Is Korean Air (Nearly) Discontinuing First Class?

If it’s true, I wouldn’t weep about it. Their Apex business class is excellent and the soft product isn’t far different from the F experience. Probably something about blocking upgrades though

Thanks for the post, Ben.
I received an email from Korean Air just a few days ago. My First Class booking was downgraded to Prestige Class, ATL-ICN for October. It's still (as of now) being operated by a 747-8, and my seat assignment (as of now) is still 1A.
I was offered a full refund of miles plus fees, or a change of itinerary to a later date, free of charge.

It’s a pity but not really a surprise. Even before they pulled F on their 787/330 fleet, the seating has been the same in F and J. Obviously, the food and drinks were superior, but admittedly, KE also offers high quality in J. The same is true on their 748, wich has the Apex-Suite in J, which is a very similar product to their F seat.

@Michael
KE will not be providing First Class service but agents know how to force the booking into J fare class which will allow you to remain in the First Class cabin but with Business Class service.

Their A380s do have far fewer total seats than other airlines

I admit this is a fascinating development. My worldview is from the US (so I recognize that has limits), and I would think travel with the mandatory quarantine at Ramada would diminish nearly all transit between countries. Cutting the A380 would be my first choice.

But if I were somehow inclined to do this, to avoid infection and the inevitable fact that people will take their masks off for meals and the restrooms during a 13 hour flight... first class would be my first choice.

@ Ben -- I hope that at least some F is maintained by SQ, LX, LH, CX, NH, JL, QF, AF and BA. Oh, and how could I forget AA? As long as AA maintains international F, all is well. 😉

@David
Thanks, that's what I was figuring. Appreciate it.

I also hope F will be maintained and offered. I'm guessing those who usually pay full fare first class may be opting to charter private jets instead.

Guessing same as when they eliminated first on some intra-asia routes. I flew a 772 on a J ticket in the F seat. Lack of demand, so remove the class so that if/when demand comes back you haven't devalued the product prices.

Seems doubtful they'll reconfigure A380 and 748 you couldn't really fit that many more apex suites in the nose than the current F.

Taiwanese airlines have given up on F long time ago but have focused on improving J experience. Korean airlines should have done the same long time ago.

Where is the 747-8 flying these days? During the past few months, I was noticing it flying into ORD instead of ATL.

I have to take a trip to Korea. I could not find any 747-8 or A380 routes out of JFK, ORD, or ATL. Everything was 777-300ER v1 or v2.

AF is still selling La Premiere but serving J meals and no lounge or ground service. So just the bigger seat.

LX like LH is doing proper onboard F service.

I received a call yesterday from Korean Air regarding my January flight CGK-ICN-IAD flight operated by 777-300ER first class downgraded from F to J, but the agent was kind enough (Yasmin from KUL office) to change my route CGK-ICN( J class service but F Cosmo 2.0 seats kept) re-route ICN-JFK in F on A380. I know the A380 seats are by far less attractive but any chance to fly A380 nowadays will give me more enjoyment than anything!

This could be really sad.

I reviewed Japan Airlines First Class a while back on a Boeing 777-300 and it really puts U.S. air carriers to shame.

TG did/does the same: they sell F/Cl seats as C/Cl without refitting the cabins. Maybe demand will recover, maybe F/Cl is a product of the past.

Lucky, they are still selling First on both LAX and JFK to ICN, 77W for the next few months

It’s strange as I consider their first class 747 product far outshone anything else but you never know what the future holds

Another option: for the next year, they know they simply *can't* offer the service standards expected of first class (e.g. cooked meals, frequent, personalized service by the flight attendants, etc) so why sell it and have a bunch of upset customers?

These days, business class meals often consist of simple, prepackaged meals served in a single plate, to minimize infection risk. If you know you can't do more than that, then what's the point of offering first class?

what a shame. korean air keeping the 747 relevant with their excellent F product on their 747-8i (LH and CX disappointed with their 747-8's)

Ah. Skyteam. There's delta awesome service and handling of covid and there's skypesos that I can't redeem for first class. Other than la premiere, barely running Garuda 777 and KE. Only China Eastern have first now? Great when flying to China but again not redeemable. Sometimes I wonder why I'm a diamond medallion. Hmmm