Headed to Istanbul in September. Have a choice of Turkish Air or United. No experience with Turkish Air. Lots with United. Anyone have an opinion or comparison of the two with, perhaps, a recommendation.

Turkish Airlines is a four star airline. United is a three star airline. Turkish Airlines is now the highest rated airline in Europe. I flew them recently in economy from Barcelona to Istanbul and Istanbul to Tel Aviv. Meals on both flights with wine. No free wine with United in economy. The Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul is the best.

My girlfriend flew them in Business Class from Chicago to Istanbul and Athens. She was very pleased.

I wasn't aware UAL flew to IST? Are you sure the flights you're seeing aren't a code share with AC or LH? Regardless, Turkish is a solid airlines, especially in Business. Enjoy Istanbul as it's an amazing city.

Turkish is well regarded and has a 4* rating from sky trax. We flew them once from ORD-IST and it was fine and yes they do not charge in econ for spirits unlike United. I say go for it.

Great. I was leaning towards Turkish Air just for the new experience. Mjz, you could be correct. It could be code sharing through Frankfurt. Didn't look at the detail schedule that closely. Thanks

When I flew from Florida to Istanbul with United, I had to change planes in Zurich to a SWISS flight. I booked the flight on the United Website, but I did not get miles on the Zurich to Istanbul flight. I was told it was the wrong code.

It has been a couple of years since we last flew Turkish Air, but they were the best I had ever flown, wish we could always use them.

This is strange.

We have been offered silly cheap flights with them and have refused to use them based on the many, many negative reviews on tripadvisor and airlinequality.

Many passangers have issues with service levels and punctuality.

Generally SwissAir and Turkish Air have the worst reputations in Europe.

This may explain why their prices are generally so low.

BritishCaicos,

We did RT, DC to Istanbul, and RT, Istanbul to Cappadocia on Turkish. Both trips went perfectly. Food was quite good, seats were roomy. We were very happily surprised.

We did RT, XLFrance, NYC to MRS. Service was good and flights were super cheap, but seats were tight, tight, tight and food not to be mentioned. Of course, that is a charter type airline, so we didn't expect much, but price was nearly the same as TA.

I am actually looking for places we could fly using TA.

Our fav is Lufthansa.

Airline equality rates TA as 4*. I too look at passenger reviews there and it seems that even 5* carries get a disproportionate number of nefative reviews relative to their ratings. We took AC biz to Tokyo from Chicago last fall and I was a little leery based on passenger reviews despite their 4* rating. However though I did have some issues with their pod seats their food, service and IFE were quite good.

I always ask from my travel agents about airlines and they always count Turkish Airlines in Top Ten....this is one of the best airline in EU.

I think that there are very airlines getting it consistently right.

Singapore stand out.

There's also a expectation gap between what some of the ridiculous general public expect and the ability of any rational airline deliver.

Some actually believe that they can pay 20 euros for a return flight to Rome with Ryanirair and then expect to be put up in The Hotel de Russie when they are delayed.

Numpties.

Turkish Air is fine. If you are in coach, it will be a bit better than UA, but it is still coach, so keep your expectations in check.

<i>Generally SwissAir and Turkish Air have the worst reputations in Europe. </i>

Well that simply isn't true. The line for worst reputations in Europe forms behind Ryanair. I don't think either Swiss or Turkish would even crack a worst 5 list. They may not even crack a worst 10 list.

Sorry, I wouldnt include Ryanair in any passenger airline list.

They are a freight airline for shipping lumps of meat from place to place. They have a disregard towards their customers and their customers know what to expect. Most Europeans have used them for years and know what is involved. (Me included)

Below is the sky trax list for 4* carriers and both Swiss and Turkish are on that list. How one can say they have the worst reputations in Europe is baffling.
http://www.airlinequality.com/StarRanking/4star.htm

<i>Below is the sky trax list for 4* carriers and both Swiss and Turkish are on that list. How one can say they have the worst reputations in Europe is baffling.</i>

While I agree with the sentiment about Turkish and Swiss, Skytrax is worthless.

Got a better website?

<i>Got a better website?</i>

Not really, but Skytrax is still worthless. Bad information isn't always better than no information.

Sorry you had a bad experience with them. I do think you have to take some of the reviews with the proverbial grain of salt.

Cheers, Larry.

I am booked on Turkish Airlines IAD/IST/CPT later this year and I am looking forward to it.

I can see why people hate Ryanair but I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like Swiss. What's not to like about an airline that gives you free champagne and Swiss chocolates in coach??