A bit disappointed with my KE experience
Feb 27, 2017, 7:03 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: IND
Posts: 2,005
A380 J has been receiving worse review than other fleets even if the seats are the same. Huge J in A380 gives less attentive feeling and very likely half of those in A380 J are op-ups.
Feb 27, 2017, 10:13 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL DM, UA MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 97
Skirt has to be reviewing the old J seat. They're not updating the A380 to the Apex seat but are updating everything else. 748, 777, 787 etc.
It's the exact same seat as Japan Airlines! If they're giving JAL a score of 10 for seat, bed, comfort, and space, even giving KE a 9 in those four categories is a 3 point improvement per category. Add 12 points to their total score and you're at 96. Which certainly puts them back in the mix as a better carrier.
I agree the A380 is a major step down with a sub standard seat. So now they have one product that is a nice step up from other carriers. And one that is a step down. Make sure you pick the right one!
It's the exact same seat as Japan Airlines! If they're giving JAL a score of 10 for seat, bed, comfort, and space, even giving KE a 9 in those four categories is a 3 point improvement per category. Add 12 points to their total score and you're at 96. Which certainly puts them back in the mix as a better carrier.
I agree the A380 is a major step down with a sub standard seat. So now they have one product that is a nice step up from other carriers. And one that is a step down. Make sure you pick the right one!
Mar 6, 2017, 6:25 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SHV
Programs: DL - GM, KE - Morning Calm, SPG - Gold, Marriott - Gold, HH - Gold
Posts: 4
Pre-departure drink experience variable?
In my experience, you get pre-departure drinks with alcohol in them when departing Incheon but not when departing the foreign destination bound for Incheon. I believe this is for silly tax reasons. If they open a bottle on the ground in Atlanta with the door open, then they've consumed it in the United States and they need to pay import duty. If they keep it closed in quarantine so that it never enters the U.S., just hangs out on the imaginary threshold for a couple hours before turning around to leave, no import duty.
I imagine this varies with the customs laws of the various countries and how significant the duty would be. Maybe some countries are low enough that they will pay the duty. But, when departing the U.S., it's water or fruit juice. If you ask for champagne, they usually tell you, very politely, none is available.
I imagine this varies with the customs laws of the various countries and how significant the duty would be. Maybe some countries are low enough that they will pay the duty. But, when departing the U.S., it's water or fruit juice. If you ask for champagne, they usually tell you, very politely, none is available.
Perhaps it varies by specific departure city?
Mar 10, 2017, 4:12 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Phuket, Thailand
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Qatar Gold, Delta MM
Posts: 136
I'm fine with the service but I avoid flying them simply because the keep the planes so warm. I always seem to wake up sweating. That never happens on other carriers.
Mar 10, 2017, 7:32 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Delta Skymiles Platinum
Posts: 650
I flew KE 3X last year JFK-ICN-HKG, all in F. As soon as the purser comes over to introduce themselves, I very politely ask about the temperature. I don't take no for an answer and have not failed to get them to turn it down to 22 degrees C. I would prefer 20, but 22 is comfortable enough. The key is to speak softly and politely. I know how to get tough when necessary, in this case the opposite works.
Mar 10, 2017, 7:43 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Delta Skymiles Platinum
Posts: 650
Wow - interesting reading. Have a bunch of Chase UR points we're figuring out what to do with - maybe we'll just hope and pray for SQ awards rather than burn on KE! From the description above their J sounds thoroughly mediocre. Even AA will serve champagne as a PDB. And what's with taking the menus away? Do they really re-use J menus on multiple flights? Weird.
In my opinion KE is a cut below other Asian airlines but the F seat made it a slam dunk to me. I would choose KE F over any other business class in a heartbeat.
To me the seat is the most important factor on a long haul flight. I don't drink when I fly so that doesn't matter to me. The food is definitely 3rd rate. But the service is superb. The flight attendants seem to be genuinely concerned that the passengers are happy. They can't do enough for you.
I agree with others about the lounges. Both JFK and ICN have dedicated F lounges, I would classify both as mid range business class lounges. In HKG they use the Skyteam Lounge, which is very good.
