Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ArgentineDreams]

Anybody have any good airlines they recommend?

(In terms of price, luggage allowance, etc.)

[fullcollapseCA]

Singapore or Korean Air

[ajosshi]

Asiana

[ttompatz]

[ajosshi]

[ttompatz]

[etopkorea]

Be aware that on many flights, the Asian airlines will cost more, sometimes substantially more. I agree that Asian airlines generally have better service, but you have to decide if 12-16 hours of better service each way is worth the extra cost.

As an example, I'm visiting home (US) in January. The cheapest Asian airline price was almost $500 more than the most expensive US airline price (same or almost same route and same seating class). For 12 hours each way of lesser service (and I'll be sleeping most of that time anyway), I have now saved enough to pay for my rental car for the duration of my trip.

Sometimes a little discomfort is worth it in the end.

[etopkorea]

Also, if you happen to be going to or coming from a place in North America that is a popular tourist destination for Asians, then yes, ticket prices for Asian airlines will be very competitive.

However, if you are going to or coming from a place that is not popular with Asian tourists, or uses US domestic connections (which is well over half the destinations in NA), then Asian airline prices will usually be higher than US carriers.

[T-J]

Agree with everyone that favors Asian airlines over U.S. based carriers.

However, pay attention to who is actually operating the flight.

Purchasing a ticket from a U.S. carrier that is part of the Star Alliance will get you the savings of purchasing from them and the service of an Asian airline.

The tickets we just purchased through Continental were five hundred dollars cheaper than the Asiana tickets. It is the same aircraft.

[jvalmer]

[PatrickBateman]

Singapore Air was great.

[etopkorea]

To the central part of the US, a ticket on a US carrier was just under 1.7 million won (round trip and including all taxes). The same flight on KAL and Asiana was almost 2.3 million won (round trip and all taxes included).

Also, it has been my experience that most flights on US carriers to the central or eastern parts of the US will put you on an Asian airline to Japan, but once in Japan you will be on the US carrier the rest of the way.

Anyway, you'll get no argument from me that the Asian carriers are better, but for me, their premium prices are not worth it. I can deal with a few hours of poor service and a general lack of comfort. I'm asleep half the time anyway, so no big deal.

That being said, if you are traveling with small children, it's probably better to pony up the money for better service.

[Swampfox10mm]

[Beyondbelief]

Flown back and forth over the years taking United and Delta (from Tokyo), Asiana, and Korean air non stop back home. Delta was ok, United was average, while Asiana and Korean air were both fantastic. I noticed that the Asian carriers typically use newer aircraft as well, which gets extra points in my book.

[definitely maybe]