Review of Korean Air flight from Paris to Seoul in Economy

New Journey

Hello everyone and welcome back for a new trip, going to South Korea, a country that was on my wish-list for quite some time. And once again, I'm joining a touristic group. And so the group assembles at Paris Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle, France. As I live to the French Riviera, Air France was in charge to bring me from and to the French capital.

As those flights had nothing very interesting to say, only flights from Paris to Seoul, as well as two domestic flights, all of them operated by Korean Air will be reviewed.

The Flight plan

Our route, seasoned with K-imchi sauce.

CDG transit :

Once I'm out of the aircraft, next stop the baggage claim, in order to pick up my suitcase.

Some of you may say that Air France and Korean Air are both Skyteam's founder members, so baggage could be checked-in to the final destination. Except, when I subscribed to this circuit, the tour operator made two separate bookings. I did try to negotiate in Nice airport to merge them but only Air France or KLM bookings are appliable. (with a booking number starting by 057 for the French carrier or 074 for the Dutch one)

As a result, I am forced to pick up my luggage and re-check-in for my final destination.

Baggage delivery started Around 15 minutes after I got off the aircraft and delivery priorities will not be respected since mine was among the first.

If Paris Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle is your final destination, be very careful when coming back to landside at Charles-De-Gaulle ; some people try to bring you towards illegal taxis, as the real ones never make such a process.

As for my part, since I have an outbound flight and need to go back to the check-in desk, it's not a problem. Next stop, Terminal 2E, to the opposite of Terminal 2F.

In CDG, Korean Air uses the check-in area 3. Our flight is expected with a 20 minutes delay.

The list of dangerous items.

Interesting fact: electronic cigarettes and lighters are NOT allowed to travel, whether with you or inside your cabin or checked baggage.

The process was very professional. When the selection become free of charge online, most of seats were already taken, except row 31A where the seat 31B was still vacant. In order to be sure, I asked confirmation to the agent if it's still the case, but the vacant wasn't vacant anymore. Then he suggested without extras an emergency exit, 38A, which I accepted.

From the check-in to gates L, 20 minutes are required.

PARIS CDG AIRSIDE :

Borders controls were very quick, as there was no one.

Onward to gate L30, with the train.

One stop later, we need to go upstairs, so we can pass the security controls. I'll have to wait around 10 minutes which, isn't so bad for this airport…

The website's news from back then.

While waiting our aircraft's boarding, a little spotting session, with especially Air France's Boeing 777, going to Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) and Singapore (SIN) alongside another AF 787 to Lomé, Togo (LFW) and a Vistara 787 to New Delhi, India (DEL).

A cat sleeping sculpture at the end of the concourse.

HER MAJESTY THE EMPRESS

Our ride for this long flight is HL-7638.

A video game area was around the gate.

Boarding started at 8h49 P.M with Sky Priority passengers. General boarding started five minutes later.

With its neighbor an Air France Boeing 777-300ER AF heading to Tokyo Haneda (HND), Japan.

Zoom on engines 1 et 2.

And on door 3L.

Door moment.

The cabin crew scanned my boarding pass before welcoming me and giving the way to my seat.

My seat 38A, located right in front of door 3L, which also has a window.

Legroom was obviously royal.

That seat is also located near the bathroom, which would have been very useful later.

A pillow, a headset, a bottle of water as well as an amenity kit were set on my seat when I arrived. I don't remember if I took a picture of the amenity kit's content, but I was pretty sure it contained a toothbrush with a toothpaste, earplugs, a few cosmetics and slippers.

An universal electric outlet and an USB outlet are available under the seat alongside the life vest.

Good point for Korean Air: Seated at an emergency exit seat, the cabin crew kindly invited me to read the safety card. Something I didn't really notice from other airlines.

Push-back 25 after Scheduled Time of Depature. 11 hours and 30 minutes are required to reach our destination.

My IFE screen had be stored during taxiing, take-off and landing. Korean used to play a "K-pop" style safety video, in cooperation with K-pop group SuperM (for the choreography) and pop singer BoA (for the voice) from November 5th 2019 to January the 4th 2024, when an AI took over.

Safety video in link down below.

It's dinner time !

Dinner was served around an hour after take-off. No printed menu has been given, but in accordance to what I found on the website, we can choose between three options, including the famous bibimbap.

And obviously, I chose the bibimbap. A Paris-Brest cake completed the set.

Another point is : we have metal cutlery.

There was too much food. I'll still eat the Paris-Brest cake.

CALL AN AMBULANCE ! CALL AN AMBULANCE ! FOR ME !!!

Shortlly after meals have been picked up, I'm feeling a serious stomachache. tre. Also, I pressed the calling crew bell for a medical attention. A cabin crew gave me a pill with a glass of water. As soon as I took it, I almost threw up right after.

As painful as it is, I managed to sleep for 3 hours, We were half-way when I woke up.

Riddle : Does anyone guess this movie ?

Mood-lighting was set around 2 hours and 30 minutes before landing.

A tour to the bathroom.

Breakfast is served, either an omelet (my choice) or a porridge (my neighbor's choice), is served above Baotou, China.

Cheers !

I also asked for a green tea, which will come very late. On second thought, it would have better if it never come, as it was simply awful.

The arrival at Seoul Incheon (ICN)

Our landing is imminent.

Landing with a lot of clouds.

Taxiing would be rather long. In the mean time, two passengers got up despite the seatbelt signal still on and a passenger announcement by the cabin crew.

We're parking next to HL-8002, a Korean Air Airbus A330-300 back from Tianjin (TSN) and was meant departing to Yangon (RGN).

Onwards to the border controls.

The immigration was done ONE HOUR after the aircraft's landing. The baggage belt was already moving as I arrived to the baggage claim. My baggage will arrive shortly before teaming up with the group, which was already formed landside.

And thus, this review has come to an end. Thank you for stopping by and for reading. I hope you enjoyed that experience. If that's the case, you can leave a like and a comment. As for my part, I wish you all safe flights.

Our flight's replay :

You can see Korean touristical pictures in the Bonus section down below.