Asiana Club - OZ New three-class 777 HL7775

Dear all,

I just flew the brand new Asiana's Boeing 777-200ER with a three-class cabin, and the rego is HL7775, which is currently the only one with three-class cabin. I am sure more are coming along.

Here is the photo link:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8QbNHDNy5bqLvo

I remember someone asking if the new F will be 1-2-1 or 2-2 and just want to report back that it is a 1-2-1 seating configuration. The window seats are slightly in a herringbone layout. 2A and 2K have better window access, but 1A and 1K have more room to spread out magazine and newspapers.

The seat on 777 is a bit different from the 744 new F. I will report back once I am back in the US next week.

Feel free to ask any questions for now! I will try my best to answer them! I have also taken tons of cabin pictures. So you can have a look soon, but have to wait till after Dec 15 or so.

Carfield

You are at the right time, I just reserved an F award for january, going to HKG for chinese new year. ORD-ICN-NRT-HKG, and back february HKG-ICN-ORD. I have to do ICN-NRT-HKG as no availability even for Y in ICN-HKG for both TG and OZ. Right now ICN-NRT in UA F, then NRT-HKG in NH C.

1. Are they still using Bvlgari BLV amenity kit in F ? Curious if you see the amenity kit in C and what products ? I may ask them for one in C as I love collecting amenity kits.

2. How are they going to serve the meals now since it is two aisles ? The cart goes to 1A, 1C ?, then push the cart to 1H ?, 1J, and then take the cart back to 2A ? Or they simply just finish the left aisle first, then the right aisle ?

3. F bathroom still have the usual stuff like the Evian water spray, toothbrush/paste ? I hope they have a different full size cologne right now in the bathroom as they Eau de cochas smell horrible.

4. I guess you were flying ORD-ICN, or either ICN-HKG. What lounge are they using now in ORD ? Someone said JL lounge, but the site still listed LX lounge, is the JL lounge worse than the LX lounge, separate F ? or just like the EI lounge they use long time ago ?

5. What did you get for the thank you gift ? Wedgwood or Versace Rosethal ?

Thanks a lot.

1. I will leave it to Carfield
2. Since this F, I'd think meal service will be done not by cart, but served individually - so there will be two FAs working for each aisle?
3. I am sure F bathrooms are equipped with all the things you mention.
4. and 5. Will leave it to Carfield to answer

You are at the right time, I just reserved an F award for january, going to HKG for chinese new year. ORD-ICN-NRT-HKG, and back february HKG-ICN-ORD. I have to do ICN-NRT-HKG as no availability even for Y in ICN-HKG for both TG and OZ. Right now ICN-NRT in UA F, then NRT-HKG in NH C.

1. Are they still using Bvlgari BLV amenity kit in F ? Curious if you see the amenity kit in C and what products ? I may ask them for one in C as I love collecting amenity kits.

2. How are they going to serve the meals now since it is two aisles ? The cart goes to 1A, 1C ?, then push the cart to 1H ?, 1J, and then take the cart back to 2A ? Or they simply just finish the left aisle first, then the right aisle ?

3. F bathroom still have the usual stuff like the Evian water spray, toothbrush/paste ? I hope they have a different full size cologne right now in the bathroom as they Eau de cochas smell horrible.

4. I guess you were flying ORD-ICN, or either ICN-HKG. What lounge are they using now in ORD ? Someone said JL lounge, but the site still listed LX lounge, is the JL lounge worse than the LX lounge, separate F ? or just like the EI lounge they use long time ago ?

5. What did you get for the thank you gift ? Wedgwood or Versace Rosethal ?

Thanks a lot.

Since this F, I'd think meal service will be done not by cart, but served individually - so there will be two FAs working for each aisle?


Doubt it, on 744, there are 12 seats and served by 3 FA. One FA stay in the galley, two FA roll the cart and serve one pax at a time even when F is full. There are only 8 F seats on the 777, it may only have 2 FA, just like on NH. If it has 3 FA, I guess more than likely, the cart will be used.

