Last year, Turkish Airlines updated their onboard business class product when they took receipt of their new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The new business class makes a much more private space for travelers and, while there are some little things that some may not like, it is definitely an upgrade over the old business class.
Turkish Airlines 787 Dreamliner and the New Business Class Arriving in Montreal
Review: The New Turkish Airlines Business Class on the 787
While I had published a post last year about the roll out of the new business class on the 787 and where it would be arriving, it seems that Turkish Airlines has changed some of those dates. For instance, I am no longer seeing any of the 3 daily JFK flights getting it when they were originally showing it arriving on one of those segments.
But, there was another city that just popped up to me during a different search and it is a route that I had not thought would be getting the Dreamliner treatment next. It is Montreal (YUL) to Istanbul and it will start having a 787 Dreamliner on that route as of Sunday, March 29.
This is not a daily route for Turkish Airlines. Instead, it operates from Montreal on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. Even with a mild schedule, there is still plenty of award space on this route! If you want to try out the new business class on the Boeing 787, this could be the best route for booking awards on! I am looking at dates over the next few months and just about every flight has award space open on this route!
Booking This Award
United Airlines charges 70,000 miles for the one-way business class award from North America to Europe. Aeroplan is probably the best bet since they charge 57,500 miles for North America to Turkey (but only 55,000 miles if you connect in Turkey and fly to someplace in western Europe) and they do not charge fuel surcharges on Turkish Airlines. You can transfer Membership Reward points to Aeroplan.
It’s not an upgrade over the old business class. It’s a downgrade. THY had the most spacious bed/seat in the industry. Regulars like me loved it. Now they have one of the most cramped. They’re already talking about changing them again, fortunately.
I have a comparison post I am working on now and I agree that I loved the space of the old one more. But, everything else about the new seat appealed to me. It felt more cramped but it was definitely more private (which I like – I have had some unique seat mates in the old one!) and had everything more at fingertip than the old one.