What Is It Like To Fly Korean Air’s New Boeing 787-10 in Business Class?

Korean Air has taken delivery of its first five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, marking a significant step in modernizing its fleet. As the airline paves the way for its merger with Asiana Airlines, the new Dreamliners not only introduce an all-new Prestige 2.0 cabin but also debuts Korean Air’s first-ever long-haul inflight connectivity.

I had the opportunity to experience this brand-new aircraft on the short but sweet Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita route. Here’s how the experience unfolded.

Check-in

Arriving at Seoul Incheon International Airport, I made my way to Korean Air’s exclusive Premium check-in area.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

This dedicated space, separated from the bustling main terminal, offers First and Business Class passengers a quiet and refined check-in experience.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

Unlike the standard economy check-in counters, this area had no lines, and within five minutes, I had my boarding pass in hand. The gracious check-in agent carefully explained how to get to our assigned gate, and the locations of the Prestige lounges inside the terminal.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

However, the seamless experience came to a halt when we reached immigration. Unlike some airports that offer a priority immigration lane for business class passengers, Incheon does not provide this benefit for any carrier.

The regular queue was quite long, adding unwarranted waiting time, keeping us away from enjoying one of the airline’s lounges before boarding the 787.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

Once past security, with not much time to spare, we proceeded directly to the departure gate, where boarding was about to begin.

Boarding

Boarding at Incheon was efficient but rushed. The gate agents appeared somewhat stressed, moving quickly to get passengers onboard. Unfortunately, this meant there wasn’t much time to properly photograph the new Prestige cabin before settling in.

After my boarding pass was scanned, I proceeded past the gate and through the jetway designated for First and Business Class passengers.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

The Seat

One of the most anticipated aspects of this flight was experiencing Korean Air’s brand-new Prestige Suites 2.0, unveiled in July 2024.

The 36-seat business class cabin features a customized version of Collins Aerospace’s Horizon business class suite, bringing a much-needed upgrade to the airline’s premium product.

Photo: Boeing 787-10, Prestige Class 2.0. Courtesy of Korean Air

Each suite boasts a 78-inch (198cm) fully flat bed, a seat pitch of 46 inches (117cm), and a width of 21 inches (53cm). Privacy is a standout feature, thanks to the 51-inch high partitions, which create a more enclosed, intimate space.

Photo: Boeing 787-10, Prestige Class 2.0. Courtesy of Korean Air

A significant enhancement to the airline’s hard-product catalog is the inclusion of sliding doors. Unfortunately, these doors were locked during the entire flight due to certification delays. However, once they become operational, the added privacy will greatly enhance the passenger experience and elevate it to a whole new level.

Photo: Boeing 787-10, Prestige Class 2.0. Courtesy of Korean Air

The middle seats even offer a full drop-down divider, allowing for a shared sleeping space with a combined width of 46 inches.

The cabin’s refreshed color palette is a noticeable departure from Korean Air’s previous blue-heavy branding. The new tones are far more neutral and sophisticated, making the cabin feel modern and understated.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

The seat finishes are unique and well thought out, with an emphasis on creating a comfortable and inviting space.

I selected one of the window seats, which I find to be the coziest for both privacy and the ability to lean against the fuselage.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

The seat converted smoothly into a bed, and I was pleased to find that the footwell was more spacious than expected, allowing my feet to move freely without feeling cramped.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

That said, the seat felt slightly narrow when fully reclined. Compared to the ultra-spacious business class seats on Korean Air’s Boeing 747-8, the dash-ten’s suites don’t offer the same level of roominess. However, the technology that accompanies it transforms the experience entirely.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

Because this was a short flight, Korean Air does not provide bedding or amenities. However, on long-haul flights, the airline offers a basic pillow and a thick, wool-like blanket, which is standard across its entire fleet.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

Top Tip: If you enjoy spacious lavatories, head to the front of the cabin, where the central lavatory provides ample space and a drop-down seat.

