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FlightLogic is an independent, advertising-supported information service that lets you compare airlines, airports, hotels, and travel products. We do not provide financial advice and we do not recommend specific products or providers. Links marked * are advertising links and may earn us commission at no extra cost to you — always read the terms of any product before booking or applying. Learn more about how we make money.

Turkish Airlines vs United Airlines

Side-by-side policy and rating comparison — baggage, Wi-Fi, legroom, lounges, and loyalty programmes.

Verdict

Turkish Airlines scores higher on FlightLogic at 8.6/10 vs 7.7/10 for United Airlines. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Comparison data last updated 6 July 2026

Policy comparison

Structured operational tokens — verify current fare rules on each airline before booking.

Policy Turkish Airlines United Airlines
Cabin baggage IncludedIncluded
Checked baggage 20–30 kg internationalIntl often 1×23 kg; domestic fees apply
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial (messaging/select routes)Partial (messaging/select routes)
Economy seat pitch 31–32"30–31"
Loyalty programme Miles&SmilesMileagePlus
Lounge access Miles&Smiles lounges IST; Star Alliance GoldUnited Club / Polaris
Changes & refunds Flexible most intl faresNo change fees most fares; Basic Economy restricted

Individual profiles

Turkish Airlines

TK · Turkey

Expert Editorial Review

FlightLogic score: 8.6/10

United Airlines

UA · United States

Expert Editorial Review

FlightLogic score: 7.7/10

Editorial profiles

Turkey · TK/THY · #1 in this comparison

Turkish Airlines

Widen Your World

#6 Global 4-Star
8.6 / 10
Quick Answer

Turkish Airlines scores 8.6/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.2/10), ranking #6 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul.

Is Turkish Airlines a good airline?

Turkish Airlines scores 8.6/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #6 globally with a safety score of 9.2/10. Turkish Airlines offers the most countries served by any carrier, a stunning new Istanbul hub, and a compelling business class product at competitive fares. See full profile →

Overall 8.6 Excellent
Safety 9.2 Excellent Safety
Service 8.7 Cabin crew & ground
Value 9.0 Fare vs product
Star rating 4★ FlightLogic tier
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service
8.7
Seat Comfort
8.5
Food & Beverage
9.1
In-Flight Entertainment
8.0
On-Time Performance
8.2
Value for Money
9.0

Key facts

Hub
Istanbul (IST)
Alliance
star alliance
Founded
1933
Fleet
400 aircraft
Region
europe
IATA / ICAO
TK / THY

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage 20–30 kg international
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only
Economy seat pitch 31–32"
Lounge access Miles&Smiles lounges IST; Star Alliance Gold
Changes & refunds Flexible most intl fares
Loyalty programme Miles&Smiles

Strengths

  • 130+ country network
  • Miles&Smiles stopover program
  • Excellent Turkish cuisine

Weaknesses

  • IST walking distances between gates
  • Occasional baggage delays at peak season

Awards & recognition

  • Best Airline in Europe
  • Best Business Class Catering Europe

United States · UA/UAL · #2 in this comparison

United Airlines

Good leads the way

#17 Global 4-Star
7.7 / 10
Quick Answer

United Airlines scores 7.7/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.1/10), ranking #17 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul.

Is United Airlines a good airline?

United Airlines scores 7.7/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic, ranking #17 globally with a safety score of 9.1/10. United Airlines is a Star Alliance founding member with Polaris business class on long-haul, an extensive global network from Chicago, Newark, and San Francisco, and MileagePlus as a core loyalty programme for UK–US routings. See full profile →

Overall 7.7 Very Good
Safety 9.1 Excellent Safety
Service 7.8 Cabin crew & ground
Value 7.6 Fare vs product
Star rating 4★ FlightLogic tier
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service
7.8
Seat Comfort
8.1
Food & Beverage
7.2
In-Flight Entertainment
7.8
On-Time Performance
7.9
Value for Money
7.6

Key facts

Hub
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) / Newark (EWR) / San Francisco (SFO)
Alliance
star alliance
Founded
1926
Fleet
900 aircraft
Region
americas
IATA / ICAO
UA / UAL

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage Intl often 1×23 kg; domestic fees apply
In-flight Wi-Fi Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only
Economy seat pitch 30–31"
Lounge access United Club / Polaris
Changes & refunds No change fees most fares; Basic Economy restricted
Loyalty programme MileagePlus

Strengths

  • Polaris lounges and lie-flat business
  • Extensive Star Alliance network
  • Strong SFO and ORD hubs

Weaknesses

  • Basic Economy restrictions
  • Polaris product varies by aircraft age

Awards & recognition

  • Star Alliance founding member
  • Polaris business class

FAQ

Which is better — Turkish Airlines or United Airlines?

Turkish Airlines scores higher on FlightLogic at 8.6/10 vs 7.7/10 for United Airlines. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does Turkish Airlines or United Airlines include a carry-on bag?

Turkish Airlines: Included. United Airlines: Included.

Which has free Wi-Fi — Turkish Airlines or United Airlines?

Turkish Airlines: Partial (messaging/select routes). United Airlines: Partial (messaging/select routes).

Does Turkish Airlines include checked baggage?

Turkish Airlines checked baggage: 20–30 kg international.

Does United Airlines include checked baggage?

United Airlines checked baggage: Intl often 1×23 kg; domestic fees apply.