Korean Air Skypass - Business Class bulkhead rows on 777's?

Can anyone comment on whether the bulkhead row in Business Class on KE's 777's, specifically 777-300 used for intra-Asian routes, is good or bad legroom-wise. I've sat in it before, but I just can't remember.

I'm curious about it both for normal seating and for sleeping, since I'm on the evening ICN-BKK flight and one of the overnight BKK-ICN redeye flights.

Can anyone comment on whether the bulkhead row in Business Class on KE's 777's, specifically 777-300 used for intra-Asian routes, is good or bad legroom-wise. I've sat in it before, but I just can't remember.

I'm curious about it both for normal seating and for sleeping, since I'm on the evening ICN-BKK flight and one of the overnight BKK-ICN redeye flights.

Great question! I'd like to know the answer as well.

I'm on the BKK-ICN (KE 654) flight on 3/30 - any chance that you're on that same flight as well?

I think bulkhead is slightly better than other seats for leg room. These being the older recliner seats, it will be hard to sleep. :(

I am flying on A333 in J this Saturday BKK-PUS on a red-eye and am not looking forward to the flight. The only thing I am looking forward to is getting home and seeing my family but I will probably end up with no sleep. :mad:

When are you guys flying?

I'm on KE 653 ICN-BKK on April 9, KE 654 BKK-ICN on April 16. Visiting for Songkran.

Looks like you'll be the first to report back about the 773, bostonbali. I've heard the A333 is the worst widebody in KE's fleet for pitch and seat quality. I think you're right, brahms77, that you'll be a little tired when you get to PUS.

I've heard the A333 is the worst widebody in KE's fleet for pitch and seat quality.

Wonderful... I'm flying the 333 to KUL. Thank goodness, I'll be in F, so that make it more tolerable. I'm sure it will be a decent flight regardles...

Wonderful... I'm flying the 333 to KUL. Thank goodness, I'll be in F, so that make it more tolerable. I'm sure it will be a decent flight regardles...

Yea, F seats look pretty decent (though nothing compared to 180 lie-flat ones). Based on the airliners.net photo database, 333's F seats are just as wide as J seats but with more leg room and supposedly more recline. I can't comment on the service, however.

Since I am on DL 30K mile award, :D one of the best deals around, I won't complain, but I surely will try to see if I can be assigned to those F seats (since KE doesn't sell F out of BKK) - I know they are usually for KE elites or full fare J pax but it doesn't hurt to try. I tried on MNL-ICN on KE 744 but that flight actually was selling F, but didn't sell a single seat. :D

Speaking of best mileage redemption deals, here are some of the list based on my experience:

DL 30K award for J with KE (N.Asia to S.Asia)
US 30K award for C with *A carriers (S. Asia to Central Asia, ex. BKK-MLE)
US 60K award for C with *A carriers (N.Asia to South Pacific, ex. ICN-PPT)
US 60K award for C with *A carriers (N. Asia to Central ASia, ex. ICN-MLE)
UA 90K award for F with *A carriers (Central Asia to South Pacific, about 10-15K less for NZ, ex. MLE-PPT)

I agree that the DL 30K award for Intra-Asian J with KE is a great deal. Mr. Megatop and I used his miles for two award seats BKK-ICN-KIX / NRT-ICN-BKK. Enjoyed it thoroughly, even the painful KE 654 BKK-ICN redeye.

but I surely will try to see if I can be assigned to those F seats (since KE doesn't sell F out of BKK) - I know they are usually for KE elites or full fare J pax but it doesn't hurt to try.

Are you sure about this? I was trying to figure out whether KE is selling F seats on my KE654 BKK-ICN flight on 3/30/08. I called KE and asked about upgrading my 'C' seat for a FC seat on that flight. I was told that they WERE selling F seats, and that it would cost me $2K to upgrade...

KE's website doesn't allow F seat purchases, so I'm a bit confused.

Guys, I was able to pre-assign my seat to ROW 1A on BKK-PUS-BKK with KE. Since all of KE's Prestige class rows start on Row 7, 1A, really means a seat in F section. ^

I just called KE office in BKK to arrange this and told her I wanted seat assignments and my choice(s) were first row, specifically, ROW 1. :D

Nice work. I might try to do the same. If anyone gets it to work on BKK-ICN flights, please let me know. I'll post my results, of course, next month.

Nice work. I might try to do the same. If anyone gets it to work on BKK-ICN flights, please let me know. I'll post my results, of course, next month.

