Korean Air Skypass - Upgrade to First Class from Business Class

I am traveling to ICN from LAX next weekend and currently booked in Business (C Class). I haven't traveled to Seoul in a few years, but I recall booking a J class fare for a few hundred dollars more than C and being upgraded to First on the spot as a result. Does anyone know if this is still an option? Also, what are the available First Class fare codes?

Thanks all!

jumpeddie

I flew KAL heavily (6-8x year) between the US (ORD, JFK, DFW, IAD) and Seoul between 2004 and 2006, all in full-fare J. I never got a comp'd upgrade to F on any of those flights.

Its to my understanding that this is no longer available as of February '07. In February they started to sell F again.

Megan: It wasn't a comp upgrade from C, it was a paid upgrade that travel agents had acess to.

The paid upgrade from a full fare to the next class of service was discontinued around the time when KE rolled out the new J & F seats. I used to book the full fare J tickets from JKF-ICN thru my corp travel agent and pay abuot $400 to get into first confirmed. It was a great deal especially with the terrible old biz seats. But the new biz seats are pretty good. Of course first is better but they are selling the seats now.

Well as you guys know Business Plus is now disallowed,and starting from this November, KE's IU procedures changed - C to F IU is now strictly not allowed. (unless there's very urgent need of upgrading C pax)

These are 2 BKG CLS that are available in F - P or F (Those FLT with new seats have P code and those with old seats have F code)

Megan: It wasn't a comp upgrade from C, it was a paid upgrade that travel agents had acess to.

Ahh, got it now... thanks for the clarification :)

I've been around this forum for a while now, but have no idea what IU is... obviously the U is for upgrade, but what is the I?

I've been around this forum for a while now, but have no idea what IU is... obviously the U is for upgrade, but what is the I?



It seems like Koreans (KE&OZ) call operational upgrade as IU meaning involuntary upgrade.

Thanks all. Very useful!

Given my options at this point, I guess I will focus on finding a great business class seat. I am traveling on Flight 18 on the 2nd of December and Flight 17 on the 6th of December.

I am having trouble locating the exact seating chart for this particular 747. Looks like there are a few different configurations (checked out seatguru.com and koreanair.com). I am trying to figure out which row is the upstairs exit row and which seats are aisle seats. Also, is there anyway to secure an exit row before check-in?

Thanks again for helping!

jumpeddie