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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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peppergirl
Joined: 07 Dec 2003
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 Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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I've flown with them a number of times, and the service was ok. Better than   KLM (which by the way, charges for every 1 kilo overweight, and even if you only have 20.5 kg checked luggage, plus their service is really horrible, except if you happen to be a dutch guy with a KLM frequent flyers membership card - never again!).
I flew alone with my 6 week old daughter to Europe last year, and I'm not sure why (cramps, ear pain?) but she screamed practically the whole flight. The Korean Air stewardesses were great, even taking her over from me so I could eat, and some fellow passengers also took her over for a while so I could get 15 min of sleep and use the bathroom.
Luckily I didn't need that much assistance 1,5 months later when I flew back to Korea  |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| peppergirl wrote: |
I flew alone with my 6 week old daughter to Europe last year, and I'm not sure why (cramps, ear pain?) but she screamed practically the whole flight. The Korean Air stewardesses were great, even taking her over from me so I could eat, and some fellow passengers also took her over for a while so I could get 15 min of sleep and use the bathroom.
Luckily I didn't need that much assistance 1,5 months later when I flew back to Korea |
That's awesome. That is definitely a major plus for them. What do other airlines do in this situation? |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| sadsac wrote: |
| My wife and I wll only fly with KAL internationally as a last resort. We have flown 4 times with them and one of my biggest sources of complaint is that how can somebody bring carry on luggage that requires the assistance of a flight attendant to lift it into the overhead bin. on every occassion that we flew with KAL our overhead bin was full of other peoples stuff before we even sat down. On the last flight I just threw it all on the floor of the cabin, much to the dismay of the flight attendant. |
Same thing when I fly with them, which drives me crazy. What happened to one carry on per person? That doesn't mean a suitcase either. |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| ScottyG wrote: |
Korean Air gets thumbs up, but of course not waaay up like Singapore or Thai. Korean Air has really improved in the last ten years apparently. |
KAL was almost barred from US airpace due to a dismal accident record. The chairman hired a lot of foreign blood to turn the airline around, most notably David Greenberg, who was the VP until Jan. 2005. http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRHeft/FRH0302/FR0302f.htm
In regards to English levels, KAL staff should have a higher proficiency in English, for safety resons, most notably (see my example with the note for the captain that the purser didn't deliver). Also, on my last flight, I ended up assisting a group of Mongolian pax fill out their arrival cards, which is a flight attendant duty. I was asked to do it, due to the lack of English among the cabin crew. Nice to be useful when you're bored, but cabin crew are paid to deal with customs forms, etc.
Someone mentioned the overhead bins... I had brought a shopping bag with some fragile items that I didn't want to put in the cargo hold. Well, the flight attendant took my bag out (it was in front of someone else's smaller bag originally) to make room for someone's roller board. She STUFFED my bag into another bin, and just as I saw it out of the corner of my eye, I said "Stop!!" then, "Hagimaseyo!" She ignored me (lack of situational awareness, which is another safety issue). Well, she split the bag open and broke what I had in the bag. I was nearly in tears. She couldn't communicate after I complained to her about it, and many hours later, after the services were completed, a purser asked to see me privately to discuss it. He didn't even apolgize- he just wanted to know what had happened and why I was upset. They did offer me a new pastic bag to put my things into, but as for the broken items, they were a lost cause. And the flight attendant gave me a dirty look while I was deboarding (I didn't even yell at her- I just said a few "awtokay"s and "way guh lay oh"s to her. I certainly wasn't rude to her over the incident. However, I guess she "lost face" a bit in front of the other pax, so there you go..).
Anyway, in regards to my bag incident, I chalk it up to bad luck. I'm sure many of the flight attendants are quite careful, and I just happened to be unlucky that day. So... If you guys are packing fragile items and you think they will be safe in the overhead bin, don't bet your life on it. Watch your stuff,and don't let them move your things too far away from your seat where you can't keep an eye on your stuff. I know a girl who had her roller board stolen by another pax.
