Seoul Incheon International Airport

We were friendly greeted in the First Class Lounge of Asiana at Incheon. The agent at the entrance informed the agent at the entrance of the lounge upstairs about us. The lounge offered a wide selection of beverage and a smaller selection of food items. From my point of view, the selection of food in both Bangkok and Hong Kong was wider.

However the ambience of the lounge is nice, is has big windows, which offer nice views on the tarmac. There were also some PC terminals available and a number of papers and magazines, though I think the number of papers available in English Language could have been bigger. Only the Asian Wall Street Journal and a Korean Newspaper in English Language were available if I remember correctly.

The lounge attendant informed all waiting passengers, that the flight to Chicago was boarding and we headed to gate 6.

20 May 2006
ICN – ORD
[Seoul Incheon – Chicago O’Hare]
OZ 236 (Asiana Airlines); Boeing 747 – 400
Gate 6
19:00 – 17:40 [effective 19:10 – 17:55]
Business Class
Seat 12 A

Boarding had begun, as we reached the gate. At the entrance for First and Business Class was no person queuing, so we were able to board really fast. Using the jet bridge for First and Business boarding was easy as it had been in Hong Kong. The only thing, which is quite a bit annoying, travelling in Business Class on Asiana’s 747 means one has to pass the front Economy Cabin, as the Business Class cabin of this 747 – 400 is only on the upper deck. You could also use the Economy Jet Bridge, but than you have to wait before you are able to enter the cabin. Boarding the flight attendants accompanied me to the staircase and look that not Economy Passenger were standing the aisle while I pass Economy Class Cabin.

I stored my trolley in the storage aside the front lavatory and the laptop in the bin at the window. Business Class cabin filled with passengers and the flight attendants began the offer pre departure drinks, again one could choose champagne, orange juice or water. Meanwhile I discovered the seat a bit closer, while my seat neighbour was not yet there. The seat is old, no adjustable head rest as on TG or UA, not adjustable food rest, only a normal one, which is in my opinion to small. There is also missing any sort of power outlet, so working is only possible, if you have a strong battery. In fact, there was no difference between the C Cabin for the flight Hong Kong to Seoul and Seoul to Chicago.

We were pushed back with a ten minutes delay, caused by the really full flight (100% in all classes). We finally took off at 19:20 and were on our way to Chicago.

The flight began bumpy and remained so for the most time of the flight. The fasten-seat belt signs were switched on for the most time during the flight.

In the air a hot towel service was done. I think, the crew had no time to do this service on the ground. Later, we got the obligatory selection of assorted nuts. Menus were distributed and we were asked what we like to eat.

A look at the menu showed the following options:


I opted for the Beef accompanied by the Sauvignon Blanc. I know, I should have taken a Red Wine, but I prefer white wine in the plane and nowadays one is not as strict with the rule red wine along with dark meat anymore.

Linen was laid and two real glasses were placed on the table.

Meal service begun approximately 45 minutes after start. The meal service lasted two hours and was done the same way as on the previous flight Hong Kong to Seoul. The first course came on the tray and the only the main plate was replaced by the next course. On this fully booked flight, they used the cart for every course, so it took some time before you get the next course. They began the service for the next course after they finished the previous course. If you have not finished at this time they returned later and brought you the next course. As this was a full flight, it is okay to handle meal service like this, but as far as I remember All Nippon Airways even had an individual service on plates for every course on the full flight Frankfurt – Tokyo I flew in April 2004 in Business Class.

Refills of wine were done quite frequently and one got the right wine. The flight attendant had a small list which passengers ordered which wine and than refilled it. Service was very attentive. One had to tell the flight attendant if one does not want any more wine. During meal service, some water was spilled on my tray by a flight attendant, and the flight attendant felt embarrassed and run to fetch some napkins. I told her, no problem, as this was only water, but she excused several times and even as she collected the trays later.

Tee and Coffee service were also done from a cart. They had silverware, but stored crème on the lower level of the cart, hidden by napkin. I was amazed to see as they refilled the silver crème can with crème from the big can storing it again on the cart’s lower level. Well, it is a bit of show, but it is nice to see how they care for the detail.

Also on this flight the flight attendant collected the menu after one had chosen the food, but I was able to take the menu with me. I do not know why they always collect them. This seems a bit stingy to me. The printing of the menu should not be that expensive. Asiana prints the menu for the outbound and inbound flight in the same menu, perhaps this is the reason.

