Anyone flew TK J Class

[Global Nomad]

Am scheduled to fly TK from DUB-IST-DXB. TA found a good deal for me which was combined with VS outbound DXB-LHR-DUB and it cost less than SQ-TK ticket on Y class.

Does anyone have any experience of the TK J class service?

[Lobster]

No but I am due to fly them in Y next week so I'll try to have a peak at their J class as I work my way to the back.

[jhm]

Paging Kyo!

[Kyo]

Will reply on this in more detail in a couple of hours (swamped at work currently).

In short, it's not really spectacular, rather un-spectacular... which is a shame coz I love the country.

[amsflyboy]

If you can fly on TK's 330/340 you are ok. Seats are nice, service can be very good. Unfortunately service to DXB is the shorthaul service (B737/A320) so no C-class seats (3 eco seats, middle blocked) no inseat video.
You can pray for a last minute sub!

[Kyo]

Thanks for waiting.

Please note there were not many photos taken when I was back in the airport prior to takeoff. I had left my camera in the taxi that I had booked for the last 3.5 hours. All the photos here were taken with a Blackberry Curve (long story short - the very honest taxi driver sent the camera back to SIN for me - really unexpected, and one of the unforgettable moments of the trip)

Okay, so - I got the impression that TK staff love to talk to each other - the crew on the flight I took chatted on and on and on and on, even before taking off (in very engaged tones, with no regard for J pax that were trying to get some shuteye)! Pushback was about 45 mins late after doors had shut (just my luck) and the crew kept rushing in/out of the J section without once refilling the water.

A choice of orange juice was also provided. No champagne on the tray, nor did I ask for any as I wanted to get a little bit of rest as this was a late-night/mid-AM arrival in DXB.

As already mentioned by amsflyboy, the IST-DXB service is a B737/A320. The middle-seat's 'brown-trimmed' bit folds down to reveal an armrest/table-type tray that can hold a beverage glass or two.

The seats are essentially trimmed in aqua like so (J pax can fold up the table and 'stretch' out over three Y-sized seats. Sort of like Y+++):



Food is catered by Do&Co - however I felt the food on OS821 from VIE-IST (also catered by Do&Co) was better. Here is what to expect -

First, a packet of peanuts is handed out (I'm unsure if Y pax got this, probably not):



Then, you wait a little bit and meal service commences - hmm, I just realised I have not posted the TK menu yet (will have to get around to doing that).

First a starter course (vine leaves, some feta cheese and something a bit like hummous):



Followed by a main course (swordfish, if I recall correctly - will have to get around to posting up that menu):



Which was dry and did not look appetizing (zoomed in) - disappointing because Do&Co had impressed me with their offerings up to this point:



And I'll try to compile a semblance of an Express TR or something... again, apologies for the poor quality. Low cabin lighting.

One last observation. The cabin lighting is dimmed only in J on this shorthaul. The Y cabin stayed on (and we're talking about a 4am arrival in DXB here) and there were kids crying, pax chatting at the back for quite awhile before they settled down eventually, possibly 1.5 hrs prior to arrival).

Overall, were it not for the connecting flight I required, I would not be keen to repeat this experience.

Final tip: Security-screening at IST is hopelessly long. Pax were screaming at the security staff that although 5 people were still waiting to get into the departure area to get on board the plane, there were still 26 ppl in the queue going to all manner of places (and this is right at the gate).

Still, the security didn't care and scanned everyone casually. We were minus 5 minutes (gate would have been shut 10 mins prior on an SQ flight) past departure time and nothing was hurried up. Security were also busy enjoying their conversations and exclaiming in delight/surprise at the wonderful dinner they had the previous night with their colleagues (I think).

And TK's lounge food left alot to be desired too.

2.25 Stars out of 5 for this flight. (No IFE, but you get a really thick in-flight magazine)

Can't comment on long-haul, but hopefully it's better.

[Global Nomad]

Kyo
Thanks for the TR. This explains why the price is cheaper. Well, hope for the best. Accordong to TA, the DUB-IST is on A319 and IST-DXB on A320. Now that I now that there is no IFE, I will make I have my iPod fully charged.

