Review of Asiana Airlines flight Seoul Tokyo in Business

Airline Asiana Airlines
Flight OZ104
Class Business
Seat 4A
Aircraft Boeing 747-400
Flight time 02:30
Take-off 24 Mar 16, 10:00
Arrival at 24 Mar 16, 12:30
OZ 106 reviews
Rewardflying
Published on 17th May 2016
photo oz104 cover.

The third leg of four from Chicago to Singapore found me on Asiana flight 104 from Icheon to Narita. After the disappointments from New York to Seoul, my expectations for this flight were significantly lowered. I wasn't surprised.

There is always some good so let's get it out. On certain flights Asiana flies aircraft with first class cabins, but doesn't sell first class tickets. That means business class tickets sit in first class seats. My flight on a 747 "Combi" (a Combi is when half the aircraft is for used for cargo) was one such flight. However they fly the A380 to Bangkok where you can grab a suite for business class and there are flights to London when a 3 class 777 is substituted for the regular 2 class aircraft. The service is business but the seat is first.

Upper deck Business class, economy class today
photo oz104 cabin 5.

This 747 Combi was an older aircraft and it showed. While it was fine for a 2 hour flight, I wouldn't be clamoring to fly it long haul. But the fact I got a first class seat on a 747, as opposed to standard regional business class recliner seat, is a definite plus. The other plus is the attitude of Asiana's flight attendants. They all have been extremely nice and accommodating. Today's attendant, a different Ms. Park, had an excellent command of English as well. Plus there were 3 flight attendants serving 12 people. (On both Asiana flights all flight attendants were female.)

photo oz104 cabin 2.

Another minor plus. When flying in the states I've always wondered why (at least on United) starting with 9:30am departures, lunch is served instead of breakfast. Don't they know to make a 9:30 flight you probably have to skip breakfast? Anyway, this flight left at 10am and they offered a choice of lunch or breakfast. While the breakfast was terrible, at least I had a choice.

The seat design reminded me of a business class product with a footwell, only slightly larger. It's a comfortable lie flat seat but past its prime in terms of first class offerings. The tray was very difficult to pull out, and when it was out, you couldn't move the seat to get closer to the tray. There was at least 8 inches between my chest and the tray table. More napkins please.

photo oz104 seat 1.photo oz104 seat 2.photo oz104 seat 4.

The IFE monitor was ancient and you couldn't see it with the window shades up. It was definitely analog and probably about 12 inches in diameter. And at 4 feet away, with no way to get closer, I didn't even bother to watch anything. You also had the option to play something from your iPad or iPhone and watch it on the monitor.

photo oz104 ife 2.photo oz104 ife 3.photo oz104 ife 4.

General Opinions of the flight

Lounge
The airport in Icheon is new and nice. Departure are from level 3 and once inside security you can go to level 4 which has a transit hotel, shower and rest areas for anyone to use and access to most lounges including Asiana First Class lounge. The lounge for Asiana Business Class is just outside security by gate 28 on level 3. Take the escalator up. It’s a fairly good size lounge with a reasonable selection of food. I was there at breakfast and they even has a station cooking fresh fried eggs. In addition, they have massage chairs in a private rooms, showers and rest areas. It's worth going early for this lounge.

Overnight layover? Transit hotel airside.
photo oz104 airport 1.

The guy in the back left is cooking eggs
photo oz104 lounge 1.photo oz104 lounge 2.

Shower rooms
photo oz104 lounge 3.

Private massage chairs (all were occupied)
photo oz104 lounge 4.

Time to board
photo oz104 boarding 1.

Inside the 20 year old 747
The cabin is long past its time. While no one should complain about sitting in a first class seat for a business class ticket, it would be irresponsible to not point out the exposed insulation between the cabin wall and seat.

photo oz104 cabin 1.

The seat was comfortable for a 2 hours flight. Some of the features

Storage, for??
photo oz104 seat 3.

Seat control
photo oz104 seat 5.

Power with nifty little pouch for phone
photo oz104 seat 6.

Coat hook
photo oz104 seat 7.

The short haul menus
photo oz104 menu 1.photo oz104 menu 2.photo oz104 menu 3.

Food:
The breakfast was not edible, in my opinion. And I typically have a salad with my eggs, don't you?
photo oz104 food 1.photo oz104 food 2.

Aircraft
This is one of four remaining Asiana passenger 747-400 aircraft. They also have a number of cargo 747s. My aircraft was delivered to Asiana in August 1996. Happy 20th birthday.
photo oz104 plane 3.

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Verdict

Asiana Airlines

3.5/10
Cabin2.0
Cabin crew8.0
Entertainment/wifi2.0
Meal/catering2.0

Asiana Airlines Business Lounge

7.5/10
Comfort8.0
Meal/catering7.5
Entertainment/wifi6.0
Services8.5

Seoul - ICN

8.3/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness9.0

Tokyo - NRT

8.0/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Conclusion

I won't be looking to fly Asiana long or short haul in the near future, unless it's unavoidable. While there is nothing wrong with their A380, Smartium Business Class seats and First Class suites, in my view the amenities, food, technologies and seats on other carriers are superior to what Asiana currently offers.

Information on the route Seoul (ICN) Tokyo (NRT)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 15 avis concernant 4 compagnies sur la ligne Seoul (ICN) → Tokyo (NRT).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Japan Airlines avec 8.1/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 2 heures et 14 minutes.

  More information

3 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 348831 by
    changi359 1 Comments
    Thank you for the report!

    Wow. I last took Asiana more than 10 years ago, and I have been wanting to try it again soon. But it seems like Asiana has fallen behind. Interesting that they are still deemed as a 5 star airline by skytrax. Guess I would not opt to fly it soon...

    Wonder how Korean Air compares to it.
  • Comment 349128 by
    KévinDC TEAM SILVER 6658 Comments
    It's like you said. The one good thing is that you got to sit in an F seat. And also being on a 747 on a short regional flight is definitely a good thing for the AvGeek value. There's nothing quite like sitting in the nose of a 747. One of my earliest flights as a child, and the fondest memory of the exact moment I became a lifelong AvGeek was getting to sit in F in 1A in the nose of a 747.

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