Hi,

I will try my best to answer all your questions:

1. Are they still using Bvlgari BLV amenity kit in F ? Curious if you see the amenity kit in C and what products ? I may ask them for one in C as I love
collecting amenity kits.

OZ F is still using the same Bulgari amenity kits - different ones for male and female. I actually will ask for a female one next time, which definitely looks nicer. The pajama is still the same grey one. OZ C uses Biotherm product and is actually quite nice.

2. How are they going to serve the meals now since it is two aisles ? The cart goes to 1A, 1C ?, then push the cart to 1H ?, 1J, and then take the cart back to 2A ? Or they simply just finish the left aisle first, then the right aisle ?

brahms77 is right here - there are some changes with OZ meal services. They are all now served individual style and no more trolley and cart to be seen. No more silver bowl for soups and no more salad boat! All the service are now done individually. Meal orders are taken 1A, 1C, 2A, 2C... and I think *G and OZ own elites get some priority. There are two VIP pax in 1A and 1C, so their orders are always taken first. Caviar is available as a choice of appetizers out from LAX, but I note that caviar is not offered on the ICN to LAX segment. There are hot canapes now, instead of cold canapes. There is no more choice of soup - only one kind is offer. New china, glasses, and linen are used now. Cutbacks are minor on the long haul flights, but evidence on the short haul from ICN to HKG. Meals are smaller and the lobster course on both the LAX to ICN and ICN to HKG segments are not longer served in the original shell. Wine selections remain the same, but for December, OZ offers a nice holiday meal selection, as well as a Chinese dinner option.

3. F bathroom still have the usual stuff like the Evian water spray, toothbrush/paste ? I hope they have a different full size cologne right now in the bathroom as they Eau de cochas smell horrible.

Yes, the amenities are still here, but the eau de cochas are still there, but other products are now Biotherm.

4. I guess you were flying ORD-ICN, or either ICN-HKG. What lounge are they using now in ORD ? Someone said JL lounge, but the site still listed LX lounge, is the JL lounge worse than the LX lounge, separate F ? or just like the EI lounge they use long time ago ?

I am flying ICN to HKG... sorry no additional information... but last time I flew LX F from ORD to ZRH in September, I noticed the Asiana sign outside the Swiss lounge. So I think OZ is using the LX lounge at ORD, which is definitely nothing special and not much food is offered. Don't expect much at all!

5. What did you get for the thank you gift ? Wedgwood or Versace Rosethal ?

Well there are three choices - some OZ Golf DVD, or the Philarmonic at Pyong Yang DVD or a Versace cup... I pick the cup, as the DVDs look lame.

Thanks a lot.[/QUOTE]

F/A Ratios:
Three in 747s - one in the galley and two serving the cabin... the purser greeted each passenger, but did not use last name to address me. They know I am a *G.
In the 777s, two F/As are serving the whole F cabin. On my flight, there are only two of us, so things are done quickly. I assume without using the cart, things can be done quicker. The new individual style serving is possibly motivated by first, the much narrower aisle now especially in 744s, and second, to fit the 777 style, and lastly, it is the trend now.

Carfield

Thanks Carfield for your time for all the detailed reply.

1. Since OZ now have amenity kit one for male and one for female just like in SQ, hope that my flight is not full, may ask them for both. It is the BVL right ? not green tea they use long time ago ?

2. Now I am a little disappointed about no cart, since that is what I like about the most in OZ F. So they do finish everyone from the left aisle first, then the right aisle ? rather than on the old config 744, they finish everyone from row 1 left to right, then row 2, and row 3.

