Returning from vacation is always tough, but the last day of my two-week family trip to Asia was particularly difficult. We got up early but missed our scheduled train to the airport, which gave the travel day a hectic pace.
When I finally settled into my Asiana Business Class seat on the A380 for the long flight back to Los Angeles (LAX), I was looking forward to nearly 12 hours of comfort to relax and unwind. Here’s how my experience in the Business Class cabin of an Asiana Airlines A380 flight compared to my expectations.
Catering
I spent my layover in the Asiana lounge at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), a spacious, airy space with a plentiful (if not exactly luxurious) buffet service. From there, I made my way to the gate via three separate jet bridges, as the massive aircraft has two floors and plenty of space.
Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin
Boarding for the flight began on time and I was able to settle into my seat without any problems. However, even though the plane was fully loaded and ready to take off, the pilot informed us that we would have to stay there for a while because of ground traffic. Then things got even worse: As we sat on the tarmac, a violent storm rolled in and we could see the rain pouring down outside the plane’s windows.
Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin
Eventually the pilot called again and this time calmly announced that Incheon Airport had been struck by lightning and that we would have to remain on the ground indefinitely. It was an inauspicious start to a long flight. But it wasn’t as bad as we feared: the weather improved and we were able to take off about two hours late.
The seat
Asiana Airlines operates its Airbus A380-800 with a three-class configuration. The aircraft features 12 luxurious first-class suites and 417 comfortable economy seats on the main deck. During my trip, I enjoyed the exclusivity of one of the 66 “Smartium” business class seats located on the spacious second floor of the impressive double-decker aircraft.
Photo: Courtesy of Asiana Airlines
The cabin was decorated in subtle shades of brown, a soothing color palette with no particular style or modern touch. It was neutral, if a little drab.
There was no WiFi on this flight, so I spent most of my time sleeping. However, there was a lounge area with bench seating at the top of the plane that I might have used to chat with family members for a change if I had been more attentive.
Photo: Courtesy of Asiana Airlines
Each seat has a generous 22 inches of width and is equipped with a 15.6-inch monitor, convenient power supply and USB charging options to ensure a seamless and enjoyable travel experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Asiana Airlines
The seat itself was quite comfortable. In fact, it easily converted into a flat bed for much of the flight and I was able to sleep comfortably. And the power supply for charging was reliable. However, the other tech elements of the Asiana business class experience were a little lacking.
Photo: Courtesy of Asiana Airlines
The entertainment unit was fairly basic in terms of its technology and programming options. I watched reruns of Drop It, Larry! Combined with the lack of WiFi, the flight felt long and unproductive.
The flight
The cabin crew greeted each passenger by name, confirmed any special meal requests and introduced them personally. Overall, the service was attentive and friendly.
I’m mostly vegetarian, but I didn’t order any vegetarian dishes in advance. This was a conscious gamble: I bet that the vegetarian options on the regular menu would be more appealing than the often bland specials that aren’t on the menu, and I guessed wrong.
Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin
Due to my dietary restrictions, I was only able to eat a small amount of the lunch service—which was entirely my fault—but I would describe the presentation as elegant (even over the top) and a little long-winded over five courses.
Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin
The lunch menu consisted of two main options: a Western menu or a Korean menu. The Western menu started with a canapé of smoked salmon and dill cream cheese roll with caviar, followed by an appetizer of crab salad with mustard aioli and cream of cauliflower soup.
The western main course choices included grilled beef fillet steak with black truffle, pan-fried seafood with Romanesco sauce or spicy fried chicken with Korean chili paste. This was followed by a cheese platter, dessert and coffee.
Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin
Shortly before landing in Los Angeles, breakfast was served and I was really hungry. I decided on the green tea waffle as my main course. There was also a choice of an Italian tomato frittata or Korean chicken porridge with mung beans.
I ate the yoghurt and fruit that was served with it, but I didn’t find the waffles particularly tasty: they were tough and slightly bitter.
Verdict
Overall, my experience in Asiana’s business class was good, but not great. The seat was reasonably comfortable, but the food, although elegantly presented, was not to my taste. The entertainment system was basic, and the lack of WiFi made a delayed long-haul flight seem even longer.
