Asiana Club - First flight on OZ - plenty of questions

I have never flown on OZ (actually never been to Korea) in my life, and now I am going ICN-PVG at the end of the month ,on the 744 plane.

Just some questions: is it wort upgrading to F class? I know it is a very short flight, but maybe their F class is such a great experience that I should go for it? I got curious when I read that they are a 5 star airline. Looking at the pictures on their website I actually wonder why, but now I want to find out.

Any other hints about best seats on the plane (right now I have a seat on the upper deck), amenities, privileges for Star Alliance Gold members, check-in at ICN (is there web CKI?), lounges, special security lanes, etc.? Basically, what is there that makes my travel hassle-free @ICN and on board OZ?

Thanks

I have never flown on OZ (actually never been to Korea) in my life, and now I am going ICN-PVG at the end of the month ,on the 744 plane.

Just some questions: is it wort upgrading to F class? I know it is a very short flight, but maybe their F class is such a great experience that I should go for it? I got curious when I read that they are a 5 star airline. Looking at the pictures on their website I actually wonder why, but now I want to find out.

Any other hints about best seats on the plane (right now I have a seat on the upper deck), amenities, privileges for Star Alliance Gold members, check-in at ICN (is there web CKI?), lounges, special security lanes, etc.? Basically, what is there that makes my travel hassle-free @ICN and on board OZ?

Thanks

744 in C is old fashioned- day flight for your distanceis fine, though.
try for row 11 at check-in.
service will be good.
Where are you checking in? if in Seoul, you can check in at City Air Terminal, which gets you thru ICN v easily. No web check-in, though.
Lounge is fine.

Not worth upgrading -- OZ F seats are old-style full-flat, but for such a short flight I don't think worth doing -- you'll likely be the only person in that cabin, however!

No special immigration lines at ICN, except if you've checked in at City Air Terminal. Lines are usually short/quick, so not much of a benefit. Lounges are OK.

OZ is an OK (not great and not terrible airline). It recently received 5-star rating from SkyTrax because SkyTrax ratings aren't particularly good.

First of all, even if OZ had EK's suite first class seats on PVG/PEK-ICN route, I wouldn't upgrade because of the distance being so short that you simply wouldn't get to enjoy the flight. Second of all, OZ F seats are okay first seats, but nothing fantastic. I also don't think the meal service is much better than C. Thirdly, immigration at ICN is very quick regardless of your class of service so you don't need to worry about being in line like at LHR or in the US.

Thirdly, immigration at ICN is very quick regardless of your class of service so you don't need to worry about being in line like at LHR or in the US.

My experience has been that most of the time immigration at ICN isn't bad. Certainly better on average than LHR or US airports. But occasionally I've had some very long waits of about 45 minutes when a few other flights came in right before my flight. Usually the queues for Koreans isn't bad because they are processed quickly, but the the queues for foreigners are much slower, especially if there are a lot of passengers from third-world countries which immigration seems to want to check out more carefully. I've even seen them take out a magnifying glass and carefully inspect some countries passports as there must be a number of fake passports around.

OZ is an OK (not great and not terrible airline). It recently received 5-star rating from SkyTrax because SkyTrax ratings aren't particularly good.

That seems like your opinion stated asbeing a fact.
Or two opinions stated as facts.

Others may of course have different opinions. I certainly find OZ service to be the best on any airline I fly.

I've flown ICN and PUS to PVG several times, always in coach.
I also think that the flight is too short and an upgrade would be a waste.
Also some of the flights are code share with China Eastern, but on the MD11 - I guess you know that.
Anyway, I'd hate to book a first class upgrade on OZ and then due to a schedule change wind up on an MU code share.

No offense to any MU fans, but I find OZ's service much better - at least in coach.

Others may of course have different opinions. I certainly find OZ service to be the best on any airline I fly.
Don't think so almost everyone likes the OZ service. And almost everyone dislikes their filthy old seats and unreliable IFE (the A340 excluded).
5 stars for an airline that doesn't sport 21st century seating is a flaw of SkyTrax, not an opinion about it.

Don't think so almost everyone likes the OZ service. And almost everyone dislikes their filthy old seats and unreliable IFE (the A340 excluded).
5 stars for an airline that doesn't sport 21st century seating is a flaw of SkyTrax, not an opinion about it.

OZ doesn't have any A340s. I believe you mean their A330s, right?
Although I admit that their seats are really old, but their seats are very comfortable and also the legroom is excellent.

Skytrax gave them 5 stars because they announced that they are upgrading their product. Furthermore, Skytrax looks more in service than in product and my experiences with OZ are excellent no matter in service or catering.

It has been a while since OZ had opened web check-in (haven't had a chance personally; I always got paper ticket from consolidators, but this time just booked JFK-ICN-ORD and now e-ticket is available!).

Seems to be available only on OZ Korean website, Korean language option(coudn't find one on English version Korean website)-didn't check extensively other regions or laguages. You will need OZ membership number(don't have to enter OZ number for mileage accrual though) and PNR.

