Korean Air Skypass - AKL-ICN-AMS// LHR-ICN-AKL Prestige Class Question

Hi all,

I have just made a reservation in Prestige Class for travel in early July 2009 for AKL-ICN-AMS returning LHR-ICN-AKL, and am wondering if anyone knows, or can tell where I find out, if we will be in the new seats on any/all of these legs?

Also, will be my first time traveling long haul with our baby (who will be one year old at that point)... does anyone know which seats we will be in with bassinets?

I gather from other posts that on the outbound the hotel is likely to be the Hyatt Regency Incheon, is that correct?

Also, what lounges does Korean use in AKL and LHR?

I am not a member of any Skyteam freq flyer program, any reccomendaitons on which would offer best bang for the buck with these flights (if we enjoy we will probably make use of this routing again).

Its my first time on Korean, usually travel either Air NZ or Thai, so it will be interesting to see how it compares.

thanks in advance for any comments!!

Hi. I don't have much information about bassinet in Business class, but I assume it can attach to first rows - you should contact KE to pre-allocate one of those seats. About hotel, it depends a lot on how (or through where) you purchased ticket - mostly are in Hyatt hotel, though. Lounges are listed in KE website - NZ lounge in AKL, AA Admirals club in LHR. About hardware, you'll end up with old configuration (seat type C seats with 48~50 inch pitch) for all except LHR-ICN flight in which new configuration (angled lie flat with AVOD) is running. In terms of C product from AKL, KE must be behind NZ or TG because AKL-ICN is one of the lowest yield routes for KE, so hardware upgrade is very slow.

About FFP program, KE will be a good choice if you don't fly that much and you'll take mostly KE among skyteam members. KE program might not the best choice if you're going to be a truly "frequent" flyer because KE does not have elite bonus mileage, and redeem rate is quite higher that others. You can also accumulate KE flight miles to Emirates, although I'm not sure how good this program is or what is expiration rule of it. At least you'll be able to fly on NZ-AUS routes (25000 miles) or NZ-USA (60000 on UA) using Emirates miles. With KE miles you can also take Emirates NZ-AUS (25000) but 115k to USA. It's not a simple choice to which FFP you'll depend on - you should study a lot. Also if you care about elite status, DL might be a good choice.

AKL has old seats.
LHR and (AFAIK) AMS have new ones.

FFPs, it depends on what you are after. I may be slightly biased, but I find OK+ to be pretty hard to beat.