Is Asiana Airlines safe?
 

Did all of you who spoke well of Asiana know of the San Francisco crash in 2013? This San Franciscan did not and was scolded by a very well-traveled friend (well, admonished) for thinking of flying them. So now I'm torn. Thoughts?

I flew them in 2012. The plane did not crash.

Only you can decide what you are comfortable with.

Air Travel is the safest form of transportation we have. Statistically, you are more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident on your way to the airport than die in a plane crash.

Yes, Asiana had a recent bad landing that resulted in deaths. But does that mean that your friend doesn't fly any airline that has had a crash? If so, that friend can't be very well-traveled.

I realize that this question may sound stupid but I got anxious

Thank you, Kathie--your reply came in as I was writing mine. Muchas gracias--I hope Peru is magical.

Well I fly Malaysia Air several times a year, so I may not be the best person to ask... but I am wondering, as a fellow San Franciscan, how you missed the news of that crash.

I recently heard something on the news about Asiana not flying out of SF anymore.

What would worry me is the *after* the San Francisco crash they committed another safety violation so serious that the regulator temporarily suspended their flights to Saipan.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...19_158984.html

If you dare to take a taxi or motobike taxi anywhere in Asia, you should not worry about flying with any airline.
If you minimize life risks, watch TV all day at home and have extra strong locks at each door then flying a plane with an Asian low budget airline would indeed increase your risk of accidental death.

>>Did all of you who spoke well of Asiana know of the San Francisco crash in 2013?<<

Yes, of course I knew about the crash (I live in NorCal too and the coverage was wall to wall). Every airline has had a crash somewhere some time. Now there are a few airlines I would not fly . . . Asiana is not one of them.

Of course, I knew about the crash.. but I didn't notice what airlines, just that it was one I didn't know--had never heard of Asiana until I started looking for this flight to Bangkok.

I didn't hesitate to take OZ after the crash. Like many didn't hesitate to fly AF. Personally, I feel OZ is no worse than AF when it comes to safety and pilot training.

AF?? Air France?

Yes, Air France. Go read about AF447 or the Concorde crash.

There's a fairly good article on AF 447 in Vanity Fair, of all places:
http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2...ight-447-crash

>>Did all of you who spoke well of Asiana know of the San Francisco crash in 2013?<<

Yes, I did. I would be thrilled to try out their new business class tomorrow.

My friend flew on Asiana to Korea a few weeks ago. She said the service was great and the plane nice. And she didn't crash.

I did once have neighbors who referred to it as "air chance". Thanks for reassurance everyone.

It looks like I may end up having the choice between Asiana's new business class with a 55 minute layover and ANA flying to Narita before a 2 hour connection with Thai Air to BKK. If indeed both are open on Oct 31, I'll probably opt for longer connection, but it looks like I may have 2 good choices and now I am also drawn to Asiana.

How is Narita as an airport (been there once but it was our destination, noticed nothing) and what do people think of Thai Air?

Safety aside, there are a couple of current Asiana trip reports on Flyertalk:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-icn-pics.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-bkk-pics.html

These are full-on Flyertalk reports, with photos of details down to the hot towels.

The problem with Thai is they have a hugely varied fleet and do constant plane substitutions, so you never know what you'll actually get. The old angled-flat seats are dreadful but the more modern ones are good. A search on Flyertalk trip reports will probably turn up more than you wanted to know.

BTW skytrax has rated Asiana in the top 10 consistently for many yrs. I have flown them twice and would not hesitate to fly them again. Sadly most airlines have had crashes. You try to learn and improve.

Like Narita Airport. Not as much to do as in Singapore or Bangkok, but it is very pleasant and there is some good food. Thai Air is very nice.