trip report korean air

72 Hours With Korean Air: Getting to Korea (Trip Report)

Five flights. Four aircraft types. Two airlines. Two maintenance bases. Two catering kitchens. One hotel. One farm (yes, a farm). One flight training center. One airline headquarters. One medical center. And I just missed a traditional village. In 72 hours, I had the chance to experience all of this with Korean Air. ( The entire trip was paid for by Korean Air .) See Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 .

It sounds like an interesting trip, but you know what made this unique? Every single one of those things is owned by Korean Air or its parent, Hanjin. If you thought Delta buying a refinery was a stretch then get ready to see how things work in Korea. In 72 hours I was able to get a sense for what is really a very different kind of airline than what you’ll find in the US.

I was debating the best way to put this report together, and I decided to just plow through it chronologically. The idea for this trip came up just last month, and it gelled very quickly. My contact at Korean knows that I’m not as interested in traditional media trips where the focus is often on the destination instead of the airline itself. So when she had to be in Korea for a meeting, the opportunity came together to do an action-packed trip that focused entirely on the airline and its various subsidiaries. This seemed like the perfect trip to be my first experience in Asia. (Seriously, I had never touched any part of the continent before.)

Korean runs two daily flights from LA to Seoul’s Incheon airport. The first is a daylight trip on the A380 with the second being an overnight trip, usually on a 777-300ER. The A380 departure on the return is in the afternoon followed by the other departure in the evening. I can’t sleep on airplanes so I was clearly going to take the A380 out. I thought about doing the return on the evening flight, but due to maintenance, they had an older 747-400 with the old interior operating that day. I was more interested in seeing how the new flat beds were for sleeping, so I stuck with the A380.

The night before the trip began, I tried to check in for my first flight online, but that wasn’t to be. Apparently Korean requires you to be registered to check in. I signed up for a Skypass account, but I put my first name as Brett whereas the ticket had my first and middle names together. Because of that, it wouldn’t let me check in or pick a seat. Apparently checking in online isn’t that big in Korea, but requiring someone to sign up certainly isn’t going to help push people in that direction.

At 1115a the next day, I arrived at LAX to find the Bradley Terminal buzzing. My contact was there waiting for me, and we checked in at the desk with a smiling agent. I was given a window seats at my request, and I was also handed a pass to the First Class lounge. I was in business, or Prestige Class, but Korean had arranged for the lounge pass so I could see both lounges (they’re in the same facility, just separated by a wall).

After wrestling with the TSA (it’s always a terrible experience at Bradley), we headed up to the SkyTeam lounge, which is operated by Korean. Fun fact: The big backdrop photo at the check-in desk (above) was taken by Korean’s chairman who is an avid photographer. It seems pretty clear that SkyTeam drew the short straw when they were handing out lounges at Bradley. It was narrow and not very long (see half of it below), and it was crowded with both Korean and China Eastern travelers. I’m told they are in the middle of expanding it now. The First Class lounge was a private, small room off the main lounge that had upgraded drinks and food. (Well, mostly upgraded. They also had chicken nuggets in there which were, admittedly, pretty tasty.)

After a few minutes in the lounge, we headed to the gate where most people had already boarded. That gate has two jet bridges with First and economy boarding on the lower level with Prestige upstairs. We took the ramp up and boarded.

Several flight attendants were waiting at the door with a smile. They examined each boarding pass and escorted us all to our seats.

June 1, 2013 Korean Air 018 Lv Los Angeles 1245p Arr Seoul/Incheon 550p (on June 2) Los Angeles (LAX): Gate 123, Runway 24L, Depart On Time Seoul/Incheon (ICN): Gate 17, Runway 33R, Arrive 30m Early HL7619, Airbus A380-861, Standard blue livery, ~90% Full in Business Seat 10H Flight Time 12h05m

After I was seated, a flight attendant quickly came by with a pre-departure drink. Another came by to introduce herself and she brought an amenity kit. Slippers were already in the seat back pocket. The seat itself was spacious with plenty of legroom ahead, but there was no place under the seat in front to store anything during takeoff and landing. That’s why the window seats on this airplane are even better. On the upper deck, compartments line the window the entire way. There was plenty of room for my computer and a bunch more if I needed it.

We pushed back on time and had a leisurely taxi to the runway. I flipped on the tail camera and watched as we headed into the hazy sunshine. A flight attendant came by with a menu and I decided to explore the entertainment system.

The screen is huge, and there was a lot of content on the system. The only complaint I have is about the headset. It’s a pretty cheap little plastic thing that seemed out of place. Meanwhile, the captain came on to introduce himself and told us basic details about the flight. I went back to staring out the window as we went northwest past the California coast. There is nothing like flying past the Bay Area at altitude on a clear day.

I was asked to order both my lunch and dinner entrees in advance. I chose the bibimbap for lunch and the udon noodles for dinner. When lunch came, they started with a little appetizer followed by mozzarella and tomato. Then the bibimbap came, complete with instructions on how to put it together. After lunch, dessert was offered, and I had the ice cream; a little personal-sized Haagen Dazs cup.

After that, the lights started to come down and the crew asked everyone to close their window shades row by row. Apparently it was time to sleep, but I knew that wasn’t happening. I went to explore the airplane. Korean has only 407 seats on the A380 and it’s not hard to see why there are so few. There is a lot of other stuff on this airplane besides seats. I was in the front cabin on the upper deck (it’s all business class up top). In the front (where Emirates has its showers), Korean has lavs on one side and a little self service lounge area on the other. You can make your own drink and have a seat.

We went downstairs and visited the very private First Class cabin. There was only one seat out of twelve filled on this flight, and that must have been a surreal experience for that guy. Then it was time to pass back into coach. It was packed, but the legroom was good, as was the in-seat video screen. At the back of the coach cabin is where it gets really interesting.

There is an entire Duty Free “Sky Shop” set up in the back. It has a counter staffed by a flight attendant and there are even video screens behind giving it more of a retail feel.

The products that they offer in the shop are rotated monthly, but as you can imagine, there’s a lot of alcohol and cosmetics. Korean says it has the largest airline duty free operation in the world. I would learn more about this while in Korea. (I’ll have details in a future post.)

Then we went back upstairs, but this time we took the rear staircase. I’m not sure how I missed this originally, but Korean has a large lounge called the Celestial Lounge back there. This was sponsored by Absolut in a big way. The bartender is trained by Absolut and they have a variety of Absolut cocktails they make.

They even have a TV monitor that just rotates the various cocktails. The space is actually very cool and has room for probably 8 to 10 people to sit depending upon how cozy they want to get. We sat there for over an hour just having a drink and talking.

I started to feel a little sleepy, so I went back to my seat. I flipped on a movie and dozed off… for about 10 minutes. Then I woke back up and somehow wasn’t tired anymore. I watched another movie and then finally gave up. I picked up my laptop and went back to the lounge where I was able to get some writing done. I really can’t explain how much I loved this lounge. There was something fantastic about being able to go do work outside of your seat area.

About 5 hours before landing, they started turning the lights on and began preparing for the second meal service. This seemed way too early to me, but I went back to me seat anyway. They asked if I was ready, and I asked if I had a choice. She said she would be happy to serve me later if I wanted, and I took her up on that offer. I was not that hungry. Instead, I turned on some music and watched the tail camera while I did some more work.

Around 3h30m before landing, I finally started to get hungry, so I rang the call button and a flight attendant was at my seat in seconds. She brought me my meal quickly and the udon noodles were really tasty. The only problem is that they’re hot, and this is a big deal on Korean. I have heard several reports that Korean keeps its cabins too warm, and since the A380 has no personal air vents, there’s not much you can do about it. I didn’t have much of a problem until I had those tasty, hot noodles. Later, I found out that cabin temperature is an issue for the airline as many Koreans think the cabin is too cold while American think it’s too warm. It’s hard to find the happy medium.

After dinner, I had fruit for dessert and then some green tea. I settled in to watch another movie and almost nodded off but could never quite get there. We were soon passing over Japan, and my movie was over. When it flipped off, classical music came back on and it was Rhapsody in Blue. Even though I wasn’t flying United, there was no way I was turning that off. I listened and drifted off again for a few minutes of sleep. I woke up as we were passing over the Korean coast. It was clear but hazy most of the way in. We touched down a little early and taxied back to the terminal slowly. We only had to pause for a United 747 to take off for San Francisco. That was quite fitting with Rhapsody still ringing in my head.

Once off the airplane, we took the 5 minute shuttle to the Hyatt Regency Incheon . There’s a big banner for Korean Air on top of the hotel and for good reason; Korean Air owns the property. The hotel itself was really nice, and they put me on the top floor with a view of the airfield. Unfortunately, it was pretty hazy, so my view was limited.

