Turkish Airlines Istanbul to Nairobi Review
About My Flight from Istanbul to Nairobi on Turkish Airlines
In December 2022, I flew on Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Nairobi as part of a trip from Marrakech, Morocco, to Nairobi, Kenya, with an overnight stopover in Istanbul. This article covers the second leg of that trip, my Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Nairobi. You can also read about my Marrakech to Istanbul flight on Turkish Airlines if you want the full trip overview.
I chose an itinerary with an overnight layover in Istanbul so I could briefly explore the city, specifically the Hagia Sophia Mosque before continuing to Kenya.
Overall, Turkish Airlines provided excellent service on this Istanbul to Nairobi flight aboard an Airbus A330-200.
Istanbul to Nairobi Flight Overview
- Airline: Turkish Airlines
- Route: Istanbul (IST) to Nairobi (NBO)
- Flight time: about 6 hours 45 minutes on average
- Aircraft: Airbus A330-200 (on my flight)
- Meals: Included
- Entertainment: Seatback screens
- WiFi: Available for purchase
Istanbul to Nairobi Flight Time on Turkish Airlines
If you are wondering about Istanbul to Nairobi flight time, direct flights on Turkish Airlines take about 6 hours 45 minutes on average, although actual travel time can vary a bit depending on the day and operational conditions. On my trip, the full journey took a little longer from departure to arrival, so this review reflects my personal experience on the route.
Turkish Airlines Istanbul to Nairobi Review - Table of Contents
- About My Flight
- How to Get to Istanbul International Airport
- Check-In and Security
- Dining Options at Istanbul International Airport
- Showering at Istanbul International Airport
- Boarding Process
- The Seat
- Meal Service
- Entertainment and WiFi
- Arriving in Nairobi
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Rewards and Points
- Related Content
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How to Get to Istanbul International Airport
There are many different ways to get from the city center of Istanbul to Istanbul International Airport. I chose to go with a private transfer instead of a taxi because I was on an overnight layover and had a tight schedule. Another reason I decided that a private transfer was the better option was the cost. I was able to book a private transfer from the tourist area of Istanbul near the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to Istanbul Airport for $25 (now $32).
If you are interested in booking a transfer, I have provided a link below. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a transfer using my link, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
My private transfer from the city center of Istanbul to Istanbul International Airport was on time and dropped me off right outside the airport’s entrance.
As I entered the airport for my Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Nairobi, I could not help but be impressed by how beautiful and modern it was. Istanbul International Airport is one of the nicest airports I have ever traveled through.
Check-In and Security at Istanbul International Airport
I did not have to check in for my flight from Istanbul to Nairobi on Turkish Airlines because I was connecting. When I boarded my initial flight from Marrakech to Istanbul, I received my boarding pass for both legs of the trip. I did locate the Turkish Airlines check-in counter just for the sake of this page, and it seemed like the line was moving very efficiently.
Before I entered the boarding area at Istanbul International Airport, I had to go through security and passport control. Both lines moved fairly fast, and within about twenty minutes of arriving at the airport, I was already in the boarding area.
My flight had not yet been assigned a gate because I had arrived several hours before departure. Similar to many large international airports, the gate appeared closer to departure time.
One of the questions I had during my time in Istanbul was, “How early should I arrive at Istanbul International Airport?” The most common answer I came across was at least three hours early for international flights. Since I was connecting, already had my boarding pass, and my bag was already checked, I arrived about two hours before departure. As a result, I had extra time to explore the airport.
Dining Options at Istanbul International Airport?
The next question I had was, “Where should I eat at Istanbul International Airport?” There are many places to eat at the airport, including sit-down restaurants and fast food options. I chose one of the food courts and was surprised to see Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen as one of the choices. In all of my past travels, I had only once seen Popeyes in a foreign country, and that was in Canada. There were other US fast food restaurants in the food court as well, including Sbarro, Wendy’s, Carl’s Jr., Arby’s, and Burger King.
My meal at the Istanbul Airport Popeyes consisted of chicken strips, fries, and corn, and it was basically the same as the food Popeyes serves in the United States.
Showers at Istanbul International Airport?
With some time to spare, I found myself looking into whether Istanbul International Airport had showers. I was glad to learn that it did, and I decided it was a nice way to refresh before a long-haul flight. To get to the showers at Istanbul Airport, follow the signs toward the airport lounges, which are located upstairs near the food court.
