Review: Korean Air First Class Airbus A380 (ICN-JFK)

For the next portion of my Aria Suite Adventure to Hong Kong, I flew Korean Air’s Airbus A380 first class on the 12hr55min flight from Seoul Incheon (ICN) to New York (JFK). Logically, one would assume this would be the highlight of the trip, given that it was my only flight in long haul first class. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, though.

That’s because by international first class standards, Korean Air is simply lackluster, especially on its Airbus A380s. Flying in international first class is always comfortable, but compared to what the competition offers, Korean Air has one of the least impressive products.

It almost feels like the airline has totally given up on its A380s. The seats lack privacy, the cabin is outdated and not very attractive, the entertainment wasn’t good, there was no Wi-Fi, and the rest of the soft product didn’t do the experience any favors either. The good news is that Korean Air is planning a new first class as of 2028, and has acknowledged that it’s no longer competitive, so I guess that’s progress?

How I booked my Korean Air first class ticket

I booked my Korean Air first class ticket using Korean Air SkyPass miles. Specifically, I booked the following for 80,000 Korean Air SkyPass miles plus $137.05 in taxes & fees:

2/08 KE85 Seoul Incheon to New York departing 7:30PM arriving 7:30PM

For those curious about how I earned Korean Air SkyPass miles, back in the day the program was transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards. When the partnership ended, I speculatively transfered a bunch of points over, since the program was really valuable at the time.

For a long time, Korean Air eliminated first class awards, though fortunately the program recently brought them back, so I finally got around to redeeming more of my miles. I’m happy to have redeemed some miles, but in retrospect, I can’t say I really missed the experience all that much.

Korean Air first class lounge & boarding

Prior to my flight, I had the chance to check out the Korean Air First Lounge Incheon, which is almost as lackluster as the onboard experience (fortunately Korean Air plans to invest in lounges as well). My flight was departing from gate 232, with boarding scheduled for 6:55PM, 35 minutes before departure.

I arrived at the gate early, and was treated to a gorgeous sunset. Man, the A380 really is a whale, eh? If you look carefully, you’ll even see the 747-8 in the back — Lufthansa and Korean Air are the only airlines to fly both of those jets, and I find that to be pretty cool.

Boarding started right on schedule, with those needing extra time being invited to board first, followed by first class passengers.

Korean Air A380 first class cabin & seats

I boarded through the forward left door on the lower deck, where I was greeted by the crew, and escorted to my seat. Unlike most (but not all) other airlines, Korean Air has first class on the lower deck of the A380. The cabin consists of a total of 12 seats, spread across three rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Korean Air has its “Kosmo Suites” product on the A380, which are very open seats that don’t have much privacy, though they are spacious. The first thing that surprised me upon boarding was the color of the upholstery. Historically, seats were in the carrier’s signature blue tone, but they’ve now been reupholstered in a darker tone… yet not completely, as the blue is still visible along the sides of the seats.

I assigned myself seat 3A, the window seat on the left side in the last row. Nowadays doors have become pretty standard features in first class, though what’s noteworthy about this product is that there aren’t even any sort of privacy shields. You’re more exposed in this seat than in most modern business class seats.

Each first class seat features a 23″ personal monitor. That’s not particularly large by modern standards for first class, but the bigger issue is that it’s also not very high definition.

I do like how it’s possible to store things under the seat during the flight, as there’s a big space under the ottoman. Note that unlike some other first class products, the ottoman here isn’t a buddy seat, as it has no seatbelt.

In this seat, the tray table folds out from a panel to the side of the seat, and it’s massive and heavy. You really have to put in some effort to get the tray out, and then it has to be flipped over to be extended fully. One thing I didn’t love is how you couldn’t get up while the tray table was extended. With most first class products, I find that to be possible, so that’s disappointing.

There’s plenty of storage along the side of the seat, though this has definitely seen better days. These compartments barely latch anymore, and are wobbly.