I was tired but determined not to waste any time in this country. We went into Seoul (about a 50 minute drive) and went to the top of Mt Namsan . After, we had dinner and then went back to get some sleep before our next big day of travel. I’ll have my post up on travel to Jeju Island and Busan soon.

Get Cranky in Your Inbox!

The airline industry moves fast. sign up and get every cranky post in your inbox for free..

You must check your inbox and click to confirm your subscription. (Check your spam folder if you don't see it soon.)

45 comments on “ 72 Hours With Korean Air: Getting to Korea (Trip Report) ”

Quite cool!

I didn’t realize the A380’s didn’t have personal air vents.. Any reason why?

Also, perhaps they should calculate the percentage of Americans vs. Koreans (by address perhaps?) and adjust the temperature accordingly, this way they’d annoy fewer people.

Nick – I have no idea why the A380 has no personal air vents. Every airplane should have it, as far as I’m concerned.

Some variations of AA’s 767-300 doesn’t have personal air vents either. I was on a flight from DFW to CDG and we had to wait for maintenance at the gate after boarding with an inop APU and the aircraft was getting hot, CA gets on the PA to explain what we were waiting on and says “make sure your air vents are open”…everyone looks around for air vents…purser explains situation to CA then he gets on the PA and says “oops, sorry!”

It’s funny that the hot/cold on board was mentioned. I’m a Korean-American and I get way too hot in Korea, especially when I fly Korean. My wife is from Korea… she always complains that it’s too damn cold. I took Korean out of IAD and JFK numerous times in coach and in business and I always wished there was an air vent.

Anyway, I have the same issues at home too so I tend to have to deal with sleeping in hot weather. Such is married life!

Problem 1: too warm cabin. There was someone (American) stay in shirtless near my seat. It’s even warm for Koreans used to live in US for a long time. No vents not only in 380 but across on all Korean air (and Asiana) fleets. Problem 2: all ICN bound flights from US offer second meal too early. By the time we arrive ICN, we’re starving. For flights from east coast, even a light meal between two meals comes before the too-early second meal. So there are three meals at a very short period and nothing for the last 5 hours before landing. Starving. I enjoyed your post. Can’t wait your next post.

This post is awesome, and I’m excited to hear more about your time here. I just wish I’d known you were in Korea. We could have had a Cranky Appreciation fest!

Harold – Well, I barely had time to sleep while I was there, so sadly no time to hang out with folks. But I’ll do my best to make some time if I ever get back there again!

KE/Hanjin actually realize the need to provide complementary services and ENCOURAGE tourism and cultural awareness – from the food on board to the activities on the ground. (Why can’t the US airlines do this?).

Nice report, and looking forward to see your ground experience in Korea (and ICN which is really nice).

With only one person in first class, it sounds like KE doesn’t do upgrades for (at least) high mileage Business travelers.

With a Duty Free shop and soumd lounge areas, it’s almost what Airbus said would be on A380’s. Just need the gym, spa, and bowling alley to be complete.

Most (if not all) non-US airline will not upgrade pax unless they have to, for example because your class of service has been overbooked…

David SF – Korean actually does have mileage upgrades from higher fare business class tickets. So there is a way to upgrade, but it’s not as generous as on US airlines.

Upgrade ? .. 1. Firstly, pay for the class in which you wish to travel. 2. Only if a cabin is overbooked, should a passenger be provided in a cabin of superior service.

I’ve flown KE twice (in coach) and been impressed both times. The ICN airport is a cinch to make connections in. Their staff was both gracious and competent–what a combination! The odd thing at the airport are the putting greens outside some of the gates–obviously not usable but interesting decorations.

Re: online check-in: “I put my first name as Brett whereas the ticket had my first and middle names together”. Good guess, but no. I flew the night B777-300ER rotation recently on a Korean (!) itin (I only tried to link my Skymiles account no. after purchase), and there just doesn’t seem to be a way to check in online. I jumped through ALL the hoops (signed up for their mileage program, restarted their website after several crashes, in utter frustration, called their telephone help line). No dice (on a biz ticket!). Had to arrive at airport extra early because of it, and sat in their crowded LAX lounge that has the worst Wifi speed and reliability I’ve had anywhere in recent memory. It’s a very strange thing: South Koreans are leaders in information technology, and everyone in Seoul is an Internet whiz. Yet one of their two leading airlines has an Internet presence that is more Air Koryo than (South) Korean Air. If they gave you the line that “online check-in is not a big thing in Korea”, then that’s an attitude of a company with a dangerous hubris and lack of customer focus. That most likely is also the reason why they effectively dropped out of the Skymiles program: too big of an ego. Remember, this is the same management that is currently preoccupied with building $$ billion hotel skyscrapers in downtown LA. Looks like they have taken their focus off running an efficient, customer centric airline. The marketplace usually renders a verdict. I contribute: I’ll avoid them for future travel.

They serve bibimbap in a plastic bowl and call it a premium service? C’mon, 100 stone bowls can’t add that much weight to a 380…

I flew an SAS A330 last summer that also didn’t have personal air vents. The first 2 hours of the flight were a test for my deodorant, that’s for sure.

We flew Korean on our honeymoon last year and loved it! Here are my trip reports

http://www.johnnyjet.com/2012/11/bali-to-new-york-on-korean-airs-a380/ http://www.johnnyjet.com/2012/09/toronto-to-seoul-on-korean-air/

I always love these writeups, feel like you’re sitting right next to brett!

Well now I have to ask the question, why are there no individual air vents?

Not everyone has the same body temp, people dress in different type clothes that effect their body temp, meds people take can alter their body temp and male/female menopause cause hot flashes. How does any airline/airplane manufacture think they can ever keep the temp comfortable for everyone? The only thing to do it keep the cabin cooler and hand out sweaters, gloves and blankets to everyone in case they need them.

Brett’s already heard from me on this, but I too just had my first KE experience over the past two weeks.

JFK to BKK thru ICN, and back to JFK this past weekend. All in Prestige, the long leg on the A380, the BKK flights on a 777-300ER, I believe.

Agree on the seat and service. Both are excellent.

Weird thing about the cabin temp. The flights out were both very hot and annoying. Oddly, the flights home were super cold. I was happy – everyone else was shivering.

The food is hit or miss. Some china, some plastic. Some great options, some gross options. I’m used to CX and BA level consistency and KE missed the mark on food. And yes, the second meal on both of the JFK/ICN flights were oddly timed.

Also – no one used either of the lounges on any of my flights. People slept.

Net, I flew because I’m now Skyteam loyal – I know, I know – and the KE Presitge ticket was 2K less than the DL ticket thru NRT.

So overall, happy – and very happy for the price.

Great stuff Cranky- love the trip reports..

It is totally bizarre how poor airline websites are, and Korean is amongst the worst. You can’t just type in airport codes – you have to select a region first! It gets worse from there.

I’ve flown KE business class a couple of times from ICN-LAX, on the 747 though and not the A380. The service was excellent and the bibimbap delicious both times, so it’s nice to see their service standards are still high. Curiously, I don’t remember the cabin being particularly warm either time. Then again, I tend to get cold very easily, so maybe I just didn’t notice.

I’ve had the middle/last name combo problem on Cathay Pacific and sometime BA. Is KE on Amadeus and if so maybe that’s the problem? Also, other reviews have mentioned that the bibimbap gets boring after a few flights as its the main option.

@RAW KE didn’t drop Skymiles cause of its ego. They dropped it cause they didn’t want to be held hostage by DL. Koreans and others will continue to fly KE and DL will feed people over NRT and eventually PVG with MU.

Sanjeev – I believe Korean is moving to Amadeus Altea, but I don’t know if the switch has happened yet. I tend to think not, because my reservation code was a long list of numbers.

As for the food, bibimbap was one of only three options. They also had grilled beef tenderloin or roasted salmon. So there was no shortage of options.

And lastly, on SkyMiles, it sounds more and more like Delta did this as a pressure tactic. I’m going to put this up on Friday to discuss further.

The flight report was greatly appreciated. It is immensely helpful to know what attention to service one gets for those premium fares. Missed the details about what selection of wines were available, if turndown service includes a mattress pad, noise level, and mid-flight snacks. The picture of the bibimbap looked awfully similar to the one served in economy from JFK to ICN. I learned to request the red chile paste tube in any meal service as the catering does not season most options. Looking forward to reading more!

Jay F – There were multiple wine options, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what they were. I had a nice French red, but I don’t remember the detail and don’t have it written down. No turn down service that I saw. Noise was low – that A380 is great for that. And there were plenty of mid-flight snacks. I had some chips back at the bar. They also allow you to order things like ramen if you’d like. But I didn’t do it.

So did you make it home with the Blue Label?

mark – Hah, no. I decided not to buy it, though I did pick up something for my son and a little chocolate. That was a LOT cheaper.