Again to me the seat is #1 and an F seat at that price is a slam dunk.
Mar 10, 2017, 7:02 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: DL DM, UA MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 97
I think access to the AF lounge depends on time of day. That's definitely true for Priority Pass but can't remember for skyteam members. I fly out on the late night flight so not an issue for me as the AF lounge has cleared out. It's definitely an improvement over the KE lounge. Though the dedicated F part of the KE lounge is less crowded so it's also fine.
Agree with MW147 review. Maybe will add one clarification for me. When he says a cut below other Asian carriers, I assume he means SQ, CX, ANA, JL and maybe the Taiwan carriers. KE is much better than the Chinese carriers like MU, CZ, Air China and the Indian carriers.
So would definitely agree they're a cut below the top carriers (though the hard product is comparable). But just realize a cut below those carriers isn't a bad place to be.
Agree with MW147 review. Maybe will add one clarification for me. When he says a cut below other Asian carriers, I assume he means SQ, CX, ANA, JL and maybe the Taiwan carriers. KE is much better than the Chinese carriers like MU, CZ, Air China and the Indian carriers.
So would definitely agree they're a cut below the top carriers (though the hard product is comparable). But just realize a cut below those carriers isn't a bad place to be.
Mar 11, 2017, 8:26 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Delta Skymiles Platinum
Posts: 650
I think access to the AF lounge depends on time of day. That's definitely true for Priority Pass but can't remember for skyteam members. I fly out on the late night flight so not an issue for me as the AF lounge has cleared out. It's definitely an improvement over the KE lounge. Though the dedicated F part of the KE lounge is less crowded so it's also fine.
Agree with MW147 review. Maybe will add one clarification for me. When he says a cut below other Asian carriers, I assume he means SQ, CX, ANA, JL and maybe the Taiwan carriers. KE is much better than the Chinese carriers like MU, CZ, Air China and the Indian carriers.
So would definitely agree they're a cut below the top carriers (though the hard product is comparable). But just realize a cut below those carriers isn't a bad place to be.
Agree with MW147 review. Maybe will add one clarification for me. When he says a cut below other Asian carriers, I assume he means SQ, CX, ANA, JL and maybe the Taiwan carriers. KE is much better than the Chinese carriers like MU, CZ, Air China and the Indian carriers.
So would definitely agree they're a cut below the top carriers (though the hard product is comparable). But just realize a cut below those carriers isn't a bad place to be.
Jul 26, 2017, 12:37 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
The service was almost verbatim as the OP stated except champagne was offered pre departure.
I wanted to keep the menu as it was my fan (very hot while on the ground) and the FA seemed out of sorts and flustered with the request so I just relinquished it.
I wanted a cocktail but wasn't ever sure when was the time to order it. Service was strange. Ended up just ordering a tepid beer. Very confusing service.
Jul 26, 2017, 11:40 am
#28
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Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
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Aug 4, 2017, 7:03 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Glasgow and Asia
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 510
I'm sitting in the KE lounge near gate 100+ waiting for a JL flight. Wish I had went to the Asiana (or Cathay if I could get in as OW sapphire) on my BA ticket. This is the second worst OW lounge I've been in for food. Really bad. The worst was Lyon.
a really poor selection. I should have made a mental note on my last trip. Next time I'll know to go to another lounge. :-(
a really poor selection. I should have made a mental note on my last trip. Next time I'll know to go to another lounge. :-(
Aug 4, 2017, 7:17 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: ALL Gold, MPC Silver
Posts: 175
I'm sitting in the KE lounge near gate 100+ waiting for a JL flight. Wish I had went to the Asiana (or Cathay if I could get in as OW sapphire) on my BA ticket. This is the second worst OW lounge I've been in for food. Really bad. The worst was Lyon.
a really poor selection. I should have made a mental note on my last trip. Next time I'll know to go to another lounge. :-(
a really poor selection. I should have made a mental note on my last trip. Next time I'll know to go to another lounge. :-(
