I was heading over to Korea and had the opportunity to fly on Asiana’s A380 service to Seoul. It meant flying out of LAX but that was well worth the sacrifice to check out their First Class offering. Asiana haven’t had their A380s all that long and it was going to be interesting to see if reports of an excellent First product were true. Had they upped their game from the 747? Would they be a worthy match for Korean Air, which I was also due to test on this route?The flight was due to depart just after lunchtime on the West Coast and arrive in Seoul towards evening the next day. To sum up, this is what I found:

What’s Awesome

• Great seat adjustment all the way to bed mode
• Bed was super spacious and comfortable
• Big tray table, good adjustment options for working/dining
• Huge IFE screen – might still be the largest out there
• Suite doors are solid, making the suite feel very private
• Sensational food

What’s Not

• No truly overhead lighting
• Side gap along window creates a draft which can be bothersome
• Slight language barrier in service

Flight Overview

Because First Class on Asiana occupies the lower deck at the front, First Class passengers get their own aerobridge, which was pretty neat. It meant there’s only a handful of people on that bridge for the whole boarding process.

I got comfortable in my 2K seat and took in the cabin. The First cabin has 12 suites, laid out over 3 rows in a 1-2-1 layout. The suites are generously wide, with tall walls and sliding doors, which makes it very private, even more so than the SQ Suite (more on that one soon). Ok, so the seats are 25.2 inches wide and have 84 inches of pitch – huge I know! The IFE screen at the end of the suite has to be the largest in the air at a whopping 32″. There’s also a power adaptor and USB port tucked away in one of the many storage compartments as well as a wired touch screen to adjust your seat a million different ways. A sweet set of Bose noise-cancelling headphones completes the tech package (pity you can’t take them home…).

The bed itself is super spacious and comfortable and I managed to get a lot of sleep. What I didn’t like was that there is no proper overhead light and the one that sits next to your head becomes annoying after a while. Another detail was in regards to the suite perimeter. It doesn’t go all the way around like on some other carriers. Rather the window side is bare, which is great for the view. But it makes the suite feel slightly less private and cozy. Also, as a result, a draft is created down the length of the cabin wall, which takes the fun out of everything a bit.

The amenity kit, pajamas and all important slippers were great. The pajamas are comfy and made of good quality material. There is only one lav for the First cabin, which I thought was a bit odd (but you can always use the upstairs one in Biz). But it’s stocked with amenities and quite large, even having a bench if you felt the need to have a rest in there.

Seatlink’s Take

One thing I was looking forward to was the service as I know Asiana pride themselves in this. I couldn’t say that it was the best service I’ve had. But overall, the service was warm and the flight attendants felt present. There was a bit of a language barrier, but nothing that detracted from the experience.

I left the flight feeling fantastic after a great sleep and excellent food. Speaking of food, I wouldn’t bother to eat in the lounge, as on board you get treated to a load of food (almost too much). Plus you get a choice of Korean and Western, both of which are sensational.

Overall, it’s a well designed suite with loads of room and privacy. Would I book it again? Probably yes, but they have some stiff competition on this route and I was looking forward to trying out their competitor in the not-too-distant future.

Which Seat and Why

I was in row 2 and it’s the best. Although the galley is behind the cabin and therefore there’s not much foot traffic, row 1A and K are right next to the curtains. Also, 1K is right behind the lav! Row 3 is prone to more noise as its situated closer to the galley and the economy cabin. The design of the seats means that there are no better or worse seats in terms of storage.

As a solo traveler, 2A and 2K are the standouts. If you’re traveling with someone, grab the middle pair of seats. The privacy divider is easily raised and lowered and provides a full side by side experience, while you can still close off the suite doors and enjoy peace and quiet.