I spent 11 hours in Korean Air's business-class suites. My seat felt more private than I expected and had cool perks.
Amber Gibson
- I flew with Korean Air and spent a few hours in business class in the Prestige Suites 2.0.
- My seat felt spacious, and I liked that it had walls around it. The food was great, too.
- I wish my flight came with complimentary WiFi. Otherwise, it was pretty great.
I recently chose Korean Air for a business-class flight from Chicago to Bangkok because it was the most convenient and affordable option.
The round-trip ticket cost $5,468.
Since there are no direct flights from the US to Bangkok, I had to connect somewhere in Asia, which turned out to be a bonus. It gave me the chance to try Korean Air for the first time and compare its two different business-class cabins.
On the shorter leg from Seoul to Bangkok, I flew in the newer Prestige Suites 2.0.
Amber Gibson
Compared to Korean Air's older 2-3-2 business-class configuration, where many seats do not have direct aisle access, the 1-2-1 Prestige Suites 2.0 offer much more privacy.
Each seat is mostly surrounded by walls that are more than 4 feet high, complete with sliding doors that can fully shut — although they're not operational yet as Korean Air awaits regulatory approval.
In this new configuration, the two center seats are great if you're traveling with a companion and want to converse. There's also a sliding divider between these seats if you're sitting next to a stranger or want privacy.
I opted for a window seat since I was traveling solo and was happy to be in a little cocoon. The new design with high walls and a sliding door felt really nice for added privacy, and my seat reminded me of Qatar Airways' Qsuites.
Amber Gibson
My suite felt sleek and modern, with lots of navy and gray touches, plus metallic trim. I had access to a panel with several options for controlling my seat and the lighting.
The seat can lie flat, but I didn't end up reclining all the way because my flight was pretty brief.
I appreciated the several different charging options available within the suite, too. There were two USB-C ports located under a wireless charging pad shelf, as well as a universal AC power outlet near my feet.
The wireless charging pad worked really well for my iPhone, and I didn't even have to take my case off. By the end of my six-hour flight, my phone went from 50% to 85%, and my AirPods charged even more quickly with the USB-C port.
Since the flight between Seoul and Bangkok was less than six hours each way, no amenity kits were provided; only slippers and Frette blankets.
Amber Gibson
Noise-canceling headphones were provided to me, though I didn't use them much.
I was able to use the seatback entertainment's Bluetooth feature to connect my AirPods to listen to music and watch movies. I wish more airlines offered this.
Korean Air's selection of Western movies is not as large as I've found on North American or European airlines, but there were hundreds of interesting K-dramas and Korean movies, plus a great selection of K-pop.
I liked how large the monitor was, and its ultra-high-definition visuals felt super sharp.
Amber Gibson
On my flights between Seoul and Bangkok, the menu was printed in Korean, English, and Thai, with included wine pairings suggested for each main course.
Appetizers were served with a selection of veggie side dishes, or banchan, which felt like a nutritious touch. Dessert was simply sliced fruit and single-serve containers of Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
There were three main-course options in the air, and several more dishes were available for passengers who had preordered.
On my flight from Seoul to Bangkok, I tried a plant-based roasted shiitake mushroom dish with hot pepper sauce, served with rice, soup, and toasted seaweed. This meal was available only by preorder.
The mushrooms were a hearty vegetarian option with a nice sweet and spicy flavor.
On the way back, I tried Korean spicy roasted chicken with rice and vegetables. The chicken was nicely marinated and seriously spicy, accompanied by an equally spicy soup. This airline isn't afraid to hold back with the heat.
I liked having a chance to try Korean food I wouldn't find on other airlines, and I definitely recommend checking out the Korean Air website for a more extensive menu before you fly.
Amber Gibson
Charles Heidsieck 2018 brut millésimé was served on the Seoul-Bangkok route, and I had Rare Champagne's 2015 vintage on the longer flight between Seoul and Chicago.
I usually try not to drink too much on flights, but it's hard to resist great Champagne.
Amber Gibson
I tried the Korean red ginseng tea after dinner, which came as a powder that the flight attendant mixed in hot water, rather than a Dammann Frères tea bag like the other varieties on offer.
It had a slightly sweet and nutty herbal flavor that I enjoyed. Ginseng is also said to have possible benefits, such as boosting energy levels and strengthening the immune system — both much needed during a long travel day.
Amber Gibson
I did not receive complimentary WiFi on my trips, which felt particularly shocking on my long-haul flight between Seoul and Chicago.
Although WiFi was available on my flights between Bangkok and Seoul, even business-class passengers needed to pay for it. For this flight, two hours of internet cost $10.95, and full-flight internet was $13.95.
Most airlines I've flown on in recent years offer business-class passengers complimentary internet for the entire flight, or at least for a couple of hours.
Charging for the internet feels like nickel-and-diming when tickets are thousands of dollars.
Amber Gibson
I've flown business class many times across several airlines, and I was quite impressed with my experience in Korean Air's Prestige Suites 2.0.
The design felt modern and minimalist, with a comfortable seat and practical storage and charging options that I appreciated.
These suites feel like a great upgrade from the airline's old ones, which I experienced on my flight from Chicago to Seoul. In my opinion, the older 2-3-2 configuration felt quite dated and too cramped for business class.
In the future, I would try to only fly in Korean Air's newer suites whenever possible.
However, I'm still bummed about the WiFi. Hopefully, complimentary internet will become an airline industry standard soon, just as it is in hotels.
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