Korean Air Skypass - Korean Air to introduce new First class and Business Class Seats

Just read on Korean newspaper that Korean Air will introduce new First class seats and Business Class Seats in May.

The first class seats will be 12cm wider than the current "cosmo First class seats" and the traytable will also be bigger. They will first upgrade their 777-300ER, according to the newspaper..

Ill try to post up pictures as soon as I can get em online..


I hope they change the menus too...
Good news!! ^

Does KE have any 777-300ER's? What routes do they fly? Or are they incoming new planes?

The 777-300's used on regional flights are perfectly comfortable but could nevertheless stand a refresh, particularly when it comes to IFE in Economy. But I wouldn't expect sleeper-style seats in F or C on those birds.

Does KE have any 777-300ER's? What routes do they fly? Or are they incoming new planes?

I understood that new F/C will be on newly to be introduced 773ER's. The article says 3 773ER's will be delivered this year, and 3 planes will be upgraded to brand new F/C this year. I guess that "3" stands for old 772ER's. Total 6 will have new F/C in this year. Also within 2-3 years, all medium-long haul aircrafts will have AVOD on all classes - I guess old 747s will be retired or converted to cargo by then, and old 772ERs will be refurbished by then. Not sure about A330 which is in fact "medium" haul aircraft.

More important thing is, new C,"Prestige plus class", is 180 degree flat!!! Let's see what it will look like: VS style or QF, or EY/EK, or SQ?

More important thing is, new C,"Prestige plus class", is 180 degree flat!!! Let's see what it will look like: VS style or QF, or EY/EK, or SQ?

So, if new C is 180 degrees, then I guess the new F will have to be somewhat similar to what QF or SQ is providing in F class. Otherwise, small improvements in their current 'new' F will not justify significant price difference from C.

Also, this means that OZ has a lot to catch up. Though OZ will complete seat upgrade after their last 767 (which is really a big improvement from their 'old' seats), if KE introduces completely lie-flat bed seats in C, OZ will be once again behind as usual.

What I am very curious about is when will OZ find themselves in equal position to KE... Many would compare JL and NH to KE and OZ. But JL and NH pretty much have competitive level of operation, product, and services. I don't think we can say that for KE and OZ. OZ always seem to lag behind KE. Many Koreans criticize OZ for only being the 'follower' rather than innovators.

Are pictures coming soon or in may?

Also, this means that OZ has a lot to catch up.

Yes, OZ needs to turn on once again. Meanwhile OZ is better than KE at least for intra-Asian routes in terms of AVOD/new C seats, etc. Also KE still has many dark long hauls run by old 772/744 and 330, while OZ's long hauls are all with new product, although some of them are not state-of-the-art AVOD. In conclusion, OZ is better at this point. 1 year ago and 2 years later, KE was/will be better. And then, OZ will catch up KE quite fast. KE is slow and very deliberate on refurbishing, while OZ is fast and just copying KE.

Anyway it's good to have 2 airliners in competition.

Yes, OZ needs to turn on once again. Meanwhile OZ is better than KE at least for intra-Asian routes in terms of AVOD/new C seats, etc. Also KE still has many dark long hauls run by old 772/744 and 330, while OZ's long hauls are all with new product, although some of them are not state-of-the-art AVOD. In conclusion, OZ is better at this point. 1 year ago and 2 years later, KE was/will be better. And then, OZ will catch up KE quite fast. KE is slow and very deliberate on refurbishing, while OZ is fast and just copying KE.

Anyway it's good to have 2 airliners in competition.

I guess OZ and KE will have to do something like SQ and CX is doing... offer 'regional' and 'long-haul' business product.

But then again, unlike SQ and CX, OZ and KE have single aisle aircraft that are perfect performers for their short haul flights to China and Japan so, having a SQ-like regional seats (just release on A330 planes - as good as current OZ C) would not make sense, revenue wise.