2 questions following all these feedback:

1. How did TK get into *A if it is that bad?
2. Any recommendations on seat choices for A319 and A320 of TK planes?

Many thanks.

[Kyo]

Kyo
Thanks for the TR. This explains why the price is cheaper. Well, hope for the best. Accordong to TA, the DUB-IST is on A319 and IST-DXB on A320. Now that I now that there is no IFE, I will make I have my iPod fully charged.

2 questions following all these feedback:

1. How did TK get into *A if it is that bad?
2. Any recommendations on seat choices for A319 and A320 of TK planes?

Many thanks.

1. It is not *that bad*. It is just not *that good*. It would be like comparing Air India vs SQ (just not a fair comparison). I think TK has its strengths in that IST is quite a useful hub between Asia/Europe - very well positioned, location-wise.

Among examples I can think of: TK's airfares to Europe (with connections from IST) are also cheaper than alot of others maybe due to the shorter distance from Asia and the less fuel the aircrafts have to carry longhaul. Getting into *A can be for many reasons other than just in-flight product offerings.

2. Will check my BP and get back to you, but I would suggest the third J-row from the front. The first row where I was sitting had light bleeding through the front crew section (curtains failed to adequately suppress light coming through). The last row in J from the front, would be too close to noisy pax flooded with light in Y. The third/middle J-rows have more distance/seats in between to block out the light, making this section amongst the darkest areas on the aircraft which will help in achieving sleep when sprawled out over 3 *essentially* Y-seats. You'll be nearer to noise from down the pack, but try to bring some earbuds to block out the noise (or listen to your iPod if you can sleep with music).

[Guy Betsy]

What you got on TK in J is miles better than what I got on MS in F ! Now, that's one airline I wonder how it got into *A!

At least on TK it isn't dry like MS !

[Danny Bhoy]

I'll be flying TK from BKK to TLV in March after a wee break in S'pore. Has anyone flown the new J class on TK's A343s and also the other new J class on the wetleased 77Ws? How do they compare to the J in LX's A343s?

[Guy Betsy]

Just flew on an A321 from DXB to IST and an A320 from IST to HAM today.

Painful experience. Seats are the normal Y seats with middle seat blocked and a movable curtain.

I won't be flying on their narrow bodies fleet anytime soon. Cheap ticket or not.

Long haul, maybe yes.

[Desert Traveller]

I'll be flying TK from BKK to TLV in March after a wee break in S'pore. Has anyone flown the new J class on TK's A343s and also the other new J class on the wetleased 77Ws? How do they compare to the J in LX's A343s?

Dunno about the TK A343s, but their 77Ws are wet-leased from 9W. I haven't flown on any 9W aircraft, but the hardware is supposed to be pretty good.

[Guy Betsy]

Am scheduled to fly TK from DUB-IST-DXB. TA found a good deal for me which was combined with VS outbound DXB-LHR-DUB and it cost less than SQ-TK ticket on Y class.

Does anyone have any experience of the TK J class service?

Question - how would a SQ-TK ticket fit in here from Dublin ??

So you're going out on TK in J, but what about back on VS? VS doesn't fly LHR-DUB. Would that be on BD?

Am curious to know what your fare is ! But if TK is flying their regional aircraft, ie narrow bodied plane - bring an inflatable pillow! Those seats are hard to bear on any flight over 3 hours !

[stargold]

All this makes slightly frightening reading for my planned flights back to ICN from London:

LHR-IST in 77W F, IST-ICN in A340 C.

Have heard really mixed things about TK crew, although most of the TRs I've read on TOF and A.net say very good things about the food.

Looks like I'd be the only passenger in F on LHR-IST, and one of very, very few on IST-ICN if that makes any difference...

Should I go for the very mediocre but predictable alternatives like TG J or LH J ??

Edited to add: The only reason I'm having to debate this is because I'm trying to travel during OZ's redemption blackout period

[D.Usach]

Anyone flew TK J Class

Something any more on that theme has incurred me.