Korean Air vs Emirates

[5teve]

Hello all: My Sister, her husband and 2 children (10 and 7) will fly BNE to London at Christmas. For 2 adults and 2 children they can save $1600 AUD on the Emirates price by flying with Korean Air and spending a night in Seoul. One worry (founded or not) is the flight path over Ukraine, nor do they have any friends who have done this flight who can comment on service, facilities etc

Has anyone done the Korean flight and can recommend either way?

FWIW, flight dates are BNE-London on 20/12/16 and Geneva to BNE on 15/01/17

Many thanks!
Steve

 

[medhead]

I doubt the flight path is over the ukraine. Airlines try to follow great circle paths. In this case that's over China, Russia, Finland and Sweden.
Great Circle Mapper

 

[Mattg]

The flight path is to the north of the Ukraine.

I personally don't have any concerns about Korean Air, and $1,600 is not insignificant.

If an overnight stop in Seoul is required on the outbound leg, you may also be eligible for a free hotel, provided you've booked an eligible fare class. (Although, I note that some discount economy fares are ineligible for STPC).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello all: My Sister, her husband and 2 children (10 and 7) will fly BNE to London at Christmas. For 2 adults and 2 children they can save $1600 AUD on the Emirates price by flying with Korean Air and spending a night in Seoul. One worry (founded or not) is the flight path over Ukraine, nor do they have any friends who have done this flight who can comment on service, facilities etc

Has anyone done the Korean flight and can recommend either way?

FWIW, flight dates are BNE-London on 20/12/16 and Geneva to BNE on 15/01/17

Many thanks!
Steve

l'd say Korean air is probably a pretty good option. plenty of leg room, good service. tasty food. IFE won't be up to the same standard as Emirates, but still just fine.

soeul airport is pretty good to transit/transfer (so people say, I don't get it).

 

[dajop]

I doubt the flight path is over the ukraine. Airlines try to follow great circle paths. In this case that's over China, Russia, Finland and Sweden.
Great Circle Mapper

To see yesterday's actual flight path for ICN-LHR, see here, way north of Ukraine. Even airlines with great circle map taking them over Ukraine still avoid it. Most significant deviation from Great Circle route is of course immediately after take off

 

[medhead]

To see yesterday's actual flight path for ICN-LHR, see here, way north of Ukraine. Even airlines with great circle map taking them over Ukraine still avoid it. Most significant deviation from Great Circle route is of course immediately after take off

Yes, it is a common misconception that airlines follow a straight line on a standard mercator 2D map projection. That would be over the ukraine for ICN-LHR.

 

[dajop]

Yes, it is a common misconception that airlines follow a straight line on a standard mercator 2D map projection. That would be over the ukraine for ICN-LHR.

Yes common misconception. And even most direct route (as illustrated by circle mapper of google maps "measure distance"), can be influenced by winds.

For me most stark illustration of this was Singapore-New York non stop. The 2D map project straight line passes just to the north of Hawaii (or Algeria in the other direction, distance almost same). The great circle map more or less goes over the north pole (via Mongolia, Greenland and Quebec), yet the route travelled often went via Japan/Alaska (SIN-EWR) and via north atlantic/southern sweden/russia etc (EWR-SIN). Only at certain times of the year did it take polar route .... and never via Algeria or Hawaii!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, it is a common misconception that airlines follow a straight line on a standard mercator 2D map projection.

probably because when some of us started flying we DID fly in straight lines... Singapore-bangkok-Bombay-Abu Dhabi-Rome-Frankfurt-London :shock: (Boeing 707 jet comfort all the way!)

 

[lc_461]

Most travel agents should be able to organise a free hotel on one leg on KE (known as STPC).

 

[24601]

Korean is a nice airline to fly, I think. And, yes, ICN is a good airport. A night there is an interesting stop and saving $1600, a great option if you have the time.

 

[5teve]

Many thanks to all for your advice, as always. Very helpful. I believe my dad is now looking into this option (but extending the Korea stay a day or 2) for when he comes and visits next. Thanks for clarification re flight path as well - I think a TA gave them some wrong advice

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Full support a stopover with kids. being able to sleep in a real bed makes the trip a lot easier. flying 24 hours in economy gives on an idea of what a battery caged hen's life must be like.

even in business class I'm not averse to a stopover eg a lot of the SQ reward flights require a stopover at the save level, and I'm quite happy with that.

i know some will think you lose a day with the stopover, but sometimes going slow means you get there faster as a non stop flight can leave you exhausted and extra jet lagged.

ICN is a nice airport. Not as much to do as say Changi, but they have various cultural performances through the day.