So the cabin crew asks you to lower the window shade “because it is sleep time”. But I want to look out the window all the time (true; and I frequently fly China-Canada). Now what? And we all know that in cattle class on Air Canada the cabin people don’t ask; they just reach across and snap the shade down, and scowl deeply when the cattle person raises the shade. CF: about an article on the window shade thing (like the recline thing)?

Jim – I could have raised it and it wouldn’t have been a problem. The crew never pushed it and never missed a chance to smile at everyone. But with every shade down, I just felt like I didn’t want to bug people too much. That’s why a) I used the tail camera on the IFE and b) I went back to the lounge which had plenty of shades to pull up and avoid bothering people.

They should install virtual shades à la 787, so the crew can override individual passengers’ actions. Kinda like the window lock button on the driver’s seat.

As I once read on Skytrax, Korean Air really does love to “slam the cabin into darkness.” It makes for a very trippy 14 hours after a while.

You could have opened the window shade, but I can attest that one open shade makes it awkwardly bright, especially for people on that row. The attendants will come around and tell you to close it..at least they have on all of my ATL-ICN RT flights where I’ve seen people do that.

I’ve never found KE flights to be too hot. Oddly, the only time I was hot was when I sat on the left side at the window ATL-ICN. Little did I know that with the sun on that side of the plane the whole time, it was about 10 degrees F warmer when you rested on the window. It was actually too hot to the touch. “Needless to say,” no window seat for me again.

Flying KE in Economy makes me feel special. Even though it is nothing special, their attention to detail and excellent service skills create that premium feeling.

Brett – how much time did you get to enjoy in real Seoul? Did you try out the subway? Drink soju at a meat restaurant until the sun comes up? Korea is what I call the surprise country. I didn’t know much about it all before I moved here, but I absolutely love it. The same can be said for all of my friends that have come to visit me.

ICN is consistently amazing. I remember the first time I flew back to the US, I was in SHOCK at their “wait 5 minutes to make sure your checked bag is clear through security” policy. SO. FAST.

KE duty free is also no joke. Koreans LOVE LOVE LOVE duty free. We always joke that, when we go on vacation, if we don’t buy the gifts for coworkers at duty free at the foreign airport, the Koreans won’t touch it! Most Americans are annoyed by the aisle carts, but oh no, not Koreans. It is SERIOUS business. I even have to pick things up for my coworkers from Duty Free.

Michael – I had VERY little time in Seoul itself, I’m afraid. We were just on the road most of the time. We went to the night market the first night and had a good meal. The next night, I stayed at the Lotte right in town and we went to this awesome traditional restaurant tucked away down a little alley. I couldn’t tell you half of what I ate, but the food kept coming and it was so good. Unfortunately, I was so exhausted at this point that I was seeing double.

You are not kidding about Incheon and Duty Free. I’ll be writing about both those more without question.

During my corporate travel days I had a great relationship with KE. I went on a fam trip to Vietnam. Catering and service were superb but you had to ask for another cocktail. They Weren’t stingy but the wouldn’t proactively offer a refill. One of the best business class trips I’ve had. I Just posted a post on my new blog that includes ICN. I’m would appreciate any feedback.

• Pingback: 72 Hours With Korean Air: Jin Air, Je-Dong Farm, and the Tech Center (Trip Report) - >> The Cranky Flier

That was a great and warm ride I suppose. I can see how the Korean Airlines are really trying hard to give tourists what they really need. :)

• Pingback: 72 Hours With Korean Air: Headquarters, Duty Free, Catering, and a Medical Center (Trip Report) - >> The Cranky Flier

Quick question about tray tables on the A380 in J: How do the tray tables work? Is the height adjustable? If someone were fairly pregnant, would the tray table be able to be adjusted up slightly (so it wasn’t resting on the belly)? Sometimes tray tables in the armrest are really low.

Random question but couldn’t find any info anywhere. Thanks for any help in advance!!

Rhubarb – I don’t believe the height was adjustable. It might be a bit of a squeeze for you.

Okay – thanks for the reply. Hm. Maybe I can put my seat in the flat position so i’ll be able to scoot backwards a little bit. I should still be able to take my tray table out even when my seat is in the bed position, right?

Rhubarb – Yes

• Pingback: 72 Hours With Korean Air: The Impressive Incheon Airport and the Flight Home (Trip Report) - >> The Cranky Flier
• Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] Which airline has the best A380? | backpackerlee
• Pingback: [BLOCKED BY STBV] 72 Hours with Hawaiian: Flying to Honolulu in Extra Comfort | The Cranky Flier

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please type "09ac6b":

Leave this field empty please:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

You may also like

Alaska Airlines Gets Us to Oregon… and Back (Trip Report)

Flying with Kids Sucks (Trip Report)

A mediocre american experience to the land of guinness (trip report), privacy overview.

Trip Report: Economy and Business Class on Korean Air's Boeing 737 MAX 8

In June 2022, I had the chance to fly on Korean Air's Boeing 737 MAX 8. Boeing was returning the 737 MAX to service around this time after multiple fatal crashes forced the company to ground the aircraft entirely. Korean Air received its first 737 MAX, with registration HL8348, on February 11, 2022. HL 8348 was almost three years old at the time, based on its assembly date of April 2, 2019. I flew round-trip on the 737 MAX: one way in economy class and the other way in business class.

I booked both tickets from the Korean Air website. This flight was also my first solo flight and my first time on a (kind of) brand-new airplane, so I decided to treat myself with a little present: I booked the inbound flight in Prestige Class (Korean Air's name for business class). The outbound flight was booked at the saver rate (fare class "T"), so I was not getting any miles for that flight, and the seat selection was not free. I decided to select my seat at the airport.

First Trip Details:

• Origin:  Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
• Destination:  Jeju International Airport (CJU)
• Aircraft Type:  Boeing 737 MAX 8
• Registration:  HL8349
• Flight Number:  KE 1265
• Departure:  6:35 p.m. Korea Standard Time (KST)
• Arrival:  7:45 p.m. KST
• Class:  Economy
• Seat:  39F

I arrived at Gimpo International Airport 50 minutes before departure and acquired my ticket from a self-check-in kiosk. Boarding passes for Korean domestic flights are in the form of a receipt, which differs from the typical thick paper boarding passes.

I passed security and went to the gates, where I found a bio information saving machine. I used it to save my bio information to the Korean Airports System, which saved me a ton of time on my Korean Domestic flights afterward. All you have to do is scan your boarding pass and palm, and you are ready to go.

After that, I still had time left to eat dinner at Jeju. So, I went to do some Korean plane spotting from the gate. I spotted a new T'way Air Airbus A330-300, which was second-hand from Air Asia.

As it became time to board, I headed towards my gate, number 9. This is a remote gate, meaning I had to board a bus to go to the plane. On my way to the plane, I spotted an HL8350, which I will be boarding on my flight back to Gimpo. Next to HL8350 was a Jin Air Boeing 737-800.

As I got off the bus, I got a nice picture of HL8349, the plane I will be boarding for this flight.

As I boarded the aircraft, I noticed the stellar interior of this brand-new three-year-old plane. This was my first time aboard a brand-new aircraft, and there was no wear and tear; it was just stunning. There were not too many people onboard as Jeju Island is a leisure destination, and most people board morning flights to the island. This flight was departing at 6:45 p.m., so it made sense.

I was seated in 39F, which was over a wing. As we were readying for takeoff,  the (then new) safety video started playing over the seats , as the Boeing 737 MAX for Korean Air does not feature any personal IFE screens. The  previous safety video fits Korean Air much better,  but it has changed to  an all-new metaverse theme.  However, I still think the old version was the best for Korean Air.

We soon took off into the sunset.

As this was in June 2022, people still practiced precautionary measures for COVID, and the aviation industry was no exception. As with the rest of the world, the pandemic hit Korean domestic flights, and all in-flight services were suspended. Accordingly, this flight did not serve beverages or snacks; only water was available when requested.

However, I could use the lavatory, which had a cool ambient light, before locking the doors. I snapped a picture of myself and used it as a profile picture for social media.

As this was a short flight, after looking out the window for a while, we landed at Jeju International Airport.

We were dropped off at a remote ramp, so we had to deplane using stairs again, riding a bus to the domestic terminal.

After I passed the baggage claim (as I did not have any bags checked), I came across the Welcome to Jeju sign at the airport. This was my 8th time in Jeju Airport because Jeju Island is an extremely popular leisure destination for Koreans, although I was heading right back home this time. The Seoul-Jeju route is the world's busiest by passenger traffic.

