Korean Air Skypass - Seoul in June via Korean Air-when to book?

We're looking at a direct flight from IAD to ICN in June. There will be 3 adults and 3 kids (6,4,3). I'm trying to figure out the best time to book tickets. I understand that seat assignments aren't given more than 30 days in advance. Obviously, with young children we need to have seats together. Right now the price isn't too bad.

Is it better to wait until exactly 30 days out to book the tickets and get the seat assignments at the same time, or should we purchase tickets now and then call 30 days before the trip to take care of seat assignments? Does anyone know how quickly direct flights fill up, not sure if that needs to be taken under consideration either?

Trying to balance seat assignments with ticket prices. I am not sure if we should expect ticket prices to be higher in May than they are now.

Any input would be appreciated.

As a follow up question - if we need book without seat assignments are we more likely to succeed in getting seats together if all six tickets were purchased in a single transaction? We are two families traveling together, there is some benefit to each being able to buy their own tickets, but if it makes it likely to get the seats together we can go in together. We think the kids will do a lot better if seated together (we parents are hosed no matter having three young kids on a long haul flight).

Also, we note that Delta code shares the flight, albeit at a higher price. Delta doesn't have this 30 day rule. Is Delta just sold blocks of seats which they can then assign? Or are they the first come, and thus first served and Korean Air people just get the scraps once we are in the 30 day window?

Any insights appreciated.

All of KE focus cities has a Korean travel agents that sells consolidation fares. But be aware that some of these discounted tickets earn reduced mileage or no mileage.

I don't worry about seat assignment in your case. KE blocks 1/4 or 1/3 seats of the front part of Y class and assign them at check-in. You'll be able to see that only aft 2/3 of seats are opened on delta.com regardless of travel date. If you call them roughly 30 days before, then KE will do the best for you. You don't need to wait until that time and book, and you don't have to book under one booking code.

Even at the worst case, cabin crews will kindly ask to other passengers for changing seat.

I don't worry about seat assignment in your case. KE blocks 1/4 or 1/3 seats of the front part of Y class and assign them at check-in. You'll be able to see that only aft 2/3 of seats are opened on delta.com regardless of travel date. If you call them roughly 30 days before, then KE will do the best for you. You don't need to wait until that time and book, and you don't have to book under one booking code.

Even at the worst case, cabin crews will kindly ask to other passengers for changing seat.
Even if DL.dumb shows a seat map, don't select seats using it. They can't even properly transfer seat assignments to their close buddy AF/KL, so I can't imagine trying to get them to send seating requests to KE properly. Buy when there's a price you're happy with and then call/email/live chat 30 days out to request your seat assignments. You shouldn't have a problem getting them together.

If you have a log-in to Korean Air webiste, I think you can select your seats online. I have done recently for my trip from ORD - ICN.

I know this feature was not available last year around this time but they might have upgraded their website.

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback it has all be very helpful.

Also, if you want to get DL skymiles (skypesos), I would just book the tix using a Korean Air mileage account so at the 30 day mark, you can go online and make seat assignments yourself. Then, you can have them put in ur DL SM number when you check in at the airport.

I usually do the IAD-ICN route multiple times a year. It's a breeze for families in my opinion. You get priority boarding over first class as well.

It's a breeze for families in my opinion. You get priority boarding over first class as well.

Interesting...I've flown 4 KE flights in the last 2 weeks and on none of them did they board families before first class or prestige class...Whether or not they board them before the mass of economy I dont know as we were already on the plane being Prestige and boarding first..:p

Interesting...I've flown 4 KE flights in the last 2 weeks and on none of them did they board families before first class or prestige class...Whether or not they board them before the mass of economy I dont know as we were already on the plane being Prestige and boarding first..:p

Actually, passengers with children get to board before anybody else, including first class and Elite+ passengers.

They usually call it pre-boarding, a boarding for people who need extra time like elderly passengers and families travelling with childeren.

They always board before first class.

From what I was told by a travel agent, alot of fares are changed by first of march or so (around that area). And I have been keeping track of prices for my trip, and they have dropped for me ... I figure now might be a good time for you

Also, if you want to get DL skymiles (skypesos), I would just book the tix using a Korean Air mileage account so at the 30 day mark, you can go online and make seat assignments yourself. Then, you can have them put in ur DL SM number when you check in at the airport.

