Korean Air Review: Economy vs. Prestige Class
I have flown with Korean Air for two important trips abroad. The first was my trip from Korea to Cebu to start my language study abroad experience. I flew Korean Air Economy Class and visited the Matina Gold Lounge before departure.Later, when I moved to Vancouver, I used the miles I had saved to book Korean Air Prestige Class. This gave me a chance to experience both Economy and Prestige Class on two very different trips.
Here is my honest Korean Air review, including the lounges, seats, meals, and overall experience.
Korean Air Economy Class & Matina Gold Lounge
Before my flight to Cebu, I visited the Matina Gold Lounge at Incheon International Airport.One thing I liked about Matina Gold was the food. The lounge is operated by Walkerhill, and I thought the food was pretty good. It was nice to have a proper meal before getting on the plane instead of waiting near the boarding gate.
My favorite part was the massage chair. After eating, I still had some time before boarding, so I spent the rest of my waiting time relaxing in the massage chair. It was a comfortable way to start my trip.After the lounge, I boarded my Korean Air Economy Class flight to Cebu. The Economy seat felt pretty standard to me. There was nothing particularly impressive or disappointing about it, but it was comfortable enough for the flight.
For the in-flight meal, I had beef bibimbap. Unfortunately, I did not really enjoy it. The food was probably the weakest part of my Economy experience.Overall, the flight itself felt fairly standard, while the Matina Gold Lounge made the airport experience much more enjoyable.This flight was also the beginning of my language study abroad experience in Cebu, so I filmed the departure and flight for my vlog.
Korean Air Prestige Class & Lounge
My second Korean Air experience was very different. When I moved to Vancouver, I used the miles I had saved to book Korean Air Prestige Class. The experience felt different from the airport because Prestige passengers had a separate check-in area, which made the process more convenient.
I also visited the Korean Air Prestige Lounge. My first impression was that it felt very luxurious, and I thought the food was excellent. I did not have much time before boarding, so I had a quick Korean meal and headed to the gate. On the plane, my seat was 14B on the left side of the aircraft. A blanket, pillow, and amenity pouch were provided, which I really liked and helped make the long flight more comfortable.
The in-flight meal was another highlight. I chose the steak, and it was very tender and delicious. The flight to Vancouver was around ten hours, but it felt surprisingly fast because I was so comfortable. Compared with my shorter Economy flight, I could really notice the benefits of having more space and comfort during a long flight.
Economy vs. Prestige: My Overall Experience
After experiencing both classes, I noticed a big difference between Economy and Prestige. My Economy experience was fairly standard. The seat was what I expected from Economy, and I was not a big fan of the beef bibimbap. However, the Matina Gold Lounge made the experience better. The food was good, and I especially enjoyed relaxing in the massage chair before boarding.
Prestige Class felt different from the beginning. The separate check-in area was convenient, the lounge felt more luxurious, and the food was excellent. On the plane, the extra space, bedding, amenity pouch, and steak made the long journey much more enjoyable. The two flights were also very different in length, so comfort mattered much more to me on the long-haul flight to Vancouver. I was also able to book Prestige using miles I had saved, which made the experience even more special.
Both flights are connected to important memories for me: one was the beginning of my language study abroad experience in Cebu, and the other was the beginning of my life in Vancouver. If you are searching for Korean Air reviews, I hope my experiences give you an idea of what Economy and Prestige Class can be like.
More of My Journey
Want to see the actual flights? Watch my Cebu and Vancouver travel vlogs to see the lounges and my Korean Air Economy and Prestige Class experiences.
If you are interested in what happened after I arrived in Canada, read about my homestay experience in Vancouver and what my daily life was like as an international student.