A travel vlog by Kara and Nate Buchanan documenting their trip from Bali to New York City after being nominated as finalists for a Shorty Award. Turkish Airlines sponsored business-class travel: the video shows their multi-leg journey (Bali→Istanbul→New York), detailed in-flight amenities and service in business class, a long layover spent exploring the large Turkish Airlines Istanbul business lounge (food stations, showers, entertainment), and arrival in New York after ~24+ hours of travel.
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Before we start today's video, we need to back up a little bit and fill you in in order for it to make sense. So in January, we got an email out of the blue saying that we have been nominated for a Shorty Award.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the Shorty Awards, it's basically like the Oscars for social media content creators.
It's the awards for tiny people. You know, it finally gives them the recognition they deserve. Like an Oscar.
A Nobel Peace Prize.
Better, probably.
The Shorties are by far the most prestigious.
Then there was this voting process and in March, we learned that we were finalists, which was really exciting. But the award ceremony was in New York City.
The problem was we were in Bali. The awards ceremony is in New York, which was like, basically on the other side of the world. And we couldn't decide, like, if it was worth it to buy tickets back.
To the US but then take. Turkish Airlines contacted us and they have hooked us up with flights back to New York City.
Not only are we going to be able to attend the Shorty Awards, we are flying there in business class. I think I'm more excited about the flights to the awards than I am about actually going to the awards ceremony.
It's many, many hours.
So we're flying from here to Istanbul in the awesome Istanbul business class lounge. And then from Istanbul to New York, it's going to be like an incredible 24 hours of business class.
We have been looking so fortunate. We're going to keep it in a secret and now we can tell everyone.
Thank you for everything.
Hi. Hello.
Nice to meet you. And this is our home until we get to Istanbul. We already got some welcome drinks. I could pretty much do a cartwheel in front of our seat. There's so much left and I'm so excited. Also, we can't figure out how to make all these little lines go away.
I just took off. I thought I'd give my first impressions. First of all, the menu is massive. We're about to order dinner.
It's already 3am we still have seven hours left until we get to Istanbul and I don't think I'm gonna make it through the rest of my movie.
Wow. So flat. You can even prop your head up to watch tv.
That's amazing.
Good.
It is 5am we just landed in Istanbul and I think we both slept for about seven hours straight.
I was so tired and comfortable last night, I didn't even want to fall asleep. I was just so happy laying flat in my bed.
We fly out Of Istanbul for New York at 12. Which means that we have a seven hour layover. So we're going to find a lounge.
Somehow I ended up with a huge piece of chocolate cake for breakfast. I'm not complaining about it. It's only six in the morning. Just looks so good with like.
That's the most toothpaste I've ever put in my mouth.
I absolutely love showering in airports. Robe, hair dryer, vanity kit, shower cap, slippers.
Okay, now that we're all caffeinated and showered, we're ready to start the day. First, we're going to show you around one of our favorite lounges in the whole world.
So we're in the Turkish Airlines business class lounge here in Istanbul. We've actually been here twice before, so we thought we would mix this up a little bit and do this video a little bit differently by showing you the top 10 reasons why this is one of our favorite airport lounges. Starting with the golf simulator. Where else can you play golf inside of an airport? There's a pool table, fresh honey that you can cut right off the cone.
Real chefs, tons of space.
One of the biggest airport lounges we've ever been to. Turkish coffee, A movie theater with popcorn, huge showers, tons of free drinks.
And the free food. Let's talk more about the food. This station has the lady cooking traditional Turkish ravioli. And they have this traditional yogurt drink.
Interesting. Oh, it looks so good. These guys are making p from scratch.
Olive bar. Oops.
And some vinegar. Turkish coffee and tea around everyone. Plus this place is just beautiful.
Sam.
It's really ever fun to leave a lounge, but it's a lot easier when you're getting on another business class flight. Let's go to New York.
Welcome.
Over.
All right, we're ready for a 10 hour flight. Everybody's boarding right now. And we're the very first seat in business class. And everybody who walks by me on their way back to economy class, I feel like he's looking at me the way that I look at people when I'm boarding the flying, going back to economy with just sad, jealous eyes. And I just want to look at them and say, I'm just like you. I'm the same way, same thing. Walking by business class on every flight. I just got really lucky this time.
Okay, this is test review round two. Two things that we've never had on our flight before that is super fun is one, the chefs are walking around taking people to order wearing like big chef hats. And they're so cute. And there's in flight. WI fi for free.
Amazing.
Like I was instagramming from the sky yesterday. Also, Min is one of my favorite parts of this class because it's like a little present. You never know what's inside.
Burla.
Anti slip socks, eye mask, earplugs, super fat and brush. You need to get your shoes off if you can't reach your toes. Toothbrush and toothpaste. French brand lotion and chapstick. This is brilliant. It's a sticker that you put on your seat when you go to sleep saying either please wake me up in the morning or please let me sleep. I love it. We just ordered our lunch from the super cute chef and we're about to take off. Should be fine in 10 hours.
Sam.
You.
It's lunchtime and we're starting with some appetizers. They just push a cart with all these beautiful food and just we did pinguish once. I got stuffed vine leaves, hummus, and salmon. Also, my favorite part of this meal are these cute little salt pepper shakers. They're so tiny and they're magnetic to the plate. And those complete with a candlelight.
Family.
Sa.
After 24 plus hours, we are officially back in the US and as crazy as it sounds, I have to say that I'm a little sad it's over. But thankfully, we get to do it again in six days.
And this is our home for the next six nights.
Our bodies are on like three different time zones right now, so I think we're gonna go get some New York pizza. Go.
The Turkish airline Bishop Puff.
This station has a lady cooking.
What just happened?
My thumb just went down my pants and out the bottom of my pant leg.