Second Trip Details

• Origin:  Jeju International Airport (CJU)
• Destination:  Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
• Aircraft Type:  Boeing 737 MAX 8
• Registration:  HL8350
• Flight Number:  KE 1278
• Departure:  9:15 p.m. KST
• Arrival:  10:15 p.m. KST
• Class:  Business
• Seat:  07A

I returned to the airport to get my boarding pass, again at a self-check-in kiosk. This time, I was in business class and was granted Sky Priority and lounge access. Unlike most U.S. domestic flights, Korean domestic flights give you lounge access if you are in a premium cabin. Korean Air calls their lounges  “KAL Lounge.”

However, unlike international terminal lounges, domestic terminal lounges merely serve as a place to quietly rest and get hydrated, which means that these lounges do not have any hot meals. They usually serve snacks, chips, some beverages, and water, with sandwiches being the best option. I wanted a proper dinner, so I headed to the restaurant on the departures floor, next to the lounge. There, I had sea urchin seaweed soup, a staple of Korean cuisine.

Then, I headed over to the airport observatory adjacent to the restaurant. I asked a couple to take a photo of me at the observatory.

Finally, I headed to the KAL Lounge. I visited this lounge three years ago on a family vacation, and this time, the lounge was no different from that time, despite the COVID restrictions. The lounge was quiet and had some snacks and beverages. I was unable to get a high-quality picture of the lounge.

There was also a lot of seating, with lounge chairs and small tables. I could get some study done here while waiting for my flight.

While studying, I noticed it was already past boarding time, so I rushed to security. Having saved my bio information at Gimpo, I could get past security in no time and board as the last business class passenger for the flight. I noticed that the aircraft was changed from HL8348, the first ever Boeing 737 MAX to be delivered to Korean Air, from HL8350, another Boeing 737 MAX 8 I have seen at Gimpo. 

However, I was thankful it was not changed to an older Boeing 737-800 or an Airbus A330-300. Korean Air flies A330s for short routes like this one and even flew Boeing 747s and 777s on this route before the pandemic.

I was selected for the first row in business class and the first row of the entire aircraft, which was, interestingly, 07A rather than 01A. This gave me even more legroom than the other business class seats. There was also a pillow waiting in my seat.

Boarding was finished about three minutes later, and the safety video was shown. We departed on time and took off 16 minutes later.

For the seat controls, there were three buttons on the side of the armrest; the rightmost one was for the seat recline, which did recline significantly. The other two buttons were for the legrest and footrest; all three combined provided a comfortable ride. I do not have naptimes but could even dose off on this short flight.

Before I knew it, it was time for landing, and we landed safely at Gimpo International Airport. However, the AirPods I placed on top of the armrest decided to "take off", so it flew off the short armrest and onto the floor.

Thankfully, a business class crew member collected the AirPods and returned them to me as soon as she could move safely. I snapped a photo of HL8350 once more as I deplaned and came out of the air bridge.

My four-and-a-half-hour journey was finally completed, and I took the Seoul Metro home.

This was a time when COVID-19 was still a thing, and it was sad to see a lot of flight services being reduced to an absolute minimum. However, I was still happy to embark on a round-trip brand new aircraft journey as my first solo flight! I still remember everything and think I will do it for eternity. Thank you, Korean Air!

Comments (3)

Add Your Comment

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

FOLLOW US ONLINE

First-rate first class: a review of Korean Air’s 747-8 from Atlanta to Seoul

During the COVID-19 crisis, our team has temporarily ceased taking review trips and we are not publishing new flight or hotel reviews. While bringing our readers unbiased, detailed reviews of travel experiences is one of our core missions, now is not the time. We all love to travel and know you do too. So, to help keep you entertained — and maybe inspire you — we are republishing a selection of the most popular reviews on our site, including the one below . Hopefully, this will help you once we're all ready to start booking trips again.

The Korean Air nonstop flight from Atlanta to Seoul is still operating during the pandemic, but on a reduced schedule, using smaller Boeing 777s rather than the 747-8 we reviewed. In the U.S., Korean Air also still serves Chicago, Los Angeles, New York JFK and San Francisco as of April 14, all with a reduced schedule.

This review was originally published in January 2019. It has been lightly edited from the original, to reflect the changed availability of Boeing 747 flights around the world and changed points valuations.

[tpg_rating tpg-rating-score="90" ground-experience="8" cabin-seat="24" amens-ife="11" food-bev="23" service="24" pros="Spacious six-seat cabin all to myself in the nose of a 747-8 and some of the best food and service I've ever experienced in the air." cons="No onboard Wi-Fi and a mediocre IFE selection" /]

While the 747, affectionately referred to as the Queen of the Skies, is perhaps the single most iconic passenger jet in history, it's getting harder to find one of these double-decker jumbo jets in the US.

The version of the storied Jumbo Jet in production these days is the 747-8, featuring updated technology and more fuel-efficient engines, plus a lengthened fuselage hump. But while the cargo version, the 747-8F, has done very well, the 747-8i passenger variant has not. There are only three airlines operating it: Lufthansa , Air China and Korean Air.

Many people have fond memories of the older and more common 747-400s, even though those birds are undeniably showing their age. However, prior to this trip, my only flight on a 747 had been with Lufthansa when I was much younger. To me, the jet with the giant hump has always been a modern wonder. When I found myself in Atlanta for a friend's wedding, I knew it was a sign: This was my chance to cross a huge item off my award-travel bucket list and try Korean Air's phenomenal first class for myself. My excitement for this flight had been building for weeks, reaching a peak when I arrived at my gate and confirmed with my own eyes that a 747-8 was in fact waiting to take me to Seoul. Let me just say: Korean did not disappoint.

Korean Air first-class awards used to be phenomenally easy to book, but all that changed when Chase Ultimate Rewards dropped Korean Air as a transfer partner. Now the only way to earn a meaningful number of SkyPass miles quickly is by transferring points from Marriott at a 3:1 ratio. A one-way first-class award from the US to Korea/Japan/China/North Asia costs 80,000 SkyPass miles. This meant that I had to transfer 195,000 Marriott points after factoring in the 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

I was dead set on trying out Korean's 747-8 first class but wasn't sure which trip I wanted to fly it on. I ended up putting two separate awards on hold for 60 days — the one I ended up flying from Atlanta (ATL) to Shanghai (PVG) via Seoul (ICN), and another one from Shanghai to London (LHR) via Seoul. After finding award space on ExpertFlyer , I was able to place both awards on hold in a single phone call. Once I had settled on the Atlanta trip, I transferred the Marriott points (which took about 48 hours) and was able to ticket the Atlanta itinerary and cancel the London one, again in a single call.

In addition to the Marriott points ( which TPG values at $1,560 currently, or $1,755 at the time of booking), I had to pay $209 in taxes. A cash ticket on this route would have cost just over $10,000, which gave me a stellar redemption value of just over 5 cents per Marriott point after subtracting taxes. Compared to TPG's valuation of Marriott points at 0.9 cents each at the time of booking, I was incredibly happy with the deal I got here.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="8" tpg-rating-max="10" tail="HL7642" age="1.7" late="8" avg="0" avg-2="17" departure="11" departure-2="55" duration="15" duration-2="20" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

Korean Air departs from the international terminal at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. My Uber driver had never been to that side of the airport before, so it took a few wrong turns before he was finally able to get me where I needed to go.

Korean had clearly marked check-in lines for both first-class and "prestige class" (business class) passengers, and I was helped immediately. The agent issued my boarding passes all the way to Shanghai, and I headed off to security. I got about 15 feet from the check-in counter when I heard him calling after me. He'd forgotten to ask if I'd like to have someone meet me in Seoul to escort me to the first-class lounge, which I politely declined, as I was interested in exploring the then brand-new Terminal 2 at Incheon as well.

Security lines were quick, and I found myself in the Delta Sky Club no more than 15 minutes after checking in.

This was my first time in a Sky Club, and from the minute I walked in the door, I was blown away by the friendly and sincere service. My boarding pass was scanned at the door, and the agent even complimented the recycled, hard-sided Lufthansa business-class amenity kit that I used as a passport holder. Meanwhile the agent at the desk started joking about what kind of celebrity status he needed to earn to make it into my photos.

Despite the cold January weather, my first stop was the outdoor terrace and the incredible planespotting views it offered.

At this point, I went back inside to find a seat. While the lounge was fairly packed when I arrived around 9:30am, it emptied out almost entirely after Delta's flight to Tokyo departed.

I counted four different hot options for breakfast, though three of them were some variation of eggs.

The food was all very good, though I was fully aware of the feast that lay in wait for me on board, so I decided to keep things light(er).

The centerpiece of the lounge is a massive and well-stocked bar, with two large seating areas spreading out on either side.

One thing this lounge does especially well is the number of outlets and USB ports available. In addition to charging stations along the wall and at the high-top bar seating, there are large power banks between every clump of seats.

