services on KE

I will be flying IAD-ICN-REP, HAN-ICN-IAD in Prestige. Outbound I know I get a lunch and a dinner. Lunch is served an hour or two in (departs at 10:50) and then comes a sleepy time, then comes dinner (Bim-bap?). Is there anything served prior to landing? Are the crew accommodating as far as WHEN things get served? I may want to eat the dinner later, especially if there is nothing else served. The connection to REP leaves at 6PM - can I expect a full meal on this 5-hr flight? Return I leave HAN ca 11PM to arrive ICN at 5AM - meal(s) on this 4-hr flight? Return ICN-IAD leaves around 11 so I assume the meal service is identical to the outbound flight. Lastly, I read something about a coat check service at ICN. This would be useful when leaving IAD in the winter. Anyone ever used this?

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There is a coat check service at ICN.
To store the coat, passengers simply show their boarding pass at Hanjin Cargo counter located in Area A of the passenger terminal on the third floor of Incheon International Airport. To retrieve the coat after their return, they only need to show the storage receipt at the same counter.

I never went hungry on KE flights so I don't think you need to worry.
You can also get snacks like ramen when you want.

I flew IAD-ICN in March in Prestige and I have to tell you that this is the most amazing flight (and return) that I have ever had. I have flown international biz a few times and this is hands down the most amazing international flight I have ever experienced. The first meal began not long out of IAD. My wife and I wanted to sleep a little before our meal. We passed out and then had a full course serving about 2 hours after everyone else finished theirs. We placed our order and requested it at a certain time. Several hours later, a fresh hot cookie was served with some wine and then we took another brief nap. The pre arrival meal was about 2.5 hours out of ICN and it too was a full offering. They were very respectful with our requests and had no trouble making this happen. The flight crew was wonderful on both legs, the seat was great, IFE perfect. Sit on the right side of the plane from IAD though.....it is cooler over there. We did a similar thing on the return. I was fighting a virus and passed out for about 8 hours. When I woke, I was starving and only really craved a sandwich or pizza. Surprisingly, they had both in stock (one was an economy meal) and I received both on the finer dining ware and a little chocolate that said gets well sun (this is how it was spelled). A very nice touch if you ask me. I hope one day I can return to KE in prestige.......

Is this outside of the transit area? I'm not pressed for time, but I don't think I want to go through customs/security just to give up my coat.

Yes, that is outside the transit area. Located in the check in counters

Fun find: http://morningcalm.koreanair.com/

If you go to the back section, in the information, they have a guide to their service schedule for your flights. Very useful.

Also, they will give you whatever you want, when you want. For instance, if you're sleeping (in, gasp!, economy), they put a sticker on your seat that says "We didn't want to wake you, let us know when you want to eat."

I had the most bizarre service ever on a plane when I took the KE A380 from LAX-ICN earlier this year. Main meal was served within an our or two after take off and then mid flight the second meal was served. And that was it! Nothing prior to landing. I thought it was totally odd, very different from every other TPAC I have ever taken.

Then there is the wine (non)-service. They give you a very small drinks glass (sips, really; are they really conducting a tasting?) prior to the meal and then one lady runs around the cabin after the meals have been served with the wines and you have to work to get her attention for a refill of another sip.

Have to admit I only experienced this meal schedule on the A380. The wine service, however seems to be endemic to KE.

The link to the magazine was quite informative in many ways. Thanks!

That does appear to be the normal timing for KE's LAX-ICN services, per the in-flight magazine. For KE18 (the A380 flight), it kind of makes sense, as it lands at ICN at such a time that it will be dinner time shortly thereafter. Thus, the mid-flight meal might help some start moving their eating schedule to match the time zone in Korea. For connecting passengers, they'll probably get a meal shortly after their connecting flight takes off.

The wine thimble is a defining characteristic of KE's service, unfortunately.

Yes daytime transpacific flights have always received this rather strange schedule. I personally understand the reason why they do it, but it just does not make sense to turn up all the flights in the middle of a flight and does a meal service, and then turn off the light for the rest of the flight. CX has tried to change its daytime meal services to such style and the feedbacks are rather bad. CX has switched it back to a more traditional lunch after takeoff and dinner prior to landing. But Korean Air sticks with this schedule. (But Asiana has the more traditional style).

I also dislike this style because F/As may be more reluctant to serve snacks after the final meal service.

Anyway, Korean Air has the service schedule published for all long haul flights, and the F/As follow it religiously.

Carfield