Review of Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul to San Francisco in Business

Routing

Pre-Flight

After a very quick transfer security in T1, it was back upstairs into the terminal, about an hour before departure.

I went straight to OZ's Central Lounge located right across from the exit of transit security, which was also the closest lounge to our gate tonight.

The hustle and bustle below crossing the skybridge to the lounge.

Asiana Lounge Business Class Central

The Central Lounge is the smallest of the lounges.

Despite all of the TPACs departing, it was quite empty inside and there was no issue finding seating.

No matter the time of day, golf is almost always on TV.

I wasn't hungry, but the buffet was still fully stocked as we approached the last departures of the day.

With only 15 minutes to boarding, I just grabbed a tea and sat by the windows that provide views over the tarmac.

Boarding

It was a short walk from the lounge to the gate. Reaching the gate at the indicated boarding time, it was clear we would be delayed leaving. This is not surprising as the night departures typically wait for all arriving connecting flights.

Our A359 tonight is HL8079, a relatively geriatric A350 delivered back in 2017 with OZ's (and now KE's) standard C28 (1-2-1) and Y283 (3-3-3) configuration.

Boarding eventually started at 20:40 with careful ordering of boarding groups. The Priority Lane was quickly sent into the plane after the pre-boards.

Entering through 1L we were greeted by several FAs and directed to our assigned rows.

The view of the familiar Business Samarium cabin featuring Stelia Solstys seats in their standard 1-2-1 staggered configuration. OZ did not opt for central luggage bins so it is quite airy in the cabin.

At time of purchase, I had selected 6K as a true window seat in the rear of the cabin. The flight would be 100% full.

Seat Tour

My seat for tonight, 6K, a true window seat. Also worth noting that OZ puts the bassinets in the rear of the cabin in Row 7, so these are very spacious seats with a lot of storage space along the windows despite being a seat closer to the aisle.

While Solstys seats are certainly an older product, OZ's variation found on the A359s and A380s is one of the better versions still on the market.

Pre-placed on the seat were the shrink-wrapped bedding package.

The central console houses almost everything else needed: reading light, audio jack, USB-A port, literature compartment, and side table.

Water bottle, noise cancelling headphones, slippers, and amenity kit were pre-placed here. The Aigner amenity kits on flights ex-ICN are a nicer water-repellent material and the zipper pouch is quite practical for re-use. The contents are the same as in this flight.

On the side of the console is the seat controls and IFE remote. On the front of the console is the 110V universal power outlet.

Up front is an 18" touchscreen with decent resolution given its age.

Below is a decent sized footwell that is larger than other Solstys products and is enclosed so aisle passengers don't have to worry about their feet falling into the aisle or being bumped by people.

Below the foot cubby is another storage area that can house shoes or other small bags, though obviously not accessible when in bed mode.

The tray table flips down from the seat back of the seat in front of you.

The literature slot only includes the safety card.

The PSU with omission of air vents, but OZ does keep their cabins colder than most Asian carriers. Even the crews are often bundled up in cardigans mid-flight.

As mentioned earlier, the cabin feels big with the central bins removed.

These seats have tighter pitch so only get 2 windows.

Menus

OZ does not give PDBs anymore, but the crew did come through to welcome passengers aboard and offered menus. They never bothered updating the menu covers, which still show how they used to serve meals on proper plates.

The FAs swiped my menu when I was sleeping so luckily took pictures of them at the start of the flight. For food, we would get two meals, a dinner and then a "snack." For dinner, there were three Western options and the standard Ssambap as the Korean option found on ex-ICN departures.

Mid-flight there are several dishes available including a sandwich that I had FUK-ICN and the chilled acorn jelly soup that I had ICN-LAX.

Pre-arrival there is a snack, which in reality is a 3-course meal. There are 3 options (2 Western and 1 Korean).

The drinks menu is good and on par with KE, but a step below the Taipei-based carriers.

Push Back, Taxi, and Take Off from Incheon

At 21:15, we finally started push back as the safety video started playing.

Pushing back with an A321neo between us and the A359 heading to JFK.

We start our taxi out on this rainy night in Seoul.

Taxing out to 15R for departure with the cargo operations in the distance.

Aligning onto the runway after the HA B789 departed for SEA on their new route.