While I was already very impressed with the quality of the lounge itself, the service was by far the best part. Every five or so minutes, a server would make the rounds, asking with the sweetest smile imaginable whether everyone was doing all right and if she could get us anything to eat or drink. Shortly before it was time to board my flight, the lounge food changed from the breakfast to lunch menu. There was an announcement made over the PA letting guests know they had one last chance to grab breakfast, and the same server came by to make sure everyone was aware of the change and had gotten all the breakfast they wanted. If you'd closed my eyes and spun me around three times, I never would have guessed that I was in a legacy carrier's lounge in the U.S.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Cabin and Seat" tpg-rating="24" tpg-rating-max="25" configuration="1" configuration-2="1" width="20.1" bed="83" tray="24" tray-2="24" lavs="2" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

Eventually it was time to board, and my heart really did skip a beat when I turned the corner and saw our majestic 747-8 parked outside. This plane (tail number HL7642) was the third-youngest in Korean's fleet, having been in service for just under two years.

Boarding began as scheduled at 11:25am, but the preboarding of passengers with wheelchairs and strollers took a good 30 or 40 minutes. Despite the multiple cabins spread across two decks, all passengers were being boarded through a single door, which added to the logjam. Thankfully, as I would find out in a few minutes, I was the only passenger in first class, so I didn't have to worry about being the first to board.

I'd seen pictures before, but my jaw still hit the floor when I turned left into the six-seat cabin in the nose of the 747-8.

Spread across three rows in a 1-1 layout, it made a 368-seat super jumbo feel like a private jet.

Just to give you an idea of how open this layout was, Lufthansa puts eight seats in the same space and British Airways manages to cram 14 first-class seats into the nose of its 747-400s.

I had assigned myself 1A, the left-side seat right in the very nose of the plane, but with an empty cabin, I really had my pick of seats.

The flight attendants kept insisting that I was the only passenger in first class, but throughout the flight I saw a middle-aged man sitting behind me in Seat 2J. It was only when he got up midway through the flight and swapped his seats with another man in a pilot's uniform that I realized the seat was being used as a crew rest.

The suites are very spacious, though the seats themselves are only 20 inches wide.

To the left of the seat are two pop-open storage compartments, as well as one that houses the entertainment controller, headphone jack, and USB plug. I prefer when the plugs are exposed and not in a compartment like this, as it forces you to keep the compartment open the entire flight to avoid crimping your cords.

This was the first time in my life I'd ever had four whole windows at a single seat.

There are no overhead bins in the nose, giving the cabin an open and airy feeling. The suites in rows 2 and 3 have closets built into the doors, but Row 1 can use a small storage locker (shared with the crew) for jackets and carry-ons.

There are two lavatories for first-class passengers, behind the galley and just in front of the business-class cabin. They are relatively standard in size and had no special amenities worth mentioning, but the crew did a great job keeping them spotless throughout the flight. In fact, whenever an FA saw me get up to use the bathroom, she would run ahead of me to make sure it was open, close the door for me and lock it behind me.

This was only my second time flying in a suite with closing doors, and I can't overstate how much privacy it added, even in an otherwise empty cabin. I will note that I had a little trouble closing the doors by myself, but the FAs were more than happy to help me with that.

The suites look even larger with the doors closed, adding to the private-jet feeling of this cabin design.

In fact, when you stand in the nose of the plane and look backward, it almost looks like there are just two suites in the whole cabin.

After lunch, I had my bed made up in Seat 1J across the aisle. Since the suites are so private, if you are traveling with someone you might have trouble talking to them. I would suggest picking seats 1A and 1J in that case, but even so you'd have to lean your neck pretty far forward.

I loved how much space there was when the seat was fully reclined. Unlike some first-class cabins ( like ANA's ) that feel a little tight around the elbows in bed mode, this seat gave me plenty of room to stretch out and roll over. These suites also come with individual air nozzles, which made a huge difference when I was under the blankets in a warm cabin.

With the door closed, it wasn't hard to relax and get comfortable. I will say that I was surprised that turndown service didn't include an extra pillow. In this case, I had no problem stealing one from an empty seat, but that was one small area where Korean could improve.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="11" tpg-rating-max="15" screen="23" movies="40" tv-shows="10" live-tv="No" tailcam="Yes" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

Each first-class suite features a crisp, 23-inch screen, but the inflight-entertainment selection was mediocre at best. The TV selection was minimal and only had one or two episodes of each show, and the movie choices weren't much better.

Waiting at my seat upon boarding was a water bottle, amenity kit, headphones, and a misting spray. Korean Air did a great job providing Bose headphones for first-class passengers, which is an area where many five-star carriers (including Emirates) drop the ball.

The amenity kit was provided by Atelier Cologne, and included lip balm, hand cream, body lotion, aftershave lotion and face cream, in addition to the usual elements like an eye mask and toothbrush. The pouch itself was plain and fairly low-quality, and I couldn't help but feel like Korean missed an opportunity by not partnering with a higher-end cosmetic brand. Even Asiana , Korean's most direct competitor, partners with Salvatore Ferragamo for its amenities.

Pajamas by Gianfranco Ferre were provided shortly after takeoff, meaning no one had to guess my size before boarding.

The pajamas were comfy, if a bit bland, but I couldn't stop laughing at what was written on the back (and arm).

"Tonight ... My dream ... Fly ... Good night"

Even after a few glasses of Champagne, I couldn't make sense of that one, but I thought it was cute nonetheless.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="23" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" meals="2" champagne="Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque rosé" dine-on-demand="no" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

Korean Air didn't serve Champagne on the ground, so I stuck to water for my predeparture beverage. I was also offered a small package of nuts, though once I confirmed that I wanted them, the FA rushed back to the galley and brought them out in a small ramekin instead.

Menus were already tucked into the seats prior to boarding, so as we taxied out, an FA came by to take my order. The process took a good five minutes, a testament to her desire to make my entire meal perfect. For each course (amuse-bouche, appetizer, soup, salad and main), she asked what I would like to drink, and for the most part I stuck to the delicious Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque rosé.

Service began after takeoff with a scaldingly hot towel handed directly to me instead of on a plate. The FA warned me that it was hot, but I was still a little taken aback.

About 20 minutes after takeoff, my table was set with the utmost precision, followed by an amuse-bouche of asparagus wrapped in salmon that came with a horseradish dip. The tablecloth was just a little too short to cover the table completely, which is a minor detail but something that should be easy for Korean to fix. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd assume that they load the same tablecloths across the entire fleet and the tray table on the 747-8 is just a little bit longer than those on the 777s, A380s and 787s.

That was followed by an appetizer of tuna tartare and avocado, as well as seared scallops. The flavors were absolutely delicious, fresh and perfectly cooked. I was a little disappointed to see that there wasn't a caviar course, which I know Korean offers on certain routes. I'm not sure if it had to do with our early-morning flight (lunch service versus dinner service), or simply something about the way they run catering out of Atlanta, but this dish quickly washed away that momentary disappointment.

At this point I was also offered a selection from the breadbasket, and chose a piece of garlic bread, which ended up being used as a sponge for the tomato soup I was served next. The soup was creamy and thick without being too rich or filling, and the portion size was perfect.

Next up was the salad course. While Korean normally rolls a cart around and prepares the salad at your seat, it would have been absurd to set up that whole show for a single passenger. Instead, the FA knelt by my seat and read off a list of possible ingredients and dressings, then returned moments later with the exact salad I'd ordered. The salad was nothing fancy but hit the spot, and the candied nuts added a nice crunch.

Next up was the bibimbap, an absolute must when flying Korean. When I was ordering, the FA had suggested I switch from Champagne to red wine to pair with this course, and so she opened a bottle of Chateau Branaire-Ducru to breathe while I made my way through the early parts of the meal.

Normally, Korean serves bibimbap with a cute little instruction card on how to prepare and eat the dish, but I never received one. The FA had asked me earlier if I'd eaten bibimbap before, and when I said yes it's possible she assumed I wouldn't need the help (but you can bet I still made a mess of it). This is an incredibly minor detail, but things like this are the reason I read copious numbers of flight reviews before traveling myself so I can make sure I get the full experience.

I did mention to the FA that gochujang, the spicy Korean red-pepper paste, was one of my favorite sauces in the whole world, and she was very happy to surprise me with a second tube to go with my bibimbap. As we were descending into Seoul, she came back to my seat and presented me with a bag of five more tubes to take home with me. I've been happily putting it on my eggs every morning, reliving a fantastic flight and smiling at a small but personal service touch.

I skipped the cheese and fruit plates because I was absolutely stuffed and went straight for dessert, a chocolate crunch cake. The ice cream (and the cake itself) were frozen solid and hard as a rock. I had to wait a good five or 10 minutes before I could dig in. The cake was good, but if there was a low point of an otherwise perfect meal service, it was this.

