Turkish Airlines Business Class Boeing 737-800 Review (Luxembourg to Istanbul)

Can Turkish Airlines offer one of the best short-haul Business Class experiences in Europe? After flying Turkish Airlines Business Class from Luxembourg to Istanbul onboard a Boeing 737-800, the answer is very likely yes.

Unlike many European airlines that simply block the middle seat and call it Business Class, Turkish Airlines still offers a genuine premium short-haul product with wide recliner seats, proper inflight entertainment, Wi-Fi, quality catering, and attentive onboard service.

In this Turkish Airlines Business Class review, we cover the complete Boeing 737-800 experience from Luxembourg to Istanbul, including boarding, seating comfort, food and drinks, entertainment, Wi-Fi, service, and overall value for money.

Check-in and Boarding

Check-in at Luxembourg Airport took longer than expected, although this was largely due to airport operations rather than Turkish Airlines itself.

One disappointment for premium passengers is the lack of Fast Track security access at Luxembourg Airport for Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers. As a result, passengers still need to use the standard security lanes.

Boarding was technically organized by groups, but as is often the case in Luxembourg, enforcement was fairly relaxed and the process became somewhat chaotic once passengers started queueing freely.

Despite this, boarding itself was completed relatively efficiently.

Flight Experience

This evening flight between Luxembourg and Istanbul takes just under three hours, making it one of the longer intra-European routes where a proper Business Class product becomes particularly valuable.

Unlike many European carriers using standard Economy seats with a blocked middle seat, Turkish Airlines still operates genuine recliner-style Business Class seating on the Boeing 737-800.

Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 Business Class Seat

The seat is arguably one of the best short-haul Business Class seats currently available within Europe.

Turkish Airlines stands out by offering a true premium seat rather than simply blocking the adjacent seat as many competitors do. The wide recliner seats feel significantly closer to US Domestic First Class than to typical European Business Class products.

The seat itself is extremely comfortable, with generous padding and excellent adjustability.

Passengers can choose between multiple preset seating positions and fine-tune the recline according to their preferences.

The recline angle is particularly impressive for a narrow-body aircraft and allows for a far more relaxed seating position than what is typically found on short- and medium-haul European flights.

Additional features include a personal reading light, a sturdy tray table suitable for both dining and working, and individual air nozzles — a feature we always appreciate on modern aircraft.

While direct aisle access is naturally not available due to the 2-2 layout, the overall comfort level remains excellent for this type of route.

Food and Drinks

One of the highlights of the Turkish Airlines Business Class experience is the catering.

Even before departure, passengers are offered pre-departure beverages served in real glassware — something that has sadly become increasingly rare on short-haul flights within Europe.

Turkish Airlines offered a selection of flavored iced teas before departure, adding a noticeably more premium touch to the experience.

Once airborne, the airline clearly distinguishes itself from most European competitors with a proper multi-course meal service.

The service started with appetizers before moving to the main course and dessert. Presentation throughout the meal service was excellent, and most importantly, the food tasted genuinely good.

For a flight of under three hours, the quality and presentation of the catering were genuinely impressive.

Amenities

For additional comfort, each passenger receives a pillow and blanket, making it easier to relax during the evening flight.

Headphones are also distributed for use with the inflight entertainment system. While they are perfectly adequate for short-haul travel, they naturally do not match the quality of premium long-haul noise-cancelling headphones.

Beyond these basics, Turkish Airlines does not provide additional amenity kits on this route, which is perfectly understandable for a medium-haul European flight.

Entertainment and Wi-Fi

One area where Turkish Airlines truly stands out is inflight entertainment.

The personal entertainment screen folds out from the armrest. Although relatively compact due to the Boeing 737 cabin layout, simply having personal inflight entertainment on a European narrow-body aircraft already places Turkish Airlines ahead of many competitors.

In fact, very few European airlines still offer personal seatback entertainment screens on Boeing 737 aircraft.

The entertainment library itself was modern and well stocked, including movies, TV shows, and music.

In-flight Wi-Fi was also available and worked reliably throughout the journey, making it easy to stay connected during the flight.

The combination of proper seatback entertainment and Wi-Fi significantly improves the overall passenger experience on medium-haul European routes.

Service

The onboard service throughout the flight was excellent.

The Turkish Airlines cabin crew were professional, attentive, and genuinely friendly from boarding until arrival in Istanbul.

What stood out most was the proactive attitude of the crew. Cabin crew members regularly walked through the cabin asking passengers if they needed anything else, creating a noticeably more personal and attentive atmosphere than on most European carriers.

This strong service culture is one of the reasons Turkish Airlines continues to maintain such a strong reputation among frequent flyers.

Is Turkish Airlines Business Class Worth It?

Turkish Airlines Business Class on the Boeing 737-800 is easily among the strongest short-haul Business Class products currently available within Europe.

Unlike many European airlines offering little more than an Economy seat with a blocked middle seat, Turkish Airlines still provides a genuinely premium experience with comfortable recliner seating, proper inflight entertainment, Wi-Fi, excellent catering, and attentive service.

Considering that Turkish Airlines often sells very competitive Business Class fares, the overall value proposition becomes even more attractive.

Final Verdict: One of the best short-haul Business Class experiences in Europe.

You can find more information directly on the official Turkish Airlines website.

Note: All deals are personally verified and bookable directly with airlines or reputable travel partners. Prices and availability can change quickly, we never sell flights ourselves.