Looking for Advice on Flying with Korean Air

Russ on 25/06/2025 - 02:30
Last edited 25/06/2025 - 23:05

Edit: Thanks everyone, all my questions were answered!

—- Original post below —-

Living in Brisbane, there aren't a lot of choices to fly to Japan inexpensively on a quality airline. Qantas is usually expensive, JAL and ANA don't fly to Brisbane, and Singapore Airlines is only occasionally reasonably priced (perhaps due to the long total distance). I could fly to Sydney to catch JAL flights, but that ups the price significantly.

But I do see there are quite a lot of reasonably-priced economy seats with Korean Air. Often the journeys have horrible start or end times, or 34+ hour duration, or require transfer across Seoul from ICN to GMP or vice-versa. But occasionally the stars align, and the flights (both to Japan and return) are good, with typical 13-16 hour duration including stopovers of 1-4 hours at ICN.

So, I have a number of questions:

  • Google flights says there is no free seat selection for economy-class seats - how much does it typically cost?
  • As someone who doesn't speak Korean, how easy/difficult is it to navigate through ICN from one gate to another?
  • If I'm only using Korean Airlines for one holiday, is there any real advantage to joining SkyPass, their "frequent flyer" program?
  • One leg of the journey may be on a 737 MAX 8, which apparently has no in-seat entertainment screens. How well does the movie streaming work, and is it free?
  • Are there any tricks to getting free WiFi onboard the planes? (e.g. Singapore Airlines gives free WiFi if you join KrisWorld.)
  • Are there any tricks to saving money on the tickets, like cashback or using discounted gift cards?

Thanks!

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Comments

  • John Barosa on 25/06/2025 - 02:46

    Learn how to torrent, and bring a laptop/tablet with movies or long tv shows(I recommend Lost(2004) and You(2018)). You should be able to charge it on the plane. No need to use crappy in flight entertainment.

    If the plane has in flight entertainment, it should be free. The movies are all stored on a hard drive inside the plane, nothing is actually being streamed.

    Imo enjoy the flight. U prolly don't fly much, if you're asking this Q. Just chill and take it all in, watch a movie, no need for internet.

    • grimace3 on 25/06/2025 - 05:24

      If "nothing is actually being streamed", then how does it get to the users device? It's being streamed via the onboard Wi-Fi.

      • geekcohen on 25/06/2025 - 05:36
        +2

        I think they are referring to the fact that nothing is being streamed live through an internet connection, meaning you could choose whatever you want from Netlfix or Prime. It is fixed and set to whatever is on the plane's Hard Drive or server.

    • JIMB0 on 25/06/2025 - 07:39

      Good move incase all the movies are in Korean or other foreign languages and only have Korean subtitles.

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:10

      Thanks. I'm old-school though, rather than learning to torrent, I'll probably read one of the many Kindle books I got for free thanks to OzBargain posts.

      I found the current month's movies online HERE, there appear to be plenty of English-language movies I can watch.

  • holdenmg on 25/06/2025 - 03:35
    +3

    Jetstar is Boeing 787, BNE-NRT-BNE with short Duration and Morning Departure ex BNE and Evening Departure ex NRT with arrival back into BNE in time for Breakfast.

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:14

      Thanks, but no. I object to just about everything Jetstar does, from the way they use drip-pricing during the booking process, to the way they're almost always late, usually due to breakdowns (I don't fly with them, but every month I have to collect a family member from the airport, and they fly Jetstar).

      I can appreciate that Jetstar is a good choice for many people, I'm not one of them.

  • mskeggs on 25/06/2025 - 07:25
    +8

    Incheon is liberally sign posted in English, with English speaking help desks. You’ll have more trouble in Japan.

    • MrThing on 25/06/2025 - 12:50

      And even in japan its not that bad

      • mskeggs on 25/06/2025 - 13:08

        Yeah, agreed, but wanting to be reassuring!

        • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:21

          Thanks, you did that! I've been through KIX, HND and NRT, so sounds like ICN should be fine. Just wanted to check.

          In Japan, the only real difficulty I had was at train stations, where the timetable boards would be 30 seconds Japanese - 10 seconds Chinese - 10 seconds Korean - 10 seconds English. Ten seconds is not enough time to read the entire list! I learned to wait and take a photo when English came up.

  • Hardlyworkin on 25/06/2025 - 07:41
    +8

    Are you buying a house or a plane ticket?