Lunch service was complete about an hour and a half into the flight, and the pacing was perfect. Drink refills were proactive (and I was presented with the bottle every time), empty dishes were cleared quickly, and each course was brought out soon after.

Though the meal service itself was impeccable, the next 15 hours were a little lacking. The entirety of the midflight snack menu was ramen and chocolate-chip cookies, neither of which sounded especially appealing. That being said, when I woke up from my nap, an FA proactively brought me a plate of cookies and a bottle of water, and it hit the spot. I'm sure I could've gotten some fruit or cheese if I'd asked for it, but for a 15-hour flight I think Korean needs to up its snack game seriously. Both ANA and JAL, on shorter flights (around 13 hours), had several entire pages of the menu devoted to light snack options, both Western and Japanese.

About three hours before landing, a flight attendant came by to tell me I could have my prearrival meal whenever I wanted. Once again, my table was meticulously set, and I was offered a selection from an entirely different breadbasket. The focaccia with sun-dried tomato was moist and delicious, and went well with what felt like a breakfast meal.

The salad was delicious as well, and I appreciated some healthy greens after a filling dinner.

For my entree, I went with the panfried sea bass in saffron sauce with mashed sweet potatoes. The fish was cooked absolutely perfectly, and the mashed potatoes tasted 10 times better than they looked, but the saffron sauce was simultaneously too watery and too heavy for me, and I only ate about half of it. This concerned the FAs to no end, and I had to reassure them (and the purser) multiple times that I was in fact stuffed and beyond satisfied with the catering and that there was nothing else they could get me.

As we made our final approach into Seoul, a flight attendant brought me a glass of omija (magnolia-berry) punch and thanked me again for flying Korean Air. I'd never had this traditional drink before, but loved the tangy, sour flavor, and wish I'd ordered some myself during the flight.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="24" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="No" turndown-service="Yes" /]

It's definitely easier to provide good service when there's only one passenger in the cabin, but I have no doubt these FAs would have been every bit as perfect if all six seats had been taken. The meal service was customized as much as possible for me, and the service was professional and proactive throughout, always with an incredibly genuine smile. After lunch, my bed was made up without my having to ask for it, and after clearing my dessert and stowing my tray table, the FA even proactively closed the door to my suite.

After lunch, I got up to explore the plane a bit and bumped into the purser in the galley, right in front of the staircase to the upper deck. We ended up chatting for a good 15 minutes about how excited I was to be on the 747-8 and how much she loved the plane, and she even brought me upstairs to give me a tour of the business-class cabin. Every seat was occupied, so I didn't take any pictures, but if you're curious how that product stacks up to first class, you can read TPG editor-at-large Zach Honig's review .

Things like holding the bathroom door open for passengers was clearly an ingrained part of the service culture, but the little touches, like the gochujang-to-go gift made me so incredibly happy. It was a little moment like that that showed that the FA had been listening hours earlier and was intent on making every second of my flight experience perfect. This attention to detail was present throughout the long flight. The FAs noticed I was drinking a large amount of water, and began greeting me with a new bottle every time I came out of the bathroom without my having to ask.

A minor language barrier was to be expected, but the way it was handled spoke volumes to the quality of service. I rang the call button at one point to ask for some water, and a new FA appeared to take my order (presumably the other ones were on a break). She wasn't sure if I wanted still or sparkling water, so she brought both to my seat so I could pick. That way there was no chance of her getting my order wrong, and no embarrassment (for either party) about having to ask again — simply perfect!

It's normal in first class for the purser and flight attendants to come by and thank passengers at the end of the flight, but in this case I was also given a detailed update on our arrival time, instructions on how to find the first-class lounge, and the gate information for my connecting flight. The purser was very curious to hear how I thought the service and food were during the flight, and I was happy that I could honestly tell her they were pretty damn near perfect. She gave me a postcard saying thank you from her and the FA who had been taking care of me, another small touch that went a long way.

Overall Impression

When traveling in a premium cabin, high expectations can amplify the disappointment with even the smallest mishaps. I had higher expectations for this Korean Air flight than any I've ever taken (except for Emirates), and still left the flight wildly impressed. The spacious cabin in the nose of the 747 was even more private and comfortable than it looks in pictures, and the food and service were every bit as perfect as I'd been led to expect. While this award is much harder to book now that you can't transfer Chase points to Korean Air, I consider this an incredible use of Marriott points and wouldn't hesitate to book this same itinerary in the future.

All photos by the author.

Passenger reviews on Korean Air ( KE )

Korean Air is a South Korean carrier.

Frequent travelers give the airline an average rating of 8.0/10 .

This is slightly above the general average . Over the last 12 months the rating has been trending upwards .

• Cabin crew, in-flight meals and cabin comfort are particularly valued.
• Entertainment / WiFi is highly valued.

Average rating

• Cabin crew (8.6)
• Meal and snacks (7.6)
• Cabin and seat comfort (8.3)
• Entertainment/wifi (7.6)

Frequent travelers

• 5 hometoyyz

Latest passenger reviews

Seoul ✈ san francisco.

Korean Air Economy Boeing 787-9

Shanghai ✈ Seoul

Korean Air Economy Airbus A330-200

Seoul ✈ Shanghai

Korean Air Economy Boeing 737-900ER

San Francisco ✈ Seoul

Korean Air Economy Boeing 777-300ER

Osaka ✈ Seoul

Korean Air Economy Airbus A321neo

Amsterdam ✈ Seoul

Seoul ✈ taipei.

Korean Air Economy Airbus A380-800

Seoul ✈ Manila

Korean Air Business Boeing 777-300ER

London ✈ Seoul

Seoul ✈ ho chi minh city.

Korean Air Economy Airbus A330-300

Singapore ✈ Seoul

Malé ✈ colombo, colombo ✈ malé, hong kong ✈ seoul.

Korean Air Business Boeing 787-9

Seoul ✈ Hong Kong

Korean Air Economy Boeing 777-300

Seoul ✈ Paris

Seoul ✈ denpasar, seoul ✈ tokyo, tokyo ✈ seoul.

Korean Air Business Boeing 747-8I

Jeju City ✈ Seoul

Korean Air Economy Boeing 747-8I

Seoul ✈ Jeju City

Atlanta ✈ seoul, new york ✈ seoul.

Flight-Report is a free website hosting more than 500 000 pictures and 17 000 reviews, without ads, this website can't exist. We understand that ads can be annoying, this is why we only display a maximum of 2 non-invasive ads per page.   To continue using Flight-Report, we invite you to add Flight-Report to your blocker's "white list".  

  How to add Flight-Report to my white list?

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Speaker Mike Johnson assails Trump’s felony trial in remarkable visit outside courthouse

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has become the highest-level Republican to attend Donald Trump’s hush money trial, a signal of the former president’s grip on the GOP as the country heads toward the November election.

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, center, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy listen as former President Donald Trump, left, talks with reporters as he arrives at Manhattan criminal court in New York, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)

• Copy Link copied

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson arrives at a press conference across the street from the Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York.(AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks at a press conference across the street from the Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York.(AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks at a news conference across the street from the Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York.(AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Former President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Mark Peterson/New York Magazine via AP, Pool)

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) listens as former President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he arrives for his trial at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson assailed the hush money case against Donald Trump Tuesday as an illegitimate “sham,” becoming the highest-ranking Republican to show up at court, embrace the former president’s claims of political persecution and attack the U.S. system of justice.

It was a remarkable moment in modern American politics: The House speaker amplifying Trump’s defense and turning the Republican Party against the federal and state legal systems that are foundational to the U.S. government and a cornerstone of democracy.

Johnson, who is second in line for the presidency , called the court system “corrupt.”

Outside the New York courthouse, he decried “this ridiculous prosecution that is not about justice.” He said, “It’s all about politics.”

AP AUDIO: Speaker Mike Johnson’s appearance at Trump’s felony trial marks a remarkable moment in US politics

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports House Speaker Mike Johnson lends his support to Donald Trump at court today.

The speaker is leading a growing list of Republican lawmakers who are criticizing the American judicial system as they rally to Trump’s side, appearing at the courthouse to defend the party’s presumptive presidential nominee. Trump is accused of having arranged secret payments to a porn actress to hide negative stories during his successful 2016 campaign for president.

With Trump stuck in court and barred by a judge’s gag order from criticizing witnesses or certain elements of the case, Johnson and the lawmakers are taking it upon themselves to attack the proceedings, now in a fourth week of witness testimony. They’re using the trial as a de facto campaign stop as they work to return the former president to the White House.

In portraying the case against Trump as politically motivated, the Republicans are also laying the groundwork to dismiss its significance should the jury convict, and for potential challenges to the fall election, a rematch with President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Johnson was a chief architect of Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential results ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, mob assault on the U.S. Capitol, and last week he called the hush money trial and the other election-year cases against Trump a “borderline criminal conspiracy.”

