Asiana Club - 777 Oct 20 ICN-SEA business class

I just booked this because I need to do a monday meeting in Seoul and a monday meeting in Seattle, so I'm pretty much stuck (have routed AC thru YVR in the past to get a true flat seat). I am pretty sure that all OZ 777s have the new business class seat (correct me if I am wrong about this), but it sounds like some of these planes have a poor in flight entertainment system. Is that true and is there any way to tell if this date/route will have the better system? Probably not all that important, as I will just try to sleep...

All C in 777s are flat-but-slide-down seats.
No, I don't think you can check, but the odds are faovrable, as LHR is always non-AVOD.
Food and service (make up, fashion show) normally can occupy a lot of flight so I wouldn't worry.

In Asiana cargo Korean website, you can get a hint if your specific flight will be AVOD-ed or not. Very limited information is available - it gives registration numbers if new planes (delivered after 2005 or so) run. My computer is mac, so I cannot look at it. A recent trip report at a.net says his (or her) SEA-ICN-SEA was all non-AVOD 777.

OK- another question...
I called Asiana to get seat assignments for my wife and I (different PNRs), so that we can sit together. I was told that more than 50% of the seats were assigned and that therefore they cannot give my wife a seat assignment, they only assign 50% of the seats in advance. ...? I explained that I don't buy a business class ticket to play the check in lottery to see if I get a freaking middle seat. Then I called back and they gave my wife a seat, but they wont put us together, again claiming they can only assign 50% of the seats and there just arent 2 of those together. Is this really the rule?
BTW, the agent said there are only 4 rows in business class for the scheduled airplane, I thought I had read somewhere that the 4 rows meant better AVOD, is that the case? I'd rather sit next to my wife and have no AVOD ;-)

no-AVOD 777 has 4 rows, 28 seats. With AVOD, 5 rows are there, 32 seats (only 4 seats on one row). Asiana does not open many seats, especially front part seats, until check-in - that's sort of traditional in Korea. So I guess you'll be able to seat together at check-in, or can ask someone else to change seat if nothing works.

What lounge does OZ use at SEA? And with this afternoon departure...is the service lunch and then dinner prior to landing with snacks in between (ramen, etc)?

Asiana, being a cheap carrier, uses a really zero lounge at the South Terminal. We flew biz class from Sea via ICN to SGN on 24 Dec 08. There was only one (1) working computer terminal, no local free phones like United Red Carpet at SeaTac. Snacks in the Asiana lounge snacks are potato chips, open box of cookies and little cups of top ramin noodles to fill with hot water along with soft drinks and coffee/tea. Extremely budget operation of the lounge.

We flew biz class from Sea to ICN on 24 Dec 08, then onward to SGN connecting flight on 25 Dec. Asiana is still flying the seats on B777. I find OZ biz class seats to be uncomfortable. I keep sliding down to the floor when recline the back. I was shocked on the Pacific routes that Asiana has not yet installed the lay flat seats like Air New Zealand and United. Overall, I would not rate Asiana biz class from Seattle very good. They lost my suitcase and for the last two days, no one at Asiana in Vietnam is answering phones. I am spending money calling long distance international back to Seattle OZ and to Korea trying to track down my suitcase, and no responses yet to many emails.

Although I don't think much of United, they are probably more responsive than Asiana if you have missing luggage. When in doubt, fly SQ or Thai to ASIA if at all possible. Don't pay money to fly biz class on Asiana, a bummer.

[quote of rude and off-topic now-deleted post removed]

pleased to say my OZ experience is positive.
I 'm never shocked by airlines seating, esp when it is well documented. OZ C seat is comfortable, but I'd recommend anyone shocked by it to travel with another airline so I can get space on OZ.

Let's not get OT here and hijack the thread. If you have a bone to pick with OZ on another subject, start your own thread.

Most importantly, there is no need for attacks against other FTers or US inner city schools (some of which are doing incredibly well).


Back to OZ biz, seats are not the best and 180degrees lie-flats (true horizontals) is ideal but then again, you get what you pay for. I can sometimes find OZ and BR (similar seats) biz tickets for the price of a NW or UA coach ticket. I can get SEA-ICN direct with OZ for about US$1000-1300. NWA charges that for coach and has a NRT layover. Biz on NWA is about $5K. UA is way worse with 6x-8x of OZ.com fares even when they're codesharing.

Seats aside, in my experience, OZ service wins hands-down. The food is either decent or great. IFE is acceptable for me since I use it mostly for "TV dinners" but others might find it lacking. Aircraft cleanliness (especially lavs) is a world apart compared to UA/NWA.

There is no TG or SQ service in SEA so bringing those up without indicating so is misleading. Sure, you can connect via SFO or LAX but it add to cost and effort. Also, I love flying SQ TPAC (or anywhere actually) but I have found it really tough to get a good deal on their biz seats. Perhaps others have had better luck or travel admins than I.

