Korean Air from CNX to ICN.......

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I've now done this twice out, and once back.......I don't think they are as good as Asiana, but still way ahead of the likes of UA, AA, Delta.  Food was fine, USB port is handy, and the entertainment console is good, but there never seems to be enough good movies, and if you do a quick turnaround..they are all the same.  The Airbus 330 is excellent, and even as a Boeing shareholder; I think it is superior to the 777s they use on other routes.  As far as the air hostesses....obviously required to look good, most could be models..tall and skinny...nice teeth, nice smiles.  Free drink service is great, red wine is excellent.  While their English is more than proficient, I would just be careful with the slang/nicknames for drinks, and specify ice or no ice.  She knew "Jack and Coke on ice," and seemed to be pleased that she could accommodate with fairly simple drinks.  Even brought me a cup of coke on the side, in case I needed to weaken it.  Her pour was perfect.  The Korean Budweiser is 5% and another good option.  I stumped them on Grand Mariner...but they probably had Cognac...but no list of drinks in the flight magazine.  The only thing they could improve on would be picking up the dinner trays a bit quicker, but you can take it back tot the kitchen, no problem.  Last year, I was with the Korean senior citizen tour group from Hell, and that put a damper on things, but this year it was way more pleasant.  Another feature of Chiang Mai, we are lucky to have.  Door to door for me in 26 hours...including re-entry permit, getting there early, and clearing Customs at IAD.....and if I went through BKK, it easily gets over 30, and can involve an overnight layover, waiting for the first flight out in the morning to CNX.  Overall, nice experience, with very professional crew.

Edited August 1, 2016 by KhonKaenKowboy

[kalbo123]

Good to read they have booze at this airline company i am sure you have convinced many Thai visa forum readers to do the trip as you did, twice!

[JingerBen]

Agreed.

I've done the CNX/ICN/JFK and return numerous times and was always satisfied.

 

[mesquite]

An alternative solution is to just not go back to the US.

[Trujillo]

If "ICN" means Seoul, then the trip from Chiang Mai is just under six hours. Is this the Korean Airlines boat service? Seems 26 hours might be a tad over the mark? 

[LawrenceChee]

I done this a couple of times enrouteto USA....have to be a road warrior to enjoy it and I am on flight no 82 this year already ....

You leave at 2355, which means by the time you get on the air proper ...food is served to you at about 1245am and in 4 hours you get to Seoul where they wake you for a light breakfast. Plane & service are great and I have taken both classes before the business an economy and the korean food is okay but run out quick if they have a whole plane full of them heading home.

You arrive at 0655 Korean time which is 0455 :-) so a little jet lagged but the terminal in ICN is good for showers etc and food and you will be recharged for the next leg. 

[Oscar2]

quite possibly my favorite airline. great service.

[MisterTee]

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

If "ICN" means Seoul, then the trip from Chiang Mai is just under six hours. Is this the Korean Airlines boat service? Seems 26 hours might be a tad over the mark? 

That's right.

Seoul/Incheon

 

[WinnieTheKhwai]

When going to Thailand I like going straight up.. wave to Santa, and then straight back down again, followed by a short hop from Hong Kong.

And a good movie selection, Cathay usually includes something a little more edgy too.

[Trujillo]

Quote

 Door to door for me in 26 hours.

What door to what door? 26 hours from CNX to ICN? What are you on about? 

[WinnieTheKhwai]

8 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

What door to what door? 26 hours from CNX to ICN? What are you on about? 

I suppose to a door in the Washington area, not too far from Dulles.   That's doable in a little over 24 hours from Chiang Mai these days.

[Johpa]

I have been flying KAL from the west coast to Chiang Mai for several years now.  Quick connection westbound but a long layover return eastbound. ICN has a great transit area on the second floor with couches and chairs for sleep or a nap, a KAL lounge with a nice little lunch buffet for a reasonable price, and free showers.  My experience is that those who stay in the airport are far more rested than those who take the tour into the city.  As for not "enough good movies", may I remind the OP of the days of yore with but no choice other than what appeared on the overhead screens.  My one suggestion is to always choose the Korean entree for the meal.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

27 minutes ago, Johpa said:

I have been flying KAL from the west coast to Chiang Mai for several years now.  Quick connection westbound but a long layover return eastbound. ICN has a great transit area on the second floor with couches and chairs for sleep or a nap, a KAL lounge with a nice little lunch buffet for a reasonable price, and free showers.  My experience is that those who stay in the airport are far more rested than those who take the tour into the city.  As for not "enough good movies", may I remind the OP of the days of yore with but no choice other than what appeared on the overhead screens.  My one suggestion is to always choose the Korean entree for the meal.

yes, I'm sure many can recall the projectors with the reels.  It was much more routine to be able to find enough empty seats to lay down on, but those gate area chairs are pretty good at ICN to grab a nap.  Asiana gave me a hotel room foe the day, when I had an 8 hour layover to SFO...agreed, no thank you on the tour.