“It is election interference,” Johnson said Tuesday, insisting he was appearing on his own to back Trump, whom he called a friend. “And the American people are not going to let this stand.”

What to know about Trump’s hush money trial:

• Follow the AP’s latest updates on Michael Cohen’s cross-examination.
• A guide to terms used in the Trump trial.
• Trump is the first ex-president on criminal trial. Here’s what to know about the hush money case.
• Trump is facing four criminal indictments, and a civil lawsuit. You can track all of the cases here.

Unlike other Republicans showing up to show their support, Johnson did not enter the courtroom where Trump is on trial, but dashed back to Washington to open the House chamber for the day.

Later at the Capitol, Johnson repeated the Republican Party’s claims of the justice system being “weaponized” against Trump and said Americans are “losing faith” in it.

Also with Trump on Tuesday were U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — both considered possible vice presidential candidates — as well as former GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, one of Trump’s current top surrogates.

U.S. Sens. JD Vance of Ohio and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama were among those who attended court on Monday .

Trump’s campaign has lined up allies in recent days to appear at the New York courthouse to attack witnesses and others whom Trump is barred by a judge’s gag order from criticizing himself.

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said Monday that he appeared last week at the invitation of Trump senior advisor Susie Wiles. The campaign has said others volunteered to come to New York.

“The Democrats are using the court system to go after and prosecute, criminally, a political opponent — that’s a crime,” Scott said over the weekend on Fox News. “They’re just thugs trying to stop Trump from being able to run for president.”

In the short term, the Republicans’ presence at the courthouse and comments critical of the process have let Trump and his allies amplify their message without risking another explicit violation of the gag order. Trump’s attorneys have challenged the gag order as unconstitutional, but an appeals court upheld it on Tuesday.

Johnson specifically attacked the credibility of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer who began his second day of testimony in the former president’s hush money trial. And others, too.

He criticized Cohen as “a man who is clearly on a mission for personal revenge,” said lead prosecutor Matthew Colangelo “recently received over $10,000 in payments from the Democratic National Committee” and said the daughter of Judge Juan M. Merchan has made “millions of dollars” doing online fundraising for Democrats.

Colangelo, who joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2022 and previously worked in the U.S. Justice Department in the Biden administration, did paid “political consulting” work for the DNC in 2018, according to federal campaign finance records.

The Republican speaker, who is wholly dependent on support from Trump to keep the gavel, has aimed to strengthen their alliance, particularly as Johnson has come under fire from his own caucus in the House, including a failed effort at his removal by a fellow Trump backer, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.

Johnson made an appearance with the former president at his Mar-a-Lago club last month to announce new House legislation to require proof of citizenship for voting , echoing Trump’s baseless claims that Democrats are abetting immigrants entering the U.S. illegally to swing elections — another potential route for Republican challenges to the 2024 election.

There isn’t any indication that noncitizens vote in significant numbers in federal elections or that they will in the future.

And Johnson joined Trump on stage for the Republican National Committee’s gala at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, praising the presumptive presidential nominee and saying House Republicans fully expect to ride Trump’s coattails to their own re-elections to keep the majority hold on the chamber.

Johnson has been using the pulpit of the speaker’s office in Washington to attack the U.S. judicial system, criticizing the courts as biased against the former president, claiming the case is politically motivated by Democrats and insisting Trump has done nothing wrong.

The speaker has demurred when asked if the 2020 election was legitimate, and in a departure from the tradition of trust and adherence in U.S. election systems, Johnson and other Republicans have hedged when asked if they will accept the election results of 2024.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

AAA Newsroom

Automotive, Travel, and Traffic Safety Information

Nearly 44 Million Travelers Leaving Town for Unofficial Start of Summer

Second highest memorial day holiday travel forecast since aaa began tracking in 2000.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 13, 2024) – AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period*. This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.  

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”   

Road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides. AAA car rental partner Hertz says Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand , with the busiest pick-up days projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24.  

This Memorial Day weekend drivers can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57.  Pump prices rose this spring but have held somewhat steady in recent weeks. Prices may creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. The wildcard remains the cost of oil, and unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – that could roil the oil market.  

Airports are bracing for a spike in travelers. AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019. This will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11. This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights. Several factors play into how much travelers pay for airfare, including destination, number of stops, and fare class. For example, passengers who book nonstop flights with seat selection and carry-on bags included will likely pay more than those who select basic economy with a layover.  

  Nearly two million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. AAA projects 1.9 million people will take these other modes of transportation, an increase of 5.6% compared to last year. “This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” Twidale said. “Now – five years later – we’re back to 2019 numbers. Travel demand has been soaring, and long holiday weekends create the perfect windows for getaways.”  

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro 

INRIX , a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers going back home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours when return trips will peak.   

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal. Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.  

Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.   

For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT

Source: INRIX   

Source: INRIX  

Top Destinations 

This Memorial Day weekend, travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed. European cities dominate the international list. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.  

Travel Trends   

As travelers make plans for summer and beyond, AAA Travel has identified the following trends:  

• Bucket Lists : Travelers taking once-in-a-lifetime trips  
• Milestones : Families booking anniversary, retirement, and family reunion trips  
• Asia : More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan   
• Solo Trips : More people, especially women, interested in traveling by themselves  
• Luxury Vacations : More travelers seeking high-end cruises and tours  
• Trains : Many travelers interested in rail vacations across New England, Canada, and Europe  
• Adventure in Nature : Travelers booking trips to Antarctica, Africa, and South Pacific  

  Travel Agent Survey  

A recent survey of AAA travel agents highlights topics travelers are frequently discussing when booking trips:  

• Travel Insurance : 51 % of agents say more travelers are interested in protecting their trips  
• 77% of agents say ocean cruises  
• 70% of agents say all-inclusive vacations  
• 67% of agents say river cruises  

Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology   

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.   

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM . The PERFORMANCE/Monitor SM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.  

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 15, 2024.   

*Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period   

For this forecast, the Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Thursday, May 23 to Monday, May 27, 2024.   

AAA Travel Agent Survey Methodology 

AAA clubs distributed surveys to a random sample of their travel agents between March 18 and March 29, 2024 to understand recent traveler trends over the past 60 days. 186 AAA agent responses were collected from 13 AAA clubs (representing 97% of AAA membership overall as of February 2024).  

About AAA    

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.   

About S&P Global   S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit  www.spglobal.com .   

About DKSA    

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.   

About INRIX     

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.   

• Advertising

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

All Things Considered

• Latest Show
• Consider This Podcast
• About The Program
• Contact The Program
• Corrections

Listen to the featured story from this episode.

Abandoned tents remain at the migrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico, that is at the center of a controversy involving viral images of a flyer encouraging migrants to vote for President Biden. Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for NPR hide caption

Untangling Disinformation

A flyer in her name told migrants to vote for biden. but she says she didn't write it.

Viral images of the flyer were filmed in portable toilets of a migrant camp in Mexico, and they energized members of Congress. But NPR's reporting suggests the flyer is not what it purports to be.

President Biden and former President Trump will debate in June

by  Domenico Montanaro

Russian President Putin makes first trip since inauguration to critical ally China

by  Charles Maynes ,  John Ruwitch

Georgia Democrats try to rebuild the anti-Trump coalition that won in 2020

by  Asma Khalid

Middle East

Israel's top leaders are divided over the handling of the war in gaza.

by  Jackie Northam

What we know about the assassination attempt on Slovakia's prime minister

by  Rob Schmitz

Is this the beginning of the end of beauty pageants?

by  Erika Ryan ,  Katia Riddle ,  Juana Summers

Delegates from New York demonstrate in favor of the anti-war plank at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 28, 1968. Anonymous/AP hide caption

Campus protests over the Gaza war

Anti-war protests, a chicago dnc: is it 1968 all over again some historians say no.

by  Rachel Treisman

Tree seeds that flew around the moon are now are being planted across the U.S.

by  Joey Hudson

The Philharmonik Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Meet the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest winner

Inflation eased and the stock market rallied in april.

by  Scott Horsley

A bird flu outbreak among dairy cows sparks new warnings about unpasteurized milk

by  Pien Huang ,  Chiara Eisner

Study says Latinas achieving beyond the home still feel pressure of traditional roles

by  Stella Chavez

A debt hawk and a debt dove on what the future could hold for federal debt

by  Wailin Wong ,  Darian Woods

by  Jude Joffe-Block

Opening statements began in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

by  Ryan Lucas

Blinken ends Ukraine trip with promise of U.S. help as Russia goes back on offensive

by  Michele Kelemen

Tiger beetles might be mimicking the sounds of poisonous bugs so bats will avoid them

by  Ari Daniel

Searching for a song you heard between stories? We've retired music buttons on these pages. Learn more here.

