Korean Air 61
Los Angeles (LAX) – Sao Paulo (GRU)
Friday, March 21
Depart: 6:40PM
Arrive: 11:25AM (+1 day)
Duration: 11hr45min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 2A (First Class)
In February I flew Korean Air A380 first class from Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles, and was blown away between the top notch food and service.
This route is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, featuring just eight first class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. It’s actually almost exactly the same first class product available on the A380, except there are two rows instead of three.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER cabin
Here’s the first class seatmap, per SeatGuru:
While the seat wasn’t fully enclosed, it was really private thanks to the “shield” you can extend around your seat.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER, seat 2A
Korean Air first class 777-300ER, seat 2A
Waiting at my seat were a pillow and blanket.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER, seat 2A pillow and blanket
Korean Air first class 777-300ER, seat 2A
The seat also had ample storage, though slightly less than on the A380. To the back left of the seat was a storage compartment perfect for glasses, a wallet, passport, etc.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER storage compartment
Right in front of that was another storage compartment, along with the headphone jack and USB outlet. Below that were the entertainment controls.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER storage compartment
Korean Air first class 777-300ER entertainment control
In front of that was the bizarre champagne fountain reading light.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER reading light
Then in front of that was the tray table.
Korean Air first class tray table
To the right of the seat were the seat controls, reading materials, and a place to store headphones.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER storage compartment
Korean Air first class 777-300ER seat controls
Korean Air first class 777-300ER, seat 2A view
Moments after settling in one of the first class flight attendants came by to offer me Bose noise canceling headphones, pajamas, and facial mist.
Korean Air first class pajamas and headphones
Korean Air first class pajamas
Korean Air does have really high quality pajamas, though I’ll never quite get the odd phrases on them.
My cradle in the clouds… Sweet dreams?!
Korean Air first class Bose headphones
There were also slippers waiting at my seat. Oddly there was no amenity kit.
Korean Air first class pajamas slippers
Korean Air first class slippers
Shortly thereafter I was offered a pre-departure beverage and requested a glass of champagne. I was informed that unfortunately Korean Air apparently doesn’t offer alcohol on the ground in the US, so I instead ordered some water, which was served with macadamia nuts.
Korean Air first class pre-departure water and nuts
I was then given a landing form for Brazil, along with a Korean Air branded pen.
Brazil landing form
One thing that’s interesting is that even though I was the first passenger to board when boarding was called, there were already five other first class passengers in the cabin, in seats 1D, 1K, 2D, 2G, and 2K.
Maybe they were all connecting from Seoul Incheon? I was under the impression you’d have to get off the plane in the US, so I’m not sure? I later figured out who 1K and 2K were, but it seems that the passenger in 1D and the couple in 2D & 2G were indeed connecting.
Shortly before our scheduled departure time the inflight manager came by to introduce himself and ask if it was my first time on Korean Air. When I explained I had flown the A380 he asked how I thought the two planes compared.
Shortly before pushback the captain came on the PA to make a welcome aboard announcement, which he did in Korean, Portuguese, and English. I saw him later in the flight and he was actually Brazilian. Interesting how many ex-pat pilots Korean Air seems to have, since on my Tokyo Narita to Seoul Incheon flight in February I had an American captain (a friend mentioned after the fact that Korean Air actually has a pilot base in Sao Paulo that exclusively fly the route to Los Angeles).
Anyway, he informed us of our flight time of 11hr16min, anticipating an arrival in Sao Paulo at 10:10AM.
Gate on pushback
Gate on pushback
As we pushed back the safety video began to play.
Pushing back
Our taxi to runway 24L was really short, and less than five minutes after pushing back we were airborne on what was a gorgeous California evening, at 6:50PM sharp.
Taxiing to runway
Holding short of runway 24L
Taking off runway 24L
Taking off runway 24L
Taking off runway 24L
Taking off runway 24L
View on climb out
As we climbed out I browsed the entertainment selection. I eventually just decided to catch up on some shows on my iPad. Can’t fall too far behind on The Real Housewives of Atlanta or my ability to throw shade might suffer. I think I’m starting to transition from Team Phaedra to Team Kenya, which is concerning because I really don’t want to like Kenya. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. Back to the flight…
Korean Air first class entertainment system
Korean Air airshow
View at cruise altitude
Korean Air first class cabin 777-300ER after takeoff
About 10 minutes after takeoff the seatbelt sign was turned off and menus were distributed.
Korean Air first class menu and wine list
Shortly thereafter dinner orders were taken. The dinner menu read as follows:
It included a bibimbap directions pamphlet:
And the wine list read as follows:
Service began with hot towels being distributed.
Korean Air first class hot towel
That was followed by drinks and the amuse bouche. I ordered a Diet Coke with lemon and a glass of the lovely Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque 2006.
Korean Air first class Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque 2006
That was accompanied by the amuse bouche (on the menu described as pre-drink service, which doesn’t seem right), consisting of lobster salad with dill yogurt dip.
