Anatolian cuisine.
- Barista coffee.
- Work stations.
- Children’s play area.
- Sleeping rooms.
- Shower rooms.
- Bag storage lockers.
- Grand piano.
- Airline-themed museum.
- Clothes pressing station.
Turkish Airlines also has its own branded lounges in other airports around the world, but they do not match the size and amenity roster of its main international hub. You will find Turkish lounges in the following airports:
- Bangkok.
- Edinburgh.
- Miami.
- Moscow Vnukovo.
- Nairobi.
- New York-JFK.
- Tokyo Narita.
- Washington-Dulles.
How much is business class on Turkish Airlines?
Depending on your destination (short-haul or long-haul) and when you book your ticket, the prices can vary substantially. And because the airline has only business class and economy, the business class cabin is more expensive. We priced a one-way trip between New York City and the Maldives via Istanbul. Depending on the U.S. departure airport, the economy ticket cost $671 or $725. The business class ticket cost $5,747.
Use miles to book a business class ticket on Turkish Airlines
You can also use frequent flyer miles to pay for a business class trip. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles is a popular program, and even if you don’t accrue miles from other flights with it, you can transfer credit card points into it. These include Citi ThankYou Points and Capital One Miles. The ratio varies depending on the card you use.
Business class tickets between the U.S. and Turkey start at 65,000 Miles&Smiles miles plus taxes and fees. Traveling farther and connecting via Istanbul means the number of miles needed will vary based on where you are headed, segment by segment.
You can also use other Star Alliance partner miles to redeem for Turkish Airlines flights. This includes Air Canada Aeroplan and United Airlines MileagePlus, both of which are transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, at a 1:1 ratio.
» Learn more: Chase Ultimate Rewards®: How to earn and use them
How to make your business class redemption a better value
If you are able, book using Turkish Miles&Smiles miles. This is because you will often pay fewer miles this way than redeeming via United or Aeroplan. You need to find dates that have “Promotion Award TIckets” to get a better deal. Otherwise, you might be paying more if booking a standard award ticket.
There are also special mileage discount deals available from time to time on the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Special Offers page.
For those who would rather use United miles, keep in mind that you can take advantage of a 10% discounted redemption price if one of your flights on the itinerary involves a United flight and you hold one of United’s co-branded credit cards. MileagePlus Premier members receive a 15% discount.
» Learn more: NerdWallet’s best Citi credit cards
Best credit cards for earning Turkish Airlines miles
Since both Citi ThankYou Points and Capital One Miles offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, any card that earns these currencies can help you get closer to a Turkish Airlines business class flight. If you prefer to redeem via United miles, a United co-branded credit card or any card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® can help you.
And then there is the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature credit card with which you can earn Miles&Smiles directly.
How the cards compare
Annual fee
$95.
$0.
$95.
Welcome offer
Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Earn a bonus of 40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Earn rates
• 5 miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5 miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
• 1.25 miles per $1 on all purchases.
• 10 ThankYou® points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi's travel portal.
• 3 points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on supermarkets.
• 3 points per $1 on gas stations and EV charging stations.
• 3 points per $1 on restaurants.
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Still not sure?
Is Turkish Airlines business class worth it?
If you are able to afford the extra cost, yes! You’ll dine well, rest well on flat-bed seats, relax in a fantastic lounge network and gain access to more destinations around the globe than any other carrier.
Whether you pay with cash, Miles&Smiles miles or another airline or credit card loyalty program, there are many ways to take advantage of the impressive Turkish Airlines business class experience. It may even spoil you for other airlines’ premium cabins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which aircraft have Turkish Airlines business class?
All Turkish flights have a business class cabin although the seat layout varies depending on the aircraft type and route.
Can I upgrade to Turkish Airlines business class?
Yes. Miles & Smiles members can use miles or upgrade certificates to move up a cabin from economy class. Star Alliance upgrade awards are another option. Sometimes, there may be upgrade offers online, via the app or at the ticket counter to move to business class at a discount.
What does Turkish Airlines business class look like?
Depending on the aircraft, you might have a slightly larger seat on shorter sectors and a fully lie-flat seat on longer flights with all-aisle access. Take note that currently Boeing 777 aircraft have a middle seat in business class in a 2-3-2 layout. Make a seat assignment early to avoid being stuck in the middle. And on a few shorter flights using the Airbus A319, A320 or A321, business class is simply an economy class-style seat with the middle seat blocked. This will vary by route.
Does Turkish Airlines business class earn more miles?
Yes, although it depends which carrier you credit your miles to for your ticket. But yes, you will earn more miles on a business class fare than economy class.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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