Turkish or Emirates into Europe from Bali

[Pushka]

We have the option of flying TK or Ek from Denpasar into Paris mid year. EK just a few hundred more expensive. But the second leg into Europe on TK (4 hour flight) has 2 seats together. EK is 380 all the way. Flight time overall with TK is about the same as EK. TK has a 12 flight segment whereas EK is more evenly distributed.

Can't book through Qantas so no SC in play for either.

As Qantas Platinum will we have access to F lounge in Dubai or J Lounge? In the past EK have been good to us with upgrades but that's just been lucky.

Thoughts on either? We do have 5 hour layover in Istanbul after 12 hour flight on way over (at 2am) and somewhat less in Dubai.

Never flown on TK. Worth it for the experience?

EDIT. In J but the J seats in TK are sets of two.

 

[RooFlyer]

Never flown on TK. Worth it for the experience?

Can’t help you with TK versus EK sorry, but I’m just been comparing QR versus TK business Australia to Europe at the end of this year and as a QR fan I’m going to choose TK, if that’s any recommendation. It’s mainly because it’s about $4000 less but I’m also keen to give them a go.

I’m surprised the prices you are finding are similar rather than TK being much better priced.

You get a free stopover in Istanbul if you want it and if you’ve never been there before I’d really recommend it. Great place to visit.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have the option of flying TK or Ek from Denpasar into Paris mid year. EK just a few hundred more expensive. But the second leg into Europe on TK (4 hour flight) has 2 seats together. EK is 380 all the way. Flight time overall with TK is about the same as EK. TK has a 12 flight segment whereas EK is more evenly distributed.

Can't book through Qantas so no SC in play for either.

As Qantas Platinum will we have access to F lounge in Dubai or J Lounge? In the past EK have been good to us with upgrades but that's just been lucky.

Thoughts on either? We do have 5 hour layover in Istanbul after 12 hour flight on way over (at 2am) and somewhat less in Dubai.

Never flown on TK. Worth it for the experience?

Have not flown TK yet, but a good friend recently did return flights to Europe on them. From the photos, and commentary… I would go for EK.

Turkish is an ok product, and the food is good, but the service can be a bit hit and miss. It’s widely reported for example that the crew rarely offer a drink top-up… my friend confirmed that.

The seats on the a350 are very exposed unless you get a hard window. Not sure about the plane you’ll have ex DPS… it’s an a350 in Feb however.

TK has the same seats as Air Mauritius, and having flown the latter… I’d be steering clear.

Lounge is fun in Istanbul, great food. But lots of walking, the lounge is massive. You’d get F access if flying EK.

 

[jase05]

We have the option of flying TK or Ek from Denpasar into Paris mid year. EK just a few hundred more expensive. But the second leg into Europe on TK (4 hour flight) has 2 seats together. EK is 380 all the way. Flight time overall with TK is about the same as EK. TK has a 12 flight segment whereas EK is more evenly distributed.

Can't book through Qantas so no SC in play for either.

As Qantas Platinum will we have access to F lounge in Dubai or J Lounge? In the past EK have been good to us with upgrades but that's just been lucky.

Thoughts on either? We do have 5 hour layover in Istanbul after 12 hour flight on way over (at 2am) and somewhat less in Dubai.

Never flown on TK. Worth it for the experience?

I take it you are flying Y?
If that is the case I’m probably choosing EK for the lounges and status perks

 

[LadyC]

I'm not sure how helpful this data point is but MrC, MasterC and myself flew this time last year on an EK J seat booked using points through QFF from DXB - CGK. Only I am QFF platinum and we all got access to the EK F lounge.

 

[clifford]

If flying Y I'd look closely at the aircraft type you'd be flying on. If the 380, I'd prefer EK, but if the 777 I'd go with TK. 3-4-3 isn't my idea of comfort on a 777. The TK 350 would be nicer IMO.

If flyng J, I'd only ever fly EK if it were a 380. The TK J product isn't the greatest by any means, but at least it's lie flat, not angled.

But maybe I'd fly DPS to CGK or MNL and get a better deal. to Europe. Why limit yourself?

 

[Pushka]

I take it you are flying Y?
If that is the case I’m probably choosing EK for the lounges and status perks

Business. I'm liking EK as I like the product but MrP reckons the sector length is more conducive to sleep being a 12 hour flight out of DPS. We are getting old. Need our sleep

It's a flat seat on the DPS legs and we've picked the direct window seats.

 

[clifford]

OK, I understand. Wasting my keyboard fingers. Won't happen again!

 

[Pushka]

TK
DPS - IST Airbus A350-900 Wide body (12 hours commencing 20.45
IST - CDG Airbus A330 Wide-body (3.5 hours commencing 10.10
CDG - IST Airbus 321 Neo Narrow body (3.5 hours commencing 18.05)
IST - DPS Airbus A350-900 Wide body (12 hours commencing 01.20)

EK is 380 all the way
DPS - IST 380 (9 hours commencing 19.45)
IST - DPS 380 (7 hours commencing 04.00)

CDG - IST (7 hours commencing 15.35)
IST - DPS (9 hours commencing 03.10)

 

[jase05]

Business. I'm liking EK as I like the product but MrP reckons the sector length is more conducive to sleep being a 12 hour flight out of DPS. We are getting old. Need our sleep

It's a flat seat on the DPS legs and we've picked the direct window seats.

Oh, I assumed as you were asking about lounge access you must be in Y.
I’d still probably choose EK as I love the A380’s and you would have F lounge access in DXB.
Istanbul is a better city than Dubai if you are doing a stopover IMO.
The TK product is good too so maybe for something different you can give them a go
Some of those EK departure times look a bit horrendous too

 

[Pushka]

OK, I understand. Wasting my keyboard fingers. Won't happen again!

Yes, sorry, I thought I'd mentioned it but hadn't.

 

[Pushka]

Oh, I assumed as you were asking about lounge access you must be in Y.
I’d still probably choose EK as I love the A380’s and you would have F lounge access in DXB.
Istanbul is a better city than Dubai if you are doing a stopover IMO.
The TK product is good too so maybe for something different you can give them a go

I love the F lounge in Dubai. Can't afford to fly to access it from the flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I love the F lounge in Dubai. Can't afford to fly to access it from the flight.

The timings of the EK flight aren’t great in terms of being in transit at awful times of the day

That being said, I think the 9 hour sectors are probably good for sleep, you can probably forgo the pre-arrival meal on the DPS-DXB sector and have something in the lounge. And then straight to sleep on the next sector.

Actually… it’s not great is it?

TK is looking much more friendly.

 

[RooFlyer]

CDG - IST Airbus 321 Neo Narrow body (3.5 hours commencing 18.05)

With TK, you get 'proper' business class, not Euro business in narrowbodies.

 

[Scarlett]

I like TK, but then I have status with them and they’ve looked after me during irrops.

I also prefer the longer first leg as you can get a decent sleep. The trade off will be that most/all of the live cooking stations in the Lounge Istanbul will be empty at the early morning arrival on outbound and until about 0600ish. There will still be food out, it just won’t be as varied.

If you do go TK, put your name down for a shower on arrival at the lounge, or at least check what the wait time might be.

All else being equal, the sealer for me might be, what do you have planned for the last day in Paris? That probably determines which departure time is best.