February 8th
Routing: TPE-ICN
Flight: Asiana 712
Aircraft: HL7514 Boeing 767-300
Seat: 3A
Departure: 1:45 PM from gate C8
Arrival: 4:46 PM at Gate 39
Take Off: 6
Land: ??
Business Class was 100% filled with 15/15 seats filled
Boarding began promptly at 1:05 PM, exactly 30 minutes before our scheduled departure. There were two separate lines for Business/Gold and Travel class passengers. Both lines led into the same jet way, but not having to queue in a long line is always appreciated. I got to my seat 3A shortly after boarding started.
Plane next to us as seen from my seat
As boarding slowed down, a flight attendant came around with orange juice or water. My mother and I both choose an orange juice.
The next photos will show the features of the business class seat:
Seat controls
Power supply
IFE controller
USB input
Main screen of the IFE. I thought I was going to have a chance to take more pictures of the IFE on my ICN-LAX sector, but as it turns out that was not possible
Leg room on the 767
A look around the cabin
We pushed back at 1:33 PM, 2 minutes early, kudos to the crew for that. We had about a 10 minute taxi to runway 6 where we promptly took off.
At every seat was a pair of slippers and probably the worst pair of headphones I have seen offered to business class passengers. Every flight had a pair of slippers and the same headphones
As soon as we passed through 10,000 feet the seatbelt sign went off and the flight attendants passed out the menus. It is interesting to note that the menus had the meals for both sectors, ICN-TPE and TPE-ICN. The same occurred for LAX-ICN-LAX
After about 5 minutes the FA came back to take meal orders and drink orders, I opted for the seafood and the white wine, and my mother opted for the beef. The flight attendants came around with hot towels which were heavy duty and had Asiana Airlines imprinted in the towel
A tablecloth was set, again with the Asiana Airlines name in it, before the meals were brought out. The tray had the glasses and side items on it, while the hot dishes were brought out separately
Mixed seafood with fried rice and mixed vegetables
Salad
Dessert
Entire Meal
Everything in the beef dish was the same, except the main dish of course
The FA never let our drink go down to empty, constantly walking through the cabin with water and wine for refills (Or going to the galley to get the drink we ordered). One side note, the flight attendants always knelt down to your seat when talking to you. I thought this was amazing, in the US FA just stand there or bend down. It’s nice the see this level of service. I wish it could be more wide-spread (to other airlines), though.
After the meal I went to the bathroom. By the bathroom is a plate with the registration of the plane and the main control panel the FA’s use to operate the lights and IFE.
The bathrooms offer combs, toothbrushes and tooth paste, and some cologne and different lotions. Not really necessary for this short 2 hour flight, but definitely came in handy for the longer flight to LA.
As we got closer to ICN, I took some pictures of the cabin. Its in a 2-1-2 set up which does not feel very cramped at all. Most 767’s I have seen are in the 2-2-2 seat arrangement in business.
On the 777, you could easily get out of the window seat without disturbing your neighbor. On the 767, pitch was a little tighter, and harder to get out without forcing your neighbor to get out of his/her seat. Before I knew it, we were starting our descent and approach into ICN. As it was 4:20 PM and the sun was setting, it offered some great views and we descended.
ICN has these (I guess) dirt mounds that are painted green to look like grass, I assume. It’s kind of funny.
Touch down at 4:46 PM
We taxied to gate 39, passing numerous airlines that I rarely get to see in my travels
Our plane resting after the journey from TPE
We said goodbye to my aunt, uncle, cousin, and his fiancée, as they were staying in ICN for a few days. My mother, other aunt, and I proceeded through the transfer security and up to the departures level. We exchanged our last New Taiwanese dollars for Won to use in the duty-free shops before heading over to the lounge. I also took some pictures of the very interest terminal architecture. I don’t know if this normally happens but one of the duty free shops was giving away free samples of Johnny Walker Blue. Needless to say I had to try some. It is quite delicious, the only problem is the $150 price tag.
My aunt was flying coach so I guested her in with my RCC membership. The lounge attendant first looked at my membership card and said it was not Star gold and I could not guest anyone in. I tried to explain to her that it was not my frequent flyer card but a lounge membership, but she didn’t seem to understand. Luckily the other attendant working next to her recognized the card and told her I was allowed in with a guest. I understand that there are many Star members so its hard to know every rule, but couldn’t they have some sort of “cheat sheet” at the front desk or on the computer so their attendants can easily look it up?
The first class lounge was right next to the business lounge, but utilized a separate walkway
The Business class lounge is very nice, with many food selections and a variety of drinks. As many planes were leaving at this hour the lounge was quite full, so I was trying to be discreet in taking pictures.
I got some pasta salad and regular salad, and poured my self a Johnny Walker Black and diet Coke (or Coke Light)
The lounge offered some great views of the apron, but dusk was setting in so it was getting hard to take pictures
At 7:15 PM we made out way down to Gate 41 to board at 7:30 PM for our flight to LA. I was very excited to be flying on a 747 for the first time and on the upper deck, too! However, when we first got to the gate, I got very worried because the 747 was in the old colors. I got even more worried when I saw the front gear doors said 417. This could only mean one thing: we were on the one 747 that had yet to be converted to the new business/first class seats and PTV’s in coach. Members on Flyertalk had been saying that this plane mainly was flying back and forth to HKG and that Asiana wouldn’t put this plane on any long haul routes, so I had not been too worried. And the seating map up until the day I left the US had shown the new configuration on the upper deck. But of course, things can change. To say I was disappointed is a gross understatement. After being in the new C seat for 3 flights, to have my last flight on the old seats was the worst way to end this amazing trip. As great as the FA’s were throughout my entire Asiana experience this really brought down my feelings towards Asiana.