Last edited by periwinkle on Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Sounds as though I'm gonna be thoroughly bored for 13 hours. I'm dreading it, although can't wait to go home for a bit. |
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seattlespew
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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*.*
Last edited by seattlespew on Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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The story about the guys locking themselves out of the flight deck... This actually did happen with an African airline. The pilot got up to use the lav, and the door locked on him. I think he tried to kick the door down, but the plane went down. I'll have to double check.
Spinoza, if you get bored, KAL does a library service at the beginning of the flight. I don't remember if there are English books or not, but you could always get an English language newspaper. Personally, I like listening to the different music channels- the Chinese and Japanese pop is interesting (for awhile!). You could always start a card game with your fellow pax- you can ask the cabin crew for some cards. Or you could just play solitaire.... I think the in-flight magazine on KAL (Morning Calm) is pretty good, too. |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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I flew to Moscow recently on Aeroflot. It was really good.
When we were starting to cruise, you know that time when you've reached altitude and the pilot tells you over the loudspeaker you can take off your seat belt, I heard these clanking bells coming from down the rear. Wouldn't you know it, a dancing troop, complete with gypsy moustached singer with dress swinging from side to side, balaikas, and cossack dancers had begun to dance and stomp in the ailse! Wow, the whole plane erupted in clapping and cheering that went on for at least 5 encores.
Needless to say we had all the Vodka you could dream of.
As for food, it was very fresh. In fact it was made right there on the plane. The chickens stay in the rear and seldom escape their cages to flutter around the plane, which one did and added to all the excitement. I nearly caught it by the wing but a nimble Oliver Twist type boy in the bulkhead managed to grab it to a big ovation from passengers and crew alike. I was so jealous because he later got to go up to the flight deck and someone prepared for him chicken soup. Anyway, the cooks collect the chickens' eggs and prepare omelettes. They use the same gas burners that we use here for our samgyopsal on picnics.
Yeah, Aeroflot was great.
I flew United once, the same plane and two weeks before the Hawaiian depressurization incident. On that flight all the seat bolts down the ailse were rattling. Well, Aeroflot didn't have that problem. The seats were nailed securely to the floor.
Landing was exceptionally smooth. No harsh braking. In Moscow the runway is 14,000 feet long. This is an excellent safety feature. For example if the spoilers or reversers don't engage there is plenty of runway to slow naturally. Which is why the effect of the landing was so smooth for us. |
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rothkowitz
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Air NZ has to be the worst airline I've used.Ever.Period.
I had to continually go to the galley to get another beer.They couldn't be arsed getting one for me as they were too busy gassing.
Why JAL and other airlines have partnerships with them is beyond me.Added to this is their ridiculous overpricing.I avoid AIR NZ like the plague...and I'm from there. |
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rothkowitz
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow,gotta try to fly Aeroflot if I can.I used to smoke their cigarettes for ages! |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Cheonmunka wrote: |
I flew to Moscow recently on Aeroflot. It was really good.
When we were starting to cruise, you know that time when you've reached altitude and the pilot tells you over the loudspeaker you can take off your seat belt, I heard these clanking bells coming from down the rear. Wouldn't you know it, a dancing troop, complete with gypsy moustached singer with dress swinging from side to side, balaikas, and cossack dancers had begun to dance and stomp in the ailse! Wow, the whole plane erupted in clapping and cheering that went on for at least 5 encores.
Needless to say we had all the Vodka you could dream of.
As for food, it was very fresh. In fact it was made right there on the plane. The chickens stay in the rear and seldom escape their cages to flutter around the plane, which one did and added to all the excitement. I nearly caught it by the wing but a nimble Oliver Twist type boy in the bulkhead managed to grab it to a big ovation from passengers and crew alike. I was so jealous because he later got to go up to the flight deck and someone prepared for him chicken soup. Anyway, the cooks collect the chickens' eggs and prepare omelettes. They use the same gas burners that we use here for our samgyopsal on picnics.
Yeah, Aeroflot was great.
I flew United once, the same plane and two weeks before the Hawaiian depressurization incident. On that flight all the seat bolts down the ailse were rattling. Well, Aeroflot didn't have that problem. The seats were nailed securely to the floor.
