Airline review: Rare jumbo jet’s economy class feels more like premium

The Airline: Korean Air

• Route Honolulu to Seoul (the airline also flies to Seoul from Sydney and Brisbane)
• Frequency Daily
• Aircraft Boeing 747-8
• Class Economy
• Flight time 9 hours, 45 minutes

Korean Air is one of the few airlines flying the 747-8, the last jumbo jet developed by Boeing.Credit: iStock

The loyalty scheme

The loyalty program, SKYPASS, is free to join. Points can be earned on Korean Air flights, hotels, car rentals and linked credit cards. Korean Air is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Members earn points when flying partner airlines, including Delta, KLM and Virgin Atlantic.

Checking in

I arrive at Daniel K Inouye International Airport in Honolulu 90 minutes before scheduled take-off to find there’s nobody ahead of me in the check-in line. I’m thrilled to learn the flight isn’t busy and I’ve been assigned a row of three economy seats. There’s a long queue at the security checkpoint, but once I’m through to air-side, it’s a short walk to the gate.

The seat

Korean Air economy class cabin is spacious.

There are 314 Economy seats in 3-4-3 configuration. I’m in 30A, a window seat; 30B and 30C are unoccupied. Seat width is 17.2 inches (44cm) and pitch is 33-34 inches (84-86cm). I have enough room to work comfortably with my laptop on the tray table, even when the passenger in front reclines. The table can also be folded in half, creating a wider space.

There’s a USB port and power outlet. An amenity kit includes toothbrush and toothpaste, disposable slippers, 500ml water and headphones.

Baggage

Two checked suitcases, up to 23 kilograms each. Cabin allowance includes a personal item and a carry-on bag, to a total maximum 10 kilograms.

Entertainment + Tech

The 28-centimetre seatback screen offers latest-release movies (lots of K-drama), TV series, music, kids’ content and flight info. I’m surprised there’s no Wi-Fi. Korean Air is in the process of rolling it out across the entire international fleet, which will take some time. An in-flight magazine, Morning Calm, has interesting stories about South Korean culture, design and destinations Korean Air flies to. A thick catalogue of in-flight shopping deals runs to 254 pages.

Service

The flight attendants don’t have a hair out of place.

Impeccable. Ever-smiling and perfectly groomed, the all-female cabin crew doesn’t have a hair out of place (collectively) the entire flight. Dressed in elegant turquoise, beige and white uniforms, they exude poised professionalism.

Food

As soon as the captain turns off the seatbelt sign, the crew comes through with lunch. The attendant recommends the Korean bibimbap bowl – ground beef, carrots, mushrooms, spinach, sprouts, cucumber, pickles – with instructions to mix in rice and gochujang paste, served separately. There’s a side of kimchi, fruit and a chocolate muffin. Four hours before landing, snacks (potato chips, brownies, bananas) are offered. Two hours later, there’s another meal service. I choose stir-fried beef with potatoes, served with prawn salad, fresh watermelon and a bread roll.

Carbon emissions

1.4 tonnes. Korean Air recently launched a program for air cargo customers to reduce their carbon footprint by choosing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with plans to establish SAF usage in the airline’s commercial passenger sector.

One more thing

Korean Air is one of only three commercial airlines around the world flying the 747-8, the last jumbo jet variant developed by Boeing. It is the largest plane ever built by Boeing.

The price

From about $820 on this route, economy class one way.*

The verdict

I can’t remember the last time I wanted a flight in economy to last a bit longer. The only thing that could have improved it for me is inflight WiFi.

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

The writer travelled as a guest of Korean Tourism Organization Sydney. See koreanair.com

*Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.

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