Entertainment

To my surprise, Korean Air made huge strides in inflight entertainment (IFE) on its brand-new 787s. The Prestige Suites 2.0 are equipped with stunning 24-inch 4K ultra-high-definition monitors—among the sharpest and most vibrant I’ve seen in business class, making them a real highlight of the experience. In addition, the airline offers wireless charging on every seat—a feature I’m starting to love more and more.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

As on every flight, the airline kicks things off with a safety video. Korean Air did things slightly different, showcasing a new video, entirely made with Artificial Intelligence, starring virtual humans.

Rina, the virtual assistant dressed in the airline’s iconic Flight Attendant uniform, leads the safety instructions presentation in an immersive digital environment. I found the video to be extremely entertaining and pleasing to watch.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

The movie and TV selection was impressive, offering various international and Korean content. Interestingly, I found the selection to be significantly better than what’s available on the airline’s Airbus A380s, which still use an older inflight entertainment system.

One of the biggest updates is the airline’s introduction of inflight Wi-Fi, a long-overdue feature. The airline has partnered with Viasat to provide connectivity, with pricing ranging from $4.95 for full-flight messaging to $11.95 for unlimited web browsing on this short-haul journey.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

As I understand it, longer flights have different pricing packages. However, Prestige Class passengers are not given complimentary Wi-Fi access, which was disappointing.

Food & Beverage

On this morning’s departure from Incheon, lunch was served after takeoff. Given the short flight time of just over two hours, the meal service was expedited.

Service began with drinks and the airline’s pre-packaged cold towel. With a full day of exploration ahead in Tokyo, I opted for a Korean-made Coca-Cola Zero, which was delightfully refreshing.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

For my meal, I chose Korean Air’s signature beef bulgogi with mushrooms. The dish came with a generous portion of white rice and peas, as well as traditional Korean sides, including spicy pickled vegetables. A comforting fish broth soup accompanied the meal.

Dessert was a pleasant surprise—Korean Muscat grapes. These were incredibly juicy, tender, and refreshing, making for a perfect light ending to the meal.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

To round out the meal, I requested a cup of Starbucks coffee, which was promptly served. It was a satisfying, albeit quick, meal service.

Arrival

With the short flight time, I spent much of the journey gazing out the window, enjoying the aerial views of Japan. As we began our descent into Narita, flight attendants came around with immigration forms and warmly thanked each passenger for flying with Korean Air.

Photo: Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

The landing was smooth, and within minutes, we arrived to the gate. Deplaning was orderly, and the crew remained courteous until the end, sending passengers off with genuine gratitude.

Verdict

Korean Air’s new Prestige Suites 2.0 aboard the Boeing 787-10 is a massive advancement in the airline’s business class offerings. This cabin exudes elegance, featuring a harmonious blend of modern design and luxurious comfort. Every detail has been carefully curated to enhance privacy, allowing passengers to feel cocooned in their own serene space. With its wide selection of high-definition content, the inflight entertainment system is a standout highlight, promising an improved experience throughout the journey.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

The seat offers remarkable comfort and technology. However, when reclined into bed mode, the seat can feel somewhat snug, and the absence of a mattress pad detracts from the potential for a truly restful sleep. Nevertheless, with the airline’s upcoming merger with Asiana and major updates to both soft and hard products on the horizon, Korean Air is on track to elevate its Business Class experience to a truly world-class level.

Additionally, inflight Wi-Fi is a much-appreciated modern convenience. However, it would enhance the experience even further if business class passengers were granted complimentary access, in keeping with the premium nature of the service.

Unfortunately, my brief two-hour flight between Seoul and Tokyo left me wanting more. The 787-10 is currently serving longer routes to Seattle and Hawaii, where U.S. travelers can fully embrace this exceptional product and indulge in the best of Korean hospitality.

Best For

Passengers looking to travel from the U.S. to Asia and enjoying Korean hospitality on a brand-new aircraft featuring top-class business class seating.

Flight Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

Configuration: 1-2-1

Website: koreanair.com

Disclaimer: While Korean Air provided Business Traveler with a round-trip ticket for this journey, all opinions expressed in this review are solely those of the author and remain entirely unbiased.