For ICN-HKG,
My return HKG-ICN is actually on 74E, not sure old seat or new seat though, but since you mentioned the meal is smaller than original in ICN-HKG for the lobster course, did you see anyone that order bibimbap that is also smaller than before as well ? What about soup then ? no more ? What is the Chinese dinner option ? I remembered in the past, they tried to make lobster with chinese black bean sauce as a chinese option. Oh, one last thing, any improvments on HK newspapers or magazines, I know in the past, none in neither direction.

3. I just hope LX lounge is still better than the EI lounge.

4. DVD as a thank you gift ? Wow, that is definately a cut back, who would want that ? I guess the Versace cup is the same one I got as before, looking for something different, keep my finger cross it will be a different design, I also got a Versace glass napkin ring before.

5. On the old config 744, they leave the korean snacks and water bottles in the center table/storage in front of the galley after the main meal, where do they put on the 777 ? or you have the ask FA for those ?

1. The amenity kit and pajama are all the same as the past year... so not sure if it is something dramatically different. However you are flying in 2009 and maybe they will switch to something else! But I assume the PJ will be the same for a while. Some of the amenities like the toothbrush sets, mouthwash packs, and likewise all receive an updated Asiana Airlines logo and grey packaging. The eyeshades are grey now, instead of red.

2. Well the F/As go from 1A to 1K and then to 2A and then to 2K, and then 3A and then 3K, and then 4A and then 4K and then the two middle seats. The spare pilot is at 4K so he is asked last. They really rarely run out of choices, and we had a full load, so everything was loaded for full F load. But on the ICN to HKG, there were 2 passengers and they loaded 2 beef, 2 crabmeat porridge, but only one lobster. The passenger in 2K did not get his first choice. I also like the old trolley service, but I guess Asiana is just following the trend.

3. No more soup and salad course on the brunch flight from ICN to HKG, and HKG to ICN. But the cheese and fruit plate are larger now. From ICN to HKG, they have two appetizer courses - sort of like an amuse bouche followed by the traditional appetizer. The return flight looked like the normal lunch deal starting with a hot canape, and then an appetizer. The appetizers are a bit smaller than before.

4. I think OZ always have different gift for the outbound and inbound flight. I got tie clips before too. I like the idea of giving out thank you gifts - very old-school/traditional Asian premium airline move.

5. I notice that they no longer place water bottles and small snacks out, but the F/As are more vigilant and the moment you woke up, they immediately ask if you want snacks or a beverage. I was asked twice if I want a noodle or sandwich snack. They are more proactive about serving mid-flight refreshment, and are more proactive than CX F/As about mid-flight cabin runs. They make a service check every 10 minutes.

Thanks again, can't wait for you photos !

So I guess on the 744 with new seats, they still take meal orders the old way but without the cart. But on the 777, it will be left aisle 1A, 1C, 2A, 2C, 1G, then 1K, 2G, 2K ? Is it safe to bet 2A probably the 3rd person to take meal order ?

I noticed some pics linked in this (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4238140/) thread over on airliners.net.

I could not login early on so I have just updated the photo link to the same album.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8QbNHDNy5bqLvo

I honestly don't know how they are going to take meal orders... on my ICN to HKG flight, there are only two passengers, me and 2K, so they took my order first, and then 2K was the last. I am sure if the cabin is full, OZ will load more choices and the F/As will take order Row 1 followed by Row 2... 1A, 1D, 1F, 1K, 2A, 2D, 2F, 2K... but that is just hypothetical... maybe you can report back after the ORD flight.

Thanks,
Carfield

I asked because the last time I did OZ F ORD-ICN on the old seat 74E, right before christmas, F was full (many full fare C class auto upgrade). FA start from row 1 left to right, then row 2, then row 3. I was seating at 2J, so that is number 7 to get meal ordered, which is already more than 30 min since 1A get the meal with the cart. And I timed it, the last person 3K, it was well over an hour to get its meal. If the flight is not full, everything will be fine, if it is full, then it has to be concerned where to sit. They really take their time to do their job. If it is UA, I don't need to worry even on a full F 744, as they take meal orders depend on the status.