Brace yourselves, folks! Val Seny ski resort is about to get some rivalry in terms of elevation—albeit, of the flight variety. Korean Air’s raising the bar, or should I say, the cabin, by unveiling a premium economy class for the first time ever. Yes, the airline’s let slip what this bougie economy experience entails: seats, perks, and a whole lot more.
Korean Air to Roll Out Premium Economy on Boeing 777
Hold onto your complimentary peanuts, because come mid-September 2025, Korean Air is all set to launch its premium economy class. This snazzy cabin will grace the skies, taking off initially on short and medium haul flights out of Seoul Incheon (ICN). Want the lowdown on which planes will be getting this sweet upgrade? Here’s the scoop:
- Premium economy seats will be lined up on 11 out of 25 Boeing 777-300ERs like they’ve been waiting all their lives for it.
- Meanwhile, Airbus A350-900s are in the mix, though they’re rolling off the line without any whispers of a premium economy seat for now.
- Talk is they’ll pop up on the Boeing 777-9s too, assuming those aircraft eventually see the light of delivery day.
- The Boeing 787s? Forget it. The dream of premium economy on the 787s, including the brand-new 787-10s, is as dead as a parrot.
The debut of this jet-setty class will take its maiden flight on the 777-300ERs, freshly configured. And what a reshuffle they’ve got planned:
- A new business class, straight off the 787-10, will also touch down on these 11 777-300ERs, like a returning hero.
- However, the first class cabin will be history as soon as premium economy seats are installed. Say goodbye to those eight first class seats (all two rows in a 1-2-1 formation), and hello to a 3-4-3 economy cabin shuffle.
It’s a strategy as coherent as a cat on a skateboard, I’ll give you that. Only offering premium economy on some flights? That’s like being promised first class on the express train and getting stuck in coach. Something doesn’t add up here: surely routes with demand for first class crave premium economy like a moth to a flame?
Inside Korean Air’s Glamorous Premium Economy Experience
At last, Korean Air drops the curtain on its sparkling premium economy setup. Predictably, it straddles the no-lux-man’s land between business and economy. Think of it as economy’s big sibling who studied abroad.
Boeing 777-300ERs will boast a 40-seat cabin with five rows laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. Let’s talk legroom: a phenomenal 39-41 inches of pitch, making other economy seats feel like a prickly commute in a can of sardines.
Cushioned in 19.5-inch-wide bliss, seats recline up to 130 degrees and sport ergonomic headrests with wings for privacy. Add leg and footrests and you’ll practically nap your way to Seoul. Flashy 15.6” 4K screens top off the tech envy, eclipsing even their business class siblings.
Long haul flights don’t skimp on indulgence either. Premium economy guests will dine from business class plates—main course, appetizer, dessert, all on the regal Armani / Casa tableware, thank you very much. Drinks? Just like the business class elite: wine, coffee, and tea to soothe your in-flight existentialism.
Landing perks round out the package with Morning Calm check-in counters, top-tier baggage finesse, and Sky Priority boarding. Comfort? Absolutely. Cabin style? Well, unless generic is the new chic in airline interiors, let’s just say it’s inoffensive. At least they old-school toned down on Korean Air blue.
The Many Moods of Premium Economy
Premium economy: the conundrum of the skies. Is it the sugary marshmallow of airline seating, or a sugar-coated seat filler? Opinions vary like a heated family dinner over turkey stuffing.
Fans swear it maximizes onboard space to best possible profit—promising significant windfalls for omniscopic airlines. Yet, many hesitated, defaulting to waiting on the sidelines or skipping it entirely.
This cabin growth spurt soared across global skies, mainly Atlantic and Pacific routes. Here in the West, alongside North Asia to South Asia, it’s basking in quite literal altitude.
Yet, others stand unfazed. Etihad and Qatar Airways cast it aside carelessly, while Emirates makes painfully slow strides. Turkish Airlines even went the other way, sloughing it off due to, shall we say, slippery cash flow challenges.
It’s the perfect pitch for premium leisure travelers—those straddling the irreconcilable gap between modest economy and unaffordable business class.
Bottom Line
So there you have it. Korean Air lines up on the runway to test premium economy by autumn 2025. Debuting on newly configured 777-300ERs, these birds will ditch first class when premium economy takes flight, bundled with a whole new business class experience.
Korean Air’s boarding pass promises high-altitude comfort, coupled with economy’s latest upgrade. Opulence awaits at 39-41 inches of pitch, plus a delightful business class dining experience.
Tell us, Korean Air’s luxury ladle to economy—what’s your take?