  • Somey on 25/06/2025 - 07:49
    +2

    If you're transferring between ICN to GMP, make sure you factor in extra time since it's your first time.

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:27

      Thanks for the warning. I considered transferring, and decided not to for a number of reasons:

      • I think I'd need local currency to purchase a train ticket, or so I've read.
      • I could buy a bus ticket using a credit card, but slower and more expensive.
      • I'd have to go out through customs at the first airport and then back in through security at the second airport, which is not my idea of fun.

      And I found by moving my flights a few days earlier or later, I wouldn't have to do the transfer. And the plane ticket price barely changed.

  • ryefig on 25/06/2025 - 08:12
    +2

    Google flights says there is no free seat selection for economy-class seats - how much does it typically cost?

    It varies by route. Do a dummy booking and see how much it costs for your booking.

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:29
      +1

      Thanks, that's a great answer! Informative and precise.

    • Russ on 26/06/2025 - 01:48

      I've just tried the dummy booking, went through seat allocation for all four legs of the journey, and the price didn't change. So it looks like seat selection is free for the flights I chose! I went right up to the point where they asked for credit card details.

  • SYLTB on 25/06/2025 - 08:25
    -2

    You can fly standing France Air and Macron Free face slapping
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt21dEzYqiI

  • Duckie2hh on 25/06/2025 - 09:36
    +2

    Korean Air is fine… As long as you don't demand a plate for your macadamia nuts…

  • donga100 on 25/06/2025 - 10:04

    • Korean Air are part of Sky Team so it may be worth joining if you intend to use other airlines in that alliance in future. In any case, it is always worth joining airline loyalty programs as their system will preference you over non members for things like seating, rebooking from cancelled/delayed flights, etc.

    • The leg on the 737 will only be around 2h20m so probably not enough time to watch a movie anyway. The inflight entertainment typically stops for takeoff, landing, and pilot announcements.

    • Check prices with travel agents (especially Korean ones) as Korean Air uses a lot of private fares only sold through agencies. The travel agent will usually be able to select seats for you too.

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:38

      Thanks for answering several of my questions!

      it is always worth joining airline loyalty programs

      Okay, I'll give it a go. One of the commenters below used the points for hotel bookings, I'll check that out too.

      2h20m so probably not enough time to watch a movie anyway.

      I found the current month's movies online HERE, with durations listed. Plenty of options, maybe "Despicable Me 4" at 94 minutes.

      Check prices with travel agents (especially Korean ones)

      Thanks! I can see "Hyundai Travel" in Brisbane city, and the website they redirect to is entirely in Korean. I'll visit them.

  • Autonomic on 25/06/2025 - 13:11

    Flying direct with Jetstar would be much easier and cheaper. 9 hrs beats 10 + 2 + layover

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:15

      Thanks, but no. I object to just about everything Jetstar does, from the way they use drip-pricing during the booking process, to the way they're almost always late, usually due to breakdowns (I don't fly with them, but every month I have to collect a family member from the airport, and they fly Jetstar).

      I can appreciate that Jetstar is a good choice for many people, I'm not one of them.

  • Dlw on 25/06/2025 - 14:17
    +1

    I’ve flown with Korean Air. They all speak English. I stayed a night as my flight was the next day and it was all seamless.

  • Benoffie on 25/06/2025 - 16:50
    +1

    Found all the airlines in Korea great, including the cheaper ones like Tway. No issues with English and Incheon is very easy to navigate (just big). Lots of information desks, lots of help. Good shopping.

  • lainey13 on 25/06/2025 - 20:20

    Flew London to Melb via Seoul one way and had enough points to convert into hotel points. You might as well sign up to get the points otherwise it just goes to waste. A longer stopover in Seoul allows you to visit another good country to visit and one that is arguably cheaper than Japan.
    All major airports around the world cater to English speakers.
    Try not to get stuck in the middle of 5 across…. esp for a long 10+ hr flight overnight…

    • Russ on 25/06/2025 - 23:50

      had enough points to convert into hotel points.

      Do you mean you booked hotels directly with the points, or you converted them to points in a hotel's loyalty program? Did you have to wait until your next holiday to use the points?

      sign up to get the points otherwise it just goes to waste.

      True, but I'm struggling to find a way to spend the KrisFlyer points I earned on my previous trip to Japan.

      Try not to get stuck in the middle of 5 across

      I thought the worst-case seating was a group of 4 seats, so you only have to climb over one person. What plane has 5?

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