“Turkish Airlines is my way of flying,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a 2017 interview with The Daily Sabahjilibet, a pro-government Turkish newspaper.
This year, the airline was recognized by Skytrax, a company that rates airlines and airports, as the best airline in Europe. Its business class, however, was in 10th place among airlines over all (it did take first place for its in-flight catering).
The airline boasts that it flies to more destinations than any other airline in the world: 130 countries spanning six continents. Destinations include Ghana, China and India, all places Adams has flown to with the airline. He even unsuccessfully sought to fly to remote Easter Island, a Chilean territory, but the airline does not offer service there.
A one-way nonstop economy flight from New York City to Istanbul in mid-October costs about $750. Business class on the same flight? Five times more expensive.
For that price, Turkish Airlines touts a luxurious experience throughout the entire journey.
On the plane, there are plush lie-flat seats; amenity kits by Ferragamo, an Italian luxury brand; and multiple course meals served on porcelain tableware, including options for vegans. Mr. Adams told The Daily Sabah that his preference for Turkish Airlines was in part because of their accommodation of his dietary needs. The indictment says he often upgraded to business class.
Nik Loukas, who reviews airline meals on a website called Inflight Feed, said he believes, “Turkish Airlines have the best airline food in the world, their food never disappoints.”
In a review of the airline’s business class lounge at Istanbul Airport, Ben Smithson, a writer for The Points Guy, a travel website, raved about the dizzying array of buffet foods and stations with chefs preparing hot food. “The ravioli was made just minutes before they cooked it,” Mr. Smithson wrote.
Being upgraded to business class, for most of people, is not facilitated by having a friend at the airline. But flying business on Turkish Airlines, while still expensive, is “surprisingly accessible through the points and programs travelers already have,” said Tiffany Funk, the president and a co-founder of point.me, an airline reward search platform.
For flights between North America and Turkey, an upgrade from economy to business will require 65jilibet,000 miles with the airline.