Off to the Cosmopolitan City of Seoul
- G. Rhodes
- Apr 5
- 5 min read
During my business career, I traveled to South Korea’s capital city of Seoul on an annual basis. Visiting Asia was always an enjoyable experience that was heightened on this particular trip as I was booked across the Pacific on Asiana Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance. Normally, I would have flown United Airlines, but was unable to secure a ticket in the forward cabin as the trip wasn’t finalized until several weeks earlier. Asiana operates some 90 international and 14 domestic passenger routes, as well as cargo routes throughout Asia, Europe and North America. At the time of my journey, they were an independent carrier. But, in December of last year, Korean Air Lines completed a $1.3 billion acquisition of two thirds of Asiana, which will be run as a subsidiary until January of 2027 when it will integrate under the Korean Air name and corporate identity.
My journey began on a Monday morning from the Baltimore Washington International Airport where I boarded a United flight to New York’s Kennedy Airport. The carrier was operating a Bombardier CRJ 700 on the route that day with eight seats up front in a 1 x 2 configuration in two rows. I selected the single window seat 2A for the one and a half hour flight that saw a beverage and snack service before we landed on time about 9:30 AM. Shortly thereafter, we pulled into a gate at Terminal 7. Asiana operated from Terminal 1, but since the terminals are not connected airside, I had to leave the secure area in order to hop aboard the AirTrain, which enabled me to reach the other terminal within 15 minutes. Asiana check-in counters were in Row E, and First Class formalities were both swift and very pleasant.
In what I now presume was a harbinger of things to come, Asiana premium passengers were directed to the Korean Air Lounge located after the TSA Security checkpoint across from Gate 3. After verifying my boarding pass, the gentleman at the front desk directed me to the First Class section on the left. Business Class travelers made use of the lounge area to the right. Unfortunately, there was nothing special to be discovered here as I found myself in one rather large, curved space consisting primarily of leather chairs with the buffet spread located in the rear. The decor was drab and rather outdated, lacking any discernible ambience whatsoever. The food offerings were meager and while the drinks selection included a variety of wines, spirits and beers, there was nothing outstanding from which to choose. There were some nice views of the tarmac though, but they were obstructed by the first-floor roof of the terminal itself. (The good news for would-be travelers visiting this lounge is that Korean Air will open a new 16,000-square foot lounge space in the New Terminal One at JFK Airport when it opens later in 2026.)
I was looking forward to riding on the Asiana Airbus A380. While Boeing’s 747 Queen of the Skies will always hold a special place in my heart, the A380 is pretty exceptional as well. It’s enormous and it’s hard to beat for a long-haul trip as a result of its spaciousness, its smooth ride and the fact that it’s very quiet up front. We boarded on time and after an enthusiastic greeting from the purser, it was a pleasure to settle into Suite 2A on the port side of the forward cabin. A pillow, comforter and slippers were already at my seat, while a flight attendant appeared a few moments later with a well-stocked Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kit. Asiana’s First class section on their flagship airliner featured just twelve enclosed suites in a 1-2-1 configuration spread across three rows. It was located at the front of the lower deck, with Business Class passengers seated upstairs. The suites were large, and like those aboard Emirates Airline, the privacy was unparalleled. The suites were fully enclosed, and the middle seats were equipped with privacy partitions, which could be raised or lowered, which was a win for solo travelers or couples. With a pitch of 84″ and width of 25.2″ the seat was plush and comfortable, complete with leather arm rests, and could be converted into a lie-flat bed, which came in handy later on during the flight.
Once boarding was complete and the doors closed, I noticed there were only four of us in the forward cabin. What a plus! Soon, the smiling purser offered menus, along with warm towels and in short order, warmed nuts were served and we were offered a selection of pre-takeoff beverages. Asiana was serving two Champagne vintages on that flight, either the Barons de Rothschild Blanc de Blancs or the Laurent Perrier La Cuvee Brut NV. I initially selected the Laurent Perrier and then enjoyed a glass of the Barons de Rothschild. Both were excellent. We took off just a little late at 12:50 in the afternoon and once we reached cruising altitude, cocktail orders were taken as our tray tables were set with linens, glasses and silverware.The meal service was outstanding. First Class passengers were presented with two options: Korean or Western cuisine. Since I knew I’d have ample opportunity to sample Korean food over the next several days in Seoul, I opted for the Western menu. The choices were extensive, beginning with a starter of Salami Quiche, followed by Caviar. The third course was a delicious Salmon Gravlax and soon a bowl of Beef Consommé was presented
Then I was served a fresh and fruity Calamansi Sorbet as a palette cleanser. Although I had never heard of it, I later learned that Calamansi sorbet is a refreshing, frozen dessert made with the juice of calamansi, a Filipino, lime-like citrus fruit, that’s often paired with mango, creating a sweet and sour flavor profile that was very good. Before the main course was served, I opted for a glass of Chataeau Fleur Cardinale Grand Cru Classé to pair with the Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Madeira White Sauce, which was tasty and succulent. For dessert, I opted for the Cheese Platter, which was served along with fresh fruits and then finally, a Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream..
By now, I was literally bursting at the seams, and it was time for a nap. As I was headed to the washroom to brush my teeth, the purser requested I follow her. While I waited outside, she entered the washroom to check that all was tidy and in order and once satisfied, graciously indicated it was OK for me to enter. The washroom was spotless. At the same time, another flight attendant was completing the turn-down service so that when I returned to my suite, the “bed” was ready. The bedding was very comfortable and I soon fell into a deep slumber for the next five hours. Kudos to Asiana Airlines for their professional, warm and thoughtful service.
When I awoke, we still had over five hours to go before landing so I busied myself with the Inflight Entertainment System and caught up on some work. After a flight time of 15 hours and 35 minutes, we touched down at Seoul’s Incheon Airport at about 3:20 on Tuesday afternoon. It was a wonderful journey and one in which I felt pampered from the moment I stepped aboard the aircraft. I’ll tell you all about my visit to this cosmopolitan city in a future post.
Until next time...safe travels.
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