Of course, this doesn't me I am guaranteed a seat on 1A... a check-in agent could deny after looking at my PNR and finds out that my booking is an award ticket. :D Anyway, I will report on this after my flight this Saturday. Looking forward to a little bit more recline and leg room. :D

I flew from ICN to BKK two summers ago on the 777-300 in business class - Going to BKK we were seated in regular business class seats but on the red eye flight back to ICN we were seated in the second row of first class - At least back then they didnt sell first class and we were given the first class seats at check in. My wife and I were both elite members with Delta at the time.

Interesting. My ICN-BKK-ICN flights are paid Business Class booked on DL codeshare flights. I think I'll just ask at check-in at LAX to be seated in rows 1 or 2.

KE certainly treats DL elites well. I've been op-up'ed from Y to J on KE 654 on a fairly cheap DL-coded economy class ticket. ^

just flew into PUS and I was the only business passenger. I was seated in the F section and it seemed like the actual business section was allocated to KE elites. Nice flight, attentive FAs, and slept about three hours. Good job KE!^

just flew into PUS and I was the only business passenger. I was seated in the F section and it seemed like the actual business section was allocated to KE elites. Nice flight, attentive FAs, and slept about three hours. Good job KE!^

Hmmmm... sounds nice. I'll definitely have to ask for an F seat. Being on a paid (albeit DL-coded) Business Ticket and STE+, I might get one. As I've posted above, they've been nice to me before. ;)

Another pleasant flight on KE (yesterday - PUS-BKK). This time had 3 other pax in the cabin but still seated in the F section.

I had injured my arm and the FAs took a notice of this and were quite helpful all around.

Only if KE had better loyalty program, I'd be jumping ship to KE... :(

Did you get a look at the Bulkhead rows?

I checked with KE on my upcoming KE 653/654 ICN-BKK-ICN. It looks like they're selling only Business and Economy on those flights and on the earlier ones. That gives me hope that asking for seats in row 1 or 2 might just work, especially at Suvarnabhumi. Not as likely to get lucky at LAX or Incheon.

Any opinions on where I should go/whom I should ask at Incheon to try and get re-assigned to Rows 1 or 2? The lounge dragons, while pretty and generally nice, don't seem to be able to do much and their English isn't the best.

I suppose I could post this in the other thread, but the discussion is already underway here.

For ICN-BKK-ICN flights, it may be a different story. PUS-BKK flights usually have very small number of business passenger so they've pre-allocated old F section for business. Actual business seats are allocated to elites.

Since ICN has a lot more traffic to BKK (perhaps business) they can't probably open up F seats to business pax nor open up business seats to elites. But it doesn't hurt to ask. I'd suggest you go to the transfer desk to get your seat assigned.

On the contrary, I've vaguely remember that a friend of mine whom I got this DL-KE award for PUS-BKK-ICN was given row 1 (when I asked at the check-in @ BKK) for his flight to ICN from BKK (this was the earlier flight, I think).

So you have a very good chance 1)being paid C pax and 2) DL elite. :) Good luck! KE FAs are quite genuine (based on my flights so far), especially those who have served the airline at least 10 or more years. ;)

FYI to those flying on birthdays on KE - you can actually request a birthday cake be loaded on to the flight. I didn't know this until I told the FA that my birthday was just the day before. She personally wrote a nice birthday card for me instead and apologized for not having a b-day cake. :D ^ Certainly a SQ level effort and service... perhaps better. ;)

I flew ICN-BKK-ICN in BC on 773 in Nov, 2007. Yes, bulk head would be fine. I actually like the old BC seat - very comfortable - and I slept better on those old seats than the new BC seat from JFK-ICN. The 773 FC old seat is basically the same as the BC seat just more spacing. The 773 FC seat reminds me of the CO BF seat 2-2-2 spacing. BC is 2-3-2.

On both flights - about 10 out of 28 seats occupied in BC and zero in FC. FC was closed off - curtains closed and dark inside. No FA for the empty FC section.

A small comment on the old F seats.

This seat is actually a lot better in seating than the business seat, in my opinion. The comfort level is similar to that of SQ regional F.

The fact that the leg rest comes up completely (compared to rather limited slope for C seats) also helps with the leg comfort. Recline is also generous, about the same as UA C seat recline. Recline on the older C on KE is quite limited.

So, combined with additional leg room, it is very comfortable as compared to the older seat.

Given that ICN flights close off F section, I'd much prefer flying into PUS (actually better for me anyway) and be seated in the F section. :)

An option for those redeeming for an award ticket: BKK-PUS-ICN is a possibility. ;)

Thanks everyone. I'll try to get an FC seat at the transfer desk at ICN and at BKK. Doesn't hurt to ask. Not like they're selling those FC seats. They truly will go empty, as so many of us have witnessed.

Not sure about taking the bulkhead seat. Might be worth it. At least I won't have someone reclining right into my face.

