BOOKED: A Korean Air & Japan Airlines Business Class Adventure!

By: Ben Schlappig

Updated: October 14, 2024
Published: October 3, 2024

64 comments

I guess you could say that it’s review trip season here at OMAAT. I just recently returned from a review trip to Latin America, where I flew airlines like LATAM, Delta, Aeromexico, Boliviana de Aviacion (swoon!), and Copa.

Now I’m headed in the other direction, as I just planned a last minute review trip to Asia, which includes some products that I think will interest many of you. Let me share what I have booked.

Let me also quickly mention my plan to actually publish the full trip reports for these journeys. My intent is to take this upcoming review trip and share my initial thoughts, then I’ll publish the full Latin America review trip once back, and then I’ll publish the full Asia review trip once that’s complete.

In this post:

I’m heading to Asia for my upcoming review trip

My review trip is motivated primarily by wanting to try two long haul business class products. However, I’ll be reviewing several other experiences as well, which I’m quite looking forward to. Let me share what I’ve booked, in chronological order…

Alaska 737 MAX 9 & Embraer E175 first class

To start, I’m flying from Miami to Seattle to Vancouver on Alaska Airlines. I found a reasonable cash first class fare and also had an Alaska voucher that was expiring soon. I plan to review both of these segments, and my hope is that Alaska actually flies the 737 MAX 9 on my flight between Miami and Seattle.

The problem is that Alaska uses the 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9 interchangeably, and I’ve had swaps to the 737-900ER on my two last flights on the aircraft type. So here’s to hoping that the third time is the charm, so that I don’t review Alaska’s 737-900ER first class yet again.

Alaska, please bless me with a 737 MAX 9!

Korean Air 787-10 business class

Korean Air recently took delivery of its first 787-10. Not only is this a new type of plane for the airline, but it features an all-new business class product. For that matter, it’s Korean Air’s first wide body jet to have Wi-Fi. The first long haul route to get this product is Vancouver to Seoul Incheon, so I’ll be flying the plane on that route.

I managed to redeem Korean Air SkyPass miles for this flight, so I’m happy to finally have an opportunity to redeem those miles. I’m excited to experience this product, as Korean Air selected the Collins Aerospace Horizon seat in business class, which I’ve otherwise flown on Turkish’s A350-900. This will be my first time experiencing it on a 787.

I’ll get to experience Korean Air’s new business class

Korean Air A321neo business class

From Seoul Incheon, I’ll be connecting to Sapporo. This route is operated by the A321neo, which is Korean Air’s newest narrow body jet. While not as exciting as the long haul flight, it’s Korean Air’s first narrow body jet with flat beds in business class, and it also has updated branding.

The cabin looks basically identical to Starlux’s A321neo business class, as there are eight Collins Aerospace Diamond seats, in a 2-2 configuration.

I’ll be flying Korean Air’s new A321neo business class

Japan Airlines A350-900 business class

From Sapporo I’ll be flying to Tokyo, on an aircraft I’m oddly excited to fly. I’ll be one of Japan Airlines’ A350-900s, as this fleet is intended exclusively for domestic flights. I’ll booked in business class, which is in a 2-4-2 configuration. It has been some time since I’ve flown domestically within Japan, and it should be a good ride.

It’s my understanding that Japan Airlines allows day of departure upgrades on domestic flights at a reasonable cost, so my hope is to be able to upgrade. Does anyone have any recent experience with this?

Maybe I’ll be able to upgrade to first class?

Japan Airlines A350-1000 business class

Last but most certainly not least, I’ll be flying Japan Airlines’ new flagship A350-1000 business class from Tokyo to New York. I’ve reviewed first class on this jet, but am excited to see how business class compares to the competition.

Even beyond the specific Japan Airlines experience, I’m just looking forward to experiencing the Safran Unity seat, for which Japan Airlines is the launch customer. This is quickly becoming a popular business class seat, as we’ll also find it on the newly delivered A350s of Air India and Qantas, among other airlines.

By the way, I booked this flight using 60,000 American AAdvantage miles. Award availability is virtually non-existent if just booking between Tokyo and New York, while if you originate in Sapporo, availability is wide open. So my side trip to Sapporo serves lots of useful purposes. You’ve gotta love married segment logic!

