Now that the Korean Air Boeing 747-8 is flying again, I’m setting my sights on a first class award trip on Korean Air…hopefully including an Airbus A380 as well.
Korean Air First Class Award Trip – Finally Within Reach
During the pandemic, Korean Air grounded its fleet of Airbus A380 (with the exception of one aircraft) and Boeing 747-8 aircraft. For over two years, only the Boeing 777 flew longhaul routes to the USA. But with international travel resuming and South Korea again welcoming foreign visitors, Korean Air has reactivated its flagship 747-8. The “Queen” is currently serving Los Angeles (LAX) from Seoul (ICN) on KE17/18. The “Whale” (A380) is operating between Seoul and Tokyo (NRT).
I’ve had miles parked in my Korean Air SKYPASS account since the termination of the Chase partnership in 2018. I almost took a trip from Atlanta – Seoul – Taipei on the 748-8 and A380 about a month prior to the pandemic, but that trip fell through. Now appears to be the ideal time to finally make that trip.
Korean Air is expected to devalue its award chart next year and I do not want those points to go to waste, so I’m looking at a trip this year even if I cannot enter Tokyo (I’ll transit right through…I’ve done it twice already over the last year).
In the past, booking a first class award on Korean Air was quite easy. The carrier routinely made first class space available in advance and you could book whatever flight you wanted. These days, Korean Air has dramatically tightened up its first class award space and looking at the calendar, I don’t see award space on a single day…beyond tomorrow.
While I’m thankful that Korean Air seems to opens last-minute award space, that is going to make planning difficult especially if I have to book a connection to Narita and need space on both flights.
There’s also the issue of the ICN-NRT flight only being sold as a two-cabin flight. I’m not sure if Korean Air allows mixed cabin itineraries, but first class is not offered on the A380 traveling between Seoul and Tokyo.
Korean Air is the last A380 carrier I have not flown (though I missed out on Air France when the French airline unexpectedly accelerated the A80 retirement schedule during the pandemic). I don’t want to miss it.
CONCLUSION
I have not been to Seoul in many years and am happy to see Korean Air flying its A380 and 747 aircraft once again. I greatly look forward to this trip…as long as the award space cooperates!
I like it! Wish I had parked points there. 🙁 used to be such a great dearth of award space.
Before pandemic Korean had double daily JFK one on the 748 and the other an A380. Hoping they bring back a 748 to JFK again soon, I am in same situation with a boatload of Korean Miles that I want to use.
I believe the A380 is pulled from the NRT route as op 1 Sep in favour of BKK.
“The Skyteam member overall operates 14 weekly flights in September 2022, 18 weekly from 02OCT22. Due to the assignment of Airbus A380 service to Bangkok, Korean Air has removed planned A380 Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita daily flight from 01SEP22 to 29OCT22.” Source Aeroroutes
How recent is this? I was just looking yesterday and saw the A380s going to Narita.
ETA: Wow, this is a very recent change. A380 still going to NRT yesterday. Too bad – that spoils my plan since BKK in the SE Asia region and I’ve only got the points left for North Asia.
They post it yesterday.
https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220809-kesep22bkk
Just transfer in another 45k points from Marriott and you can reach SEAsia, too
I have zero Marriott or Chase points!
Yes, there’s a backstory… 🙁
But I’m not sure I can even booked a mixed cabin itinerary and BKK service is also two-cabin.
Anyone know?
Answer posted as a separate comment.
Amex also transfer to Marriott…afaik you’re not banned from them?
@Matthew, I wish you had allowed for a full day after your Incheon arrival and gone on the Panmunjom tour to the border. Of course, if you have already been, then there is the reason. Or did you not plan for such? Curious…
I’m not booked yet – this is just what I am considering, which may change now that the A380 is off the NRT route.
I’ve done Panmunjom before – a great tour. Would love to do it again. Maybe I can work it in.
Please take many photos. I fear that I will never be aboard an A380 or 747-8i flight. Seats, lavatory, economy, the more the better.
I hope you do this!!! I’ve flown on KE A380 in F back before pandemic and I enjoyed it! I also have miles parked in KE Skypass and good to know they have last minute award space available.
