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Is food free on Turkish Airlines? Yes, all meals and drinks are included!

Planning an international trip on Turkish Airlines? The good news is that food and beverages are complimentary during your flight!

Turkish Airlines offers unlimited complimentary meals, snacks, drinks, alcohol, and more to all passengers. This fantastic inclusiveness sets them apart from other global carriers.

So you can sit back, relax and enjoy the free food and drinks as you jet set across the world on Turkish Airlines. The excellent service will help make even the longest journeys more pleasant.

An amazing array of free inflight dining

According to Turkish Airlines‘ website, their world-class chefs specially design menus that fuse Turkish and international cuisines to create a mouth-watering inflight dining experience.

The airline serves a staggering 60+ million meals on 300,000 flights annually. That‘s over 164,000 meals a day! This enormous, complex catering operation aims to showcase the very best of Turkish hospitality.

The menus cycle through a range of over 20 different meal options that vary by flight duration and destination. Dishes feature fresh, seasonal ingredients and reflect regional tastes.

So even if you fly with Turkish Airlines regularly, you‘ll enjoy a wide array of delicious and creative meals.

Economy class

In economy class, expect freshly prepared hot meals served on porcelain plates, not plastic containers like on some airlines.

On flights over 5 hours, you‘ll be served a full meal including an appetizer or salad, main course, dessert, and bread basket. Turkish Airlines really does feed you well in economy!

For example, sample dinner entrees include:

  • Grilled beef steak with pepper sauce, noodles, and vegetables

  • Baked grouper fillet with lemon butter sauce, rice, and sauteed spinach

  • Cheese and herb omelette with home fries, grilled tomato, and cucumber yogurt

Tasteful a la carte options are also available to preorder if desired.

On ultra long haul routes over 10 hours like Istanbul to Los Angeles or New York, two full meals are served.

Business class

Business class takes the inflight dining experience up a notch.

You‘ll be welcomed with Turkish mezzes like stuffed vine leaves, tomato ezme, tabouli salad, and cacık (yogurt with cucumber and garlic).

Main courses highlight Turkish cuisine‘s most flavorful lamb, chicken, and seafood dishes. Examples include:

  • Chargrilled lamb kebab on bulgur pilaf

  • Sauteed shrimp on vanilla parmesan risotto

  • Grilled chicken thigh with tomato ragout and sautéed veggies

For the final delicious touch, desserts like baklava, milk pudding, and chocolate mousse round out the meal service.

On overnight flights over 8 hours, business class passengers can pre-select their main course. Sleep soundly after enjoying a restaurant-quality dinner at 35,000 feet!

First class

First class dining on Turkish Airlines reaches luxury cruise ship levels.

Enjoy exclusive a la carte dining with menu choices presented in person by a chef. Start off with Turkish mezzes and salads from the appetizer trolley.

Then delight in main courses like pan-seared sea bass, lamb chop with mint sauce, or lobster thermidor – all expertly prepared to order.

Finish with decadent desserts from the pastry cart, like chocolate hazelnut cake, cheesecake, and fruit tarts. Turkish coffee, tea, and liquor are also unlimited in first class.

On routes like Istanbul to Tokyo, you can savor multiple meals, snacks, and premium beverages as you relax in your suite in the sky.

Free alcohol and drinks from welcome to landing

Beverages always flow freely in the skies with Turkish Airlines.

As soon as you board an international flight, you‘ll be greeted with a welcome drink. Options include juice, wine, champagne, rakı, whiskey and Turkish tea. What a delightful way to start your journey!

During meal services, wine, beer, liquor, soft drinks, juices, tea, and coffee are unlimited and complimentary.

In between meals, beverages are served upon request. Flight attendants regularly walk through the cabin with drink carts.

Flight DurationWelcome DrinkMealsBeverage Services
0-2 hours1
3-4 hours12
5-7 hours1-23
8+ hours2-35+

Table shows number of free drink servings provided based on flight length

With this frequency of beverage service, your glass can stay full on long journeys if desired.

For ultimate convenience, you can even order drinks from your seatback screen. Flight attendants will deliver orders directly to you.

Pro tip: Avoid drinking too much caffeine or alcohol which can dehydrate you on long flights. Stay hydrated with water and juice.

Packing food and drinks in carry-ons

You‘re probably wondering – with all the free food and drinks in flight, should you bother bringing your own?

The answer is it‘s completely up to you and your preferences!

If you want food and drinks from home, you can absolutely pack them in your carry-on bag. But be aware of TSA liquid rules:

  • All gels, liquids and aerosols must be in containers 3.4 oz or smaller.

  • Pack them together in a single quart-sized plastic zip-top bag. This is your "liquids bag."

  • Take food items out of your bag when going through security screening.

Some smart things to pack in your carry-on:

  • Protein or granola bars

  • Dried fruit and nuts

  • Sandwich wraps if kept refrigerated until boarding

  • An empty reusable water bottle to fill post-security

  • Tea bags or instant coffee to make onboard

Avoid overpacking. Remember – Turkish Airlines serves very nice free meals and drinks during flight. But if having your own snacks and beverages eases travel anxiety, by all means bring them!

Tips for surviving and thriving on long flights

Let‘s switch gears and talk comfort. How do you handle marathons like the 15 hour haul between Los Angeles and Istanbul?

Here are pro tips from frequent travelers and Turkish Airlines crew members on staying rested and sane:

Upgrade your seat

If possible, upgrade to premium economy, business or first class for extra legroom, recline, and special amenities.

When reserving your flight, you can bid for upgrade seats. At the airport, last minute upgrades are sometimes available.

Exit row and bulkhead seats also provide more space for your legs and feet.

Pack smartly

Bring noise-cancelling headphones, eye masks, earplugs, neck pillows, blankets, comfy socks, and anything else that helps you rest.

Wear loose, layered clothing for easy temperature adjustments. Stay hydrated and avoid overeating or drinking.

Get up and stretch

Take short walks up and down the aisle every couple hours to improve circulation in your legs. Do light stretches in your seat too.

Turkish Airlines crews suggest calf raises, ankle rolls, toe wiggles, neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and deep breathing.

Entertain yourself

Distract yourself from the long flight duration with movies, games, books, podcasts, music playlists, chatting with neighbors and more.

Turkish Airlines has hundreds of entertainment options on their state of the art inflight system. You can even create personalized playlists before your flight.

The Turkish Airlines app lets you preview entertainment options and set reminders for when meal services will occur.

Focus on the joy of arrival

Keep the happiness and excitement of your upcoming destination front and center in your mind. Before you know it, you‘ll be landing!

The miles disappear quicker when you stay positive, well-fed and entertained. And on Turkish Airlines, comfort and hospitality make even the longest treks pleasant.

You‘re in for a wonderful journey

I hope this overview helps you understand and get excited about the complimentary dining experience on Turkish Airlines.

When you fly with them, you can expect delicious chef-prepared meals, unlimited drinks, stellar service, and tips to stay cozy during long flights.

So pack your bags, pick your inflight meals, and get ready to soak up the majesty of flying with one of the world‘s top airlines. From the free food and drinks to the warm hospitality, you‘re in for a treat!

Let me know if you have any other questions as you plan your Turkish Airlines adventure. I‘m happy to help any way I can, my friend! Safe travels and ‘gule gule‘!

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.