The tight competition among airlines to convince passengers to dig deeper into their wallets for business class has gone beyond the comfort of flat-bed seats or a complimentary glass of champagne.
At least two things left a strong impression when I took Turkish Airlines' Business class on a trip to Croatia: its impressive dinner and, of course, the lounge at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.
It was not my first trip in Business class, but I must say the Turkish carrier stood out for going the extra mile in making the 13-hour Jakarta-Istanbul trip not just tolerable but comfortable.
The minute I boarded the plane, I was greeted by the warm smiles of the stewardesses as one of them escorted me to my seat and helped me settled in.
The flat bed was spacious and the legroom, with an ottoman at my feet, definitely provided much more space to stretch out. The ottoman was a pleasant surprise, since I could store my bag, laptop and other things I needed during the flight beneath it, so I didn't have to constantly get up to retrieve them from my luggage in the overhead compartment.
The seat controls also provided a variety of comfortable positions, whether you wanted to transform your seat into a full flat bed with a complimentary pillow (yes, a real pillow) and a warm blanket, just like at home.
Or, you could simply stretch out to enjoy your meal or watch newly released films just a touchscreen away, equipped with the provided noise canceling Denon headphones. Under the armrest, a USB port allows you to charge your cell phone during the trip.
The plane also comes with a designated prayer space for Muslim passengers, a service that probably makes the airline a favorite among Indonesians for their umrah (minor haj) trip.
Turkish Airlines regional commercial manager Nevin Ekiz Bolat explained that Indonesia was an important market, with the airline showing increasing market performance for the past 1.5 years among both umrah and regular passengers.
"The number of passengers flying from Indonesia with Turkish Airlines has increased by 23 percent in 2017 compared to 2016," she said, adding that the airline had opened its direct Jakarta-Isanbul route in May 2015.
The airline, she said, also worked with partner agencies on trips, including for umrah. "(We want) to offer the best flight experience for our customers on their way to pilgrimage destinations," Bolat said.
The dining experience stood out the most. It's not just that the food was delicious and probably the best I've ever had on a plane, but its overall presentation made it a memorable experience.
Instead of handing each passenger a menu, the flight's Sky Chef introduced himself, explaining the dning options that evening and offering his recommendations for dishes to suit individual tastes. "If you're not sure, I can serve you everything," the chef told me.
Passengers can also place their breakfast order, the menu for which is customized like the ones found in a hotel room, before turning in for the night.
That evening, I decided to start off with a Turkish tea that came with mixed nuts, a staple of tradiional Turkish hospitality. If you're not into a cup of tea, a wide selection of other beverages are also available, from fresh juices to alcoholic cocktails.
After that, the dining service started flowing, from a selection of warm breads served with a butter, a bottle of olive oil and mixed spices.
Then came the appetizers, from chicken Caesar salad, Mediterranian seafood to creamy soups, which the chef presented on a cart that made it easier to choose from. Your selected appetizer would then be served on smooth porcelain plates.
A selection of meats, seafood with pasta and a vegetarian dish were offered for the main course. Since it was already past my regular dinner-time, I went for pasta with shrimp that tasted like something from a fine dining restaurant.
A nice touch came with my main course: a candle bearing the motto, "candlelight dinner high above the clouds." The electric candle is just a tiny LED lamp but, personally, it's one of the little details that brought a smile to my face and helped me sleep comfortably all the way to Istanbul.
Steve Emilia
The Jakarta Post/Istanbul
At least two things left a strong impression when I took Turkish Airlines' Business class on a trip to Croatia: its impressive dinner and, of course, the lounge at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.
It was not my first trip in Business class, but I must say the Turkish carrier stood out for going the extra mile in making the 13-hour Jakarta-Istanbul trip not just tolerable but comfortable.
The minute I boarded the plane, I was greeted by the warm smiles of the stewardesses as one of them escorted me to my seat and helped me settled in.
The flat bed was spacious and the legroom, with an ottoman at my feet, definitely provided much more space to stretch out. The ottoman was a pleasant surprise, since I could store my bag, laptop and other things I needed during the flight beneath it, so I didn't have to constantly get up to retrieve them from my luggage in the overhead compartment.
The seat controls also provided a variety of comfortable positions, whether you wanted to transform your seat into a full flat bed with a complimentary pillow (yes, a real pillow) and a warm blanket, just like at home.
Or, you could simply stretch out to enjoy your meal or watch newly released films just a touchscreen away, equipped with the provided noise canceling Denon headphones. Under the armrest, a USB port allows you to charge your cell phone during the trip.
The plane also comes with a designated prayer space for Muslim passengers, a service that probably makes the airline a favorite among Indonesians for their umrah (minor haj) trip.
Turkish Airlines regional commercial manager Nevin Ekiz Bolat explained that Indonesia was an important market, with the airline showing increasing market performance for the past 1.5 years among both umrah and regular passengers.
"The number of passengers flying from Indonesia with Turkish Airlines has increased by 23 percent in 2017 compared to 2016," she said, adding that the airline had opened its direct Jakarta-Isanbul route in May 2015.
The airline, she said, also worked with partner agencies on trips, including for umrah. "(We want) to offer the best flight experience for our customers on their way to pilgrimage destinations," Bolat said.
The dining experience stood out the most. It's not just that the food was delicious and probably the best I've ever had on a plane, but its overall presentation made it a memorable experience.
Instead of handing each passenger a menu, the flight's Sky Chef introduced himself, explaining the dning options that evening and offering his recommendations for dishes to suit individual tastes. "If you're not sure, I can serve you everything," the chef told me.
Passengers can also place their breakfast order, the menu for which is customized like the ones found in a hotel room, before turning in for the night.
That evening, I decided to start off with a Turkish tea that came with mixed nuts, a staple of tradiional Turkish hospitality. If you're not into a cup of tea, a wide selection of other beverages are also available, from fresh juices to alcoholic cocktails.
After that, the dining service started flowing, from a selection of warm breads served with a butter, a bottle of olive oil and mixed spices.
Then came the appetizers, from chicken Caesar salad, Mediterranian seafood to creamy soups, which the chef presented on a cart that made it easier to choose from. Your selected appetizer would then be served on smooth porcelain plates.
A selection of meats, seafood with pasta and a vegetarian dish were offered for the main course. Since it was already past my regular dinner-time, I went for pasta with shrimp that tasted like something from a fine dining restaurant.
A nice touch came with my main course: a candle bearing the motto, "candlelight dinner high above the clouds." The electric candle is just a tiny LED lamp but, personally, it's one of the little details that brought a smile to my face and helped me sleep comfortably all the way to Istanbul.
Steve Emilia
The Jakarta Post/Istanbul
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