One of the best business class products in the world is the Apex Suite, and in particular, the window seat in this configuration. Unfortunately not many airlines have this type of seat so far. Earlier in the year I flew Oman Air, which has the Apex Suite on some of their planes. Then just a…
Continue reading: Which Planes Feature Korean Air’s New Business Class?
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No Korean airlines for me. The cockpit culture problem continues, as the Asiana tragedy and debacle in SFO amply illustrates.
Do they allow stopovers on one way bookings? Can awards be booked online or is it by phone only?
I fly their new business class product on Oct 2nd (ICN-JFK). Will be sure to share some photos and thoughts!
Would all the Korean Air planes that have this Apex Suite have the updated first class seats as well? In particular what they fly in/out of Vancouver.
They also appear to have the Apex Suite on some A330-300s, at least according to their fleet page: https://www.koreanair.com/content/koreanair/global/en/traveling/fleet-info.html#a330-300
My wife and I flew one-way from SEA to SIN, with 4 days stopover at ICN. The SEA-ICN segment has the new seat setup, and I second your assessment about the window seat. It is much better than CX reverse herringbone.
We logged in online, but booked over the phone. KE has some peculiar procedure, namely filling out some kind of a form listing family members that will be included in the reservation, hence us calling them.
I flew their Apex business class last year from ICN to SYD round trip, operated by A330-300s. I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment, and at the time I couldn't believe that was J (they had just rolled it out and I was expecting their old product). I flew both window and aisle, and while the window is more private, the aisle was excellent as well. The seat itself was comfortable enough for me to get about 7 hours of sleep each way. My only real complaint with Korean Air is how hot they keep the cabin and the lack of individual air vents.
I can vouch for at least two different A330-300s having the APEX suite. Tail numbers HL-8003 and HL-8025. I've flown on both.
Flew it in April of 2015 on an A330-300 (yes they have some of them reconfigured). It was awesome. I had the window seat and my mom the aisle. Great flight SYD-ICN connecting to the A380 ICN-JFK.
Used DL miles for Korean AKL to ICN last year. Equipment swap got us the 747-8. The window apex suites on the upper deck were awesome. So much room! My husband had the aisle and loved it. Only downside, it's not that easy to talk to your partner. We then continued to LAX on the A380. The biz seats are nice but nothing like the apex suite.
It's true the Apex Suite on the KE 747-8 is the most spacious business class seat in the world, specifically row 18.
I flew in 18A on the 747-8 JFK-ICN. I find KE's overall service average, and would take JL's offering any day of the week, but 18A is huge. What I liked most about it was that right out in front of me in the emergency exit area was a huge open space. So large that one could perform a full work-out in the area mid flight. I woke up about half way through the flight and did a full on stretching routine and some pushups to keep the blood flowing right out in front of my seat. I can't think of another airplane in the world that could I pull that off at 35,000 feet.
I have found KE disappointing however. The food is mediocre at best ex-JFK, which is disappointing because of NYC's large Korean community and hence, the easily sourced ingredients. I was asked if I had too much champagne upon receiving my 4th glass, and I had a few instances of having to ring for service two or three times before being helped. This certainly hasn't happened to me on CX, JL, OZ, or SQ J flights. Also, the JFK KE lounge is a complete joke.
The 747-8 from JFK-ICN was by far our best J flight to date. Food was pretty decent, but airplane food is not really a prime motivation for us. Staff were pretty great and always happy to help.
The HUGE area on the upper deck by the emergency exits is too cool. I watched a guy do a full on tai chi session while getting a stretch in myself. And both me and my wife, notoriously poor sleepers on planes, logged at least 8 hours each. Having flown ANA, TK, Thai, Cathay in J this was easily the best sleep. Not quite etihad apartments sleep, but you can't win em all!
Flew the Apex Suite on a KE A330-300 earlier this month from SYD to ICN. Window seat was crazy private but maybe not the best for the claustrophobic. USB port didn't work and universal outlet was a little far from the seat. Spent a bit of time looking for the headphone jack too. AVOD was easy-to-use but could've had a better selection. Bed seemed a tad short, and pillow could've been better too.
Soft product was a bit underwhelming, but I had just been flying Qatar and Etihad before. Connected to a KE 77W to ATL with the old business class [originally booked on the A380] which wasn't as private and lacked a true flat bed. I think I'd fly it again but am not in a rush. The cabin was a little warm on both flights.
Also... Go Gators!
The KAL lounge in Incheon is highly disappointing. And I am talking the First Class lounge there. The Asiana business class lounge blew them away in terms of furnishings and quality. Embarrassing.
The KE New business class are on some 777-300Ws, A330-300s and B748s. On 777-3ERs and B748 there are different first class (Kosmo Suite 2.0) but on A330s, the first class seat is the same APEX as business class. Kinda disappointing but much better than the old angle-flat seat.
If I recall correctly, KE has them on their A330-300, as I saw them on my trip from ICN to SYD in June (they operate A330-300 rather than A380 during the Australian winter)
Would it be possible to update the body of the post to reflect the fact that the Apex Suite is available on at least some A330-300s? Not every reader gets down into the comments. Thanks!
Flew it numerous times FRA-ICN, ICN-HAN, TPE-HAN, ICN-HKG.
It's a superb product and the biz suite, especially the one closest to the window is as private as it gets.
Highly recommended! 🙂
Are the biz seats better on the 747-8 than A380? Trying to decide between ICN-LAX or ICN-SFO
Ive got 18J on ICN SFO on 747-8 coming up. Not really thrilled about food options. Bibimbap? WTF?
Guess KE finances
And DL needing to shift away from NRT means they're starting to play nice
Does anyone know if the KE 71 and KE 72 flights for Vancouver to Inchon and Inchon to Vancouver have the apex seats for business class?
Any updates on a330 reconfigs? We have ICN-NRT and NRT-HNL coming up in July and hoping we get the same apex seats we'll have outbound to ICN on the 748.
The upper deck window seats on the Korean Airline 747-8 8i give the most privacy ,width and 4 Windows. The window Apex seats are the best. The food is wonderful in the service great. Internet would be nice on Korean Air but they don't offer it. I prefer Korean Airlines business class and I also prefer their 747 8i.
FYI, our booking AKL-ICN just got downgraded from F to J. Apparently KE is removing F from a ton of international flights, ugh. So much for 24hr of Kosmo 2.0 suites....
https://blueswandaily.com/korean-air-to-remove-first-class-from-24-of-international-routes/