[Dante99]

2 hours ago, Johpa said:

I have been flying KAL from the west coast to Chiang Mai for several years now.  Quick connection westbound but a long layover return eastbound. ICN has a great transit area on the second floor with couches and chairs for sleep or a nap, a KAL lounge with a nice little lunch buffet for a reasonable price, and free showers.  My experience is that those who stay in the airport are far more rested than those who take the tour into the city.  As for not "enough good movies", may I remind the OP of the days of yore with but no choice other than what appeared on the overhead screens.  My one suggestion is to always choose the Korean entree for the meal.

Best layover activity is to grab a free bus to the nearby hotel that offers Korean massage, then you really feel good boarding the connecting flight.

[Chicog]

"She knew "Jack and Coke on ice," and seemed to be pleased that she could accommodate with fairly simple drinks.  Even brought me a cup of coke on the side, in case I needed to weaken it."

 

I bet that knocked a few points off her score.

 

[Mestizo]

 

 

I used to do this route to IAD as well.  2 tips:

1.)  ICN has free private showers upstairs.  Free soap, shampoo, etc.   I always pack a change of clothes and shower up half way.

2.)  KAL allows you to use accrued air mileage for lounge access.   I think it was something like 4,000 miles per visit.   For longer layovers, I used the points for that KAL lounge in ICN to eat, drink, wash up, and rest.

-Mestizo

[khwaibah]

Just received this from Korean Air.

 

Edited August 2, 2016 by khwaibah

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Wow that's nice.. any good deals in business or premium eco?

[jobin]

Hmm. I wonder why Atlanta is not listed in Promotion fares.  I often go CNX, ICN, ATL and enjoy the flights.  I also use the KAL lounge at ICN with no problems.  Frankly, it's an incredible offering including numerous alcoholic drinks, nearly complete meals, snacks, easy chairs, good coffee...etc.  No charge but i did not stop at the desk, merely wandered in.

 

Unlike Winnie, i go economy only.  Too many grandkids to visit to afford luxury seat.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I didn't know about the lounge, I will give that a try next month, but at that point, I would rather smoke a cigar than have another drink or three.  While there are many food options in the airport, they are all pricey, and even more than the likes of LAX and ORD.  As far as killing time for a few hours...PEK is chill, and has beers for one USD at those Cathay House sundry shops,,,also a place to shower.  Keep that in mind if you use the Air China option out of CNX that will connect you to the major airports in the US.  Narita seemed to have the best cigar prices, but laying down at the gates was tough.  One of those Tokyo airports has a United Lounge, and the latest word is any boarding pass will work (along with a single use pass).  Only one in Asia.

[khwaibah]

Just in.

 

 

https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/booking/booking-gate.html#with-search/to/ICN?xcidhp_EDM_EDM_en_TH_KUL_DS_20160722_KorAP

Edited August 3, 2016 by khwaibah

[Trujillo]

The cheapest flight according to their website from Chiang Mai to Los Angeles is 47,015 baht, not the cheaper fare shown above. 

Figures. Total bait and switch. 

[khwaibah]

23 minutes ago, Trujillo said:

The cheapest flight according to their website from Chiang Mai to Los Angeles is 47,015 baht, not the cheaper fare shown above. 

Figures. Total bait and switch. 

 

I don't think so. Check again. 28,075 baht.  CNX to SFO.  https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/booking/xirt.html#date-select?paramStrgKey=BOOKING_GATE&isScheduleDriven=false

And CNX to LAX 29,515 baht. https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/booking/xirt.html?flex#date-select?paramStrgKey=BOOKING_GATE&isScheduleDriven=false&flexDays=3

Edited August 3, 2016 by khwaibah

[luther]

I booked a Korean Air flight for my wife to fly to a wedding in late September.  I booked it in May.  Chiang Mai to JFK was slightly under 1,000 dollars or about 34,000 baht.

[jaiyenjohn]

My wife, daughter and I took Korean air from CNX-ICN-SFO and back, and had a great experience. There was a long delay on the outward trip between landing at ICN and the flight leaving to SFO (7-8hours). So we just booked a room at the airport hotel, and had a long nap and relax. Good way to break up the long trip actually.

 

However with Thai Airways restoring flights from BKK to the west coast next year, that may be now worth a look too.

[Trujillo]

Nope...Your link or mine is the same. 

 

 

[khwaibah]

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

Nope...Your link or mine is the same. 

 

 

Keep trying as my link works and the prices are spot on.

 

 

 

 

No its yours my link works.   As the day moves on and your limited to just two flights per week out of CNX the price seems to be going up. It now about 30K return to LAX. 

Edited August 3, 2016 by khwaibah