Flying New York → Istanbul at the front of the plane
Booked well, New York to Istanbul in First Class is not an indulgence so much as arithmetic: a flat bed out of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), hours of genuine sleep, and a first day in Istanbul you don't lose to recovery.
British Airways First sets the tone here, though British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates and Qatar Airways each bring serious hardware to this market. Your choice usually comes down to schedule, aircraft, and which ground experience you value most.
JFK's ground experience matches its cabins: Emirates operates its own First Class lounge in Terminal 4, while Terminal 8 houses American's Flagship First dining and the Chelsea Lounge, the refined American–British Airways space reserved for First Class travelers. Air France La Première and the Asian flagships use elevated partner lounges within their terminals.
April and May — tulip season, fittingly, since the flower came from here — and September through early November are ideal: warm light on the water, comfortable sightseeing, and full ferry schedules. July and August are hot and heavily touristed at the major sites. Winter has a moody, tea-and-ferries appeal and the best fares of the year, though pack for rain and real cold.