Another flight to South Korea, this time with the country’s “other” flag carrier, Asiana Airlines. Founded in 1988 as a subsidiary of Kumho Asiana Group, Asiana Airlines swiftly began long-haul services to Los Angeles in 1991 with the Boeing 747-400. In the almost 3 and a half decades since, OZ has served the City of Angels with every type it has operated on long-haul services. Today, Asiana flies twice-daily between ICN and LAX, primarily using the A350-900 but also deploying the A380-800 intermittently, with service on the latter increasing to daily on one of the flights during the Northern Summer. As we’ve flown on the Whale last yeat, it’s time to repeat the journey aboard the Raccoon.
Server: Solo
Airline: Asiana Airlines
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Origin: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Destination: Incheon International Airport, Jung-gu, South Korea (ICN)
Flight Number: OZ201
Route: KLAX-RKSI
Seat: 37K (Economy)
Time En Route: 13 Hours 28 Minutes
Boarding in the mid-morning at LAX. Our aircraft, an A350-900, is the latest installment in a lineage that includes the 747-400, 747-400M, 777-200ER, and A380-800.
Starting our pushback from the Tom Bradley International Terminal, next to a China Eastern Airlines 777-300ER pulling into the gate as MU583 from Shanghai
Making the turn onto the main taxiway with a Cathay Pacific 777-300ER operating as CX884, the aircraft slotted for our gate, waiting for us to leave the alley. So far, we have a good impression of our seat. It’s a slightly updated, slightly comfier version of the economy seating aboard the A380, with an 11” IFE system in the back of the seat in front of us and a cotton blanket and pillowcase provided to us.
Takeoff out of LAX with a great view of the TBIT Main and Midfield Terminals. There’s a lot of action on the north side, as the mid-day to evening rush begins to pick up.
Cruising some distance off the coast of the Pacific Northwest before turning west near the Gulf of Alaska
Over the Sea of Japan, around an hour out from Incheon. Been a great flight overall in one of the best economy classes in Asia, which is saying a lot.
We’ve got a great view of the Seoul skyline on our final approach
Spoilers deployed as we slow down on Runway 33L in Seoul
Taxiing by a bunch of Star Alliance and Oneworld widebodies at Terminal 1 on our way to our gate
We’ve deplaned at Gate 12 for a 2-day stay in Seoul. It was a wonderful trip in a wonderful seat on a wonderful airline, and hopefully Korean Air, though excellent in its own right, maintains the high standards set by Asiana Airlines once both carriers are fully integrated in little over a year.