I’ll finally get to fly the Safran Unity seat

I’m trying to figure out hotels/capsules…

While I have all my flights locked in, I’m still trying to finalize my overnight stays, as I have one night in Vancouver Airport, one night at Incheon Airport, and one night at Haneda Airport.

In Vancouver, should I stay at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport? I’ve heard it’s a great airport hotel, Accor has a loyalty program, and the convenience can’t be beaten, so it seems like the best bet, but I’m open to other convenient options as well.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport has an unbeatable location

At Seoul Incheon Airport it’s a bit trickier. I’m flying into and out of Terminal 2, so I was hoping to stay at the transit hotel in the terminal (since I try to review lounges when they open, and that’s easier to do if you’re staying in the terminal). However, the transit hotel in Terminal 2 is sold out. Best I can tell, there’s only one, so I guess the next best option is to book the Grand Hyatt Incheon?

Lastly, at Haneda Airport I just have a quick overnight, as I’ll be arriving on a domestic flight at Terminal 1, and am departing on an international flight from Terminal 3. I recently reviewed Hotel Villa Fontaine, which is the main hotel at the airport. It’s honestly quite expensive for what it offers, so I was considering mixing things up, and staying in the First Cabin capsule hotel at Terminal 1.

I just can’t figure out to what extent I’m going to regret that. Do you hear snoring, and other peoples’ alarms going off? How bad is the shared bathroom situation?

Should I stay at the Haneda Airport capsule hotel?

Bottom line

I’m looking forward to checking out the two Asian business class products that are most on my horizon — Korean Air’s 787-10 business class and Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 business class. On top of that, I’ll be reviewing Korean Air’s A321neo business class, Japan Airlines’ A350-900 business class, and hopefully Alaska’s 737 MAX 9 business class.

This will be a whirlwind trip, so I’m excited. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!

Any predictions or thoughts for this trip?

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KEflyer New Member

October 15, 2024, 9:46 am

I hope KE doesn't swap the equipment, as the 781 is currently flying to a lot of destinations.. I'm really looking forward to your review bro.

‼ 0

Here Hare Guest

October 5, 2024, 7:13 pm

True, walk from hotel reception to international check-in. Only hotel actually in YVR and some rooms (esp. north facing) have both spectacular views and excellent plane spotting opps. However there are four Fairmont Hotels in Vancouver. Far and away the best-rooms, service, bar, restaurants-is the Fairmont Pacific Rim. It's absolutely definitely worth a review. The Fairmont Waterfront is also quite nice, I would say it's the friendliest of the four, in fact there's usually a dog with the concierge ready to give guests a canine welcome. The old Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in the downtown core, despite refurbishment, can't escape having small rooms, smaller bathrooms, a rabbit warren of ballrooms and endless traffic outside. As a local who's stayed at all four I'd highly recommend the airport loc for convenience and, when I have an early morning flight, it's unbeatable. But as a hotel in the Fairmont stable, it's a C+ tops. As mentioned elsewhere, an Uber downtown can take the best part of an hour, but the (safe, clean, efficient, inexpensive) Skytrain, which leaves from YVR, goes to Waterfront station in about 20 minutes and the Pacific Rim and Waterfront are virtually across the street.

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N1120A Guest

October 5, 2024, 12:31 pm

I really like the Fairmont YVR. The views of the mountains and airfield are just incredible, and there's a Tim Hortons right outside the door. Also, you don't need to bother with getting into town.

‼ 0

Raulf Guest

October 4, 2024, 1:30 pm

Thank you so much to share the married segments. I was trying to find awards for 4 back to US next summer for months. Successfully booked 4 award seats on JAL after seeing your post.

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Roamingredcoat Diamond

October 4, 2024, 12:56 pm

I was looking at KE for USA-ICN-CTS, but it's annoying that most US arrivals cannot make the last ICN-CTS flight and require a long layover. I was happy when I found JFK-HND availability. For ICN, perhaps do Paradise City and pretend you're on Single's Inferno. For anyone who's transiting and needs a cheaper option, I've stayed in Unseo when the transit hotels were closed for COVID. Right off the subway and less isolated than airport hotels. Ben, Niseko reviews eventually in the cards in a couple years? Said you liked to see the Ritz and Park Hyatt, but looks like Aman, Hoshinoya, Six Senses, New World/Rosewood all planned for the area.

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