How many hours did you say? And that’s just one leg of the 2-flight journey to get from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Seoul, Korea and then on to Chiang Mai, Thailand?
No, I did not despair when they mentioned 13-hours+ for the first leg, with another five hours to get from Seoul (ICN) to Chiang Mai (CNX), because I was flying Prestige Class (what the airline calls Business Class) on board Korean Air, a member of SkyTeam. “Smooth flying” all the way, I figured…and it was. From check-in at ATL’s International Terminal to touchdown in Thailand, everything went off with nary a hiccup, and it all started with the relaxing and comfortable ambiance at the ATL International Terminal’s Delta Sky Club, which offers panoramic views, a well-stocked F&B bar, plenty of seating, seat service with a friendly staff and great connectivity. Just what I needed before boarding the very long-haul flight. Oh, and I was allowed two checked bags (I’m looking at you, fashion mavens!).
Once boarded on the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft—and how easy it was as a Prestige Class passenger to get on the plane as I was one of the first to board after families with children—I slipped into my truly comfortable, spacious and cocoon-like Prestige Class seat—or Prestige Suite—which on this aircraft come in 2-2 configuration, with direct access to the aisle for both passengers. The seat has plenty of space for storing personal items, charging capabilities and a privacy divider that can be raised or lowered depending on whether you’re traveling solo or with a companion (even then, it does come in handy when you want some me time!).
Prestige Class comes with an array of amenities, including my favorites—noise-canceling headphones (the world just slips away) and a quilted mattress pad to slip onto my fully flat-bed seat when I’d decided it was time to drift off to sleep (I really appreciated the size of the seat as it allowed me to lie on my side and rest comfortably rather than like a mummy). Other goodies I found in my amenity bag—an in-flight skincare line and a signature fragrance co-created by Korean Air and Graff. My pouch also had the convenient in-flight amenities such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask and ear plugs. Of course, there’s also a comfy blanket and pillow—of the Frette variety (including that aforementioned mattress pad).
As a film and TV buff, I can spend my entire flight watching the small-screen, so I was beyond ecstatic when I saw that my screen was anything but small. And the entertainment lineup did not disappoint. Neither did the meal options, whose order was taken upon boarding and whose variety I thoroughly enjoyed. Incidentally, Korean Air has renewed its selection of special in-flight dietary meals, introducing updated menus for seven meal types effective Sept. 1. Renewed special dietary categories include low-fat, diabetic and low-calorie meals; bland meals; gluten-intolerant meals; low-salt meals; and low-lactose meals. Those snacks in-between meals—cookies, popcorn, etc.—were just what this film buff needed.
By the way, I must add that the bathrooms in Prestige Class are quite expansive—those who are frequent fliers will appreciate this as it allows for comfortable freshening up (you’ll want to dab a bit of the eau de toilette that’s found in your amenity pouch).
But the most pleasant experience while flying Prestige Class on board Korean Air is the in-flight cabin crew, which are genuinely warm and professional. In fact, Skytrax named Korean Air a five-star airline in its 2025 World Airline Star Rating in part because of its cabin crew.
From Seoul it was onward to Chiang Mai in Prestige Class and that too was as seamless an experience as on the long-haul flight, although a more conventional business class experience given that it’s a shorter flight.
I experienced Korean Air’s Prestige Class 2.0 from Phuket to Seoul, with a 1-2-1 configuration. It was a long enough flight—6-hour red-eye—during which I had time to catch some rest (one of the most comfortable fully flat-bed seats I’ve ever experienced). Recommend couples book the center seats for a shared space (although they also have dividers, so no need to worry if your client is flying solo). Each seat features a 23.8-inch ultra-high-definition screen, wireless charging capabilities USB-C ports for fast charging, plus all the amenities a passenger might need in-flight. As on my long-haul flights from ATL to Seoul (and back home, Seoul to ATL), it was a flawless experience; not a wrinkle along the way—in fact, truth be told, even more pleasant than I expected and I had high expectations.
Not all flights from the North America to Seoul offer Prestige Class 2.0 yet—it is currently available on the Vancouver, Seattle and Honolulu routes.
One other thing: I really appreciated the expedited check-in at Phuket International Airport—I departed Thailand to Seoul through this airport—not only at the counter, but through passport control. Plus, there’s a lounge—albeit a tad small—at the airport with F&B and charging stations.
Currently, Korean Air serves 11 U.S. cities, including Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW), Honolulu (HNL), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA) and Washington-Dulles (IAD).
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