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.

Thanks someotherguy--read Flyertalk, loved photos and details.

I now plan to do detailed comparison of Asiana and ANA planes for my flight as well as checking Thai airway. Of course the hope is that by 11 months from now, more planes will have been updated. I do LOVE 180 lie flat.

I have now done my homework on planes of 2 choices I think I may have (Asiana more likely, but in past few days both Asiana and ANA have been popping up.


Asiana SF0-Seoul Flatbed, new business class Boing 777-200 55 min connection
Asiana Seoul-BKK 28 angle flat with 168 degree recline 777-200LR

OR

ANA SFO-Narita angle flat 170 degrees 2 hour connection
ThaiNarita-BKK Flatbed . A380-800

Both arrive in BKK about 10 at night, leave SFO around noon.

Suggestions from those of you who are experienced? Asiana has cool new business flatbed for longer flat, but at time we would usually be awake. Thai has cool plane and flatbed for shorter flight but when we would usually sleep...but we should be trying to sleep when we get there.

If you could pick, which one would you take?

Mille grazie

I would definitely take NH7 to TG677 with the 2hr 5m connection. That ANA flight is a 300ER and it has the lie-flat seats. The seat map at fly-ana (for Monday) shows it is 1x2x1 and labeled as their "Business Class Staggered" product which is this:
https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_c...ess_staggered/

Where did you come with the 170-degree for the ANA flight?

Seat Guru :)

Thought so. Then I think you were looking at the 200ER info, not the 777-300ER (77W) - that is what NH7 is right?

Can't really trust seatguru 100%. There are three versions of 77W shown on seatguru for biz class:

V1 = 62" x 21", 52 flat bed, 1x2x1 in a row
V2 = 62" x 21", 68 flat bed, 1x2x1 in a row
V3 = 62" x 21", 77 flat bed, 2x3x2 in a row

Maybe that is accurate, I don't know. But same sized seat in all three versions. On V1 and V2 they are four in a row, but V3 it is 8-across. How/why is that possible? Same seat, same plane, but one version has twice as many seats in a row than the other two? I don't believe it.

So, ANA shows two types of seats on 300ER:
https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_c.../guide/c/seat/
ANA Business Staggered and ANA business. The latter is probably the 170 recline, probably the seat on V3, and surely of different dimensions than what seatguru shows.

I've looked into NH7 before. I don't know enough to say that you won't get the 170-degree, 2x3x2 77W. But I think it is the no-brainer choice for my miles.

Did you know that your connection time could be up to 24 hours? You could spend a night in Tokyo (or Seoul) at no additional charge.

Hi Mr W,
Thanks--you are really living up to your name. I do know we have the option of staying overnight (often do so in Munich, on our way to Genoa), but hadn't considered it yet for this trip but will. My plan has been to spend 2 nights in BKK--mostly resting and for security, before then leaving for KTM, where we will spend 5 nights with heritage sites before going on to Bhutan.

So you too have concerns about the 55 minute connection? I am sold on ANA if possible. Unfortunately I went back many Saturdays last night and it has not been available once on that day. I will call United as well as looking online at 10:01 on Nov 28 and see if there is something possible not on the screen. Am thinking of reserving with Asiana if that's all that's open, then paying change fee if ANA opens up.

The pictures of the staggered business are beautiful!

WOW! Great news! It looks like I can take Asiana flighst to BKK getting in at 10 at night, then fly out at 10 the next morning for KTM-- all business for the same 80,000 miles it would take to get to BKK alone. Tiring but we heard that that BKK-KTM leg is expensive!