The center storage unit also has the headphone jack, two USB-A outlets, and the entertainment controller.

The AC power outlet is located outside of that panel, on the side of the seat.

Above the storage space on the side of the seat is what’s probably the one unique feature of this product — an in-seat beverage fountain. I kid. Though Korean Air does have one of the more unusual reading lights, no?

Seat controls are located on a panel on the aisle-side of the seat, with plenty of customization options, so you can move individual parts of the seat.

The only other thing worth mentioning is that Korean Air doesn’t have individual air nozzles on its A380s, so you’re at the mercy of the crew when it comes to the temperature and airflow in the cabin.

All-in-all, this is one of the more underwhelming first class hard products out there, if you ask me. That’s the case in terms of functionality, privacy, and aesthetics.

Korean Air first class amenities

Waiting at each first class seat upon boarding was a pillow and blanket. The pillow was substantial, while the blanket was scratchy and felt like it was old. This is only part of the bedding, as more is provided with turndown service.

Korean Air provides Bowers & Wilkins headphones in first class, which are high quality. The catch is that these are primarily intended as wireless headphones with bluetooth audio, but Korean Air doesn’t have bluetooth audio. So a voice kept saying “ready to pair,” even when the wire was attached, and it took several minutes for that to stop.

Next up, an amenity kit was placed at each seat upon boarding. This might just be the least-nice first class amenity kit I’ve ever seen. It was in a bizarre rubber pouch, almost like a waterproof bag that you’d give to a child, or something.

The contents weren’t much better, with products from Atelier Cologne (it seems like you can buy these products for a few bucks on eBay). Korea is known for its amazing skincare products, so you’d think that Korean Air could have a collaboration with a high-end company from Korea, no?

Also waiting at my seat were pajamas, which were a nice material, but felt really warm to me, especially given that Korean Air isn’t known for keeping its cabins cold.

There were slippers, plus a bag for shoes.

Shortly after boarding, I was asked if I wanted a pre-departure drink. I asked what was available, and the response was “maybe champagne.” So I went with that, and it was served a moment later, along with some dried fruit and veggies.

The menu and drink list were also distributed on the ground. Meal orders were taken a moment later, and it was one of those situations where they ask you for everything at once, down to asking what you’d like to drink before landing. That service feels more in line with what you’d expect in business class than first class.

Korean Air A380 first class entertainment

Korean Air’s A380 first class entertainment screen is 23″, and definitely feels outdated. The system isn’t touchscreen, so unfortunately you have to use the controller to make selections, which is kind of annoying, since it’s not very responsive. The system has audio and video on demand, with movies, TV shows, audio, games, and more.

The selection is very limited. I couldn’t figure out how many total options there were (due to how they were organized), but it was much more limited than on most other carriers. I’d recommend bringing your own entertainment, as I got bored.

My favorite aspect of the entertainment was the map feature, plus the tail camera.

Unfortunately Korean Air doesn’t have Wi-Fi on its A380s, and also has no plans to install it.

Korean Air A380 departure from Seoul Incheon

The boarding process was nice and calm, given that there’s not much foot traffic in the first class cabin on an A380. On this flight, nine of the 12 first class seats were occupied, and I was the only non-Korean passenger.

The door closed right on schedule at 7:30PM, at which point the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 12hr55min, and anticipated on-time arrival. A moment later, Korean Air’s safety video with virtual humans was screened, which is quite something.

At 7:35PM we began our pushback, and then at 7:40PM we began our taxi. We had a pretty quick taxi, and by 7:55PM we were cleared for takeoff on runway 33L. I found it noteworthy that the cabin lights were kept at the brightest setting for takeoff — does Korea have different safety policies than in other parts of the world, or was this an oversight on the part of the crew?

We had a smooth climb out, and the seatbelt sign was turned off just five minutes after takeoff.

Korean Air first class dinner service

Dinner was served after takeoff, and was quick to get started. You can find the Korean Air first class dinner menu below — the first section was the western menu, and the second section was the signature Korean menu, Hansik Jeongchan.