On my trip in 2022, I paid €10 for a shower, and toiletries cost extra. Since airport service pricing can change, I would strongly recommend checking the latest rates before your trip. Istanbul Airport still offers shower service, but current pricing is higher than what I paid during my visit
The showers at Istanbul International Airport had decent water pressure and plenty of hot water. It was nice to be able to freshen up before the long flight to Nairobi. Each shower was attached to a small room with just enough space to change. I found it a bit difficult to keep my carry-on luggage, sweatshirt, and clothes dry because the space was limited.
Boarding Process – Istanbul to Nairobi on Turkish Airlines
One hour before my flight from Istanbul to Nairobi on Turkish Airlines was set to board, the gate was assigned. The flight was assigned gate A1B, which was in the basement of the airport.
The boarding process was quite chaotic because there was an additional document check before boarding. This process felt unorganized, and it was difficult to tell which line was for document checks and which line was for boarding the flight. Kenya now uses an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system for most travelers rather than the older visa process, so I would treat my boarding experience here as specific to my trip.
Gate A1B at Istanbul International Airport did not have a jet bridge. To board our Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Nairobi, we had to take a shuttle bus and then board via stairs. This was the first time I had boarded such a large plane, an A330-200, using stairs.
The Seat – Turkish Airlines A330-200 Economy Seat Review
My Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Nairobi was onboard an Airbus A330-200. This plane has a 2-4-2 configuration in economy. I chose to upgrade my seat to 27J, which cost an additional €79. On the Turkish Airlines A330-200, seat 27J has extra legroom because it is part of the exit row.
On this aircraft, seat 27J is an aisle seat. The width of the seat is slightly reduced because the tray table is stored in the armrest. It is also near the restrooms, which can become a little annoying if you are trying to sleep.
The middle section of row 27, seats D, E, F, and G, sits slightly behind the other parts of the row. I liked this because it made that section feel a little more private. The best part about seat 27J on Turkish Airlines was the legroom. In the photo below, you can see that I had a huge amount of legroom during my Istanbul to Nairobi flight.
Meal Service on Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Nairobi
About an hour into my Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Nairobi, the meal service began. In economy, there were two choices: chicken or pasta. I chose the pasta, which was served with rice, beans, and vegetables. To accompany the meal, we were given bread, a yogurt-like salad, water, and a chocolate dessert.
This was one of the better airplane meals that I have had. There was a second meal service right before landing, but I was exhausted and slept through it.
Entertainment and WiFi on Turkish Airlines
As is common on many long-haul flights, Turkish Airlines had seatback entertainment screens featuring movies, TV shows, flight information, and a live map where passengers could track the flight.
In addition to the seatback entertainment, Turkish Airlines offered WiFi on my Istanbul to Nairobi flight. On my trip, WiFi was sold by the megabyte and there were multiple packages available for purchase. I did not watch any movies during my flight, but I did enjoy watching some EuroLeague basketball.
The seatback screens also had one feature that I had not seen before. For Muslim travelers, the entertainment system included prayer times and an arrow showing the direction of Mecca, which I thought was an interesting touch.
\Arriving in Nairobi – Immigration and Airport Transportation
My flight from Istanbul to Nairobi arrived a little over eight hours after departure. We disembarked by stairs and took a bus to the arrival terminal. Once inside, it took about an hour to get through the arrival process, collect my luggage, and clear customs.
I had prearranged transportation from Nairobi International Airport to my hotel in the city center. When I exited the airport, there were multiple drivers holding signs with the names of their clients, but my driver was nowhere to be found. I had the contact information for the company saved in my phone and texted and called several times without receiving a reply. After waiting another thirty minutes, almost everyone had been picked up. There was no taxi queue at the airport, but there was one driver who could not find his passengers. He told me that he would take me to my hotel and arrange for another driver to pick up his clients. He claimed his colleague was only ten minutes away.
I took him up on the offer and arrived at my hotel about twenty minutes later. The only problem was that he charged me more than double what I had paid the original company. With no other option, I agreed to pay 9,000 Kenyan shillings ($75) for the ride.
Eight hours later, I received an apology from the original company. Apparently, my driver had fallen asleep and missed my pickup. The company offered to provide my ride back to Nairobi Airport and upgrade me to a VIP package. I agreed to that offer and had no issues returning to the airport six days later.
Below are some transportation options to get from Nairobi Airport to the city center. None of these are links for the company that failed to pick me up. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a package using one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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