Korean Air (KE) is South Korea’s flag carrier and a leading international airline, transporting over 23 million passengers annually. The airline operates from its main international hub at Incheon Airport (ICN) Terminal 2 and domestic hub at Gimpo Airport (GMP).
Whether you’re considering Prestige Class or economy, understanding the nuances between aircraft types and routes can make a significant difference in your experience.
Cabin class, seats & legroom
Korean Air’s cabin experience varies significantly based on the aircraft serving your route. Intercontinental routes offer more seating options and better premium cabins, while the specific plane type determines everything from seat configuration to privacy levels.
Prestige Class
Korean Air brands its business class as “Prestige Class” on all planes across its system, though the experience can diverge widely. You’ll find the most competitive seats aboard its Boeing 747-8 and 787-9 planes, as well as on Boeing 777-300ER and select Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
These planes have the “Prestige Suite” (sometimes called the Apex Suite), which gives every seat direct aisle access even in a staggered 2-2-2 layout. Additionally, high privacy partitions create an intimate, exclusive feel. This is the same product available onboard most Japan Airlines (JL) long haul flights, if you’ve ever flown on one.
I personally avoid Korean’s Airbus A380 aircraft when possible. Despite operating on flagship routes, the “Prestige Sleeper” seats are fully lie-flat but offer almost no privacy with their open design, which I don’t find acceptable on very long flights. Always double-check the aircraft type before you book.
No matter the seat, the service and food in Prestige Class are exceptional, with a choice of Korean or Western meals, plus a full bar service including Korean soju. On long haul flights, you’ll enjoy a multi-course dinner served after take off, plus on-demand snack service throughout the flight and some kind of breakfast just before landing.
I personally love being able to enjoy a traditional Korean bibimbap bowl at 35,000 feet, especially when I’m just passing through Seoul and won’t get to eat on the ground.
First Class
First Class isn’t on every flight, you’ll only find it on the Boeing 747-8i, Boeing 777-300ER, and Airbus A380-800. Where it exists, it’s impressive.
Korean Air operates two distinct First Class products: the newer Cosmo Suite 2.0 with sliding doors for maximum privacy, and the original open Cosmo Suite. On most planes, it’s a 1-2-1 setup, but on the 747-8i, you get an ultra-private configuration with 1-1 seating in rows 1, 2, and 3 in the nose of the plane.
Service in Korean First Class is even more elevated than what you enjoy in business class, with a larger selection of fine wines and champagne, as well as additional dining courses, including a caviar course. You’ll also have more personalized service, given the lower ratio of passengers compared to flight attendants.
Domestic Prestige class
On shorter domestic and international flights, you’ll find varying Prestige Class cabins. Boeing 737 aircraft feature recliner seats similar to what you’d find in domestic first class in the US. But here’s something interesting: the Airbus A321neo actually has fully lie-flat Prestige Class seats—Korean Air’s first narrowbody with 180-degree flat-bed seats.
The Airbus A220-300 is configured with an all-economy layout. The food is better than economy, but don’t expect the multi-course meal service you get on longer flights—service on routes under 1 hour and 30 minutes is typically limited to beverages and snacks.
Premium Economy
Korean Air introduced a new “Premium Class” (their premium economy product) on refurbished 777-300ER aircraft recently, but it’s a slow rollout. For now, you’ll only find it on select aircraft, so it might be a while before it’s widely available across the fleet. It’s something to keep an eye out for on newer routes.
Extra legroom economy
Unlike many US and European airlines, Korean Air doesn’t have a ton of “extra legroom” economy seats for sale. If you want to snag a bulkhead or exit row seat, try asking nicely at the check-in counter or the gate. Sometimes you get lucky, especially if you’re flying solo.
Economy
Like many East Asian airlines, Korean Air’s Economy class offers a pleasant experience, if not a luxurious one. Economy class passengers receive complimentary meals and alcohol, things some other airlines charge for.