Landing was exceptionally smooth. No harsh braking. In Moscow the runway is 14,000 feet long. This is an excellent safety feature. For example if the spoilers or reversers don't engage there is plenty of runway to slow naturally. Which is why the effect of the landing was so smooth for us. |
 That's damn funny. I knew someone that used to fly for Tower Air, a charter out of JFK. They used to fly a lot of trips for the Haj. She said passengers would bring those gas burners on the plane, and they would brew tea with them.
Crap- I can't believe you flew that UAL 747 only 2 weeks earlier! National Geographic has been profiling some well-known air disasters. I'm not sure if they are still being shown, though. The one about UAL 811 was one of the best ones they did. |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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It's true. What's more we were in the first row of economy on the starboard side. The fuselage door was in front of us a hand-reach away. There were no seats in front of us, just the empty space for the doorway. The fated cargo door just below that. To put it plainly, the seat I was sitting on got sucked out.
I remember that plane because on take off I commented to my friend about how long it was taking to get 'up there.' Like an underpowered car going up a steep hill. Then, the seat bolts were going, "chatter chatter chatter clink clink chatter chatter chatter clink clink" the whole time, except during descent. So they were in-vibe with the engine rotations.
Anyway, in the end though it was nothing to do with the plane, eh. But I remember at the time saying I "wasn't surprised."
I was sad, though.
By the way with Korean Air: We have two half children and on check in my wife would put them up on the counter. I'm not sure if she actually asked or suggested it, but in 8 flights we were upgraded to business 6 times. Something enters the clerks' heads and they give us better seating.
It's better up there. The attendants ask you if you are 'comfortable.' But, they are still snotty about opening the shutter in early morning. I love watching the atmosphere when the sun comes up. So, I have to put the blanket over my head to block the daylight.
PS: I don't like Singapore Airlines. Can't see the pleasure in it. |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| Cheonmunka wrote: |
It's true. What's more we were in the first row of economy on the starboard side. The fuselage door was in front of us a hand-reach away. There were no seats in front of us, just the empty space for the doorway. The fated cargo door just below that. To put it plainly, the seat I was sitting on got sucked out.
I remember that plane because on take off I commented to my friend about how long it was taking to get 'up there.' Like an underpowered car going up a steep hill. Then, the seat bolts were going, "chatter chatter chatter clink clink chatter chatter chatter clink clink" the whole time, except during descent. So they were in-vibe with the engine rotations.
Anyway, in the end though it was nothing to do with the plane, eh. But I remember at the time saying I "wasn't surprised."
I was sad, though.
By the way with Korean Air: We have two half children and on check in my wife would put them up on the counter. I'm not sure if she actually asked or suggested it, but in 8 flights we were upgraded to business 6 times. Something enters the clerks' heads and they give us better seating.
It's better up there. The attendants ask you if you are 'comfortable.' But, they are still snotty about opening the shutter in early morning. I love watching the atmosphere when the sun comes up. So, I have to put the blanket over my head to block the daylight.
PS: I don't like Singapore Airlines. Can't see the pleasure in it. |
Dude, you DON'T have to do that. My co-worker (sitting in business) complained about the same thing. He wanted to look out his window at the Great Barrier Reef, for chissakes. Trust me, they do it 'cuz they want the passengers conked out (suppossedly it's for better movie viewing, and no, it's NOT a procedural thing- it's not company policy. It's an invented cabin crew policy to make their job easier). You paid a lot of money for your ticket. Unless it's for a safety reason, they can't tell you what to do. They might try to boss you or persuade you to do otherwise, but you don't have to close your window if you don't want to. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:39 am Post subject: |
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On the flying with kids topic...when we flew to Canada last year with our 6 month old son we used Northwest. The flight was about 80% Korean-Japanese people. Next to us was a elderly Korean couple (in their 70s). Well, two hours into the Tokyo-Detroit flight the halmoni turns to me and offers to hold my son (my wife was sleeping as she was dead tired). I hand him over and she played with him for over an hour, made him laugh, took him round the cabin to show him to other ajumas....this was nice.
The air crew were outstanding as well, regularly checking up on us and offering extra service throughout the flight.
It would be the same story on the way back...people were so patient.
Mind you our son did not cry once...but still it was cool. |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
Just one thought on this:
Better than Air Canada. |
Orville and Wilbur would be better than Air Canada. |
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