Asiana Club - Sorry...a seating question!

Hi everyone,

First time here for a BA/BD board regular and I apologise but I have a seating question! Well, two in fact...

I am now booked to fly LHR-ICN-LHR in C in a couple of weeks on a 777. Is there any way I can tell in advance if it's the new seats or the old ones (e.g. looking up on ExpertFlyer EDIT: Scratch that I guess, I see OZ do not publish seatmaps to EF, I tried to look my flights up)?

Second, what are the 'best seats' (sorry!) on either config (just in case). I have been assgined 3D outbound and 2D inbound.

I have searched the forum but only found 'best seat' recommendations on the 747 Combi so far and some threads saying not all 777s are 'done' with the new seats, OZ have a small fleet which is stretched in terms of refits, etc.

Thank you in advance everyone - looking forward to trying OZ for the first time ^

I did OZ522 LHR-ICN in J earlier this week on a 777. As this was my first intercontinental jaunt on OZ (having only previously done numerous regional and domestic flights with them) I am not sure what equipment they usually have on the route but we got the current standard issuse slopey lie flat seats. I presume these are quite new as each seat had a huge screen. It looks like they are fitted for AVOD but my a/c didn't have it.

I had a bulkhead window seat (1A) which is my favourite on 777's on all airlines. It allows you a window seat and the ability to get in and out without disturbing your set mate.

All in all a very enjoyable flight. Food was decent and the crew were excellent.

The 777s opeating on the LHR route do indeed have the new seating from what I'm aware.

I've always had the bulkhead on row one on the two flights I've had with Asiana's new seating (SGN-ICN and ICN-SIN), which were fine. I can't comment on how easy it is to leapfrog the person sat next to you if opting for a window seat as the flights were more or less empty in J.

Seats are angled lie flat. Personally, I struggled with the slope when sleeping (or at least trying) and found the old J seats on the 777 more comfortable for relaxing in an upright position. That said, the latter flight was only a short hop from PEK to ICN.

And I hope this is not a revenue leisure ticket G-BOAC, what with UUS only round the corner ;)

The 777s opeating on the LHR route do indeed have the new seating from what I'm aware.

I've always had the bulkhead on row one on the two flights I've had with Asiana's new seating (SGN-ICN and ICN-SIN), which were fine.



I had old seat (hooray!) in September on the night flight, and new seat on the ICN-LHR. Both flights (as all others for the past year) were chockablock in J.
Only problem with old seats is that reclining enters your space a little more.

On new seats: bulkhead seats slightly less good than normal seats as the screen is further away; slightly better, as you have a bit more room to get out when aisle is reclined. You don't have a problem with getting out of normal seats, but the front row is just a tiny bit easier.

Too far back and bassinets in Y come into hearing- 3 is OK, though!
Lavs are behind row 4.

Thanks guys. I am quite looking forward to it since I've never been to Korea and this seems to be my 'year of trying new carriers'! Don't worry, Boddies, it's a work trip :)

I think I'll call and see if I can get Row 1. Edit: They told me I have to ask at check-in and in terms of 'AC' seats, "only 4C both ways is left". I guess the flights are pretty full. Oh well, I'll get there early and lounge hop :D

MAN Flyer - did you get 1A at check-in or somehow get it in advance?

ethelman - thanks ^ Lavs behind row 4 disagree with the Asiana 777 seatmap (http://uk.flyasiana.com/travelplanner/seatmap_b777200er.htm) but then that's true of most airlines I find ;) Mind you, there are no 'C' seats on the map either so maybe the agent I spoke to was just being very polite but fobbing me off?

I actually found both the new and "old" seat on the 777 quite ok. Obviously the new seat is better but one can still get some sleep in the old one. Last year I did FRA-ICN in F on the 747 with a continuation ICN-SYD on the 777 "old". I got about 6 hours of sleep on the 777 (perhaps because I was knackered...)

Enjoy the OZ inflight service ! (BA should do some benchmarking!)

I booked my seat about 2 weeks before departure with their UK office. The flight was about two thirds full in J. Lavs were behind row 4.

I presume you will be putting your miles to BD ?. If so be preapred to explain who they are as nobody out here has heard of them. :D

Are you just going to Seoul or are you moving around ?. It's a PITA coming into ICN then going elsewhere as there are very few domestic flights from here, most of them go from GMP.

Thanks again both of you. Maybe I will give the UK office another try - perhaps I got through to the wrong place using the number on the UK site I linked to above.

Straight into ICN, in to Seoul, back out of ICN only 4 days later :( So no worries about connections.

It's an Expedia Special and thanks to the LAN ticket checker I can confirm it's Z class both ways. And thanks to a search on the BD forum I see Joanna confirmed (and had the earning chart updated to reflect) that JCDZ count as 200% on OZ ^ So no worries there, I'll definitely be dumping them in to BD! :D The number's in the booking already ;) Hopefully it shouldn't matter that NNKWIA on a plane with no OpUp potential! I guess the only 'need' may be lounge access/check-in at ICN but I'll wing it.

Thanks again both of you. Maybe I will give the UK office another try - perhaps I got through to the wrong place using the number on the UK site I linked to above.

Straight into ICN, in to Seoul, back out of ICN only 4 days later :( So no worries about connections.

