--- title: "Turkish Airlines Business Class Review 2026:… | FlightLogic" description: "Turkish Airlines continues to offer some of the best value in business class from the UK, and putting a proper widebody 787 with a reverse herringbone seat on…" url: https://flightlogic.co.uk/reviews/turkish-airlines-787-business-lhr-ist/ lastModified: 2026-06-15 source: FlightLogic (flightlogic.co.uk) licence: "Content © Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd. Cite the URL above and the page author." --- *Links marked * may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not provide financial advice. How we make money .* # Turkish Airlines Business Class Review 2026: 787 LHR–IST Turkish Airlines continues to offer some of the best value in business class from the UK, and putting a proper widebody 787 with a reverse herringbone seat on a 4-hour London–Istanbul hop is a genuinely positive move. The seat, catering, and value verdict follows. ## Who should skip it Verdicts mean naming who this is NOT for. From this review's own findings: - IST terminal transfers involve long walks if connecting onward - Boarding process can feel disorganized **Route** LHR → IST **Aircraft** Boeing 787-9 **Cabin** Business Class **Flight Time** 3h 55m Turkish Airlines continues to offer some of the best value in business class from the UK, and putting a proper widebody 787 with a reverse herringbone seat on a 4-hour London–Istanbul hop is a genuinely positive move. The seat, catering, and value verdict follows. ## Pros - Reverse herringbone with direct aisle access — rare on a 4-hour European route - Authentic, generous mezze service - Fares well below London–Istanbul business class on legacy European carriers ## Room for Improvement - IST terminal transfers involve long walks if connecting onward - Boarding process can feel disorganized Booked and paid for with cash — FlightLogic does not accept press trips or comped stays unless explicitly disclosed here. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Turkish continues to offer one of the best business class values from the UK, and it starts with the aircraft: a widebody 787 with a proper reverse herringbone seat, on a sector barely four hours long. The Turkish mezze service is authentic and generous even at this length. I paid £540 round-trip business class LHR-IST on this route — roughly a third below comparable British Airways or Lufthansa short-haul business fares for the same dates, and those competitors typically fly a standard narrowbody economy seat with the middle blocked rather than a genuine widebody product. Turkish Miles&Smiles award space is also generous if you hold Star Alliance miles. The 787-9 business cabin uses a reverse herringbone layout with direct aisle access in every seat. Storage is adequate though not as generous as Qsuite, and the footwell is tight for taller passengers. On a sub-4-hour sector there is no pretence of a flat-bed sleep, but the seat is genuinely comfortable for working or resting upright. Catering opened with a proper Turkish mezze spread — hummus, baba ganoush, stuffed vine leaves, and warm bread — followed by a choice of lamb or sea bass mains, served at a pace that suited a short daytime sector rather than feeling rushed. The wine list skews Turkish and is genuinely interesting rather than an afterthought. The one weak point, if you are connecting onward rather than starting or ending your trip in Istanbul, is the airport itself. Even with business class fast track, the walk from the lounge to some gates exceeds 20 minutes, and peak-hour connections feel chaotic — build 90 minutes minimum for international transfers. As a point-to-point London–Istanbul business class product, though, Turkish delivers far above its fare class and well above what UK short-haul business normally buys. ## Before you pack — pre-trip essentials Flight and hotel links convert late. Finance, FX, insurance, and gear decisions happen weeks earlier — when professionals budget for long-haul stays. These picks fund FlightLogic without touching editorial scores. ### Budget the trip before you book flights Educational UK travel credit card comparisons — Avios, Virgin Points, lounge access, and Section 75 protection. FlightLogic does not earn commission on credit cards. ### Cover before you pack What UK travel insurance must cover for a flight booking, GHIC vs insurance, pre-existing condition screening, and FCA-authorised providers to get quotes from. ### Avios & companion vouchers Week-by-week educational roadmap for UK households — companion-voucher break-even maths, UK261 documentation, and how Avios cards fit a stack before your first long-haul. ## Plan the rest of your trip Flight affiliate margins are thin (~1–2%). These vetted ancillaries — insurance, stays, and experiences — fund FlightLogic without changing editorial scores. Links marked * may earn commission. ### Essential pre-flight logistics Protect equipment and secure medical cover for long-term professional stays in Istanbul. Subscription plans suit 30+ day assignments. Compare policies in our [UK travel insurance guide](https://flightlogic.co.uk/guides/compare-uk-travel-insurance/). [Affiliate policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#affiliate-links). [DMCC pricing](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#drip-pricing). ### Where you will work and sleep Serviced apartments and business hotels in Istanbul with flexible cancellation — often converts better than flight clicks alone. See [hotel booking: direct vs OTA](https://flightlogic.co.uk/guides/hotel-booking-direct-vs-ota-uk/). [Affiliate policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#affiliate-links). [DMCC pricing](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#drip-pricing). ### Book what AI overviews cannot Pre-book airport transfers and vetted day experiences in Istanbul — frees time between client meetings. Book experiences with verified cancellation terms. [Affiliate policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#affiliate-links). [DMCC pricing](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#drip-pricing). ### Is Turkish Airlines business class good from London? On the 787, yes — a genuine widebody reverse herringbone seat on a 4-hour London–Istanbul hop, strong Turkish catering, and competitive award pricing via Star Alliance make it one of the best-value short business class routes from the UK. ### Is Turkish Miles&Smiles good for business class? Miles&Smiles often prices LHR–IST business lower than partner programmes. Transfer from credit card points where supported, or earn on paid fares. ### How long is the layover in Istanbul when connecting onward? Depends on your booking — Turkish offers many connection times. The Istanbul Airport lounge (Turkish Business Lounge) rewards a 2–4 hour connection if you are continuing beyond IST. Written by [Marco Bellini](https://flightlogic.co.uk/authors/marco-bellini/) Editor, Europe & Lounges Marco is FlightLogic's lounge specialist, having reviewed first class terminals and independent Priority Pass lounges across four continents. He previously worked ground operations at Malpensa Airport. ## More Flight Reviews