I flew 9 hours in Europe's top-rated airline economy class. The food was the biggest surprise.

The flight was operated by a Boeing 787, equipped with Turkish' most modern economy cabin. The midday departure is currently the only 787 option on the route; overnight flights still use the older 777, which has noticeably dated screens and onboard tech.

I wanted to fly Turkish's most up-to-date product. You'll also find similarly modern seats on most of the airline's Airbus A350-900s.

I didn't check a bag and checked in via the Turkish app, meaning I could skip the desk and head straight to security. But I noticed the check-in area had a long line that wrapped around the corner.

The desk closes 60 minutes before departure, so arriving early — or sticking to carry-on only — may save you some time.

The Turkish Business Lounge is part of the Priority Pass network, which I access through my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card.

It was small but offered free food and drinks, including eggs, meat, muffins, yogurt, and vegetables. There were no alcoholic beverages, but it was a comfortable place to pass the time with views of the ramp.

I always pay extra for an aisle on long-haul flights so I can get up without disturbing others. I chose seat 26C, the closest aisle seat to the front at that price point.

Economy is arranged in a 3-3-3 layout, and each seat has 31 inches of pitch — the space between seatbacks — and 17.4 inches of width.

The headphones were comfortable, though some audio was scratchy — I preferred my own wired pair.

The blanket and pillow were soft and supportive, and the pillowcase was made of real cloth rather than the thin plastic used by some airlines.

While headrests are now common across the industry, I appreciated the extra seatback compartments for organizing cables, headphones, and snacks.

Turkish has installed 13-inch HD displays on newer 787s, which are noticeably larger than many economy screens. The system was stocked with movies and included both USB-A and USB-C ports.

By comparison, Turkish's 777 screens are about nine inches.

The seat reclined about 6 inches, making sleeping easier, but it also forced everyone to recline to avoid feeling cramped. That's great for rest, but less ideal for working on a laptop or reading a book.

I imagine those on the "you shouldn't recline" side of the viral argument may find this frustrating. Fortunately, the screen adjusts when the seat in front reclines, and the crew asks passengers to sit upright during meals.

Before the first meal service, the crew handed out warm towels, water, and printed menus detailing each course. Lunch, as we were departing midday, included a choice of grilled salmon or mushroom orecchiette, followed by sides and dessert.

Breakfast, served about 1.5 hours before our 6:30 a.m. local arrival, was a choice between a tomato-and-cheese omelet or a waffle with blueberry purée and vanilla sauce. It's easy to see why Turkish won Skytrax's award for best economy catering.

Despite my skepticism, the salmon, served with ratatouille, Caesar salad, and celeriac mousseline, was fresh and flavorful, and the portions were generous. I was full by the time I got to the carrot cake.

The waffle was fluffy and sweet, paired with fruit, cheese, and bread. Beer and wine were complimentary with lunch, and I enjoyed the Turkish beer.

While nothing beats the bidet on Japan's All Nippon Airways, I was surprised to find both a makeup mirror and a full-size mirror in the lavatory — a convenient touch for freshening up.

I don't usually recommend eating airline food if you can avoid it, but Turkish seems to have figured it out. The meals felt lighter and more satisfying than usual, similar to what I've experienced on five-star carriers like Singapore Airlines.

The main drawback is the seat recline, which may frustrate travelers who want to work and find their workspace cramped by the seat ahead of them.

Turkish also doesn't have a premium economy cabin, and only a few rows have extra legroom. Taller passengers should book early to secure bulkhead seats.