# Turkish Airlines (Regional) Business Class Review Istanbul (IST) to Bishkek (FRU)

Riley Quinn · May 19, 2015

> Trip Index (what we have published so far): Top 10 things to do Guam and what to expect Photo Review Intramuros, Manila, Philippines – and the best place…

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[caption id="attachment_16592" align="alignnone" width="900"][http://p.mightytravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/19112553/IMG_3367-big.jpg](http://p.mightytravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/19112553/IMG_3367-big.jpg) Turkish Airlines (Regional) Business Class Review Istanbul (IST) to Bishkek (FRU)[/caption]

My layover in Istanbul had been cut short because of the delay getting into Istanbul from Seoul. I was determined to see how the [Turkish Airways Lounge in Istanbul](http://www.mightytravels.com/2013/04/turkish-airlines-thy-lounge-istanbul-review/) had been updated since my last visit.

## CIP Lounge impressions before my Turkish Airlines (Regional) Business Class (Review)

[https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNjYtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg](https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNjYtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg)

[https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNjgtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg](https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNjgtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg)
The lounge looks and works much the same as my last visit last year ([Istanbul CIP Lounge Review](http://www.mightytravels.com/2014/06/turkish-airlines-cip-lounge-renovated-istanbul-review/)). It was a little less crowded this time, with much more space available. I felt the quality of the catering had gone down, though - in fact, most items were initially completely unavailable (the pastries, pizza and kebabs). Once I got some kebabs, I felt they tasted awful - no comparison to the great food that I used to have there.

Don't get me wrong - it is still one of the best (and maybe the best) Star Alliance Gold lounge, but it's not as great as it was just 12 months ago. It's a high standard they have to keep up.

## My flight with Turkish Airlines (Regional) Business Class (Review)

Since the boarding gates at Istanbul Airport are always so far out (I always get a bus gate - I swear), I watched the boarding time closely and started walking towards the gate early.

Once I got there, boarding was well under way and I got on-board quickly.

My assigned business class seat seemed to have a broken footrest, but out of the 16 business class seats, only 3 including mine would be utilized. So I switched into 1A again and waited patiently while we lined up for a long taxiing.

[https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNjktYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg](https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNjktYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg)

[https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNzAtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg](https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNzAtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg)

[https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNzEtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg](https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNzEtYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg)

[https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNzItYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg](https://cdn.mightytravels.com/creative/czM6Ly9taWdodHl0cmF2ZWxzLW9sZC1iYWNrdXAtb25seS9iYWNrdXAtZm9sZGVyLWltZy90ay1yZXZpZXctSUkvSU1HXzMzNzItYmlnLkpQRw==arr.jpg)
Service started very quickly - we had barely started out over the the Black Sea and I had my favorite Turkish appetizers on my table. Again, the flight attendants barely spoke English, but delivered a fast service. It almost seems like they are being compensated based on service times, but not on anything else.

After a glass of champagne, I gave in to my sleep deprivation and fell asleep right away until we were just 2 minutes away from Bishkek. The seat reclined quite far - I'd say 45 degrees at least - and I had no back pain whatsoever. In fact, I slept very well in those recliner seats - much better than I'd expected.

Arrival in Bishkek was quick and easy. The airport has invested in a couple of Cobus low-floor airport buses and immigration is surprisingly quick. I equipped myself with a local SIM card, exchanged some money and accepted an offer for the 500 Som ($9) ride to the town of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

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