I’m a big fan of Asiana Airlines first class. While their hard product (seat and entertainment) are mediocre, the service and food are consistently top notch (you can read some of my trip reports about Asiana first class here and here).
It looks like they’re finally in the process of upgrading their first class hard product on the 777, with a new suite that is supposed to feature the largest personal television in the sky, at 32″. While it’s not the most visually appealing suite I’ve ever seen, it’s definitely a big step up from the old product.
The reconfigured aircraft will operate their 4x weekly Seoul Incheon to Chicago route, as well as their Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon to Ho Chi Minh City routes (just be sure you’re looking at the 777s on these routes, as the other aircraft types won’t have the new first class).
Here’s a video of the new product (in Korean):
Award availability seems excellent between Chicago and Seoul Incheon in all cabins, so there are lots of opportunities here!
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July 23rd, 2012 at 6:42 pm
JP2 said,
Hey Ben,
During the big SQ crazy a while ago, One the segments I picked up for the wife and I is the ICN-ORD Asiana F. I hope these are installed by March next year for our trip.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Carl said,
One of my favorite airlines. Really enjoyed the F product and service, as well as the business class product, although the food offerings at the F lounge in ICN were a bit substandard, but i suppose the ice cream made up for it.
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Cristina said,
looks amazing …. I’m booked on OZ NRT-ICN in march in 747 combi … Hope they’ll swap equipment by then ^_^
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Ed said,
Do you think its worth changing an existing award in November SGN-ICN-JFK to stop in ORD (adding an ORD-LGA connection on UA) to be in new F rather than old?
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Jeff said,
looks a lot like swiss first.
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:58 pm
tj said,
Good find! Strangely united.com only shows this as a Y/J flight past March (April/May/June 2013). It shows F availability in March though. Will that change?
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:07 pm
J said,
I’m booked on this product in September. I believe they’ve already started running it on ORD-ICN, since they just received a new plane for that route.
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Mike S. said,
New F product aside, Asiana (and Korean Air) have among the most lovely FA’s.
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:29 pm
charles said,
hopefully will take a trip next year, using my UA miles. Awesome!
July 23rd, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Andy Bluebear said,
Are there really that many people flying first between Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City on Asiana? I’d have thought maybe certain other cities, like Honk Kong or Singapore would get a more prestigious product upgrade like this…
July 23rd, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Ari said,
Achhh. I wanted to book that as part of my SQ F adventure (in 02/13), but timing from MEL didn’t work out. Instead I’m taking the 747 to LAX. I guess I could always get lucky, but I won’t hold my breath. After all, I can’t get too greedy now that my MEL-SIN flight was just bumped p to the A380
@JP2 I’m almost positive you’ll see it by then!
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:44 pm
lucky said,
@ Ed — While everyone values their time and the experience differently, I’d certainly make the switch!
@ tj — I suspect they just haven’t updated the schedule yet, as historically this flight is operated by a two cabin aircraft.
@ Andy — That is indeed really bizarre, since it has always been a two cabin route. My only explanation is that it’s an efficient use of the aircraft between other flights.
July 24th, 2012 at 1:05 am
Antonio said,
@Andy – It may be because SGN is a cheap airport to park overnight. Before United moved a bunch of 737s to Asia, they used to fly HKG to SGN with a 747 in order to park it there overnight rather than in HKG. That flight was always empty both ways, but apparently made economic sense due to the fees.
July 24th, 2012 at 2:18 am
Duncan said,
@Andy Bluebear,
If you stay away from the main chains, you can do first class in Vietnam very cheaply, villa or Town house with staff inc chef, 2 bedroom 225.00USD+. You can also holiday here very cheaply in any class. First class product out of Vietnam is some what limited by far the best is Asiana all the way to Europe or the States from when you board and not regional class. The flight time SGN-CDG ( a very busy route) is only 2 hours longer via ICN
July 24th, 2012 at 7:47 am
Joe said,
Koreans love traveling to Vietnam. It was in the NYT Travel section in the last 3-4 months or so.
July 24th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Gabe said,
I am booked ICN-ORD on Aug 6th. Does anyone know if that route already has the new seats in place? Here to hoping!
July 24th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
lucky said,
@ Gabe — This route is actually presently being operated by an aircraft with just business class and coach, so it’ll be a few weeks before the aircraft with first class will operate on the route.
July 25th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
JC said,
Lucky – Do you know if the ORD-ICN route has the updated lie-flat business class seats, or only the old product? Will be flying it 11/14, and from the Asiana seat selection map, it’s hard to tell – it looks like 8 first class seats and 24 business class, and I can’t find that kind of seating arrangement anywhere. Any information you have would be much appreciated!
July 25th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
lucky said,
@ JC — Yes, in October it will have both the new first and business class. Enjoy!
July 26th, 2012 at 6:40 am
zeffer said,
Am I the only one who’s a little concerned that they’re calling them “Suites”? We know what SQ did to First Class award redemptions when they started using that word.
July 28th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Arthur said,
Worth changing by one day later To ICN TO LAX VIA ORD ASIANA F instead of ICN TO NRT F CLASS, THEN NRT TO LAX SQ BIZ?
July 28th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
lucky said,
@ Arthur — I’d say so given that it’s first class instead of business class.
July 28th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
lucky said,
@ zeffer — I wouldn’t be concerned. There are lots of airlines calling their first class product “suites” in one form or another, and as we can see, they’re still releasing award space on it, so…
July 28th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
Arthur said,
Thnk!
November 12th, 2012 at 2:14 am
Lack said,
Just had the pleasure of trying the hard product on SYD-ICN – it really is quite nice (better then 9W/TG 77W suite). Email me if you want some real life pictures.
November 19th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Ed said,
Just got back from the trip mentioned in comment #4 above and was very impressed. Using UA miles, outbound JFK-ICN old F, ICN-BKK old C; inbound SGN-ICN booked in C but in a new F seat (with C service), ICN-JFK new F!
When I got to SGN I was informed that my ICN-ORD flight was swapped to a 2-class plane and I had 3 options: (1) fly in C on OZ, (2) fly in F on KE, (3) fly direct to JFK in F on OZ. I went with (3), assuming it would have to old product like that flight normally has, but it wound up being the new F suite.
November 19th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
lucky said,
@ Ed — Sounds awesome!
November 24th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
What kind of Pointer are you? | From Point A To … said,
[...] enough points to fly to Asia in First Class on Thai Airways’ new A380 or perhaps stretch out in Asiana’s new First Class Suites. In addition, once I get there I’m hoping stay at the Conrad Koh Samui and a few other luxury [...]
December 18th, 2012 at 7:51 am
Simon said,
Is there a plan to retrofit the 747′s?
December 18th, 2012 at 7:52 am
lucky said,
@ Simon — I don’t think so, at least they haven’t announced it yet.
December 18th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Michael A said,
Has all this F award space vanished? I can’t see anything Feb onward for next year?
December 18th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Simon said,
Which routes?
December 19th, 2012 at 1:10 am
lucky said,
@ Michael A — Availability isn’t great, though I still see some dates with seats between ORD and ICN. Be sure you’re using the ANA tool.
March 6th, 2013 at 3:15 am
Asiana Airlines stellt FRA Verbindung ab Winter auf 747 um said,
[...] Fliegt Asiana die 747-400 COMBI nun mit neuer First zwischen FRA und ICN ? Asiana introducing new first class suite – One Mile at a Time [...]
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