Turkish Airlines: The best kept secret in air travel!

<p>I recently attended a leadership conference with the Project Management Institute in Rome, Italy. I booked a flight on Turkish Airlines as it was the cheapest from Cape Town, South Africa and I was not sure what to expect. </p> <p>There was a 12 hour stopover in Istanbul which I didn't mind as I'd never visited Turkey before and I planned to spend the 12 hours visiting the city. After Googling "what to do in Istanbul for 12 hours' I saw a Tripadvisor post on TourIstanbul, a free service provided for Turkish Air travellers who have stopovers in Istanbul for longer than 6 hours. Investigating further I found the weekly tour itenerary, map and instructions on the Turkish Airlines website, and knowing I'd be there on a Thursday, was able to choose the tour I wanted to join. </p> <p> </p> <p>The flight itself was comfortable, great food and business-class treatment (a toiletry bag with slippers, toothbrush and lip balm as well as free wifi and an excellent in-flight entertainment line-up). </p> <p> </p> <p>On arrival at Ataturk Airport and after going through passport control, I enquired as to where to go and was directed to the Hotel Desk which is next to the Starbucks as you exit the airport. I presented myself and my boarding pass for the next flight which was taken by a friendly attendant and then I joined the rest of the expectant travellers waiting at the Starbucks, listening to some really good music. Unfortunately the Starbucks Wifi was down but the seats were a comfortable after the long flight.</p> <p> </p> <p>Not 15 minutes later I was called by name with the other approximately 20 travellers, given a turquise TourIstanbul branded buff to wear (so as to identify ourselves as part of the tour group) and off we went on a 6 hour guided walking tour of Istanbul. </p> <p>Just outside the aiport we were led to and boarded two luxurious small tour coaches, after being introduced to our tour-guide and reassured numerous times that even if we were in two busses, we would not be separated and could rest assured that we were in good hands. </p> <p>The drive into town was about 20 minutes by bus along the water's edge and I was amazed at how clean, tidy and beautiful Istanbul was despite the robust development of waterside hotels and apartment blocks - it was late April and there were flowers blooming everywhere, mostly tulips. </p> <p> </p> <p>The bus took us to the old city where we were given breakfast at a restaurant on a small alley selling local wares, then enjoyed a guided walk through the Old City and Sultanahmet Square where the hippodrome stood in ancient times. We visited the Blue Mosque, the Hagya Sophia Museum and then had a superb traditional lunch of the best Istanbul Meat***** at a 4 story traditional restaurant called <em>Tarihi Sultanahmet Koftecisi</em> which was established in 1920 and was packed with both locals and tourists. I see from a Google search that on Tripadvisor it is rated #116 out of 12937 restaurants in Istanbul. </p> <p> </p> <p>What was really great about the tour is that we entered the Blue Mosque and the Hagya Sophia Museum without having to stand in a line like the rest of the tourists. </p> <p> </p> <p>I wasn't sure what to expect from the TourIstanbul guided walking tour, as it was free, but nothing could have prepared me for the excellent service, the great food, the fare-paying tourist treatment, great personality and astounding knowledge of our guide who I think was named the Turkish version of John. After that lengthy and informative and very tasty guided tour, those of us that had a 5pm flight were guided to one of the busses and returned to the airport where we arrived at 3pm. The others who had a later flight continued with John to more tourist destinations and shopping. </p> <p> </p> <p>As I waited to board my flight to Rome, 12 hours after I had landed in Istanbul, I reflected on what I had just experienced and what that meant for other airlines and how they market themselves. I've always believed that the best marketing is done by consumers who experience your brand and evangelise about it through word of mouth. This is the first time I have felt moved to evangelise about an airline, and I have not stopped sharing my great experience of Turkish Airlines and their fantastic TourIstanbul initiative with all and sundry that I meet. </p> <p> </p> <p>Turkish Airlines have transformed the traditionally dreaded and exhausting airport stopover into a desireable benefit and yet another reason to fly Turkish Air. Talk about having the competitive edge... I look forward to seeing other airlines follow suit, assuming they have the foresight? </p>