It's an Expedia Special and thanks to the LAN ticket checker I can confirm it's Z class both ways. And thanks to a search on the BD forum I see Joanna confirmed (and had the earning chart updated to reflect) that JCDZ count as 200% on OZ ^ So no worries there, I'll definitely be dumping them in to BD! :D The number's in the booking already ;) Hopefully it shouldn't matter that NNKWIA on a plane with no OpUp potential! I guess the only 'need' may be lounge access/check-in at ICN but I'll wing it.

When you check in a LHR, you can check your BD is definitely on.
Should be no problem over the lounge -it's business lounge at ICN regardless of class.
If you're in town, then consider using Korea City Air Terminal (in Gangnam, near Samseong station ,by COEX) to check in on the way back. You check in (only OZ and KE) and emigrate there, take the bus- reclining seats, non stop to airport - and then fast track through ICN. The KCAT staff DO know about BD!
And if your first time to Seoul don't take a cab into town, take the bus intead! (Actually don't ever take a cab unless you like stationary cars)

(Actually don't ever take a cab unless you like stationary cars)

Oh it's fun stuck in traffic trying to get over the bridges. I rev the engine, slip the clutch slightly and have the back wheels rotate and burn rubber. You get some great looks and people move out of your way. Also the way to go is to drive in the Express Bus Lanes with the blue lines separating them from the main carriageway as they are less crowded ;) Oh and remember when they fill your car with fuel they take the money into the shop. The car is still being filled so don't be tempted to drive off with the pump still in the car beacuse you forgot and virtually bring down the whole garrage roof. And watch out for valet parking as they move the seat closer to the steering wheel so when you get in you always crush your knee caps. And if you have an accident they take away your driving licence and vehcile registration and it takes days to get it back and a whole load of legal trouble with the person you hit. The good thing though is in winter virtually all the cars have remote control engine start so you can point your key fob out of the office window, start the car so it's nice and warm when you leave.

If you're not renting a car then go by Deluxe taxi. You pay 50% more but they do have some English skills.

If you're not renting a car then go by Deluxe taxi. You pay 50% more but they do have some English skills.

Take no notice of VC10, get the bus (its a coach) :D. Then take the cab to your hotel from KCAT.

Journey time around 60+ minutes from ICN into the KCAT if I remember correctly.

Take no notice of VC10, get the bus (its a coach) :D. Then take the cab to your hotel from KCAT.


:eek:

Ignore that Bodd's more like as you'll never find the right coach at Inchon. Besides which how many times will your coach have to stop to change horses.

Now on the drive in look out on the expressway for huge blocks of concrete hung over the carriageway like bridges. They can be wired with explosives and dropped to block the progress of invasion vehicles from the north. A four lane carraigeway suddenly splits to go either side of the support legs. You'll miss them in a bus/coach.

And at the main junctions they have TV screens for you to watch while the lights change. You'll see far more in a deluxe cab. Actually you'll see the same in a silver cab but take a deluxe. It's a work trip after all. ;)

:eek:

Ignore that Bodd's more like as you'll never find the right coach at Inchon. Besides which how many times will your coach have to stop to change horses.

Now on the drive in look out on the expressway for huge blocks of concrete hung over the carriageway like bridges. They can be wired with explosives and dropped to block the progress of invasion vehicles from the north. A four lane carraigeway suddenly splits to go either side of the support legs. You'll miss them in a bus/coach.

And at the main junctions they have TV screens for you to watch while the lights change. You'll see far more in a deluxe cab. Actually you'll see the same in a silver cab but take a deluxe. It's a work trip after all. ;)

Sorry for starting this! I was merely (wrongly) offering a little advice based upon the fact that OZ allows in-town check-in, not intending to take the thread off topic to areas where raw nerves look like appearing soon.

Sorry for starting this! I was merely (wrongly) offering a little advice based upon the fact that OZ allows in-town check-in, not intending to take the thread off topic to areas where raw nerves look like appearing soon.

Oh don't worry we're all friends and Bodd's nerves are a bit shattered today as he can't find a Sinagpore Suites redemption for regular miles as he left it too late :D

Useful thread. SWMBO and myself have popped for OZ to SYD in January.

TA wasn't able to sort seat allocations on our return leg. I happened to be around Victoria where OZ's office is and it was all sorted in a a few minutes, by a v.helpful agent who printed the details and confirmed our BD FF's were all safely loaded. There were other staff in earshot taking enquiry type calls, so that must be the place to contact with any queries

Our first time on OZ as well, at £2k a pop it looks good value and I have heard some v.good reports about their service standards in J.

Anyone know if the showers are any good in the ICN lounge ? We have got a 4 hour layover on the way down, so plenty of time for a freshen up.

Anyone know if the showers are any good in the ICN lounge ? We have got a 4 hour layover on the way down, so plenty of time for a freshen up.

The lounges at ICN are very good. Nice showers, nice layout, nice surroundings and great little slumber rooms with black leather reclining arm chairs :)

ICN is a delight of an airport really. Gets the thumbs up all the way from me ^

The lounges at ICN are very good. Nice showers, nice layout, nice surroundings and great little slumber rooms with black leather reclining arm chairs

Excellent, good news, thanks Boddy's.

ICN is a delight as an airport, but it is far far far from Seoul.

As promised to phreegreens and others, I began a TR:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=756045

including as many details as I thought relevant. If you have any questions or something you'd like me to scope out for my return, please let me know.