In other news, can someone please comment on why American Airlines cut a HUGE amount of flights from their November schedule?? My source, Simple Flying website. In their comments section, there’s this thing flying out there they’re are running out of cash, for real, no sarcasm, and are getting ready to call it quits. I’m really freaking out here, because not only have I bought first class tickets way in advance, but also because of what Gary Leff and Kyle have been commenting lately is starting to make sense. Please, anybody?? Thanks.
American Airlines has been cutting from their schedule every since months for three months into the future.
Basically they have been publishing more flights than they are going to operate and then 3 months out they look at what they’re really going to run. There’s been tons of pandemic uncertainty, right? They haven’t known what locations would be open, where people would be going, what business would come back. So they’ve overscheduled and then pared back.
American has not been alone in this practice and it’s something that DOT has criticized airlines for, but very few people are buying tickets > 90 days out anyway.
My comments about an AA chapter 11 [*not* going out of business, restructuring contracts/debt] has been longer-term focused… if we hit a recession without fuel prices falling (though often fuel prices drop due to reduced demand) combined with rising interest rates there could be a perfect storm… not where AA lacks cash to operate, but where they need to get their house in order because their costs (including debt service costs) are unsustainable.
There’s no universe in which they are on the verge of ceasing operations, however.
Oooffff, okay I get it. And by the way Gary, thank You for taking the time to respond and clarify this issue. It is very reassuring and certainly makes me feel so much better. Either way, if they do declare bankruptcy, they will need to cut an awful lot and restructure. Let’s just hope it doesn’t work that way. Thanks again Gary!
based on current korean border control measures – you will be PCR-tested upon arrival at the airport & if positive would be quarantined for a week – better to connect without leaving the airport in my humble opinion
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/sg-en/brd/m_2435/view.do?seq=761395
the whole process. the border is “open” but not the way it is “open” in the west.
@seoul_mate I’m traveling with a connection at INC, I spoke to KE this week and was told.. no Pre (in the US) and no Post-arrival (at airport) test is required, as long as I remain airside and the connection is less than 24hrs. I hope that remains true or the restriction drops as you mentioned.
that is correct. as long as u stay airside & don’t enter the country. the same goes for Japan from what i understand.
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/sg-en/brd/m_2435/view.do?seq=761395
fyi – above link has the steps u need to follow. based on your proposed itinerary you will be subject to pre- (in the US) and post-arrival (at the airport) PCT tests. if the former is positive you won’t get to board. if the latter is positive you will be quarantined for 1 week and will not be able to board your NRT flight.
i suggest you look for a true transit option, not requiring you to clear customs.
or hold on to this hoping this useless restriction goes away by then…
Very helpful. Thanks.
FYI – if he is tested at airport it’ll be 1-2 days to get the test result back and you’re free to go where you like until test result is returned. In the scenario described here he would likely leave to country before test result is received. Have gone through this process (twice). It is painless and not intended to burdensome. If you do test positive, they almost certainly won’t let you on a plane but Seoul is not HK. Accommodation will be reasonable and generally dignified. If you want to go anywhere in east Asia, Seoul is the most pragmatic in terms of COVID protocols. Just be prepared to wear a mask – everywhere.
Matthew, you can indeed book a mixed cabin itinerary by calling KE if you can confirm availability, but it will just get priced as a first class itinerary. Note that current wait times are long due to understaffing, and many staff at the call center are also temporarily filling in from other departments and undertrained.
The first class seats on a flight operated as 2-cabin can be reserved if you book a J or C fare class and hold Million Miler (MM) status with KE — I know, this is a ridiculously tight criterion and I’m not sure how many passengers meet this standard. In the past they used to allow these seats for all MP (Morning Calm Premium, 0.5M miles) and MM level elites regardless of fare class, which was a nice perk I used to enjoy (and they had some 747-8i operating 2-cabin routes, too), but those days are gone now.
I sweated throughout a Korean Air A380 flight in Business Class a few years ago – WAY too warm in the cabin for me. I’d pass.
People are having issues with flying ZIPAIR because they’re denied boarding if they can’t enter Japan, but I can’t imagine that will be an issue if you connect onto ZIPAIR? Just throwing an idea at you!
The thought has crossed my mind!
Good job. You’ll enjoy this one
Any current KE transfer partners?
Marriot 🙁