For those who want to give a shot from Korean maze;

http://chkin.flyasiana.com/weblogic/IntlCheckIn

1) first blank is for PNR and second one is membership #. Then click Go!
2) Check box on the left of your name, choose male, female or child from the pull-down menu(from top to bottom). Then click green button at the right side(NOT the red Go! this time). Seat map will be loaded, choose your favorite seat, check the seat number and click the green button. That's it! :)

edta450 :D

It has been a while since OZ had opened web check-in (haven't had a chance personally; I always got paper ticket from consolidators, but this time just booked JFK-ICN-ORD and now e-ticket is available!).

Seems to be available only on OZ Korean website, Korean language option(coudn't find one on English version Korean website)-didn't check extensively other regions or laguages. You will need OZ membership number(don't have to enter OZ number for mileage accrual though) and PNR.

For those who want to give a shot from Korean maze;

http://chkin.flyasiana.com/weblogic/IntlCheckIn

1) first blank is for PNR and second one is membership #. Then click Go!
2) Check box on the left of your name, choose male, female or child from the pull-down menu(from top to bottom). Then click green button at the right side(NOT the red Go! this time). Seat map will be loaded, choose your favorite seat, check the seat number and click the green button. That's it! :)

edta450 :D

Thanks for this edta450! I will give it a try next time. Even so I lived in Seoul for a year I wouldn't be able to understand Korean.

..I believe you mean their A330s, right?
Yes, I do, my bad.
Although I admit that their seats are really old, but their seats are very comfortable and also the legroom is excellent.
It is in the aisle seats not at all in the window seats. While I cozily fit into Qantas' domestic 31" seats, I cannot unfold my legs on the 32" inchers of OZ A330 window seats :( .

While I understand your argument, I still think that Skytrax ignoring the seat product or preemptively credit OZ for a future product makes Skytrax a questionable source.
The lack of decent Biz seats and the bad air aboard OZ simply cannot be ignored.

Yes, I do, my bad.

It is in the aisle seats not at all in the window seats. While I cozily fit into Qantas' domestic 31" seats, I cannot unfold my legs on the 32" inchers of OZ A330 window seats :( .

While I understand your argument, I still think that Skytrax ignoring the seat product or preemptively credit OZ for a future product makes Skytrax a questionable source.
The lack of decent Biz seats and the bad air aboard OZ simply cannot be ignored.

You are somehow right. Skytrax shouldn't perhaps raise them to 5 stars until they upgrade all the products...

And OZ needs to introduce new C/J seat over the ones found in 330/777. It takes fully flat seat with CX and SQ setting the standard for 5 star airlines.

Although I admit that their seats are really old, but their seats are very comfortable and also the legroom is excellent.


If you are in the window, and have a seatmate on the 744 in F, when it is in the full flat position, it is very hard to climb out your seat unless you have long legs.

If you are in the window, and have a seatmate on the 744 in F, when it is in the full flat position, it is very hard to climb out your seat unless you have long legs.

sorry, but I'm actually referring to their Y seat...
I can't afford F you know:(

OZ is fantastic on short haul and well worth the upgrade. I just came back from a trip to the orient (that actually took me around the world) where I flew F on OZ, SQ, KA, and AF. OZ was hands down the best of the lot. Flying from ICN to PEK, we were coddled in the F Lounge, then personally escorted to the door of the aircraft by a Premium Service attendant. As we left the lounge, at least 4 OZ agents were at the door to bow and personally thank us for flying Asiana. During the 1:30 flight, they served a four course lunch that was much better than the fare we had on AF between SIN and CDG or CDG and IAH. On arrival in PEK, another Premium Service attendant met us at the jetway and escorted us through customs, using her inside pull to take us through the Chinese Nationals Only line instead of the very long line for foreign visitors. We were out of the airport in 5 minutes. It was amazing.

Seems to be available only on OZ Korean website, Korean language option(coudn't find one on English version Korean website)-didn't check extensively other regions or laguages. You will need OZ membership number(don't have to enter OZ number for mileage accrual though) and PNR.

For those who want to give a shot from Korean maze;

http://chkin.flyasiana.com/weblogic/IntlCheckIn


You can do web check-in in English. :)
http://chkin.flyasiana.com/weblogic/IntlCheckInE

alternatively, try the other sites

hk.flyasiana.com
us.flyasiana.com

etc.

OZ is fantastic on short haul and well worth the upgrade. I just came back from a trip to the orient (that actually took me around the world) where I flew F on OZ, SQ, KA, and AF.

Orient? bit dated there buddy.

OZ is fantastic on short haul and well worth the upgrade. I just came back from a trip to the orient (that actually took me around the world) where I flew F on OZ, SQ, KA, and AF. OZ was hands down the best of the lot. Flying from ICN to PEK, we were coddled in the F Lounge, then personally escorted to the door of the aircraft by a Premium Service attendant. As we left the lounge, at least 4 OZ agents were at the door to bow and personally thank us for flying Asiana. During the 1:30 flight, they served a four course lunch that was much better than the fare we had on AF between SIN and CDG or CDG and IAH. On arrival in PEK, another Premium Service attendant met us at the jetway and escorted us through customs, using her inside pull to take us through the Chinese Nationals Only line instead of the very long line for foreign visitors. We were out of the airport in 5 minutes. It was amazing.

I have never got escorted from the F lounge to the gate in ICN, also no one escort me through the customs in ORD or HKG either.

I have never got escorted from the F lounge to the gate in ICN, also no one escort me through the customs in ORD or HKG either.

Think yourself lucky, I've been escorted from customs a few times;)