Great Service
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 517
Likes: 37
From: Kelowna Wine Country
Great Service
Warning: Aviation content.We just went to Thailand on Korea Air. Got to say I was a little nervous about flying on an Asian airline.
However Korean was outstanding. The aircraft are clean and reasonably spacious. The cabin crew are as immaculate as one might have expected forty years ago, amazing polite and helpful and even some of the food wasn’t too bad. (OK some wasn’t great!) Each flight came with clean blankets, pillows, free headphones and slippers.
What struck me, though, was that our trays came with real metal cutlery. Personally I hate plastic cutlery and was delighted to have real flatware but I’d have to ask: what is the cost of carrying 286 x 2 sets of cutlery on a nine hour flight? This stuff had measurable weight in the hand, maybe 4oz per set. 286 x 2 x4 /16 =143 lbs. Not so much for one flight perhaps but they are doing this many times a day.
You have to contrast that against the amount of single use plastic we’d be getting through and that is getting to be non-pc these days.
Got to say though, loved the service, do it again anytime.
However Korean was outstanding. The aircraft are clean and reasonably spacious. The cabin crew are as immaculate as one might have expected forty years ago, amazing polite and helpful and even some of the food wasn’t too bad. (OK some wasn’t great!) Each flight came with clean blankets, pillows, free headphones and slippers.
What struck me, though, was that our trays came with real metal cutlery. Personally I hate plastic cutlery and was delighted to have real flatware but I’d have to ask: what is the cost of carrying 286 x 2 sets of cutlery on a nine hour flight? This stuff had measurable weight in the hand, maybe 4oz per set. 286 x 2 x4 /16 =143 lbs. Not so much for one flight perhaps but they are doing this many times a day.
You have to contrast that against the amount of single use plastic we’d be getting through and that is getting to be non-pc these days.
Got to say though, loved the service, do it again anytime.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 16,699
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From: Lincolnshire
Daughter and grandchildren holidayed in South Korea . Couldn't speak too highly of the place. Clean, courteous and safe.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 236
Likes: 5
From: UK
Visited Vietnam 3 years ago and did a number of internal flights with Air Vietnam. The aircraft were well presented, the service was excellent and the ground staff at the time of booking were very helpful indeed. The ticket costs were also very reasonable so we upgraded to business class.
Joined: Jul 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,775
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From: Asia
Weight is significant on an aircraft and ways are always being examined to reduce it. Airlines have even used thinner paper for the inflight magazine and plastic bottles for duty free. Cost cutting extends to the price of the olive on a prawn cocktail.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 517
Likes: 37
From: Kelowna Wine Country
I suspect the quality of service and the presentation in the cabin reflects the over all quality of the airline. Quality and efficiency of maintenance, organisation of flights, training of crew etc. Gives a passenger confidence when flying. Granted this was a couple of long haul flights and therefore possibly important to the company but it seems that it requires a quality leadership to keep it up. Wish they could all do it.
Joined: Apr 2008
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 227
From: troposphere
I had a couple of flights on Korean Air last year. Not long haul, just Seoul to Mongolia and back. Good experience. Seoul Incheon is a fantastic airport too.
I realise things are a bit dfferent now (much better) but I still can't forget the accident reports I've read from years gone by.
I wouldn't choose them to fly long haul if I had what I consider to be better options up front flying the aircraft. That would mean worse options in the cabin as far as service is concerned, but so be it.
Each to their own.
I realise things are a bit dfferent now (much better) but I still can't forget the accident reports I've read from years gone by.
I wouldn't choose them to fly long haul if I had what I consider to be better options up front flying the aircraft. That would mean worse options in the cabin as far as service is concerned, but so be it.
Each to their own.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Why would you be nervous about flying on an Asian airline? The casual racism inherent in that statement is pretty poor and is exacerbated by your surprise at getting a clean aircraft and efficient, courteous in-flight service.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 67
From: UK
Metal flat ware and decent food - I recall the loadsheets for Philippine Airlines 747-200 services from LGW-FRA-BKK-MNL and the galley weights for the loaded catering were something in excess of 5 tonnes or more. IIRC on one of the flights it was 4 tonnes in the front galley and about 3 tonnes down the back.
They had First, Business and Y cabins and the food and service was something else.
Sleeper berths on the UD.
They had First, Business and Y cabins and the food and service was something else.
Sleeper berths on the UD.
