Business Suites Will Replace First-Class Cabin on Asiana Airlines
Shortly after Asiana stopped selling tickets for its first-class cabins on all flights after August 31, the South Korean carrier announced on Tuesday that new "Business Suites" will replace its former first-class product. It appwars, however, that these will be the same seats, but with a different name and a lower standard of service.
Asiana only offered first class on its Airbus A380s, so the new Business Suites will be only available on routes the super-jumbos fly, which include flights between Seoul's Incheon Airport and Los Angeles, New York JFK and Frankfurt.
As TPG's Max Prosperi reports, Asiana's six A380s feature 12 first class suites. They are among the roomiest in the sky, featuring 83 inches of seat pitch, a massive 32-inch seatback entertainment screen, and a sliding door for privacy. Luckily, it seems the seats won't be changing, but the level of service on board will shift when the new business class takes effect on September 1.
A diagram of the Business Suites shows that it will still be 12 seats in the same configuration as its first class. One Mile at a Time reports that the business class will retain the same first-class seats with doors, but now it is branded as a business product. Mileage earning, onboard catering and baggage allowances, however, will all shift to current business class levels.
Additionally, flyers in Business Suites will still have access to the Asiana First Class Lounge at Incheon Airport.
Beginning September 1, the only way to fly in a dedicated first-class cabin nonstop from the United States to South Korea will be aboard Korean Air. The airline recently cut first class from dozens of short international routes, but keeps it on long haul.