You can find the Korean Air first class drink list below.

Service began 25 minutes after takeoff, with warm towels being distributed on little plates.

Last time I flew Korean Air, I selected the Korean menu, so this time I decided to give the western menu a try. To kick off the meal, drinks were served, along with canapés, consisting of seared scallop with spicy orange sauce. I had a glass of champagne to drink — Korean Air serves Devaux Stenope in first class, which I don’t think I’ve had on any other airline, but I enjoyed it.

Next up was the caviar service. Each first class passenger is offered a 20g tin of Italian osetra caviar.

Once that was cleared, it was time for the soup course, which was a chestnut cream soup.

That was followed by a salad.

Next up was a lemon sorbet palate cleanser.

Of the two main course options, I chose the grilled beef rib eye steak with rosemary sauce, served with mushroom potato risotto and vegetables.

Impressively, I was asked how I wanted the steak cooked. I asked for it medium rare, and it was definitely less well done than you’d typically find on a plane, so that’s great.

To finish off the meal, I was offered the option of fruit, cheese, or dessert. I selected cheese and fruit.

The meal was certainly large, and the quality was fairly good. That being said — and it’s kind of hard to explain — but the whole dining experience just felt kind of boring and assembly line-esque, which largely comes down to the service. I’ll talk more about that in a bit, but it just didn’t feel like a restaurant-style dining experience, as you might find in some other first class products.

Korean Air A380 first class lavatories

Korean Air has two first class lavatories on the A380, located at the very front of the cabin, by the stairs, with one on each side.

While the lavatories aren’t as big as you’d find at the front of the upper deck, they’re a decent size, and each has a window. The crew did a good job keeping the lavatories clean throughout the flight, which is a major advantage of flying with most Asian carriers.

There were some basic products in the lavatories, like combs, shaving kits, and mouthwash.

By the first set of doors you’ll also find a display area. Back in the day, there were some snacks and self-serve drink options here, but nowadays it just stays empty, even on a long flight like this. The only thing here were some bottles in a case, purely for show.

Korean Air A380 business class bar

After the meal, I decided to head to the upper deck, to check out the business class bar and lounge, which I fondly remember from flights a long time ago.

Korean Air has a massive A380 business class cabin, consisting of 94 seats, taking up the entire upper deck. The product is underwhelming, and is in a 2-2-2 configuration.

At the very front of the upper deck by the stairs, you’ll find a small lounge area, which is really just four seats where passengers can sit down for a change of scenery. There aren’t any food or drink options here, and it doesn’t seem like people use this a whole lot.

There’s a large bar area at the back of the upper deck, but goodness, Korean Air has really given up on trying to make this anything special. Back in the day, it was possible to order cocktails here. Nowadays the space isn’t serviced anymore, but instead, there’s just a small selection of packaged snacks and soft drinks that you can help yourself to.

I think this setup really sums up how I felt about the flight at large — Korean Air just isn’t trying anymore, at least on the A380.

Korean Air A380 first class bed

Before heading up to the bar area, I had asked the crew to make my bed, so that was taken care of by the time that I got back to my seat.

I ended up falling asleep with a little under 10 hours remaining, as we were well into our transpacific crossing…

…and I woke up a little under four hours later, as we were over Alaska, with around six hours remaining to New York.

I wish I had slept longer, but alas, I’m not a great airplane sleeper. At this point I also turned on the tail camera — while not very high definition, it is nice to appreciate what a behemoth the A380 is.

I loved watching the map feature during this part of the flight, as this is such a cool part of Alaska, as we came in over the Aleutian Islands, then flying over Cold Bay, Kodiak, etc.

Korean Air first class snack & pre-arrival meal

Upon waking up, I decided to have a snack. I wasn’t hungry, but I was bored, and eating does pass the time, and calories in the air don’t count, right? 😉 Below you can find the Koran Air first class refreshment and pre-arrival service menu.

