Review: Korean Air 777-300ER Prestige Business Class

By Leila

a plane on the runway

After a two-hour layover at Seoul Incheon Airport, I connected to Hong Kong on a Korean Airlines 777-300ER in “Prestige” business class, encountering an aging product with excellent service onboard.

Korean Air 777-300ER Prestige Business Class Review (ICN-HKG)

I booked this flight as part of my 80,000 one-way Korean Air SKYPASS award from Atlanta – Seoul – Hong Kong in first class. You can read my 747-8i review from Atlanta to Seoul here.

After spending some time in the very odd Korean Air First Class Lounge, I boarded my flight…and found that it had almost fully boarded…even though we were still 45 minutes away from departure. Very different than in Japan…

I’m quite a fan of Terminal Two at Seoul Incheon…although you may have to walk a great distance to your flight.

people standing in front of a check in counter

people walking down a walkway with people walking down the stairs

a sign on a glass door

a window of a building with a plane in the background

Korean Air 177
Seoul (ICN) – Hong Kong (HKG)
Tuesday, February 4
Depart: 08:00 PM
Arrive: 11:10 PM
Duration: 4 hr, 10 min
Distance: 1,284 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 7J (Business Class)

Onboard, I walked through the first class cabin (I’ll say more about that in a moment) and to my seat in row seven.

Seats

Korean uses the B/E Aerospace Apex seat in business class, branding it as a “Prestige Suite.” I booked a window seat in the mini-cabin behind first class, which includes only a single row of seats (staggered 2-2-2, all with direct aisle access). The turquoise seats have been recovered in dark gray.

a person standing in the back of a plane

a seat in a plane

a plane with seats and windows

a seat in a plane

a seat in a plane

a seat with a pillow on it

a black and grey seat with a screen on it

The business class cabin has 42 seats that are 21 inches wide and convert into a 72-inch fully lie-flat bed. Each seat has a universal A/C and USB-A outlet. Seat recline is controlled via buttons on the armrest. There’s also a handheld passenger service unit to control the IFE content.

a button with a green light

a close up of an outlet

a device on the ceiling

A privacy divider can be raised between seats.

a screen on a plane


Tip: B and H seats have an additional personal stowage “nook.” Other seats lack personal storage.


While this seat lacks storage, the A and J seats feel like a mini-first class suite with three windows and a small ottoman for your feet. It’s nice that there is no footwell, which constrains space, but I do prefer the Super Diamond reverse herringbone seat to this one.

a tv in a chair

a man lying on a chair with headphones on

There were no personal air vents, but thankfully, the cabin did not get warm on this flight.

a close up of a white object

I was not tired at all and did not try to sleep on this flight, but reclined the seat into lie-flat mode. Unfortunately, Korean Air does not offer proper bedding on these shorter flights…the blanket was more appropriate for economy class.

a close up of a towel

a bed in a plane

a bed in an airplane

a bed in a small room

A note on the first class cabin. Although this plane has a first class cabin, first class is not sold on this flight. I requested a first class seat while in Atlanta on the Seoul – Hong Kong portion and was told there were several available and to check in Seoul. However, by the time I reached Seoul, I was told that all seats were assigned. It appears that these seats are given to top-tier members of the Korean Air SKYPASS program…

an airplane with rows of monitors
“Prestige” business class cabin on Korean Air 777-300ER

Food + Drink

I thought I’d be adventurous and order the Korean dish…that was my mistake.

Before takeoff, though, a choice of water, orange juice, or sparkling wine was offered with a snack mix.

a tray of drinks and snacks

a glass of water and a bag of snacks on a table

Menus were also distributed.

a hand holding a box

a menu with text and images

a menu on a table
My menu from ICN-HKG
a menu of a restaurant
The return menu from HKG-ICN

Dinner was served after takeoff, starting with a hot towel and beverage (I ordered a Negroni).

a hand holding a white roll of cotton

a glass of red liquid and a bowl of food
Too much Campari, not enough gin

The appetizer was a mixed green salad with shrimp.

a plate of food on a table with a television

a plate of food and a napkin on a table

I wanted to try the bibimbap, but it appears this is only available on inbound flights to Seoul, not outbound flights. However, I did pre-order the Korean dish for dinner, which was a stir-fried octopus in hot spicy sauce.

a tray with food on it

a bowl of soup and some bowls of food

a bowl of food with chopsticks

a plate of food with chopsticks

a bowl of food on a table

Folks, I tried. I really tried. While the dish was not too spicy for me, the flavors and textures did not work for me (I don’t know how else to say it) and I only ate about half of it. Ordinarily, I love octopus but this was so rubbery and chewy and the soup was far too salty (I’m told this is the way Koreans tend to like octopus). A flight attendant graciously offered to bring me another dish on the menu when she saw I did not finish, but I was full…I had enjoyed a nice meal in the first class lounge.

But yes, typical American…should have ordered the steak.


> Read More: Stir-Fried Octopus In Hot Spicy Sauce On Korean Air


I concluded the meal with fresh fruit (watermelon, pineapple, green grapes).

a plate of fruit and a glass of water on a table

IFE + Wi-Fi

This flight did have Wi-Fi, with a flight pass costing 11.95 USD (or a messaging pass 4.95 USD). I was not tired and passed the time after dinner watching a movie (Juror #2…directed by Clint Eastwood and very well done) and listening to Andrea Bocelli. The IFE library included music, TV shows, and movies.

a screenshot of a flight information

a screenshot of a website

a screen shot of a television

a screen shot of a television

a screen shot of a computer

a screen shot of a computer

a screen shot of a computer

a map of the world

Other than at takeoff and landing, there wasn’t much to see outside the windows…

an aerial view of a large airport at night

Lavatory

Business class has two lavatories in the front of the cabin and that’s it…there are no lavatories behind and you have to walk through an entire economy class cabin to get to the next pair of lavatories. The lavatory had mouthwash, shaving kits, combs, and dental kits.

a sink with soap dispenser and toilet paper

a toilet in a bathroom

a metal container with various items in it

Amenties

There were no amenity kits offered on this flight, though the business class lavatories included the amenities you typically find in a kit. Slippers, however, were offered.

a brown slipper on a counter

Service

Service was professional and very well-intentioned on this flight. I was warmly welcomed onboard, welcomed again as I settled into my seat, and I sensed genuine empathy for my struggles with the main course. It was very sweet that I was twice offered a Western replacement. Beverage refills were also repeatedly offered.

a person in a blue shirt

CONCLUSION

We landed on time in Hong Kong and I was quickly off the plane and onboard a train heading for passport control.

Overall, it was a pleasant flight with good service. I probably should have stuck to the Western menu over the Korean dish, but that’s really on me. The 777 cabin is dull, particularly because of the hard fluorescent lighting, but I enjoyed the flight and would do fine in this seat on a longhaul flight with proper bedding.

a plane on the tarmac