Asiana Club - JFK-ICN Recent experience

I am taking my wife from JFK to ICN on OZ FC (3a/4a, somehow all the rest of the seats are taken, I was really hoping for two row 1 seats, but no luck).

I have few questions:

JFK: How do I maximize my experience? I have time from 3pm till flight departure (am *A Gold and flying FC on OZ).

JFK-ICN: What do I expect in terms of food (I neat fish but no other meats so wonder if I need to order something ahead of time or am I good?)? I never flew FC on such a long route (never in FC outside US domestic) and wonder am I better off sleeping or staying awake not missing part of the service/experience? Do they still offer jammies/robe?

ICN: We have about 12 hour layover before flying CA in C. What should we do? I've heard that OZ has tour bus for arriving F pax as an option? Can we do arrival lounge and take shower and then take the tour bus?


Thanks!

Please do a search before asking the most common questions. Everything is still vaild as OZ does not change their on board menus for at least 3 months.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asiana-club/933910-jfk-icn-hkg-f-food.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asiana-club/852270-jfk-f-longe.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asiana-club/933476-icn-lounge-opening-time-arrival-jfk.html?highlight=Transit+Tour

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asiana-club/897499-oz-seoul-transit-tour.html?highlight=Transit+Tour

Also, what you are going to get would be very similiar to my experience, as ORD and JFK both have similiar departure time and flying time, except JFK is using 744 pax, ORD is using 3 class 772.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/922134-asiana-oz-f-ord-hkg-twist-intra-asia-ua-f-nh-c-lots-pics.html?highlight=Asiana

I am taking my wife from JFK to ICN on OZ FC (3a/4a, somehow all the rest of the seats are taken, I was really hoping for two row 1 seats, but no luck).

I have few questions:

JFK: How do I maximize my experience? I have time from 3pm till flight departure (am *A Gold and flying FC on OZ).

JFK-ICN: What do I expect in terms of food (I neat fish but no other meats so wonder if I need to order something ahead of time or am I good?)? I never flew FC on such a long route (never in FC outside US domestic) and wonder am I better off sleeping or staying awake not missing part of the service/experience? Do they still offer jammies/robe?

ICN: We have about 12 hour layover before flying CA in C. What should we do? I've heard that OZ has tour bus for arriving F pax as an option? Can we do arrival lounge and take shower and then take the tour bus?


Thanks!

Can't help you with the JFK-specific questions, but as to enjoying the experience - just hope you get a good crew and the new config (and ideally without a full load in F). I had a lovely experience on the ORD-ICN flight, but ICN-LAX was really rather unpleasant.

Yes, they'll give out PJs (they run a bit small in size IMO), and yes, you may wish to pre-order a meal if possible as I'm not sure they'll have a fish meal. My advice - enjoy the food and service immediately after takeoff, then enjoy a few hours of sleep - it is a long flight and you'll have plenty of time for both. The OZ F lounge is spacious and almost completely devoid of people, but the food selections aren't that great (say by comparison to the TG F or SQ F lounges). The showers are okay - not as nice as TG, and the massage chair is comfortable, but not the same as a real massage (again like TG).

I'm not familiar with the robe, so I can't answer that question - they do provide nice slippers in a little drawstring carrier, and the amenity kit is nice enough (male only - your wife may not be as big a fan).

OZ is stingy on seat assignments - just wait until the day of, check-in as early as you can, and it shouldn't be a big deal.

Have a wonderful trip - I really enjoyed the OZ experience and wouldn't hesitate to give it another shot.

Yes, they'll give out PJs (they run a bit small in size IMO), and yes, you may wish to pre-order a meal if possible as I'm not sure they'll have a fish meal.

You can pre-order Korean meal (bi bim bap or Ssam bap), but definately not the fish meal. Either they have it on the menus (usually it is Halibut), otherwise no way to request one.

At JFK use the Swiss lounge until is closes ~ 8pm, then "The Lounge" contract lounge with lounge invite from OZ.

Pre-order is ex-ICN only, not for the JFK-ICN flight.

Pre-order is ex-ICN only, not for the JFK-ICN flight.

My experience (in C, not F) is that you cannot pre-order any item inbound to Korea but you can reserve any selection from the menu that will be available on that particular flight. Based on reports of not always having enough meals to go around, especially Korean meals, I would recommend trying to reserve your meal as such unless you don't care what you get. I assume this is available in F, though my C experience is due to my D+ status and is evidently not available to general passengers, but the staff did mention that they could do it for F passengers.

My experience (in C, not F) is that you cannot pre-order any item inbound to Korea but you can reserve any selection from the menu that will be available on that particular flight. Based on reports of not always having enough meals to go around, especially Korean meals, I would recommend trying to reserve your meal as such unless you don't care what you get. I assume this is available in F, though my C experience is due to my D+ status and is evidently not available to general passengers, but the staff did mention that they could do it for F passengers.

How do you find out in advance what the options will be on the flight? I can't find that on their web site.

Just call them on the phone and ask them, that's what I always do and works great for me - always have my correct reserved meal ready for me on the plane.

But base on the experience, since it is a redeye, the three choices in F will definately be 1 Korean, 1 steak, and 1 salad, unless you are flying LAX-ICN, then it may have fish. Fish is not really consider as F entree for long haul.

I've seen fish as on option on the C menu many times on various OZ flights, so it might be worthwhile asking what the C menu is for that flight.

I've seen fish as on option on the C menu many times on various OZ flights, so it might be worthwhile asking what the C menu is for that flight.

If it is not a redeye, probably the salad option may replace by the fish, like from the reports on LAX-ICN. Fish is in F and C ICN-HKG-ICN as well.

Some OZ mamagement who knows who decide the put salad as one of the option for redeye flights. They probably think pax will skip the meal anyway as the departure time is so late, they will go to sleep right away. OR either someone complained to OZ about serving beef all the time, no vegetarian option. (I remembered someone post a thread like this in this board some time ago, not sure if OZ listen to that person's comment, and put a salad as an entree)

Flight I am on is 12:30am one so yes it is a redeye. I didn't know OZ flies another flight on the same route that is earlier? (JFK-ICN)

Flight I am on is 12:30am one so yes it is a redeye. I didn't know OZ flies another flight on the same route that is earlier? (JFK-ICN)

JFK-ICN and ORD-ICN both are redeyes and leaving around the same time, also similar distance, hence, they are both serving the same thing.

LAX-ICN has two departure, one day time one redeye, only the one leaves day time has F. That was the flight I referred to may have fish as entree instead of the salad for your flight.

does asiana plan to have a 2nd flight out of JFK?

does asiana plan to have a 2nd flight out of JFK?

I doubt it will be anytime soon as OZ recently about doubled JFK-ICN capacity by flying daily.

I doubt it will be anytime soon as OZ recently about doubled JFK-ICN capacity by flying daily.

Yep, going daily is already a big step for an airline with a small fleet. 2nd flight is basically impossible as there are no extra airplanes to fly. JFK-ICN requires 744 or either 772ER.

There are only 5 744 and 10 772ER. 2 744 for LAX, 2 744 for JFK (no one want to fly the extra one, plus it has to use for HKG or NRT). 772ER has to fly FRA, LHR, SYD, SFO, SEA, LAX, and ORD (route that is daily require 2 planes)

for the JFK-ICN route, do every economy seat have a power port?

for the JFK-ICN route, do every economy seat have a power port?

1 power port ( 110V US plug ) per 2 seats.