Turkish culture is known for its deep-rooted values of hospitality and cleanliness. Turkish customers are particularly vocal when these standards are not met because these two values are core to the cultural DNA. Turkish Airlines carries these cultural principles, consistently delivering great service and maintaining high standards of cleanliness.

I have earned and spent more than 6 million Miles&Smiles points, flying over 75 times from SFO and other airports directly to Istanbul since 2012. I have been an Elite Plus member for years and hold Star Alliance Gold status.

During my flights, I have rarely encountered any issues, and the crew of Turkish Airlines has been exceptionally kind. They consistently go above and beyond in providing excellent service. I’ve witnessed countless acts of kindness, such as helping crying babies, offering to assist with changing my daughter’s diaper, carrying elderly passengers, helping couples sit together even on fully booked flights, and comforting distressed passengers with genuine care and emotional support.

The crew also provides special care to unaccompanied minors by ensuring they feel safe and entertained, assists passengers with mobility challenges to ensure a seamless experience, and helps families traveling with young children by holding infants to give parents a moment to eat or rest. They’ve even surprised passengers celebrating milestones like honeymoons, anniversaries, or birthdays with thoughtful gestures such as handwritten notes or small treats.

Turkish Airlines is significantly cleaner than most other airlines I’ve flown. The Turkish crew frequently cleans the toilets and other parts of the plane far more thoroughly than other airlines I often use (AA, United, KLM, Delta, JetBlue, British). This dedication to cleanliness reflects the Turkish cultural emphasis on maintaining a welcoming and hygienic environment.

Despite its massive size and the vast number of locations it serves, Turkish Airlines’ crew and service are outstanding compared to many other airlines.

It’s surprising to see The New York Times criticize them when there are countless horror stories that could be written about other airlines. It’s easy to interpret this as a smear campaign targeting Turkish Airlines’. Similar smear campaigns have occurred before, and Turkish Airlines has only continued to thrive.