Flight Crew

Opinions of Turkish Airlines: What is it like to work there?

Before applying to this airline, read reviews of Turkish Airlines from cabin crew and pilots.

If you’re analysing different airlines and want to work as cabin crew or pilot, today we share Turkish Airlines opinions from active staff and former crew members, who left their experience online. With its main base in Istanbul, this airline ranks among the world’s most important. It connects Europe, Asia, Africa and America through a wide route network.

Beyond the airline’s reputation, you also need to understand how it works once you start working there. This includes schedules, salaries, benefits and the working environment. Therefore, we researched verified review platforms. We analysed what current and former Turkish Airlines crew members say.

In this article

Cabin Crew Opinions at Turkish Airlines

The first Turkish Airlines opinions come from cabin crew found on platforms such as Glassdoor, Indeed and InfoJobs. These ratings average around 3.85. They highlight benefits and professional experience gained.

1. What cabin crew think about salary

The salary for cabin crew at Turkish Airlines ranges from $2,000 (€1,696) to $4,600 (€3,900), depending on seniority. This amount includes base salary, allowances, flight hours and per diems when working away from base. Reviews highlight the need to fly many hours to achieve a higher salary or increase allowances:

“The salary is competitive, but it depends heavily on flight hours.” (Indeed – Cabin Crew)

“Allowances can cover expenses, but in some cities it is not enough.” (Glassdoor)

2. Cabin crew schedules and hours

Regarding schedules, long-haul operations mean cabin crew usually work between 70 and 90 hours per month, reaching up to 100 hours. The airline operates long-haul flights from Istanbul, which means shifts of 10–14 hours per flight. They also receive around 10 days off per month, with rotating shifts including nights and weekends. Turkish Airlines reviews often mention difficulties balancing personal and family life.

“Shifts are long and constantly changing, making it hard to keep a routine.” (Indeed)

“Sometimes you get standby days that you cannot plan, affecting personal life.” (Glassdoor)

Discover cabin crew schedules at Turkish Airlines. Source: Shutterstock.

3. Cabin crew benefits

One of the strongest points of this airline is its crew benefits, including discounted flights, well-rated hotels during layovers, airport transfers and international medical insurance. Many Turkish Airlines reviews also value the opportunity to meet people from different cultures.

“International company, flight ticket benefits, dynamic work, multicultural environment.” (InfoJobs)

“I had a good experience because I spoke with people from many countries.” (InfoJobs)

4. Work environment among colleagues

Another highly valued aspect in Turkish Airlines reviews is the working environment among colleagues. There is strong coordination between pilots and cabin crew on each flight, which makes long shifts more manageable.

“It is a company with a wide range of professionals and an excellent relationship with employees.” (InfoJobs)

“I had a good experience. Very friendly team and good training.” (InfoJobs)

5. Pros and cons of working as cabin crew at Turkish Airlines

Pros	Cons
Extensive international network	Strict image and service policies
Travel benefits for personal and family use	Demanding schedules and frequent changes
Promotion opportunities within the airline	Short layovers on high-rotation routes
Full internal training under international standards	Main base in Istanbul with limited flexibility
Multicultural professional experience	Seniority affects routes, schedules and days off

Pros and cons of being cabin crew at Turkish Airlines

Pilot Opinions at Turkish Airlines

We now move to pilots. Turkish Airlines opinions highlight good pay, international experience and high demands. The company scores around 3.8/5. Reviews praise salary and benefits but criticise organisation and workload.

1. Pilot salaries

Pilots earn between $99,016 (€84,000) and $111,980 (€132,000) as First Officer. Captains earn from $205,106 (€174,000). Extra income includes allowances, transport, layovers and flight hours. Compared to other airlines, pay is competitive and often higher than carriers like Ryanair.

“Pay is good overall, benefits are average, and quality of life varies by fleet.” (Reddit)

“Salary is good, especially long-haul, but depends on hours flown.” (Indeed)

2. Pilot schedules

Pilots fly up to 90–100 hours per month. Working days last 8–14 hours depending on the route. Long-haul flights can reach 19 hours. Rest rules require 8–10 hours between shifts and up to 48 hours for international flights. Pilots usually work three weeks on and one week off. Schedules are published on the 24th each month.

“Rotations include many nights away and long flights.” (Indeed)

“Standby days can affect planning.” (Glassdoor)

3. The benefits of working as a pilot at Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines reviews highlight benefits such as discounted tickets for family, medical insurance and ongoing training. Pilots also receive high-quality hotel stays during layovers. The airline supports expatriate pilots relocating to Turkey.

“Training is well organised and fully covered by the company.” (Indeed)

“Travel benefits and conditions are quite good.” (Glassdoor)

Learn what pilots at Turkish Airlines think about various aspects of their work. Source: Shutterstock.

Pros and cons of working as a pilot at Turkish Airlines

Pros	Cons
Extensive international network	Slower career progression if fleet growth stabilises
Modern and regularly updated fleet	Bases often far from home
Promotion opportunities to captain or larger fleets	Salary differences by rank and seniority
Travel benefits for pilots and families	Frequent operational changes
Stable job in a large airline	High pressure for punctuality and efficiency

Pros and cons of being a pilot at Turkish Airlines

How to stay connected while working and travelling

Working as cabin crew or pilot at Turkish Airlines means constant international travel. This includes layovers in many countries. Therefore, staying connected is essential. Holafly provides a practical solution.

Holafly monthly plans suit frequent travellers like airline staff. They offer 25 GB or unlimited data in 160+ destinations without changing eSIM or contract. You can also choose the Holafly international eSIM It provides unlimited data and you only pay for the days you use. Why is Holafly useful?