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It’s not easy to find kosher food in airports.
There are DDF threads where people report finding kosher food for sale in airports and free kosher food available in airport lounges.
In the US, you won’t find any substantial kosher food for sale at an airport if you’re not in New York City/Newark.
But Istanbul now has a kosher vending machine which will sell fresh kosher sandwiches, snacks, and desserts. You can find the vending machine in between Concourse A and B, in front of Starbucks.
The food is kosher certified by the OK and KTR (Turkish Rabbinate) under Rabbi Mendy Chitrik’s supervision.
Kosher food is also available for free in the IGA Lounge located in the international terminal’s mezzanine, which is accessible for free with Priority Pass. Cards like Capital One Venture X, AMEX Business Platinum, AMEX Consumer Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX, and more include Priority Pass lounge access.
Istanbul Airport even features 2 Jewish prayer rooms.
Why Istanbul and not Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, or Miami?
Most of those airports have tried kosher food unsuccessfully, though perhaps a vending machine is the way to go to keep costs down?
Turkish Airlines carries hundreds of kosher observant Jews on their flights daily. They’re a highly rated Star Alliance airline and have operated as many as a dozen flights a day between Istanbul and Tel Aviv. They also have a generous baggage allowance (2 free bags to Israel is a rare perk these days!) and operate a highly rated business class lounge. From Istanbul, their flights offer fresh locally made kosher meals.
Plus, they have an incredible mileage program with point transfers from Capital One and Citi.
@YeahThatsKosher @DansDeals pic.twitter.com/g6hazQ1lbX
— Rabbi Mendy Chitrik (@mchitrik) February 18, 2022
I got to be the first customer at the Kosher Food Point of the Istanbul Airport ❤️ בתיאבון and Afiyet Olsun! @igairport pic.twitter.com/bPu8VfrZjF
— Rabbi Mendy Chitrik (@mchitrik) February 18, 2022
If you’re flying through Istanbul, let us know your thoughts on the kosher food in the vending machine or lounge!
HT: @mchitrik
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47 Comments On "Awesome! Kosher Food Arrives At Istanbul Airport!"
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Is Turkish airlines safe?
Read the post?
I did, but is it safe?
Based on the way you continuously ask thr question, I’d suggest you pay more and take a different airline.
As long as you don’t take pictures of the Palace.
Hi Dan, can you post a link where you have written how to use Turkish points to Israel? Are Turkish points a bargain to Isreal only if you United has saver award availability? Or also in there own metal?
Thanks
https://www.dansdeals.com/airfare-deals/mileage-deals/turkish-airlines-save-30-off-award-tickets-fly-us-israel-22-4k-miles-coach-32-9k-business-way-plus-bargains-worldwide/
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/wide-open-united-award-space-turkish-airlines-dirt-cheap-star-alliance-awards-valuable-ever/
Thank you!
Transferred 300k points from CapitalOne to Turkish about 24 hours ago and they have not come in yet. Called CapitalOne they said they initiated transfer and it’s Turkish that has to accept it so i called Turkish and they said I should call CapitalOne… Any idea what to do? Or is this just a waiting game?
I’ve also heard about issues from Citi to Turkish. Not sure what’s going on, but keep us posted.
Transferred from Citi yesterday as well and it was in instantly.
To fly through IST do you need vaccines etc.?
No
Have looked at Turkish, but a lot of time their stopover times are so short that I get nervous I won’t make the flight to TLV? Dan, any recommendations for a reasonable amount of time to make the next flight? Thanks
They operate plenty of flights to TLV. I’d book 90 minutes and look for an option that has another flight the same day in case of issues.
Did it twice RT, no issues. Usually there’s another flight a couple of hours later so worst case, you’ll get on the next one.
The vending machine is certainly a welcome sight for frum travelers. I certainly won’t take that perk away. Surprising though that the entire selection looks to be a single row of sub-sandwiches. 3/4 of the machine is filled with items which would be kosher at nearly any airport vendor or vending machine (bottled water and soda).
True, but they will be adding more selection to it.
Can you pay with US CC? Or need to exchange currency?
US cc should work.
Make sure there’s no forex fee…
So Kosher food is available in the IGA Lounge. Is it available in the Turkish Biz lounge? DW and DD are there today.
Just IGA I believe.
They’re still working on the Turkish lounge.
Yes. Thanks, Dan. DD and DW just confirmed it. As usual, your timing is perfect!
Awesome!
They also have real J for the second leg.
Sometimes
How is their J/F?
Has anyone been to this lounge? What kosher food are they serving in the IGA lounge?
My DW and DD are there now. They said:
Kosher sandwiches at the IGA lounge in Istanbul. DD I got tuna and then she got a chocolate and I got a lemon dessert. Sandwiches are mizonot so we don’t have to wash
Thanks for the report! Any pics?
just posted a pic of the sandwiches in the DDF thread.
how good is the hachsher
Rav. Mendy Chetrick is the Chabad Rabbi and the rabbi of the Ashkenazi synagogue in Istanbul. I believe he has also been designated to cerify all foods designated for export by the Chief Rabbi’s office, in addition to the private organizations that are contracted by the companies themselves.
ⓚ (circle K)
This is very interesting as prepared kosher food is very difficult in Turkey. We were supposed to be there for a week and we left 2 days early as my kids were starving. There was one place with not much to choose from for our liking. They needed orders be in about 24 hours before and the food always arrived cold. Maybe something changed in the last year.
Or maybe places were closed due to covid
Any advice on how to sign up for Miles and Smiles? I tried on the app and on a laptop, I used a six digit number for the password, my city is listed. I have tried many times on three different browsers and I can’t sign up. Help???
Wow I was literally in IST on Friday morning and there was no kosher food….
I’m here now. What do you mean by concourse A and B. Can’t find it
Look at the video in the post?
Or ask information in the airport?
Thanks!
Found it in the end. Located between both gates. They had one row of food. some baguettes with cheese, that looked fresh and good, and bottle drink with one unique looking lemonade.
Seems like the new options haven’t been added yet.
Though Turkish does have genuinely good kosher meals and I’m sure the sandwiches would be good. Regardless, It’s really great to have kosher food in an airport, especially when traveling internationally.
Didn’t have time to see lounge food.
Seems like they did not anticipate the Pesach rush. Lounge and kiosk ran out of food today.
Yup, I’m in the IGA lounge right now, along with dozens of other kosher-observant travellers. We were told they ran out of kosher food for the day.
Does anyone know what kosher food they usually have here in the lounge, so I know what to expect for the way back?
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=10590.msg2568561#msg2568561
Btw you can get a Turkish eVisa in seconds via WhatsApp
Read more: https://entri.io/articles/turkey-evisa
WhatsApp link: https://wa.link/8qamwg
Can someone explain me where to find the 2 Jewish prayer rooms?
Thank you.