Korean Air first class amuse bouche
After that a cart was rolled around with the table setting and bread.
Korean Air first class table setting
The garlic rolls were really, really good.
Korean Air first class bread
The appetizer was then served, which consisted of blufin tuna noodle with pineapple and prosciutto. Yum!
Korean Air first class appetizer
Korean Air first class appetizer
After that the salad cart was rolled around. As I noted in my Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles trip report, I think Korean Air does the best salad service of any airline. You can’t beat a “tableside” salad made from scratch.
Korean Air first class salad cart
Korean Air first class salad
For the main course I selected the bibimbap, which was phenomenal.
Korean Air first class bibimbap
Korean Air first class bibimbap
Then I was offered cheese and fruit off a cart.
Korean Air first class cheese and fruit cart
I ate the fruit and a tiny sample of each cheese, as I was already stuffed.
Korean Air first class cheese and fruit
Then dessert was served, which consisted of Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream and red currant with white chocolate cake.
Korean Air first class dessert
The meal service was really good. It wasn’t quite as amazing as on the Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles sector, though US to South America has to be one of the least competitive markets in terms of airline quality (perhaps ranking only slightly above Addis Ababa to… well… anywhere). But on the whole it was great, I thought.
As far as the service goes, the flight attendant on my Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles flight set the bar really high. Admittedly there was only one other passenger in the cabin, but she took such pride in her job that I couldn’t help but smile.
This crew was objectively very good. They were friendly and extremely attentive. Like, ridiculously so. I don’t think my glass was ever more than half empty, and one of the flight attendants actually positioned herself behind row two between serving courses so she could “monitor” the entire cabin and see who might need something.
So the crew was attentive and friendly without being over the top. But they didn’t quite have the “passion” that the flight attendant on my last Korean Air sector had.
Airshow upon finishing dinner
Airshow upon finishing dinner
After dinner I requested turndown service, and while they made my bed I checked out the business class cabin, which was extremely empty, with fewer than a dozen passengers.
Korean Air business class 777-300ER
Korean Air business class 777-300ER
Korean Air business class 777-300ER
On my way back to my seat I quickly stopped by the lav, which is located in front of the first class cabin in the center of the aircraft. It’s fairly spacious for a 777, though can’t compete with the Emirates or Lufthansa A380 first class lavatories, for example.
Korean Air 777-300ER first class lavatory
I slept really well for a few hours, but then woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep for whatever reason.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER turndown service
Korean Air first class 777-300ER turndown service
I wanted some more water so pressed the call button. The response time was literally a second. And to clarify, it wasn’t a second from the time the call button was pushed to when I saw the flight attendant emerging from behind the curtain, but rather she was at my seat in less than a second.
Okay, I figured maybe she just happened to be walking by and I pushed it at exactly the right time. So 30 minutes later I wanted some more water and a cappuccino and pushed the call button again. I kid you not, she was at my seat again in a second. I’ve had some amazing call button response times in my life, but never anything this fast.
Korean Air first class cappuccino
It was just ridiculous. I pushed the call button a handful of times throughout the flight (I prefer that to disturbing flight attendants in the galley).
But I really started to feel as if there was literally a flight attendant standing on the other side of the curtain the entire flight just waiting for someone to push the call button.
I’ve written a lot in the past about the Singapore Airlines vs. Cathay Pacific approach to first class service, and I appreciate them both. The major difference between the two is that between meal services you’ll see a Singapore Airlines flight attendant through the cabin every 10 minutes or so, while on Cathy Pacific you probably won’t see a flight attendant once… unless you push the call button.
And the Cathay Pacific approach is great once you understand it. I know the first time I flew Cathay Pacific I couldn’t help but feel like they were inattentive, but once you realize it’s so you have as much privacy as possible you appreciate it. What I’m trying to say is that the crew on this flight had more of the reactive Cathay Pacific approach than the proactive Singapore Airlines approach, but they executed it perfectly.
Anyway, back to the actual flight rather than the subtle differences between first class on different airlines. I decided to watch a couple of TV shows on the entertainment system. I started with a show called “Brain Games 2—Focus Pocus.” And then I watched a show called “Mighty Ships – Oasis of The Seas,” which almost made me want to take a cruise again… almost.
Korean Air first class entertainment selection
Korean Air first class entertainment selection
The couple seated across from me ordered ramen at this point, which looked and smelled delicious, so I ordered some as well. It was great.
Korean Air first class ramen noodles
Korean Air first class ramen noodles
Oddly shortly after serving me ramen the flight attendant came by to bring me an amenity kit, having realized she forgot to bring it to me earlier. She apologized profusely.
Korean Air first class amenity kit
Korean Air first class amenity kit contents
I watched a couple of episodes of “Hotel Impossible” on my iPad, and then about 90 minutes prior to arrival the breakfast service began.
