Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Domestic

The Turkish Airlines domestic CIP Lounge at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International airport is located within the VIP Terminal, a standalone building a few hundred yards away from the main terminal. (The Turkish Airlines international lounge, however, is located within the terminal itself.)

The VIP Terminal has full check-in, baggage drop, and security facilities. It is not necessary to check-in at the main terminal first. Passengers are driven to their aircraft directly from the lounge on a comfortable and roomy CIP bus.

Customers flying Anadolujet, Turkish Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, may purchase access to the CIP lounge for a nominal fee (as low as 10 USD) when buying their ticket at anadolujet.com. Note that Anadolujet, while a wholly owned subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, is not a Star Alliance member. Star Alliance Gold passengers do not receive complimentary access to the CIP lounge when flying Anadolujet.

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul SAW design

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Domestic

The Turkish Airlines domestic CIP Lounge at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International airport is split into a large room for Star Alliance Gold, Elite and Classic Plus passengers, and a smaller area reserved for Business and Elite Plus customers. However, the design and catering are virtually identical on both sides.

While the domestic lounge does not sport Turkish Airlines’ widely acclaimed signature décor featured at international clubs, the space still bears the airline’s DNA. Elegant hardwood floors, angular shapes, walls etched with the carrier’s pattern, a large round red sofa at the center, and red LED light strips on the ground foster an upscale vibe with the airline’s distinctive trademark.

The lounge could benefit from minor touch-ups: some of the furniture is slightly worn out, and there are relatively few power outlets overall (though they can be found embedded in individual seats and along the walls.) The club is also kept pretty warm, in typical local fashion.

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Domestic

The space benefits from ample daylight, thanks to a long window wall overlooking the tarmac, although the views are relatively limited due to the location of the lounge on the ground floor and away from the main terminal.

The spacious layout gives passengers a comfortable amount of privacy. Indoor plants delineate several areas with a variety of seating options including individual armchairs with side tables, groups of chairs around convivial round coffee tables, seat duos by the window, dining tables, and counter-style seating along the wall by the entrance.

The Turkish Airlines CIP lounge often sees relatively little traffic on weekends. On weekdays, the larger Star Alliance Gold room on the left side might be quieter than the more exclusive space for top elites.

At boarding time, a dedicated CIP bus whisks passengers away to their aircraft. Guests get to climb the staircase outside the jetway—a rare opportunity for aviation geeks. Note that announcements are often made only in Turkish, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the flight information displays. CIP boarding typically starts a few minutes after regular boarding.

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul SAW amenities

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Domestic

The Turkish Airlines domestic CIP Lounge at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International airport offers a few essential amenities for short term travel—a far cry from the lavish features found the airline’s international clubs.

Despite being catered by prestigious gourmet company Do&Co, the domestic lounge is no epicurean’s paradise. The food spread consists of crudités, cheese, sandwiches, soup, fruit, and cookies. The drink selection is even more modest, with only bottled water, soda, tea, drip coffee, and Turkish coffee. There is no alcohol and no espresso machine to be seen.

Ultimately, the limited offerings are reasonable for short and often cheap flights within Turkey, but they fail to uphold the prestige of a VIP Terminal.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available, but access requires disclosing full credentials (name and e-ticket number), so it’s prudent to use a VPN if possible. That said, the connection is poor enough that any activity beyond basic web browsing is likely to be challenging.

A business center equipped with several computers and a printer is located in a nook off to the side.

Families benefit from a colorful separate room with a variety of toys and games. There is also an elegant and spacious baby changing room.

Elegant and pristine bathrooms are located immediately outside the lounge. Other amenities include prayer rooms, a selection of newspapers and magazines, and small lockers large enough for a handbag, phone, or wallet.

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul SAW bottom line

The Turkish Airlines domestic VIP Terminal/CIP Lounge at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International airport is a stylish, comfortable, and serene facility with ample room to work or relax. The private check-in and security facilities save time, and the bus transfer to the aircraft is efficient and painless.

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Domestic

However, the CIP Lounge fails to impress in the catering department, which is atypical for Turkish Airlines. The snack selection is minimalist, alcoholic beverages are not available, and the lack of an espresso machine is unfortunate. Incidentally, the pay-in Plaza Premium Lounge in the main terminal features a substantially superior food and beverage selection.

The VIP terminal is convenient when arriving to the airport by car. Passengers using public transportation should be aware that the shuttle transfer to the VIP terminal obliterates any time savings at check-in or security. Members of a lounge access program such as Priority Pass or DragonPass may prefer to skip the Turkish Airlines lounge and stay in the main terminal: the Plaza Premium Lounge is relatively quiet and has superior catering.