The life of a Lounge - TK IST

[leadman]

I have been to many lounges across the world, would hate to count the number, but it was my first time in the TK lounge in IST. After arriving from BKK early morning it was big surprise to find a really great, clean, well set out lounge, even to the point I e:mailed a colleague telling him this is one of the five best lounges I've visited outside of Australia. I liked the stairs to the lower floor and the food set-up was really neat with those individual stalls cooking the traditional Turkish dishes. Quiet, easy access to internet and an overall calm interior. There were a few people in there so a bit busy, but being 6am i think most were jet lagged. I had to go onto ATH so the transit was also good. I did like the see-through lock-ups and they came in quite handy.

The return leg, wow what could i say, other that trying to withdraw my earlier e:mail to my friend. It was like I had gone to a totally different lounge, even airport. It was like a shopping centre at Christmas time; crowded, kids running around, noisy, dirty, etc, etc,. I just could not believe the two contrasting visits. Just seemed to be like a downtown market as people lined up for the food as it was being cooked and it was gone before it hit the tables. The noise at times was ridiculous, with so many conversations via phone was stunning.

We can all complain, but I do feel for someone like TK and other airlines that have limited space for lounges. Being a rather large airline and attracting more and more frequent flyers in an airport that needs expansion puts them in a difficult position. The amount of people outside was showed that the airport needs to expand. TK cannot have another lounge to relieve the pressure due to lack of space. And what do they do? - hold to a set limit of people in the lounge and refuse others, it just creates complaints, arguments and fights. It would be a great role moving into a new airport like CX did when they moved from Kai Tak which had a very small lounge, but having a small airport that is rapidly growing makes life hard.

 

[RooFlyer]

I paid my first visit there about 10 days ago. Transiting IST at 6 am, also on my way to ATH, the terminal was a zoo. I found the lounge more crowded than I expected at that time, but as you observed, a good place to be. Unfortunately my flight was leaving from right the other end of the terminal, so I didn't spend much timer there.

 

[boomy]

They are building the largest airport in the world about 35km from Istanbul which is due to open sometime next year. Hopefully it will feature similar grandiose lounge but maybe restricted to TK pax only to avoid overcrowding. I must say that I love the current lounge and despite it being very crowded most of the times I've been there still managed to find a seat, usually next to one of the olive stations

 

[leadman]

Wow, looks very impressive its going to be big. 150 mil pax a year so under 1/2 mill per day, so its going to be still very busy. They will have to build 5 lounges!

I was also surprised with the size of TK. i didn't appreciate they are the airline that fly's into the most countries and taken back by their fleet. I've always skipped over them and the area.

 

[seanpodge]

That lounge is wonderful. It can get pretty crowded in the morning peak when a pile of connecting flights make it very popular, but it does have quiet times too. Ataturk airport isn't long for this world (unless the Berlin mob are building the new Istanbul airport!) so the lounge too will go. Can only hope and pray that the TK lounge(s) at the new airport are as good as the current one.