Review: Turkish Airlines Istanbul Arrivals Lounge

Introduction
Introduction Part Two
Planning & Booking
Sheraton JFK Airport
Lufthansa Business Class Lounge JFK
Turkish Airlines Business Class 777-300ER New York (JFK) to Istanbul
Turkish Airlines Istanbul Arrivals Lounge
St. Regis Istanbul
Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge Istanbul
Turkish Airlines Business Class A330-300 Istanbul to Male
Transfer from Male to Conrad Maldives
Conrad Maldives
Transfer from Conrad Maldives to Male
Singapore Airlines Business Class 777-200 Male to Singapore
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Singapore
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge to Singapore
Singapore Airlines Business Class 777-300ER Singapore to Tokyo (HND)
Andaz Tokyo
ANA Suite Lounge Tokyo (NRT)
ANA First Class 777-300ER Tokyo (NRT) to San Francisco

After a solid flight from New York, we eventually found our way to the Turkish arrivals lounge.  After customs, make a right and look for the Starbucks.  The lounge is to the left.

Entrance to the Turkish Airlines arrivals lounge

The lounge is relatively new and I didn't find much online in terms of pictures/services.  So I wasn't sure what to expect.  I had read that the lounge is only open until around 11AM so only open for a handful (TK4 from JFK) of US departures.


We were welcomed into the lounge (rather abruptly I might add) and were asked to store our bags at the front of the lounge.  We grabbed toiletries and headed to two of the six shower rooms.  The lounge was empty except for a couple of other people.  The shower rooms were a bit on the small side but equipped with a shower, (with rain showerhead) toilet, and sink along with towels, slippers, and robe.  So all in they were nicely appointed although I found the temperature in my shower room to be very warm.  It took awhile to cool off after my shower.

The rest of the lounge looks like a smaller version of the flagship CIP lounge we would visit later that evening.

There's a small food station along with a Nespresso and Turkish coffee and beverage case.  Seating was comfortable, there were numerous power outlets, and fast/free wifi.  Note the amazing wifi password.

All that you need in an arrivals lounge.  We grabbed a few bottles of water for the road and headed outside to grab a cab to the St. Regis.

Arrivals lounges are huge.  To be able to shower/eat/hydrate directly off a flight makes a big difference especially given the  unknown of an early hotel check-in.  Kudos to Turkish for investing in the lounge - not a reason to fly Turkish per se but certainly a big benefit.