The service was friendly, but again one could at least expect some sort of amenities during the flight. A toothbrush and a comb were available in the lavatories, but ear plugs or eyeshades were only available on request. Even in First Class one had to ask for these things and from my point of view one could expect to get this without asking. At least they could place a basket somewhere in the cabin like All Nippon Airways did if they did not offer an Amenity kit like KLM or Lufthansa. The second point, why on earth did they show the film also on the two screens at the ceiling? All seats have in-seat monitors, so there is no need for this and there is still some light from the screen in the cabin. Especially if your seat is near one of the two screens, you have difficulties to sleep without eyeshade due to the light from the sscreen. It seems, that some passengers complained about this, as they put a paper or something like that in front of the screens and pushed the screen in “take-off” position, so only one half of the screen was visible.

The immigration forms for the US were distributed before dinner was served but I got the wrong one. So I had to ask for the I-94 form for people, who do not need a visa. They had to search for it, but were able to bring it to me along with a biro some minutes later. They excused for handling me the wrong one, but I told them it was my fault, as I did not notice is during distribution either.

I listened to one of the 7 music channel. There were four video channels available, but again no AVOD System. The in seat monitor is small, but bigger than in First. During the night, one had to use the call button to get water or juice or walk to the rear galley. Only I and one other passenger walked there, the other passengers used the call button. To me, it seems, the flight attendants were a bit surprised to see a passenger coming and asking for water. Nevertheless, I like to walk a bit and stretch my legs during a flight, even if I am in Business Class and I had used the call button only a few times since I am flying.

The cabin was fortunately not that warm like on many other flights.

The lights were dimmed round about 20 minutes after trays were collected and remained so for the next hours. At this point I missed a reading lamp at my seat. But one has to use the reading lamp over the seat and this means disturbing fellow passengers a bit. Lights were switched on 2 hours 35 minutes prior to scheduled landing time and another hot towel round were done.

Just a few seconds later, another flight attendant appeared and asked what our choice for the snack menu would be. I had to look into the menu once again .


I opted for the Deep Fried Prawn, but the Sauce was from my taste far away from “Hot” Spicy, spicy, yes, but not hot. Nevertheless the food was okay, though not as good as dinner. Meal Service was done again with trays from the cart for the first course and than the following courses served from the cart.

I stayed with the Sauvignon Blanc, but this time only a small glass and more water.

This time, the meal service was much faster and we were ready nearly 1 hour 45 minutes prior to landing. My seat neighbour used his laptop to work a little bit. He fortunately had charged his laptop battery in Seoul and told me, he had never been in the old Business Class. He flew the most time out of Los Angeles and so far he was every time in a plane with the New Business Class.

I listened to the Audio Channel, and watched the landscape down, as there was no cloud in the sky. Soon we began our descend into Chicago and again one could get magnificent views on the skyline of Chicago while the plane flew over Lake Michigan and made the left turn.
We touched down at 17:20 and it took some time till we reached our parking position at Terminal 5. Seat Belt Signs were switched off but just a few minutes later we were told to take our seat again. The plane had rolled too far and must push back some meters. The jet bridge was visible from my windows and there were several people looking and speaking in their mobilephones and walkie talkies. While we were in our seats the flight attendants began to hand out the stored hand luggage to everybody. Finally the jetbridge was at the plane and I was standing at the top of the staircase while first class passengers deboarded to plane through the Economy Class Cabin. As First had left, a few Economy Passengers took the opportunity and left the plane, but the rest was hold back and we could disembark the plane. I tried to catch up with cathaana, as she was already walking to immigration. My seat neighbour told me, one had not to expect a lot of passengers at immigration on a Saturday Afternoon. Well, there was a line and we had to wait for app. 40 minutes. I later was told, this was not that bad for Chicago.

The officer asked about my return ticket and as this was an etix I had to show the Checkmytrip print and as he saw the routing, I was questioned another four minutes. Why I travel quite often to Asia, what the purpose of this trip was, and why I flew to San Diego for just 24 hours. Finally I got the print in my passport and passed immigration, where cathaana was waiting.

Before terminal I phoned the Hampton Inn Elk Grove Village for the shuttle service, as they do not have a free phone in the arrival hall.

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