Behind us was the HA A330 heading down to HNL.

We took off at 21:41, almost an hour late, with nice views over T1.

First Meal Service

Meal service started off with the distribution of 2 packaged oshibori.

The linens were then laid.

There is no longer an amuse bouche service on OZ and it is straight into the starter, which is served on a tray along with pre-ordered drinks. I opted to try the Ballantine's 17 year old.

Warm breads were then offered, I took the focaccia.

The starter was Cajun Shrimp Salad with Avocado Lime Aioli Sauce. Nicely presented with 3 well flavored shrimp.

Mains were then distributed along with the offer of more drinks. The streak was well seasoned and still pink in the center, so confirming my experience with good western meals on OZ ex-ICN. Presentation would obviously be better if they still used real plates and didn't serve the sauce in aluminum foil, but that is unfortunately the reality with OZ in the current economic climate as it runs on fumes until absorbed fully.

The crew then came down the aisle to reset the table and offer cheese plates.

That was then followed by the cart coming down the aisle offering desserts and post-dinner drinks.

The dessert today was a Sachertorte. OZ's desserts have been quite good recently with nice presentation, this one including gold foil.

View of the cabin as the meal service concludes.

Mid-Flight

OZ's bedding consists of mattress topper, blanket, and pillow. Their pillows are very thin, the only criticism. The crew will provide additional ones if asked.

The Solstys seat makes a nice bed, and I've always slept well on OZ.

Lights in the cabin were off just 2h into the flight as we were well on our way into the Pacific crossing having already left Honshu.

I had a solid 4-4.5h sleep and awoke north of Hawaii.

I opted to check out the IFE and the crew stopped by to offer drinks so I took a cup of ginseng tea.

OZ:enter is average in content. Heavily Korean-centric, obviously. I find their selection of documentaries to be good and opted to watch one on Champagne hence the cameo of Dom Pierre Pérignon above.

The lavatories were pristine throughout the flight and OZ has a good selection of hygiene products on offer in addition to L'Occitane soaps and lotions.

Second Meal Service

Mood lighting came on just under 2 hours to arrival.

Drinks were offered by tray as oshibori were handed out.

Linens were then laid.

The service starts with a tray containing the appetizer.

Burrata Cheese Salad. Again, nicely presented and a nice fresh starter.

Warm breads were offered by basket and I took the olive and rosemary focaccia.

After the appetizer was cleared, the main was brought out and I opted for the porridge, which was the Korean option.

Barley and Vegetable Porridge with Golden Enoki Mushrooms.

After the tray was cleared, the cart came down the aisle offering desserts and coffee/tea.

Persimmon and Pear Mousse. Again, excellent presentation by OZ with their desserts.

More drinks were offered as the meal service concluded along with another packaged oshibori.

Arrival into San Francisco

As the cabin was prepared for landing we had the exercise and UNICEF videos play.

Not unexpected, but heavy clouds over the Pacific as we approach the Bay Area.

The clouds clear as we make landfall over Marin County.

The marine layer clears as we reach mid-Peninsula.

Flying over SFO, which really shows how close the airport is to the US-101 with planes taxing just meters from freeway.

We make our u-turn over the I-280.

SFO is visible under the wing.

Looking south towards Monterrey Bay.

SJC is visible as we complete our u-turn over Silicon Valley.

Moffett Field.

The Salt Ponds.

Crossing the Dumbarton Bridge as we start our short final into SFO.

San Francisco in the distance as we continue our approach over the Bay.

Racing our shadow to the airport.

We land on runway 28L at 15:13 ahead of schedule.

The destination is confirmed.

Plenty of planes in storage for the day.

Missed the LH B748I taking off for FRA as we exited the runway.

It is a short taxi around to Concourse G and our gate was free so we were quickly on stand at 15:21, just 6 minutes after touching down.

The solemn walk to immigration.

A warm welcome home.

No wait at Global Entry and I reached the baggage claim at 15:34, just 20 minutes after touching down highlighting the efficiency of SFO.

That concludes this series, thanks for stopping by!

Flight Information

Asiana Airlines, OZ212
Equipment: Airbus A350-900 [HL8079, delivered July 2017]
Departure: 20:55 (ATD: 21:41)
Arrival: 15:30 (ATA: 15:13)
Flight time: 9:35