Korean Air Flight KE781 on Airbus A321 NEO: Seat and In-Flight Meal Review
Hello! ποΈποΈ Today, Iβm excited to share my experience traveling from Incheon Airport to Fukuoka, Japan on Korean Air flight KE781 aboard the Airbus A321 NEO. Iβll be covering the seat comfort and in-flight meal. Additionally, I recently bought a large suitcase from the duty-free shop and had the experience of gate-checking it, which Iβll also discuss. Since the A321 NEO is a new addition to Korean Airβs fleet, there were several differences compared to other aircraft Iβve flown on before. Letβs dive into the details π
Korean Air Check-In at Incheon Airport
For this trip, since I was flying with Korean Air, I parked at Terminal 2βs long-term parking lot and took the shuttle bus to the terminal. The first order of business was to check in with the airline. If you donβt have any checked baggage, you can check in online and proceed directly to security with your mobile boarding pass. Since I had luggage to check, I used the self bag drop to send off my bags and utilized the mobile boarding pass. Capturing a screenshot of the mobile boarding pass made it really convenient to use ππ
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After dropping off my bags and clearing security and immigration, I headed to the gate. Since I use an eSIM, I didnβt need to rent pocket Wi-Fi, so there wasnβt much to do at the airport. I picked up my duty-free items, enjoyed a meal at the lounge, relaxed, and then boarded the flight.
At Terminal 2, I usually use the Matina Gold Lounge unless Iβm accessing an airline lounge. The food there is quite good, and itβs a comfortable space to relax, so Iβm quite satisfied with it π
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Review of Korean Air Flight KE781 on the A321 NEO
Boarding Experience
This was the first time I had to board a bus at Incheon Airport instead of using a jet bridge. I can understand taking a bus, but the bus didnβt depart for about 30 minutes until the last passenger arrived, which was quite inconvenient. Standing in a crowded bus for an extended period was pretty frustrating. The aircraft wasnβt that far away, so I think they could have made multiple trips back and forth. It felt like there was a lack of consideration for the passengers, which was disappointing.
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Because there were so many people on the bus, we had to wait quite a while to board the plane in an orderly manner once we arrived. It was also raining, which made things even more cumbersome. I hope Korean Air can improve this process, either by avoiding bus boarding when possible or by making multiple trips to ensure a smoother boarding experience. On the plus side, I did get an up-close look at the new aircraft, which was nice π
Cabin and Seating
Unlike Asiana Airlines, which provides headsets at each seat, Korean Air offers disposable earphones that you can take if you need them.
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Β As I boarded, I got a glimpse of the Prestige (Business) Class seats. Perhaps because it was a short flight to nearby Fukuoka, there werenβt many passengers in that cabin. For a small narrow-body aircraft, the Business Class seemed quite well-appointed. Itβs arranged in a 2-2 configuration, and the seats were spacious and clean. Iβd love to try it out next time. Compared to the Prestige Class on other narrow-body aircraft like the Boeing 737, it seemed much better ππ
Economy Class Experience
The seat upholstery differed from typical Korean Air designs. While comfort felt similar, the color scheme and overall appearance were somewhat different. I suspect they might be using new colors in preparation for the merger with Asiana Airlines.
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I was seated in row 28, the very first row of Economy Class, which offered plenty of legroom and was quite comfortable π Being a new aircraft, the screen resolution was excellent, making it enjoyable to watch. In the first row, the screens are mounted on the wall in front, so you canβt use touch controls; instead, a separate remote control is provided.
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The Airbus A321 NEO on Korean Air offers paid Wi-Fi service during the flight. Since it was a very short trip, I didnβt try it out this time. Previously, on a flight to New York with ANA Airlines, I used in-flight Wi-Fi. Although it was slow, it was useful and kept me from getting bored during the flight π
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Despite the light rain, there were no significant delays, and we quickly prepared for takeoff.
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In-Flight Meal on Korean Air to Fukuoka
Perhaps because itβs a new aircraft, thereβs a device on the tray table that allows you to prop up your phone or tablet for easy viewing, which I found quite handy π Especially on long flights, itβs convenient not to have to hold your phone or tablet while watching videos.
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Shortly after takeoff, the in-flight meal was served. For the Incheon to Fukuoka route, Korean Air provides a very simple meal. It was a basic sandwich with cheese and ham, and to be honest, it wasnβt very tasty π I recommend having a substantial meal at the airport restaurant or lounge before boarding.
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Since KE781 departs in the evening, we arrived in Fukuoka under sparkling city lights. Despite the A321 being a small, narrow-body aircraft, the flight was smooth and turbulence-free. While I usually prefer larger planes for their stability and space, the A321 was perfectly adequate for this short flight π
Overall Impression
On this trip to Fukuoka, I got to experience Korean Airβs new Airbus A321 NEO. New is definitely better ππ The aircraft was clean and comfortable, and the high-resolution screens added to the enjoyment. The in-flight meal was quite simple, so I wouldnβt set high expectations there. The biggest issue was boarding via bus instead of a jet bridge, which was quite problematic. I hope Korean Air will improve this aspect in the future.
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