Korean Air first class 777-300ER mood lighting
The breakfast menu read as follows:
The way the flight attendant took the breakfast order must have been one of the most mind-numbingly complex questionings I’ve ever faced… it rivaled Canadian immigration!
“Would you like to have breakfast with us?”
“Yes please.”
“When would you like breakfast?”
“Now is fine.”
“What kind of yogurt would you like? Strawberry or plain?
“Strawberry, please.”
“Would you like nuts and raisins in there?”
“Sure.”
“What kind of bread would you like?
“A croissant please.”
“And would you like butter or jam with that?”
“Jam please.”
“What kind of jam? Strawberry, grape, or peach?”
“Strawberry please.”
“Would you like cereal?”
“Yes please.”
“What kind of cereal? We have Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Apple Jacks, Special K, Cheerios, or Muesli.”
“Apple Jacks please.”
“And what kind of milk? Fat free or 2%?”
“Fat free, please.”
“And what would you like to drink?”
“Black tea please.”
“And would you like sugar and milk with that?”
“Just milk, please.”
“And how about for your main course? “
“The scrambled eggs please.”
“Okay, and then would you like some fruit to finish your meal?”
“Sure.”
Breakfast began with the yogurt, which was tasty and nicely presented, along with a croissant.
Korean Air first class breakfast — yogurt
Korean Air first class breakfast — yogurt
Korean Air first class breakfast — tea and orange juice
Korean Air first class breakfast — croissant
That was followed by Apple Jacks. The novelty of eating 110% sugary cereal on an airplane hasn’t worn off yet, and don’t think it will for a while… almost as exciting as an onboard shower!
Korean Air first class breakfast — cereal
The scrambled egg course was tasty and beautifully presented.
Korean Air first class breakfast — scrambled eggs
And the fruit to finish the meal was good as well.
Korean Air first class breakfast — fruit
The only thing I find disappointing about the service is that Korean only has Lipton tea. I mean, seriously, it’s bad enough not to have a huge selection of tea in first class on an Asian airline, but to have the one option be Lipton? Really?!
After breakfast I napped a bit longer, and then 30 minutes prior to landing I headed to the lavatory to change out of my pajamas.
Airshow after breakfast
Interestingly the guys seated in 1K and 2K were up there and had also just changed, and they were both Korean Air captains as well (they had four stripes). They both seemed to be American. Between them and the two other Korean Air captains in the flight deck (along with a first officer), that’s four captains. Yowzers.
Our descent into Sao Paulo was smooth, and we touched down on runway 27L at 10:15AM.
Descent into Sao Paulo
Descent into Sao Paulo
Final descent into Sao Paulo
Touchdown Sao Paulo
Touchdown Sao Paulo
In my eight previous flights to and from Sao Paulo I always had a gate, so I was kind of surprised to see we were taxiing to a remote stand. In fairness, Sao Paulo Airport during the day is the ultimate place for plane porn, given the number of longhaul aircraft parked out on remote stands just “posing.”
There was an Alitalia 777.
Alitalia 777 Sao Paulo Airport
And two Lufthansa aircraft – a 747-400 from Frankfurt and an A340-600 from Munich.
Lufthansa 747 Sao Paulo Airport
Lufthansa 747 and A340 Sao Paulo Airport
Then an Iberia A340-300 and British Airways 747.
Iberia A340 and British Airways 747 Sao Paulo Airport
And we ended up parking next to a Delta 767.
Delta 767 Sao Paulo Airport
As soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off the inflight manager came by to collect me and walk me to door 2L, which is located behind the forward business class cabin.
Okay, I figured maybe they had a special car or something for first class passengers?
Nope, guess he just wanted to make sure I was first on the bus. Gee, thanks. 😉
As much as remote stands are a pain in the ass, I’m still like a five year old when I get to walk on the tarmac and marvel at the beast that just flew me 6,000+ miles.
Korean Air 777 upon arrival in Sao Paulo
Korean Air 777 upon arrival in Sao Paulo
Korean Air 777 upon arrival in Sao Paulo
The drive to the terminal took about five minutes, and once there the immigration queue only took about 10 minutes. For an airport that’s generally an ugly-as-could-be clusterf&*k, the security and immigration queues here are fairly consistently reasonable.
Sao Paulo traffic
Bottom line
Korean Air offers a ridiculously good first class product between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, and I find it to just be such a cool fifth freedom route. After three flights in Korean Air first class they definitely rank among my favorite first class products in the world.
How you can redeem miles for Korean Air first class
The best way to book Korean Air first class is through their own SkyPass program. For more information on doing that see these posts:
Korean Air SkyPass allows one way awards if traveling on Korean Air metal. Travel between North America and South America costs 70,000 SkyPass miles one-way for first class, assuming you’re traveling for off-peak dates. Award availability on the route is amazingly good.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that while Delta partners with Korean Air, you can’t redeem Delta SkyMiles for international first class on Korean Air. Rather, business class is the highest cabin you can redeem for.
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