My Unexpected Flight with Turkish Airlines' Subsidiary

Hello everyone!

Choosing which airline to fly with to Turkey is still a pretty big deal, just like it was before the pandemic. There are regular flights and charters, and our airlines and Turkish Airlines are both on offer. I had the chance to fly with Turkish Airlines, but I initially thought I was flying with AJet. Yeah, even travel agents can get it wrong sometimes. It all comes down to the flight number - if it starts with 39, it's likely AJet, not Turkish Airlines.

How to tell if it's Turkish Airlines or AJet by flight numberAJet is actually a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, a low-cost carrier. It's like our Aeroflot and Russia, for example. The flight number might be the same, but the actual airline is different. I flew with AJet on my way back from Dalaman to Moscow, and I was convinced it wasn't the real Turkish Airlines until I checked the flight number on Flightradar24. If you don't know, it's a free app that tracks any flight. I use it all the time to check if my tourists' flights are on time, or to show my aerophobic tourists where all the planes are in the sky, or to figure out where to register for the best view from my seat. The app immediately showed me that it was an AJet flight, not Turkish Airlines. Okay, let's check out the quality and service of Turkish Airlines' daughter company.How to check the flight number on Flightradar24✈️ REGISTRATIONYou can register for an AJet flight online in advance, and I tried registering at the check-in counter the old-fashioned way, hoping to score some better seats. The check-in staff member was super chatty and friendly, and he was also listening to music on his phone. Not like our staff at the airport, who are always so serious. I asked for seats near the emergency exit, as they usually have more legroom. And he smiled and gave me a seat exactly where I wanted. Usually, those seats come with an extra fee, but sometimes you get lucky and they'll seat you there for free.

✈️ CHECK-IN BAGGAGE

The baggage allowance for AJet is 20 kg, and you can bring a carry-on bag weighing up to 8 kg, with dimensions of 23 * 40 * 55 cm. No issues with baggage, and nobody makes you check your carry-on bag's dimensions in a calibrator, which some other airlines do.

I flew on a Boeing 737, a small plane with 180 seats, arranged 3 by 3.

Boeing 737 AJet reviews I'm not a fan of big planes - boarding and baggage claim can be a real drag. But this time, we were in and out in no time. AJet's fleet, formerly Anadolu The airline's fleet is made up of small, narrow-bodied planes - aside from the Boeing 737, they also have Airbus A-320 and A-321s. Since I was heading back to Turkey and it was the start of the season, our flight was pretty empty. AJet reviews 2024 The check-in staff got us sorted, and I was actually seated near the emergency exit. Seats near the emergency exits in the Boeing 737 The legroom was actually pretty decent, but we did have to follow some extra rules. As you'd expect, these seats are a higher priority in case of an emergency, so we got special instructions and there were signs on the seat in front of us too. Seats near the emergency exits in the Boeing 737 The flight attendants asked us to stow all our bags and backpacks in the overhead compartment, even the small ones. And if anyone had already taken off their shoes, they had to put them back on. I guess it's all about being prepared for the worst.✈️ COMFORT

The seats were comfy, soft, and not too narrow - it was easy to sit back and relax. The plane was clean and pleasant.

Seats in the Boeing 737 AJet And, as I said, there were plenty of empty seats - a definite perk if you're flying at the start or end of the season. AJet, formerly Anadolu reviews Boarding and takeoff were right on schedule, no delays. The takeoff was smooth, no turbulence. AJet reviews✈️ FOOD AND DRINKThey started serving drinks almost as soon as we took off. I opted for tea and tomato juice - unfortunately, they were out of the latter.

Food on AJet, formerly Anadolu Airlines They also served a small snack - a sandwich. Food on AJet, formerly Anadolu Airlines It was a bit, but by the evening I wasn't really hungry. AJet reviews Then I moved to the first row, as it was empty. Before that, I asked a stewardess if I could, and she gave me a positive answer. First rows on the Boeing 737 AJet With some airlines, like our Pobeda, this number wouldn't work. I wanted to fly on a completely empty row so I could lie on all three seats. First rows on the Boeing 737 AJet The only minus in the flight was the lack of blankets. Usually, there are several blankets on the plane, but here they were missing. And I had forgotten to take my blanket from my suitcase. So, I got a bit chilly, as it was fresh on the plane. And I was flying from hot Turkey to cold Moscow, where it was only 2 degrees at night.Nu, and for those interested, how the toilet looks like on the AJet. It's small, but clean.

Toilet on the Boeing 737 AJet The stewardesses and stewards were polite, speaking only in Turkish and English. I didn't notice any cute flight attendants, now, you know, cute flight attendants are in trend…AJet reviews We flew for around 4.5 hours, which is 30 minutes faster than if we flew with our airlines, because AJet flies over European territory. Ah, and we used to fly for 3-3.5 hours…How long does it take to fly from Moscow to Dalaman on AJet ✈️ GENERAL IMPRESSIONI have only positive impressions from AJet, despite it being a low-cost airline.

AJet Airlines Reviews I've gotta say, from check-in to boarding, the experience was super smooth. And once I was on board, I was really impressed with the comfort of the seats. Here are the highlights: They've got online check-in, which is a lifesaverThe baggage allowance is 20kg, which is more than most airlines these daysThey still offer in-flight meals, which is a nice touchThe seats are comfy, and there's plenty of legroomThey're actually faster than our local airlinesThe only downside is they don't offer blankets

Reviews of AJet Airlines, formerly Anadolu Now that I know, if your flight is TK 39... it's probably going to be AJet. Not Turkish Airlines, but still a decent experience. I'd definitely recommend them.If you're interested in other airlines, check out these reviews:

Southwind - it's got its downsides, but you can still fly with them. Just watch out for the weight and size of your luggage!

Emirates Airlines - a flight on the world's largest passenger plane, Airbus A-380, with great service, in-flight meals, and some nice perks from one of the world's top airlines

Yuvt Aero - I was terrified, thinking I'd made a mistake buying a ticket on this plane. But it turned out to be okay