Turkish Airlines Economy Class Airbus A350 to Singapore

Our long-haul flight with Turkish Airlines Economy Class on the Airbus A350 took us from Istanbul to Singapore. A modern aircraft, Do & Co catering, and a comprehensive in-flight entertainment program sounded like solid prerequisites for a pleasant flight. In this review, we describe our experiences with booking, the cabin, the seat, the food on board, and the in-flight entertainment, and assess how well Economy Class actually performed on this route.

How did we book our flight?

We booked our flight directly through the Turkish Airlines website. We did this deliberately, as we'd usually found the best price there in the past, and, more importantly, the booking class was clearly displayed. This was important to us because we wanted to get a good balance between the ticket price and the frequent flyer miles we'd earn. As is now common with many airlines, Turkish Airlines also charged an additional fee for seat reservations in Economy Class. We decided against this and opted to wait for the automatic seat assignment during online check-in.

We checked in online 24 hours before departure for our connecting flight from Berlin to Istanbul and our long-haul flight to Singapore. We were automatically assigned seats 22H, 22J, and 22K – three adjacent seats on the right side of the Airbus A350. Changing seats later would have been possible, but would have cost €15 per person. We decided against it, as the assigned seats suited us well, and we were eager to experience the flight.

What are the cabin and seat like in the Turkish Airlines Economy Class Airbus A350?

The Airbus A350-900 (registration TC-LHG) used on our flight was practically brand new. Turkish Airlines had taken delivery of the aircraft in June 2025, but our flight to Singapore didn't take place until October. Accordingly, the Economy Class cabin, consisting of two sections, was quite modern. The first section was located directly behind Business Class and extended from row 9 to row 27, the second from row 28 to row 42.

A total of 297 economy class seats were installed. Turkish Airlines used TSI Epianka seats configured in a 3-3-3 layout. Three seats were located on each side of the aisle, with another block of three seats in the center. The center block was slightly offset forward, visually opening up the cabin and giving it a more modern appearance. However, this did little to change the overall feeling of spaciousness – it remained a classic economy configuration for long-haul flights.

The seats, upholstered in gray fabric, featured height-adjustable and laterally folding headrests trimmed in dark gray leather. With a seat width of approximately 46 centimeters (18 inches), they offered a solid dimension for this class. The seat pitch was about 79 centimeters (31 inches), which was perfectly adequate for our long-haul flight. The backrest reclined by about eight centimeters (three inches), providing at least some additional comfort for relaxing or sleeping. The seat itself had a large pocket and two smaller compartments, which could accommodate a smartphone or other small items.

The folding table, however, didn't quite convince us. At least at my seat, it didn't seem particularly stable and offered limited depth. It was adequate for the onboard meal, but rather unsuitable for working with a laptop.

We were pleasantly surprised by the amenities at our seats during boarding. A blanket and pillow were already laid out, and we also received headphones and an amenity kit. The contents, which were surprisingly comprehensive for economy class, included a sleep mask, socks, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and even simple slippers and earplugs.

What food and drinks are available in Turkish Airlines Economy Class?

Immediately after takeoff, the crew distributed bottles of still water. Shortly afterward, we received the menu for the flight, which we always appreciate as a nice touch. Two meals were scheduled for this long-haul flight: dinner after takeoff from Istanbul and breakfast before landing in Singapore. The catering was provided by Do & Co, which is standard practice for Turkish Airlines and generally guarantees above-average quality.

For dinner, there were three hot main courses to choose from. There was braised beef with broccoli, carrots, creamed corn, and thyme jus; grilled swordfish with eggplant, tomatoes, and mashed potatoes with lemon-parsley butter; and rigatoni with mozzarella in a slow-cooked tomato sauce. I opted for the pasta, and it was an excellent choice. The rigatoni was surprisingly flavorful and well-seasoned. For starters, there was smoked salmon and a portion of hummus with roasted pepper. The meal was rounded off with a chocolate mousse for dessert.

It's worth mentioning, however, that the service was slow. The actual meal service didn't begin until about an hour and a half after takeoff, and then dragged on for almost another hour. By that point, only about seven of the nearly ten hours of flight time remained, which is why we felt it was quite late.

Breakfast was served before landing. It began with a fresh fruit salad, accompanied by smoked turkey, Kasar cheese, black olives, and a bowl of strawberries. Jam, butter, and a selection of freshly baked bread rounded out the breakfast. For the hot dishes, there was a choice between an omelet with roasted mushrooms, a Turkish pastry called Su Böreği with cheese and spinach, topped with a grilled tomato, or homemade banana pancakes with vanilla sauce and berry compote. I opted for the pancakes and was very pleased. They were pleasantly fluffy and delicious.

The meals were served on small black plastic trays. The individual dishes came in attractive plastic bowls, and there was even proper metal cutlery, albeit very thin. For economy class, we found this quite positive.

Small snacks like chocolate, salted crackers, and roasted peanuts were distributed throughout the flight. The beverage selection was generally decent. Besides water, cola, and milk, there were various juices, such as orange, apple, and sour cherry, as well as ayran. Classic soft drinks like Fanta were missing, however. Turkish Airlines offered homemade lemonades with fresh mint and non-alcoholic mocktails like apple spritz and mango spritz. Hot drinks such as coffee and various teas were also available. Alcoholic beverages included two white and two red wines, as well as Turkish Efes and Heineken beer. Spirits were not served in Economy Class.

What is the in-flight entertainment like in Turkish Airlines Economy Class on the Airbus A350?

The in-flight entertainment in Turkish Airlines Economy Class on the Airbus A350 made a very good impression on us. A large HD monitor was integrated into the seatback in front, which could be operated precisely and smoothly via touchscreen. The display was sharp, the response times were short, and overall the system felt modern and well-designed.

The extensive selection of films and series could be filtered by genre, new releases, or language. In addition to feature films and TV series, there was also music and games, as well as a dedicated children's area, which was particularly useful on long flights. Turkish Airlines even offered live TV, including CNN, which we hadn't necessarily expected in economy class.

The Airbus A350's camera system was a real highlight. A total of three external cameras were available: one facing forward, one facing downward, and one at the rear. This provided particularly exciting perspectives during takeoff and flight, which we frequently revisited.

The "Companion Entertainment" app allowed users to connect their smartphone to the onboard monitor and stream content from it. We didn't try this feature ourselves, but found it a practical option. Directly on the screen were a USB-A and a USB-C port for charging personal devices, as well as a standard headphone jack.

Wi-Fi was also available on board and even worked on the ground during our flight. Business Class passengers and members of the Turkish Airlines frequent flyer program Miles & Smiles received 250 MB of free data in Economy Class. Registration was also possible during the flight. Overall, the in-flight entertainment on the Airbus A350 felt modern and was well-suited to a contemporary long-haul flight.

Did you like this article? Then share it on social media! This way you'll be supporting our work. We also welcome your opinion in the Comments.