To eat, I decided to order the ramen with side dishes. This is instant ramen, but is at least nicely plated.

Then I decided to order an iced latte, plus the freshly baked cookies (which Korean Air serves in both first and business class, and they’re delicious).

I then watched some TV shows, none of which I found to be particularly interesting, but it was better than nothing. I also enjoyed some of the views as we made our way across North America. However, since the cabin was pitch dark, I went to the bathroom to enjoy these views, since I didn’t want to disturb other passengers.

Finally around 2.5 hours before landing, the pre-arrival service started.

To kick off the meal, I was offered a fruit plate.

That was followed by a choice of cereal (I selected granola), plus plain yogurt with fruit compote.

For the main course, I opted for the Korean style beef rib and cabbage soup. Admittedly this comes down to personal preferences, but I can’t say I was a huge fan, and I didn’t realize how rib-centric this would be.

To finish off the meal, I had a cappuccino…

Korean Air first class service

Here’s the issue, plain and simple — Korean Air has historically been an airline targeted at Korean travelers, rather than at foreign travelers. I found service on this flight to be lacking warmth, and to be inattentive and reactive. I felt like I had to ask for every little thing, and attention to detail was lacking. I could give a countless number of examples, but I think that’s besides the point.

As I recently wrote about when reviewing the Korean Air First Lounge Incheon, this appears to just be cultural. An OMAAT reader left the following comment on about my Korean Air service observations, which I think explains a lot:

As a Korean myself, I confirm Korean service is meant to be reactive, never proactive. That’s why we have call buttons at restaurants in Korea. Whenever you need something, you press the button, then the staff will run to you in seconds. A proactive service is often considered “disturbing” in Korea.

For this reason, when Koreans travel to the US, they often feel disturbed by servers consistently checking in. It is a cultural difference. Korean Air is doing a typical Korean service in this way.

So of course I respect different cultural norms, but also, I’m not sure how exactly to reconcile that. What’s perceived as good service in Korean is perceived as bad service elsewhere. Am I just being uncultured if I’m not fawning over Korean Air’s lack of service in first class, even when virtually every other Asian airline manages to find a good balance between international expectations and local culture?

What’s encouraging is that Korean Air executives seem to acknowledge this is an issue, and Korean Air hopes “to go from being a Korean flagship carrier to an international carrier based in Korea.” So I think that says it all, and hopefully a few years down the road, it’ll be a different story.

Korean Air A380 arrival in New York

At 5:50PM New York time, the captain was on the PA to announce that we’d be landing at around 6:30PM, an hour ahead of our scheduled arrival time. At this point the sun was starting to set outside.

At 6:10PM, the crew was told to prepare the cabin for landing, and five minutes after that, the seatbelt sign was turned on.

Our approach ended up taking longer than expected, as we were vectored several times for spacing. It was a pretty windy evening, so the plane was swaying quite a bit. We ended up touching down at 6:50PM — despite the rough approach, the touchdown was smooth.

The taxi to Terminal 1 took around 10 minutes. However, the process of actually pulling into the gate took a lot longer than that. First of all, due to the gate we were assigned, we had to be towed into the gate, which required first shutting down the engines. But then we were somehow towed too far, which was only discovered after the seatbelt sign was turned off. So then we had to be pushed back again.

We ended up parking at the gate around 7:15PM, 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

Bottom line

While international first class is always a comfortable way to fly, Korean Air’s A380 first class is among the more underwhelming products out there. The airline has outdated cabins that lack privacy, with limited and outdated entertainment, and no Wi-Fi.

When it comes to the soft product, the food is reasonably good, though nothing memorable. Unfortunately everything else is lackluster, from the amenities, to the service (at least if you’re used to international service standards).

I’m happy to see that Korean Air has acknowledged that its product is no longer competitive, and that the airline wants to increasingly cater to international passengers. The first step to fixing things is to acknowledge shortcomings.

What’s your take on Korean Air’s A380 first class?