I have been searching for a discounted business class seat from IAD to BKK for later this year. It seems that Korean always comes up as being relatively inexpensive compared to the others. While I prefer to stick with *A, I figure saving a couple thousand bucks might make it worthwhile.

So, my question is, how good is business class on Korean's 747-400? I prefer a horizontal lie flat seat, but I suspect the business class on this flight is the typical 170 degree "flat" seat.

Is it better than UA which also comes up with cheap fares but I prefer to avoid UA when possible.

I have been searching for a discounted business class seat from IAD to BKK for later this year. It seems that Korean always comes up as being relatively inexpensive compared to the others. While I prefer to stick with *A, I figure saving a couple thousand bucks might make it worthwhile.

KE ex-ICN is one of the most expensive airline, compared to UA and other foreign airlines.

Is it better than UA which also comes up with cheap fares but I prefer to avoid UA when possible.

KE is miles better than UA (especially if you are stuck with old UA's recliner) in terms of seat comfort and service. KE has slanted lie-flat seats at the moment, but from ICN-BKK you will have regional business class seat, just like the ones on UA, with less recline... :( I'd say, save the bucks and fly KE... otherwise, you can always buy upgradable UA Y fare and upgrade with SWUs or miles.

Many Koreans ,that I know, are uneasy with having foreign cabin crew on board, due to the Angst of English and possible not-so-friendly treatment by them. One of my colleagues purchased a round trip ticket for his wife to SFO with KE
for over $1,000 while he could easily buy a UA ticket for $ 700.
When asked by me why KE over UA despite whopping $ 300 difference, he had two complaints. His wife's English is minimal and UA does not provide Bibimbap.:D
The situation KE and OZ rightly take advantage of.

KE ex-ICN is one of the most expensive airline, compared to UA and other foreign airlines.

Flew ICN-PRG, ICN-IST with KE several times.
Their C on A330s is simply horrible, the seat were like the ones displayed in the old avaiation museum. I was glad that I did not pay for the flights.
For icn-prg, i have no choice but to fly KE, but for ICN-IST, TK is way better than KE in both C and Y.

Yes, OZ needs to turn on once again. Meanwhile OZ is better than KE at least for intra-Asian routes in terms of AVOD/new C seats, etc. Also KE still has many dark long hauls run by old 772/744 and 330, while OZ's long hauls are all with new product, although some of them are not state-of-the-art AVOD. In conclusion, OZ is better at this point. 1 year ago and 2 years later, KE was/will be better. And then, OZ will catch up KE quite fast. KE is slow and very deliberate on refurbishing, while OZ is fast and just copying KE.

Anyway it's good to have 2 airliners in competition.

Just read on Korean newspaper that Korean Air will introduce new First class seats and Business Class Seats in May.

The first class seats will be 12cm wider than the current "cosmo First class seats" and the traytable will also be bigger. They will first upgrade their 777-300ER, according to the newspaper..

Ill try to post up pictures as soon as I can get em online..


I hope they change the menus too...
Good news!! ^

Interesting. How long has it been since they finished upfitting to the current F and C seats?

Interesting. How long has it been since they finished upfitting to the current F and C seats?

Sadly they are still not finished, they have been terribly slow about this and it may be a never ending process.

KE should really concentrate on bringing the rest of their fleet to some decent standard (A330! Helloooooo! We're no longer in 1990s!) before spending money on yet more new products.

There is simply no consistency on KE - at least on OZ (except for a nasty last-minute 74M swap) you know that you're always going to get a lie-flat C seat on any longhaul flight.

are these the new style economy class seats that they'll have in their new 777-300ER's???

(credits to the owner)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2869381764_651354e190.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2868552179_4c44a8bde5.jpg?v=0

If I'm not mistaken, those new Y seats are on select B777-200ER's. since the 77W is new, the Y class seats will probably be new too. newer aircrafts will most likely have new products for every class.

What I'm waiting for is KE to install AVOD in their older aircrafts esp A330-300. they should really start working faster on that while waiting for new additions to their fleet.