Considering the overall package and the price you're paying, OZ biz class for SEA-ICN is a fair deal.

What is the name of the lounge in SEA for OZ pax? I can use any Star Alliance lounge as a Business Class pax, right? So the UA lounge is an option...or any Priority Pass lounge since I have access I guess.

to SkyTeam: Asiana uses the "Club International South" Lounge at SeaTac. It is located at the South Terminal. This is the second time I have used the OZ lounge at SeaTac and am underwhelmed. However, there are fierce supporters of OZ on this board, so nothing to be gained from publishing my opinion here. I noticed next to the Asiana' lounge is a parallel lounge "Club International North" that was used by Hainan Airlines on the same date as I traveled on OZ. I believe the United Red Carpet Lounge at SeaTac is quite nice with fresh fruit, variety of snacks, soft drinks and they will give free coupons to international pax for alcohol drinks, etc. However, due to the layout of SeaTac Airport it would probably take about 20 minutes each way to ride the underground shuttle over to the North Terminal to use United's Red Carpet Lounge and then return to the Southern Terminal to depart on OZ.

How long would it take to reach the CO President's Club or the Alaska Airlines Board Room? Since Ill be going through checkin at the main terminal, I can presumably access these with my Priority Pass card before taking the train to terminal S, right?

Let's not get OT here and hijack the thread.

A good reminder.

Off-topic, rude, inappropriate OMNI/political posts or responses to/quotes of now removed.

Please stay on topic and stay civil.

Thank you.

cblaisd
Senior Moderator

I believe the United Red Carpet Lounge at SeaTac is quite nice with fresh fruit, variety of snacks, soft drinks and they will give free coupons to international pax for alcohol drinks, etc. However, due to the layout of SeaTac Airport it would probably take about 20 minutes each way to ride the underground shuttle over to the North Terminal to use United's Red Carpet Lounge and then return to the Southern Terminal to depart on OZ.

I opted to use the RCC instead of the Asiana contract lounge and boy am I glad I did...yes, lots of train transfers to reach it, but the experience was far better than the cramped lounge OZ uses. It felt like something out of the 1980s!

I was denied drink coupons in the RCC though as a Star Alliance Business Class pax on Asiana...are drink certs only for UA's intl pax?

How long would it take to reach the CO President's Club or the Alaska Airlines Board Room? Since Ill be going through checkin at the main terminal, I can presumably access these with my Priority Pass card before taking the train to terminal S, right?

Everything is connected airside in SEA :cool:

If you want to start at AS BR I'd say go through the D/N TSA line, and make a left, walk past D1 and the AS desk, and head to the bottom of the ramp and make a right (right after the bathrooms)... From there the CO PC is a brisk 10 minute walk to the end of B gates through the Pacific Marketplace - I like the AS BR for soup during lunch & sometimes dinner - limit 3 beverages but do try an Alaskan Amber if you enjoy beer - the CO PC has a better selection of complimentary beverages, and a bar you can sit at ^

From the CO PC its a short ride on the underground train to the S gates. (http://www.portseattle.org/about/maps/transit.shtml) IIRC, the train shows up every 2 minutes, and takes about 2-3 minutes to arrive at the S gates... then up the escalators to your flight...

Everything is connected airside in SEA :cool:

If you want to start at AS BR I'd say go through the D/N TSA line, and make a left, walk past D1 and the AS desk, and head to the bottom of the ramp and make a right (right after the bathrooms)... From there the CO PC is a brisk 10 minute walk to the end of B gates through the Pacific Marketplace - I like the AS BR for soup during lunch & sometimes dinner - limit 3 beverages but do try an Alaskan Amber if you enjoy beer - the CO PC has a better selection of complimentary beverages, and a bar you can sit at ^



This is great info, and I did end up visiting all three:) I noticed the sign in the Board Room stating the three drink limit, but how is that enforced? I guess it only works if the same bartender is serving.

Also, on another note, does anyone else find it irritating that Asiana (and many other Asian airlines) do the second meal service three hours before landing instead of 1.5 hours. It cuts in on peoples' rest time and makes it hard to go back to sleep after the second meal.

Also, on another note, does anyone else find it irritating that Asiana (and many other Asian airlines) do the second meal service three hours before landing instead of 1.5 hours. It cuts in on peoples' rest time and makes it hard to go back to sleep after the second meal.
Minor irritation. From LHR the second meal is timed to be at Seoul lunchtime, which therefore helps one get over jetlag.
And in my experience OZs second meal is much more substantial than many other airlines, which is a reason for it being earlier. Colleagues have slept through this service in C, and have had a reduced meal served as little as 40 mins before landing.