Marrakech to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines
About My Flight from Marrakech to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines
In December of 2022, I visited the continent of Africa for the first time. My trip took me to Morocco, Kenya, and Egypt. After flying into Casablanca, Morocco, I took the train to Marrakech, Morocco. I then stayed in the Medina of Marrakech and toured the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Finally, I flew from Marrakech to Nairobi with an overnight layover in Istanbul.
This page will only review the flight on Turkish Airlines from Marrakech to Istanbul. To learn about my experience flying from Istanbul to Nairobi, please click HERE (link coming soon).
I was especially excited about this flight as it was my first time flying Turkish Airlines, which is rated as one of the world’s finest airlines. In addition to my first experience on Turkish Airlines, I also was thrilled to have an overnight layover in Istanbul. This layover would allow me a few hours to visit the Hagia Sofia and a few other tourist sites.
Marrakech to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines - Table of Contents
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Getting to Marrakech International Airport from the Medina of Marrakech
Getting to Marrakech International Airport was a bit difficult as I was staying inside the Medina of Marrakech. The Medina of Marrakech’s streets are so narrow that they are for pedestrians only. To get to the Marrakech International Airport, I booked a private airport transfer at a cost of $30. The driver contacted me on WhatsApp and told me to meet him near the Medina of Marrakech’s Big Square.
To the right is a link for transfer to and from Marrakech International Airport. 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.
Once I found my transfer, it was only about a 20-minute ride before I arrived at Marrakech International Airport. There was almost no traffic at the airport, and my driver was able to drop me near the airport’s main entrance.
Before I entered the airport, I had to present my ticket and passport to a security agent. This check only took around five minutes as there were only a few people in front of me.
Check-In and Security at Marrakech International Airport
Once inside Marrakech International Airport, I located the Turkish Airlines Counter and checked in for my flight. It does not appear that Morocco accepts mobile boarding passes, and I had to get a paper boarding pass at the ticket counter.
I arrived almost three hours before my flight from Marrakech to Istanbul, which was the recommended time. There was almost no one in the airport, and it took a matter of minutes to get my boarding pass.
A few minutes later, I passed through security and passport control. As I arrived at the departure area, I had over two and a half hours before my flight was set to depart.
Where to Eat at Marrakech International Airport
Now that I had cleared passport control and security, my next concern was where to find something to eat at Marrakech International Airport. I found the only open restaurant, which served sandwiches, burgers, and pizza.
Ordering food at Marrakech International Airport was easy, as the menu was in French and English. It was also easy to pay as I could pay in Moroccan Dirhams or Euros.
I ordered a cheeseburger and fries. I thought the food was excellent, although the fries were unsalted.
After eating my burger, I could not resist the chance to try kabob-flavored potato chips. They were actually pretty good, sort of similar to barbecue-flavored chips.
Turkish Airlines Boarding Process - Marrakech to Istanbul
The boarding process for my Turkish Airlines flight from Marrakech to Istanbul was a unique experience. After our flight was called for boarding, there was no organization or zones. It was basically a free-for-all, and passengers pushed their way to the front of the queue.
After the agent scanned the boarding passes, we were forced to wait on the jet bridge for about thirty minutes before we were actually allowed to board the plane.
From the boarding gate, I was unable to get a good photo of the Turkish Airlines 737 Max 8. I was happy that there was a window at the end of the jet bridge that allowed me to snap this photo.
Turkish Airlines - Marrakech to Istanbul - Seat 12D
I had paid an extra €35 to reserve an exit row seat on my Turkish Airlines flight from Marrakech to Istanbul. On the Boeing 737 Max 8, there are two exit rows, row 11 and row 12. I highly recommend row 12 as the seats recline. The seats in row 11 do not recline.
I always choose an aisle seat, and for this flight was in Seat 12D. In the photo below, you can see that the seat had plenty of legroom. I was also pleased that the tray table was not in the armrest, which is common in the exit rows on North American carriers.
The Boeing 737 Max 8 is a fairly new plane, and the cabin felt spacious and modern.
Turkish Airlines provides an amenity kit for every passenger. Inside the amenity kit for economy passengers was a pair of socks, an eye mask, and a set of earplugs.
Turkish Airlines - Marrakech to Istanbul - WiFi and Entertainment
I barely used the entertainment screen during my Turkish Airlines flight from Marrakech to Istanbul. The seat back displays screen was typical and had movies, tv shows, and information about the flight.
I did use the WiFi and want to share my experience using the Turkish Airlines WiFi. Turkish Airlines sells their WiFi by the megabyte and has multiple packages that can be purchased.
Here are the prices for the Turkish Airlines WiFi packages.
20 MB – $2.99
50 MB – $4.99
100 MB – $7.99
250 MB – $14.99
500 MB – $24.99
I chose to purchase the 500 MB package, although I probably could have gotten by with the 250 MB package.
Turkish Airlines - Marrakech to Istanbul - Meal Service
We were served a full meal on the four-hour flight from Marrakech to Istanbul. There were two options to choose from, pasta or meatballs.
I chose the meatballs, and they were served with rice and beans. This meal was excellent and was one of the best airline meals ever. I was very pleased that Turkish Airlines offered a full meal on this flight, as it was under five hours.
Customs and Immigration at Istanbul International Airport
Our Turkish Airlines flight from Marrakech to Istanbul was nice and smooth. Upon landing, we deplaned via stairs and were shuttled to the terminal by bus.
As a citizen of the United States, I needed a visa to enter Turkey. Although visas are available at the airport, I applied for an e-Visa ahead of time. Having my visa in hand allowed me to skip one of the arrival steps, and I was through passport control within minutes of arriving.
After getting my suitcase, the next step was customs. I walked through the green zone for passengers with nothing to declare without being stopped.
I had a good experience on Turkish Airlines and found the flight from Marrakech to Istanbul very pleasant. After this flight, I can see why Turkish Airlines ranks as one of the world’s top airlines.
I had arranged transportation from Istanbul International Airport to my hotel in the city center. My driver was waiting for me with a sign with my name. The cost of my transfer was $65.
I have included a link to the right for a transfer from Istanbul International Airport (IST) to the Istanbul City Center. 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.