Ukraine war latest: Russian port suffers 'massive' overnight attack and oil refinery left in flames - as Putin's forces advance

The northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv came under attack once again overnight, according to officials. This one lasted more than 16 hours, according to reports. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is in China, where he has met with president Xi Jinping.

Friday 17 May 2024 10:47, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Russian troops advance - but situation 'stabilised', says Zelenskyy
• Kharkiv 'attacked' in 16-hour air raid alert - longest since war began
• Footage shows oil refinery fire and burning fuel depots after 'massive' overnight attack
• Putin in China: Leaders warn against nuclear war - and agree to expand military drills
• Were Putin and Xi really pictured with their 'nuclear footballs'?
• Analysis: Great power politics on display in China visit
• Live reporting by Narbeh Minassian

Ask a question or make a comment

As the situation around Kharkiv remains "highly dramatic", Germany's foreign minister says Ukraine needs more long-range weapons to cut off Russian supply routes.

While Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the situation has "stabilised" (see our 9.04am post), Russian troops have advanced as much as 10km in one area.

This has put added pressure on Ukraine's already-stretched forces.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers in Strasbourg, Annalena Baerbock said it is important to provide weapons "that can be used over medium and long distances".

"We are also working with other partners on this," she said, adding it is overall an "extremely difficult situation".

Germany has become Ukraine's second-biggest supplier of weapons, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far balked at delivering long-range Taurus missiles.

The West has generally prohibited the use of its weapons on Russian territory, but Moscow claims some of those arms have been used within the country's borders.

Kyiv is preparing troops to defend the northern region of Sumy, according to the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces.

Oleksandr Syrskyi says he expects fighting to intensify as Russia continues to attack Kharkiv - with Sumy the next possible target, roughly 170km northwest.

Russia's attack on Kharkiv has expanded the area of active fighting by almost 70km, he added, which was designed to force Ukraine to divert stretched resources to the region.

Vladimir Putin in the northern province of Harbin today as part of his official visit to China.

Today, he's said Russia's strategic alliance with China in the energy sector will strengthen further - adding Moscow is ready to supply clean energy to its neighbour.

Speaking at a Russia-China Expo, Mr Putin said the close relationship between the two countries is a guarantor of energy security.

Here are some of the first pictures coming out of his second day of the trip.

Ukraine's military claims it has shot down all 20 drones it says Russia dispatched overnight to Kharkiv, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odesa and Mykolaiv.

As we reported earlier, Kharkiv sounded its longest air raid alert since the invasion began (see our 6.37am post).

The region of Kharkiv has been increasingly targeted this spring, with Russia intensifying aerial attacks and mounting a new offensive in the border areas, forcing Kyiv's outnumbered troops to try to hold the line on a new front.

The attack damaged five buildings, one of them belonging to the district administration, Kharkiv's regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said on Telegram.

Kharkiv city mayor Ihor Terekhov reported four explosions during the attack, adding one of the strikes caused a fire.

Three drones were shot down over the Poltava region with no casualties or infrastructure damages, according to its regional governor, Filip Pronin.

Also on Telegram, Mykolaiv's regional governor, Vitaliy Kim, said there had been no casualties after the overnight attacks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the situation in Kharkiv has "stabilised" as of today, as cited by news outlet RBC-Ukraine.

He says Russian forces have advanced 10km (6 miles) in one area of the region, which has been intensely targeted by Moscow in a bid to stretch Ukraine's already-outnumbered troops.

“Today, our defence forces have stabilised the Russians where they are now," he said. 

"The deepest point of their advance is 10 km."

Later, he posted on X "we must use all available means to force Russia to make a real and just peace", adding the country's defence is "critical" for this.

We have reported this morning Russia claimed a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in Krasnodar (see our 6.44am post).

Footage shared by The Wall Street Journal's chief foreign affairs correspondent, Yarsolav Trofimov, shows a fire at the Tuapse refinery.

The attacks may have been more successful than Russia lets on, with another video showing burning fuel depots at the Novorossiysk railway, also in Krasnodar.

The Russian defence ministry said air defences downed 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, another 44 over the Krasnodar region and six over the Belgorod region. 

Russian warplanes and patrol boats also destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea, the ministry added.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has again denied reports of arms exchanges with Russia - insisting the country's updated weapons systems are not for sale.

According to state-run KCNA, Kim Yo Jong said North Korea's recently-shown tactical weapons, such as rocket launchers and missiles, are for defence against South Korea, with the two countries technically still at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty.

The US and South Korea have accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Despite vowing to deepen military relations last year, both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations.

While ties between the two countries have strengthened dramatically in recent months, Kim Yo Jong said the North Korea-Russia arms deal "theory" made up of prejudice and fiction was the "most absurd theory", according to KCNA quoting her press statement.

She called it a false rumour spread by its hostile forces.

A Russian official claims a Ukrainian drone strike killed a mother and her four-year-old son in the southern region of Belgorod.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, says the pair were traveling in a car earlier today when one of several drones opened fire in the village of Oktyabrsky.

The woman died at the scene, while the boy died of his injuries at hospital.

The boy's father and a man driving the car were injured, but survived.

New satellite imagery appears to show damage at Belbek airbase in Russian-annexed Crimea.

Among the apparent targets were a fuel storage facility and several types of fighter jet.

Officials in Russia's Krasnodar region reported another Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery, this time causing a fire.

So far, no casualties have been reported at Tuapse oil refinery and authorities say they have contained the fire.

Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry claims its air defence and the Black Sea fleet destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones and six unmanned boats overnight.

As a result of that attack, the governor of Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea, says an electrical substation was damaged.

"There will be isolated blackouts," he wrote on messaging app Telegram.

He says he has cancelled classes "in all schools, institutions of secondary vocational education and kindergartens".

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

About half of the North Korean missiles Russia fired at Ukraine flew off course and exploded in the air, official says

• About half of the North Korean missiles fired by Russia at Ukraine have failed, a Ukrainian official said.
• The missiles that failed flew off course and exploded in midair.
• Ukraine's top prosecutor told Reuters they're investigating missile debris. 

About half of the North Korean missiles Russia has fired at Ukraine have failed, Ukraine's top prosecutor said, per new reporting.

The high reported failure rate raises questions about the quality of North Korean-provided munitions and comes after months of concern about how an arms deal between the two countries could influence the war in Ukraine and North Korea's own efforts to improve its military capabilities.

State prosecutors have been examining the debris of 21 out of 50 North Korean missiles fired at Ukraine by Russia between December and February. About half of the missiles "lost their programmed trajectories and exploded in the air," Ukraine's top prosecutor Andriy Kostin told Reuters , noting that debris was not collected for these weapons.

Related stories

This falls in line with previous assessments from Ukraine. Back in March, Yuriy Belousov, head of the war crimes department of Ukraine's office of the prosecutor general, said North Korean ballistic missiles were "very low" quality, boasting an accuracy rate of only around 20 percent.

Beyond the missiles, North Korean rockets have also been called into question. Last summer, the Ukrainians got their hands on North Korean rockets that troops characterized as "very unreliable," noting they sometimes "do crazy things." They said it wasn't odd for them to misfire or explode.

The reported problems add to suspicions about weaknesses in North Korea's stockpiles, as sanctions and dated production capabilities impact the quality of missiles and other munitions. The battlefield intelligence Pyongyang may be receiving about the performance and capabilities of its weapon systems could be invaluable though.

When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023 for a summit on a potential arms deal , officials and experts expressed concerns that such a partnership could be mutually beneficial. The concern was that Putin would get more ammo for his war in Ukraine, and North Korea would get field testing of its weapons to improve the quality of the country's munitions.

In November 2023, South Korean lawmakers estimated a million North Korean shells had been sent to Russia, beating out the European Union's collective aid to Ukraine since Moscow's forces invaded. In addition to shells, North Korea has also sent rockets and ballistic missiles to Russia as well, helping sustain it as Ukraine struggled to do the same.

One of the North Korean missiles sent to Russia appears to be KN-23s, known in North Korea as the short-range Hwasong 11. Hwasong 11s resemble Russian Iskander-M missiles and boast a range of around 430 miles.

Ukrainian officials and experts have identified fragments of the Hwasong 11 in the aftermath of several attacks, including one in early January and one in early February, both in Kharkiv. Kostin told Reuters the last recorded use of the weapon was February 27.

Along with Kharkiv, other cities, such as Kyiv, and regions, such as Donetsk and Kirovohrad, have been the targets of missile strikes. Since December 30, the attacks have killed 24 people and wounded 115, damaging various residential areas.

Watch: North Korea fires the most missiles in a day, raising tensions with South Korea

• Main content