Seoul Incheon International Airport

After passing the security check at transfer at 04:50 in a really empty terminal at Incheon airport and headed for the lounge which was not yet open but did so at 05:00 in the morning. We were greeted and headed upstairs, but even the lights in parts of the lounge were not switched on. Checking E-Mails and reading flyertalk.com took some time and as the first class lounge was still closed, cathaana asked about opening and was told, we should head over to the first class section of the lounge ignoring the signs “closed”. Ahem, this it not how this should be handled.

At this time only beverage was available, breakfast items were not served until 07:00 in the morning. The lounge was cleaned, while we were sitting. Newspapers were brought to the lounge while we were sitting there, but again only one English Newspapers and a IHT, which was four days old.

Breakfast in the lounge consisted of scrambled eggs, porridge and different sort of pastries. I used my laptop and was able to connect to a W-LAN Spot, but several PC Terminal were available in the First Class Section and also on the gallery before the Business Class Section.

We headed to the gate some minutes prior to scheduled boarding time.

24 May 2006
ICN – HKG
[Seoul Incheon – Hong Kong International]
OZ 721 (Asiana Airlines); Boeing 747 – 400
Gate 06
09:05 – 11:45 [effective 09:10 – 11:35]
Business Class
Seat 07 K

Boarding had started just as we arrived. There was again a separate boarding gate for First and Business Class Passengers, which we used. As usual, cathaana turned left after entering the plane, while I headed for the stairs to the upper deck of this 747-400. I later was told, cathaana was the only one in First.

Business Class was not full, it was more or less exactly 50% of the seats in the upper deck occupied. I was in the first row again and the first passenger in the Business Class. I thought a good opportunity to take a picture of the cabin. I am somehow concerned about taking pictures in a plane, especially if there are other passengers on board. But being alone with three flight attendants and after this many flights I did not care about what the flight attendant may think.

Pre departure drinks were offered, this time again champagne, orange juice and water. I took a glass of champagne, relaxed and waited while the other passengers were boarding the aircraft. I noticed this time headphones and blankets were only laid on the occupied seats, not on the empty ones.

The purser introduced himself during push back, which did not happen on the previous flights on Asiana.

We had to wait, because there were some planes ahead and wheels were up at 09:25. Later the captain came over the micro and informed us, that we nevertheless will arrive in Hong Kong ahead of schedule.

Meal Service started 25 after take off with the distribution of the menus. I had had a look at the menu card from the flight Hong Kong to Seoul, which also had the menu for the flight Seoul to Hong Kong in it. But I was still not sure, if I should go with the beef or the fish.

Not that I feeled really hungy, but it is nice to know ...


I decided to take the Beef. Again, the table were laid with linen and two glasses were brought. The first course was served from the cart 10 minutes later and I was asked if I would like to have a glass of wine, which I declined. It was bit early for wine I thought by myself. The food was of the same quality than on the previous flights. The main course were brought individually like on the previous flight, though the fruits and the cake were brought from the cart along with either a refill of wine, water or whatever beverage one choose resp. coffee and tea along the dessert.

Meal Service lasts round about 65 minutes and after the table were cleared I relaxed and thought about the last five days of flying. After this segment, there was only one flight left from the mileage run ticket out of Bangkok.

Immigration forms for Hong Kong were distributed along with a biro during the flight.

I thought about a visit of cathaana in the First Class Cabin, but as the seat belt signs were switched on, because there was some turbulence I decided to stay in my Business Class seat. First Class Passengers may also feel disturbed by a passenger from the cheap seats …

We began our descend into Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok International Airport and touched down at 11:25 and were at our gate at 11:35. Again, two jet bridges were used. This time again something went wrong and Economy Passengers could disembark the same time we could. The jetbridge was a bit crowded and this time I was not amused, than several European and Asian flights arrive at this time of the day and therefore the airport were busy. So I was unable to catch up with cathaana on the way to immigration. She arrived a few second before me and we had to queue for nearly fifteen minutes before we finally were able to pass immigration.

After cathaana bought a ticket for the Airport Express we were in the train to Kowloon station, were we took the shuttle to the Intercontinental Grand Stanford, where we stayed the next time in a Club Floor Room.

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