Although legroom in Economy is similar across all Korean Air planes, but I prefer the 787-9 and A330-300 cabins (configured as 3-3-3 and 2-4-2, respectively). The 3-4-3 arrangement on the 777, 747 and A380 feels claustrophobic by comparison.
Pre-flight experience
Here’s what you need to know about the airport experience when flying with Korean Air.
Baggage policy and fees
Like many Asian airlines, Korean Air allows all passengers in all classes of service to check bags free of charge. This is in addition to an allowance of one carry-on bag and one-personal item. In my experience, they’re not super strict about policing the size or weight of your carry-on.
On routes to and from the Americas, economy passengers get two checked bags (up to 50 lbs each). For other international long-haul routes like Europe and Oceania, it’s typically one bag at 50 lbs.
If you’re flying Prestige Class, you generally get two bags at up to 70 lbs each on international routes, while First Class passengers can check three bags at up to 70 lbs each on most routes (though it’s typically two bags on Americas routes).
Check-in
If you need to use airport check-in while flying Korean Air, your options vary depending on your class of service. Personally, if I’m not flying First or Prestige Class (and therefore can’t use dedicated desks with shorter lines), I simply check-in online and, if I have checked bags, drop them at a Bag Drop counter.
Onboard experience
Here’s what you can expect onboard a Korean Air flight.
Wi-Fi and entertainment
Korean Air has been upgrading its fleet, and you can now find Wi-Fi on the refurbished 777-300ERs across all classes. It’s a pay-per-use service with different packages for messaging or full browsing. Still, it’s always a good idea to get critical work done before you board, just in case.
When it comes to entertainment, the good news is that all Korean Air planes serving long haul routes have seat backmonitors. The bad news is that like most Asian airlines, English-language movies and TV shows are limited. When I fly Korean Air, I’ll usually download or cache at least a few hours worth of entertainment on my own device.
Amenities
In my experience, Korean Air’s First Class and Prestige Class amenity kits are less than memorable, although the airline has collaborated with brands like Ferragamo and Atelier Cologne in the past.
Passengers in all classes of service can expect to have pillows, blankets and slippers waiting at their seats in advance of long haul flights, with more elaborate bedding available in Prestige Class and First Class. Korean Air’s first-class passengers also receive a set of pajamas.
Lounges
Korean Air operates different lounge brands depending on the location. At their home base in Incheon Airport Terminal 2, you’ll find the First Class Lounge, Miler Club, and Prestige Class Lounge. At domestic airports and international outstations, they’re called KAL Lounges. You can find them at major airports like New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX).
If you’re flying First Class from Incheon, you get access to the dedicated First Class Lounge. It features private cocoon-style seating, work areas, and à la carte dining service where you can order dishes made-to-order, in addition to a buffet. At other airports like Tokyo Narita and LAX, First Class passengers usually just get a reserved section within the main KAL Lounge.
Loyalty programs, miles & credit cards
Korean Air’s loyalty program is called SKYPASS. Whether it’s worth your time depends on where you live and how you fly.
SKYPASS
SKYPASS members can earn and redeem miles on Korean Air and other SkyTeam airlines like Delta, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic. However, if you aren’t based in Korea or don’t fly primarily on SkyTeam carriers, I don’t find SKYPASS particularly useful.
Credit cards
U.S. Bank offers multiple SKYPASS Visa cards for US consumers, including the SKYPASS Visa Signature, SKYPASS Select Visa Signature, and SKYPASS SkyBlue Visa, which provide mileage earning and travel benefits like lounge coupons. However, the sign-up bonuses and earning rates aren’t very competitive.
Chase Ultimate Rewards dropped SKYPASS as a transfer partner several years ago, meaning that there is no longer any “flexible” way to earn SKYPASS miles, apart from flying Korean Air and its partners.
You might think about using Delta SkyMiles to book Korean Air flights, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Delta’s redemption rates are some of the highest in the industry, so you won’t get much value for your points.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
