Asiana Club - New Business class on ICN - SFO in 777?

I am flying end of August/Beginning of September on a round the world ticket om *A. My journey takes me also to ICN and from there I fly back to YYZ.

I can either take AC via YVR ( although this is in their old business class product since it is a A340 to YVR) which is fine, nevertheless I am in the mood of doing something and could in theory also fly OZ via SFO although it adds more layover time and I have to deal with American Immigration in SFO, but I would consider it, since I have heard so much praise about Asiana.

But I only consider it, if on ICN-SFO uses their new business class, does anybody new if that 777 is already retrofitted or how could I best find out.

Thanks for any insight from the experts on this board

Currently new seats with AVOD goes SFO. Not sure on late Aug/early Sep, but I believe new J will be on SFO route for a while. The problem is, it's not easy to get OZ's trans-pacific award seat. I quickly checked and no single C/Y seats are available between 8/21~9/11. Around 7/20~8/20 is OZ's blackout season, and late August and early September is really busy time for Korean students back to school in USA. You can try SQ's ICN-SFO but you'll have to pay additionally like 2~300USD.... I checked ICN-SEA also, where new business class runs, but no seats either between 8/21~9/11. Well, good luck.

If nonstop service is important, ICNSFO is also served by UA nonstop. Or, you could fly on NH via NRT. Great opportunity to do something different.

ICNSFO on OZ should have the new seats, but last minute swaps do happen (happened to me a few times!)

... The problem is, it's not easy to get OZ's trans-pacific award seat...

The OP stated he is flying on a *A RTW ticket (I guess CRWSTAR1) NOT on an award flight.

The OP should thus be fine getting the required D class on OZ.
Personally, I would book the OZ ICN-SFO flight in business. The "old" business class is OK and the new one is just fine. Anyway you can't go too wrong.
I would recommend to stay away from UA as much as possible. AC is ok but I would still prefer OZ on the 777.... 747's are a different story and I don't want to start another rant ... ;)

The OP stated he is flying on a *A RTW ticket (I guess CRWSTAR1) NOT on an award flight.

You're right. I misunderstood. ;)

The OP stated he is flying on a *A RTW ticket (I guess CRWSTAR1) NOT on an award flight.

The OP should thus be fine getting the required D class on OZ.
Personally, I would book the OZ ICN-SFO flight in business. The "old" business class is OK and the new one is just fine. Anyway you can't go too wrong.
I would recommend to stay away from UA as much as possible. AC is ok but I would still prefer OZ on the 777.... 747's are a different story and I don't want to start another rant ... ;)

Thanks for the answer and you have guessed right is a RTW ticket and CRWSTAR1. United Business Class, although I collect miles with UA MP for historical reasons, I agree on flights over 8 hours isn't any competitive anymore, but I still have a couple of SWU's, I might be able to snatch a F-Class.

If I were you, I would go on NH. I am not sure about the configuration that serves SFO. But OZ 7 777 have got 3 different configuration. One is with cradle seats and PTV, the other with lie flat and PTV, and another one with the new J seats found on the A333 with AVOD.

OZ is scheduled to receive a brand new 777(departing Seattle Boeing Field on 8/28, arriving ICN on 8/29) which is definitely a good news that way older version of 777s would be upgraded.

OZ is scheduled to receive a brand new 777(departing Seattle Boeing Field on 8/28, arriving ICN on 8/29) which is definitely a good news that way older version of 777s would be upgraded.

The new 777 is probably to replace the lost of 1 74M (HL7413) which had converted to a freighter earlier this year, not about to free up other 777 for upgrade. And I also suspect there are more 74M to convert to 74F soon.

The new 777 is probably to replace the lost of 1 74M (HL7413) which had converted to a freighter earlier this year, not about to free up other 777 for upgrade. And I also suspect there are more 74M to convert to 74F soon.

According to OZ's schedule, it seems 8 777s are enough until around 9/16, which means there are more than two weeks for upgrading some 777s (if delivered 8/29). I think new business class will be installed to more 777s, but I doubt PTV will be upgraded to AVOD. I wonder when the last 777 will be delivered - before launching CDG or not, which will be March 2008.

Currently 3 74Ms are remained as combi, and 3 are on the converting work or completed. (There were 6 combis.) One more will start converting on summer 2008 (May or June, I assume), and will be completed by early 2009.

not about to free up other 777 for upgrade. And I also suspect there are more 74M to convert to 74F soon.

Wrong! ;) OZ is indeed going to upgrade other 777s once they get this new bird. Also, Airbus will entertain OZ execs on Sept 6 when A380-promotion tour lands at ICN.

Wrong! ;) OZ is indeed going to upgrade other 777s once they get this new bird. Also, Airbus will entertain OZ execs on Sept 6 when A380-promotion tour lands at ICN.

Shame! I prefer the cradle seats.

Currently 3 74Ms are remained as combi, and 3 are on the converting work or completed. (There were 6 combis.) One more will start converting on summer 2008 (May or June, I assume), and will be completed by early 2009.
Will OZ than have no F class, well the seats are not really F class, anymore when they retire the 747s? THis will probably mean they Skytrax takes away the 5th star as they seem to require it.
I know KE will be getting some A380, I have no idea why, but for OZ it seems too much airplane, especially due to the extremely high cost of making it into a combi. So the 777-200ER and A330-300 seem to be the right size for OZ but they do not have F! I also thought I saw photos of OZ new F class seat somewhere but I could not get the search feature to find it:(

Wrong! ;) OZ is indeed going to upgrade other 777s once they get this new bird. Also, Airbus will entertain OZ execs on Sept 6 when A380-promotion tour lands at ICN.

Well, they say they are going to upgrade the 744 too, but how come rather than spending time to convert the seats, instead they actually convert into a freighter ?

But OZ 7 777 have got 3 different configuration. One is with cradle seats and PTV, the other with lie flat and PTV, and another one with the new J seats found on the A333 with AVOD.

I didn't know there were 3 configs. I've only tried the oldest (cradle) config. I'm looking at the option of flying OZ in J from Beijing to Sydney - anyone know whether the 777s on the Seoul-Sydney route usually have the new style seats? What are the odds either way (ie how many in each config)? Although I do like OZ's service, the cradle seats are not in the same league as a good lie flat seat, so I'd consider SQ via SIN instead...

I too wonder about Asiana's commitment to First Class going forward. It'd a be a huge shame to lose it.

David