Asiana Club - Tips for OZ WLG-SYD-ICN-LHR return in Economy

Hey all,

I'm a pretty frequent flyer between NZ and the UK but this is my first time flying Asiana (in economy for this entire itinerary, V fare bucket).

The website isn't that informative and I've done a few searches on here. I'm essentially looking for tips on:


Pre-allocated seating (how to and the best seats in your experiences)
What are the likely chances of a business class upgrade op-up on Asiana? Anyone got one of those on Asiana? (I am Star Alliance Gold on BMI).
Are the 777s all with AVOD now, or PTV for some?


Any other good hints and tips gratefully welcomed, including best place for relatively late evening electronics shopping for my overnight stop in Seoul.

Thanks.

(EDIT: Now have seats 31H on all Oz legs -772- pre-assigned. Whether I'll keep them or not is another matter. Air NZ are doing the WLG - SYD - WLG yards, and I have 12C and 12D for those on an A320)

A further plea - any tips?

sorry: no tips.
I'm *Gold with LH, have travelled in economy on OZ, but got no upgrade.
I have travelled loads of times in J, and people DO get upgraded, but only, as far as I can see, OZ elites. (Usually Koreans with children......)
777: not all are AVOD, I'm afraid.

sorry: Seoul.
I've flown Syd-Lhr but didn't get into Seoul. We were compressed into Hotel June, near airport. No idea how often this is used.
You will probably get more useflu infor on Seoul and shopping in tripadvisor.com

What are the likely chances of a business class upgrade op-up on Asiana? Anyone got one of those on Asiana? (I am Star Alliance Gold on BMI).
Are the 777s all with AVOD now, or PTV for some?
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Flew LHR-ICN-SYD in C in January. On all 4 legs there was space at the back, on a couple of the legs Y was less than half full, so I would have though little chance of an op u/g.

Oh well - thanks for the info anyway. Less concerned about the upgrade - especially if they do *G seat blocking (anyone know that?).

I'm more concerned about the possibility of lack of AVOD. Noooooooooooo!

I have done this very trip 2 years ago.
Y was quite full. esp on the ICN-LHR-ICN legs.
If you are overnighting in ICN, well yeah, ask for your bags not to be tagged all the way to LHR from WLG (it can be done). You will not get them in ICN if they are. I was placed in the Royal in Seoul and had a very good night.
Food on OZ is very good, especially the Bim Bam Bap, breakfast well you you probably want the European one.
In SYD remember that OZ leaves from the 1W side of the terminal. This means you may not have access to the NZ or SQ lounges due to the construction work, the corridor linking the two, is no more and there is a temporary shuttle bus service for transisting pax.
Oh how did you book the flights from NZ as the OZ website is cr@p and other websites will not pick them up?

I have done this very trip 2 years ago.
Y was quite full. esp on the ICN-LHR-ICN legs.
If you are overnighting in ICN, well yeah, ask for your bags not to be tagged all the way to LHR from WLG (it can be done). You will not get them in ICN if they are. I was placed in the Royal in Seoul and had a very good night.
Food on OZ is very good, especially the Bim Bam Bap, breakfast well you you probably want the European one.
In SYD remember that OZ leaves from the 1W side of the terminal. This means you may not have access to the NZ or SQ lounges due to the construction work, the corridor linking the two, is no more and there is a temporary shuttle bus service for transisting pax.
Oh how did you book the flights from NZ as the OZ website is cr@p and other websites will not pick them up?

Awesome - thanks for the reply. I'll check my bags straight through to LHR on the way there and take an overnight bag for the Seoul stopover. Hoping the hotel is good and I have a bit of time - even a couple of hours - to have a look around and stretch my legs. I've a pretty tight connection outbound from WLG - SYD, so lounge access isn't an issue as it'll only be for 20 mins or so, if that. More of an issue on the way back as I have about 10 hours, but I'm hoping they'll let me out and I can get a half day in Sydney and a quick cruise to Manly and back. Haven't done that for a few years.

Am keen to have the Korean food on the plane actually - have heard good things, so you confirmed that. What was the personal entertainment system like?

I first heard about the flight through FlightCentre, but they took a while to find it. i hadn't seen it on the net at all, but hadn't yet got round to trying ITA Planner. They saved me the trouble, even though I ended up booking through the AmEx travel service and burned a few reward points as they had a 10% discount offer on too for a few days. Not to be sniffed at when looking at a WLG - LHR - WLG flight.

Asiana website is pretty duff, you're right.

IFE. Well it was looped with 4 interesting English language movies plus 2 kid movies. Finished the mag in an hour.
Oh for LHR-ICN we got a fashion parade! Yep crew doned some Korean outfits, I do not know if they were authentic traditional but they did a parade around the aircraft and also gave opportunities for people to have photos taken.
On a sunny spring day a Sydney Harbour ferry trip is on of the best things to do and cheap as well. I used to do it a lunchtime at work....
I could not get an OZ itinerary for next year as I was told the fligth times out of SYD changed to leave before any of the TT flights arrived so a forced overnight in SYD....not bad as I do visit family and friends there every 3 months of so.
I hope you enjoy your flight OZ is one of my favourite airlines.

Oh for LHR-ICN we got a fashion parade! Yep crew doned some Korean outfits, I do not know if they were authentic traditional but they did a parade around the aircraft and also gave opportunities for people to have photos taken.
...
I hope you enjoy your flight OZ is one of my favourite airlines.

That's nuts. I heard about a wandering magician too. Wonder if anyone here can report on that or if it something from yesteryear or an urban myth...

Thanks though - I'm looking forward to it. I'll be sure to post a mini-report back on this thread.

That's nuts. I heard about a wandering magician too. Wonder if anyone here can report on that or if it something from yesteryear or an urban myth...

Thanks though - I'm looking forward to it. I'll be sure to post a mini-report back on this thread.

Fashion show; make-up (inlc face packs for men) and magic: all part of the current Asiana experience on long haul flights