Korean Airlines plane parked at gate at Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea. Photo / Getty Images
The plane: Boeing 747-8I, operated by Korean Air, from Auckland to Seoul.
Class: Economy.
Price: $2039 return.
Flight time: 12 hours nonstop, with a brief 20-minute delay before we got going.
How full: Packed to the gills with people headed to Seoul - I didn't spot a single empty seat in Economy.
READ MORE:
• Flight Check: Los Angeles to Auckland with Air New Zealand
• Flight check: Auckland to Doha in 16.5 hours
• Flight check: What Air New Zealand's new Auckland-Seoul flight is like
• Flight Check: Flying on Air New Zealand's inaugural service from Auckland to Invercargill with Shane Jones and Christopher Luxon
Entertainment: Options are available in both English and Korean. The movie choice was adequate but not huge, and the TV selection in English was very small. However, it's a good chance to watch Korean entertainment with subtitles if you want to start early on your cultural immersion. And as we have seen with Parasite's success in the current awards season, South Korean movies are definitely worth a watch. Otherwise, maybe bring a book.
The service: Prompt and very pleasant. You're provided with an eye mask and foldable slippers, which is a nice touch. However, we were asked to keep the blinds down, and the cabin was in darkness, despite it being a daytime flight. That was odd.
Food and drink: Two meals, one at the beginning and end of the flight, and snacks like noodles available on request. The meals were substantial and tasty, with beef, gravy, mashed potato, and vegetables for lunch.
The toilets: Small but clean. As good as you get in economy.
The airport experience: Incheon Airport is well organised with plenty of food and shops to wander around. It's not only the biggest in South Korea, but one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. So it's just as well their staff are organised, as you won't face too many delays getting through customs.
The bottomline: A good way to get to Seoul in a hurry, but bring a book if you're fussy about inflight entertainment.
When there's nothing as far as the eye can see, you may appreciate the company.