Sitting at the BKK lounge as we speak. I tried twice now at the airprot to get a seat in row 1 or 2 (FC), despite the fact that I hold a full-C ticket.

Both times, I was old that BC starts with row 7, and that they could not assign me a seat in FC, since they sell FC seats on this flight.

Oh well, I'm sure BC will do just fine...

Hmmmm.... not good news.

Come to think of it, they do have a First Class carpet and line out at check-in at BKK. But I've done dummy bookings on KE.com and it never offers me First. As we all know, no way it's sold out on both flights on both days I'm checking.

I really don't understand this F-class issue on BKK-ICN flights. When I flew OZ past three times in business to BKK, I was one of five or six passengers in business class on their A333 (which seats 30 C Pax). This is across three difference seasons (once in September, January, and March). KE probably doesn't have that many C pax to begin with and the fact that they insist on selling or not offering F section (if not sold) to elites or full-fare customers is quite ridiculous.

This is why I have decided to fly into PUS again on my next trip (Apr 12th).

Loads are always low (in premium cabin) and it's a guranteed benefit for flying C to be assigned to F seats (same one featured on those 772/3s to BKK from ICN) when flying in and out of PUS to BKK.

Come to think of it, it may be that KE is actually selling F for one of the two flights to ICN. I am not sure which one, though.

:D Once again, flying on KE 662/661 BKK-PUS-BKK and got myself assigned to row 1H and 1A! Departure is next Saturday morning and return is a month later to catch my UA flight to NRT/BOS.

PUS is much more convenient for me (TAE would have been the best, but they operate 783s so not so good in terms of seat comfort) than ICN so all works out well.

I love these DL 30K mile redemptions - already used 4 of these on KE (MNL-ICN-NRT-MNL, PUS-BKK-ICN, 2x BKK-PUS-BKK). These saved me usuall 600-700 USD on Y ticket to Korea, with a total savings of 2800 bucks for 120K DL miles (2 cents per mile). Not bad burning rate. Of course, if you factor in actual C class ticket price (around 1200 bucks, then it will be a total siving of 4800 bucks for 120K miles - 4 cents per mile). ^

All right, everyone, I confess to being completely useless. I flew KE 653 ICN-BKK on a 777-300 last Thursday, two days ago. Despite having just 6 pax in the C cabin and 1 in the F cabin (Y was pretty wide open too), I completely forgot to jump in the row in front of me and find out if it was any good. My seat, 8J, was okay. The footrest didn't seem to work like it had on previous flights, so it was hard to find a comfortable position for sleeping. That should have made me check out the empty row in front of me, but, like I said, useless. I'll try to remember on KE 654 next week if it's similarly empty.

Service on the flight was just delightful. Had a nice bibimbap which was, for the record, probably slightly higher in quality than the Y bibimbap, and it was certainly presented in a nicer fashion.

Had a closer look at the bulkhead row on the 777-300 I took yesterday BKK-ICN. The bulkheads have a zig-zag in them so that there is a good bit of kneeroom and legroom. Didn't look much better or worse than my seat in Row 8. Flight was very comfortable. Not many pax, just 6 or 7 in J, none in F. I asked for a seat in the first or second row, and they offered rows 8 or 9. Then I made clear I wanted row 1 or 2, and they said that rows 8 and 9 were the first two rows. :rolleyes:

Very pleasant crew and good service all around. I changed into my (SQ) pj's before takeoff, unusual for me for safety reasons but I really wanted to fall asleep ASAP. Popped Dr. Ambien right after takeoff and sleep until we were into our descent to Incheon, as I requested. Spent a nice 6 hours at the Prestige Class Lounge above Gate 11, then had another nice flight to Los Angeles.

I have flown the BKK-ICN-USA route on KE 2 or 3 times a year, always on a paid business class ticket for 15 years. I was/am either DL PM or GM. Until mid 2007 I always was able to ask the check agent in either BKK or LAX for a seat in row 1 or 2 of the 777 between ICN-BKK and have my request accommodated. The 1st class seat is much more comfortable due to the additional recline and the higher elevation of the footrest.

In the fall of 2007 when I asked for the rows 1 or 2 I was told, and the printed KE schedule confirmed, that those rows were sold as 1st class. It seems the seats in those 2 rows are now offered for sale as 1st class. On 4 segments I have flown since then, the 1st class cabin (rows 1 and 2) was empty and the curtain drawn after take off on 3 flights. One flight actually had 4 passengers "up front" and the business class cabin had several empty seats.

I generally fall asleep from exhaustion on both the red eye to ICN and the evening flights to BKK since I have also flown across the Pacific the same day. It appears this little benefit has expired, at least as long as KE is selling 1st class service to BKK. I prefer he bulkhead in row 7.