I usually do the IAD-ICN route multiple times a year. It's a breeze for families in my opinion. You get priority boarding over first class as well.


Trip is getting closer. I am unlikely to fly Korean Air again, if I am reading this right you are suggesting that after I get seat assignments at the 30 day mark under the skypass number they gave me when I booked the tickets I wait, and at the airport check-in give them my delta # and I won't orphan the miles with Korean Air? I can do that. Not that I have many delta miles, but I do get them from time-to-time.

I flew from ATL-ICN last August and my ticket was booked my a Korean travel agent (I'm an English teacher here). My ticket was booked a week before I left. I called, added my SkyMiles # with ease and told them what kind of seat I wanted. My miles showed up within a week (maybe even like 3 days later - it was FAST).

Granted, I was an aisle towards the back, but it was a week before and the flight didn't have a single empty seat when I boarded, so hey.

I really don't think it's that big of a deal. You should be fine if you call 30 days before. And yes, from what their website says, book all the tickets together so you can be on "one reservation."

I've had luck calling directly to the LA office of korean air as well as korean travel agents in LA can some times beat the published korean air price but be careful of the booking class

Trip is getting closer. I am unlikely to fly Korean Air again, if I am reading this right you are suggesting that after I get seat assignments at the 30 day mark under the skypass number they gave me when I booked the tickets I wait, and at the airport check-in give them my delta # and I won't orphan the miles with Korean Air? I can do that. Not that I have many delta miles, but I do get them from time-to-time.

I'm a bit anal about wanting the seat I want on a plane so I have a KE Skypass number when booking a ticket; that way, I can reserve the seat that I want. You can usually call in to enter your DL number but I'm too lazy and I just do it when I get to the airport. I don't think it's a pain at all and I don't think it should deter you from flying Korean. I'm a DL Plat, but I always choose Korean over DL for all transpacific flights. I only accrue DL miles (gotta keep up the DL status!) and you'll find that it's really easy.

The only time I actually wish I had KE status instead of DL was this past Christmas, they were in a complete overbooked situation and so KE gave free upgrades to their own elite members but not for me =(.

Hope you enjoy your flight on KE; I've never had a bad experience with them and I think your kids will enjoy the IFE. I'll try to look out for any more questions you've got.

Seats are assigned. Life is good. Thanks for everyone's help.

i am planning a trip to ICN in june 2013, and like dcpilgrim, i'm wondering when is the best time to book to get the cheapest fares.

(1) does anyone here have info or knowledge on whether current fares (~180 days from departure) will change?
(2) do economy fares tend to go up or down as i get closer to my departure date?
(3) if i use a TA to look for consolidation fares, how much cheaper are they typically, and when is the best time to book them?

i am planning a trip to ICN in june 2013, and like dcpilgrim, i'm wondering when is the best time to book to get the cheapest fares.

(1) does anyone here have info or knowledge on whether current fares (~180 days from departure) will change?
(2) do economy fares tend to go up or down as i get closer to my departure date?
(3) if i use a TA to look for consolidation fares, how much cheaper are they typically, and when is the best time to book them?

1) they will change. But can't really tell whether it would go up or down. Usually, I would say it would dip then go back up as you get closer. But that is just a guess and there are a lot of factors in it (demand, destination, etc). for the past couple years, I bought my tickets in late February and March (TA's mentioned they found out the KA sales by March for the summer season). Both times, for the tickets to korea, they were cheaper through the TA than the website, and found it to be the cheapest (i kept track of prices through the website though). But at the same time, last year, I had an itinerary to Manila (I went to Manila, but one family member only did the Korea portion, so only got Korea tickets), and found it to be cheaper through the website in late April.

So YMMV. For me, I like to start checking flight prices through TA and website about 5-6 months earlier. Then buy tickets by 3-4 months before. But that is just me.

2) For the most part, I would say they go up, but that is strictly my opinion.

3) For me in the past couple years, and my mother who has gone to korea every year for the past few years, I think it has averaged to have been $100-$150 cheaper than the website. But that all depends on demand, when you buy, and the destination.

and obviously, fly during the week rather than weekend, as it is about $100 cheaper. Obviously, flying during summer is going to be higher. I am not sure where you are, but tickets to korea from Las Vegas is about $1300 (last year). So if you are on the west coast, I would base it off that.

jaesun, that is very helpful information. thanks!