Turkish Airlines Business Class 787-9 Review: Best in Class?

What’s it really like onboard Turkish Airlines Business Class 787-9?

When Turkish Airlines announced they were flying their brand new 787–9 direct to Vancouver, I booked one of the first flights out of town. I love Turkish Airlines business class and couldn’t wait to try out their fantastic service from my home base…and then the pandemic happened.

Fast forward a few years and I’m picking up where I left off, sort of. This is my much anticipated Turkish Airlines business class review, this time in their 787-9 between Panama City and Istanbul.

Is Turkish Airlines 787 Bussiness Class the best in class? Let’s find out.

Turkish Airlines Business Class 787-9 Check-In

Check-in at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport was very breezy. I was the only one at the Turkish Air business class check-in counter and getting through security took minutes. From there I went and checked out the Copa Club, the only business class lounge in the airport. It was pretty underwhelming, especially with the service Turkish Airlines puts forward. It is very crowded and food is limited to a few snacks. I wouldn’t let this get you down if you are flying Turkish Airlines. Their meal service is fantastic so worth it to wait to eat anyway!

What Are Turkish Airlines 787-9 Business Class Seats Like?

Turkish Airlines 787–9 business class is configured in 1-2-1 with alternating window and aisle alignment on either end. If you are looking for more privacy, selecting an even-numbered row will get you a seat against the window. This gives a bit of a buffer against the aisle traffic.

For this Turkish Airlines business class review, I chose seat 4K.

Overall, the look of the business cabin and seats are very stylish with black, dark greys, and gold accents.

I settled into my seat and immediately found out how well thought out they were. First, there are touch controls for the seat adjustments, lights, and call button/do not disturb.

Just above that is a small storage cubby perfect for a book or amenity kit – more on that later. Also inside the cubby, you will find a power outlet along with a USB charging port.

To the right of the storage and power cubby is a hook for hanging your headphones on which I think is very slick.

In front of the seat and to the left is a storage pocket where I placed my laptop and notebook. To the right of that is a footwell with another storage cubby underneath. The footwell itself is deep. I was able to keep my camera bag and shoes tucked in there with no problem.

Overall I found the seats spacious and very comfortable. As per SeatGuru, the pitch is 109 cm/43″ with a bed length of 93 cm/76″ and width of 51 cm/20.1″ With a thin pad added I found this very cosy and had no issues stretching out and sleeping. For reference, I am 6 feet tall.

What is Turkish Airlines Business Class Inflight Entertainment Like?

The seat isn’t the only well-thought-out part of this Turkish Air 787–9 business class product. The in-flight entertainment starts with a big and bright 4K screen. With a few touches, you have access to an impressive catalogue of new release movies, TV shows, and documentaries as well as several games and a library of music. To take it all in, Turkish Air provides noise-cancelling headphones by Denon.

Since I packed light and was travelling carry-on only, I didn’t bring my Bose headphones so this was a happy option to have.

On top of that, the system has the capability to pair and screen share from your personal device. This makes the inflight entertainment system that much more accessible.

Wi-Fi

To my surprise, the Turkish Air 787–9 business class includes one gigabyte of in-flight Wi-Fi. Although it tested fast at 27MB down and 5MB up, the service was spotty. I never really fault this because the novelty of watching cat videos at 35,000 feet will never grow old to me.

That said, in-flight WiFi is typically best used for light emails and messaging services.

What Are Turkish Airlines Business Class Service and Amenities Like?

Service on this Turkish Airlines 787–9 was also tops and began with a hot towel and freshly squeezed juice. I would’ve preferred a cold towel given I spent the day in the Panama heat but was still nice to have.

Staff were attentive throughout the flight but never overbearing which is definitely a skill. Highlights included nailing my drink order of a gin and tonic then a malbec with dinner, something I forgot I asked for on takeoff.

They also made my bed when I went to brush my teeth, something welcomed after being up for 24-hours straight.

Amenities Kit

Speaking of brushing my teeth, the Turkish Airlines business class 787–9 amenities kit is, again, tops. Supplied by Versace, highlights include Versace products such as face mist and cologne as well as a plush sleep mask. Slippers are a welcome addition to the amenities as are the plush comforter and pillows.

Turkish Airlines 787 Business Class Food and Drink

Before tucking into bed, we need to talk about the food!

The main reason I was so keen to fly Turkish Airlines again is that, in my opinion, they serve the best food in the sky. This Turkish Airline 787–9 business class review included a great Turkish mezze, sauteed mushroom soup, and a fillet of beef. The latter was slightly overdone but forgivable.

The wine list is also great and features Turkish and international wines as well as Port.

My meal service concluded with a selection of Turkish desserts along with Turkish coffee. All of this was accompanied by an LED candle which I thought was a unique touch.

Before landing in Istanbul breakfast was served. This was highlighted by fresh fruit and the best “sky cakes” I’ve had to date. Sorry Air Canada, you’ve been dethroned!

Wrapping up this Turkish Airlines Business Class Review

The perfection of every trip lies not just in the scenery and food but also in the details. A simple way to enhance your journey is with Custom Luggage Tags—practical accessories that add both security and a personal touch. You can engrave your name, contact info, or even a QR code for quick identification. For extra flair, add a lucky symbol or a landmark from your destination.

With thoughtful details like these, every trip becomes smoother—allowing you to focus on the experiences ahead. For instance, my journey to Istanbul was seamless, thanks to Turkish Airlines Business Class.

With a belly full of Turkish treats and a cozy, spacious bed, I arrived in Istanbul well-rested and ready to take on the next leg of my adventure. Turkish Airlines consistently offers some of the best service in the sky, reflecting the same warmth and hospitality found throughout Turkey and makes visiting that much more special.

That said, is Turkish Airlines’ 787 Business Class truly the best? For me, not quite. While it’s certainly excellent, I found the service on Oman Air’s 787-9 and ANA’s 787-9 to be superior due to their more attentive staff, food, and amenities. Of course, this is based on personal experience—so if you feel differently, let me know in the comments below!

What say you?
Thoughts on this Turkish Airlines Business Class 787-9 Review?
Let’s hear it!

For more luxury travel reviews from business class and beyond see HERE.