Korean Air KE38 Chicago-Incheon B777 Prestige (Business)

1. Overall Rating: 7/10 (🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑)
2. Quick Summary:
   • Korean Air’s signature service compensated for the dated hardware, but it was a stark reminder of the massive gap within the Prestige Class fleet.
3. Flight Route
   • KE38, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) → Seoul Incheon (ICN)
   • 11:35 Departure → 17:15(+1) Arrival
   • Flight Time: 14 hours 50 minutes
4. Aircraft Type: B777-300ER, HL8218 (Nov 2011 delivered, 14.3-year-old)
5. Cabin Class & Product: 11F, Prestige Class, Aisle Seat
6. Ticket Price & Booking
7. Check-in & Baggage Allowance
8. Departure Lounge
9. Boarding Process
10. Cabin & Seat Detail
11. In-flight Service
12. Amenities & Lavatory
13. Food & Beverage
14. In-flight Entertainment & Wi-Fi
15. Landing & Immigration
16. What Could Be Better
17. Final Thoughts & Conclusion

It’s also important to familiarize yourself with the change and cancellation policies for award tickets. Reissuing a Korean Air award ticket incurs a 30,000 KRW (approx. $22 USD) fee, and taxes and fuel surcharges are recalculated based on the new date, which may result in additional charges or a refund. If you cancel a completely unused award ticket more than 91 days before departure, there is no cancellation fee. However, canceling within 90 days of departure costs 3,000 miles, and canceling after the ticket expires costs 10,000 miles. If you need to cancel but want to avoid the 3,000-mile fee, a strategic workaround is to pay the 30,000 KRW reissue fee to change the flight to a date more than 91 days out, and then cancel it for free. This effectively trades 3,000 miles for 30,000 KRW, which can be advantageous if you highly value your miles. Keep in mind that since taxes and surcharges are recalculated at the time of the change, you might still face unexpected fare differences.

Additionally, failing to cancel a reservation and simply not showing up incurs a no-show penalty. For Prestige Class, this no-show fee is $300, and if you cancel your flight after clearing immigration, an additional $200 may be charged. On top of that, if you use the lounge but fail to board the flight, a separate lounge penalty may apply. Korean Air’s lounge penalty is around 500,000 KRW or $500, which is certainly not trivial. Therefore, even if you’re traveling on an award ticket, if your plans change at the last minute, it is crucial to cancel or change your flight before departure.

Korean Air elites and SkyTeam Elite members also enjoy additional checked baggage allowances depending on their tier. For US routes, SkyTeam Elite or Morning Calm members can check one extra 32 kg bag when flying First or Prestige Class. SkyTeam Elite Plus or Morning Calm Premium members receive an extra 32 kg bag in First or Prestige Class, and an extra 23 kg bag in Economy. Finally, Million Milers—Korean Air’s highest tier—are allowed an additional 32 kg bag regardless of whether they are flying First, Prestige, or Economy Class.

The check-in process itself was incredibly smooth. The counters weren’t busy, and since it was a weekday morning, the entire terminal felt very peaceful. The walk from the 5B counters to the security checkpoint in Terminal 5 was short. Because I have both TSA PreCheck and CLEAR, I was able to breeze through security and enter the airside area in no time, despite there being a slight line.

Korean Air KE38 Mid-Flight Snack

Newly Updated Tablecloth and Tableware

With this pre-landing meal completed, all major services in Korean Air’s long-haul Prestige Class wrapped up about two hours prior to arrival, right as we were flying near Sendai. Shortly after, preparations for landing began. Due to severe turbulence on the day of my flight, the cabin was secured a bit earlier than usual. By 40 minutes before landing, all preparations were complete, and the crew had taken their seats.

The in-flight service on Korean Air’s long-haul Prestige Class remains very true to traditional business class standards. The multi-course meal service is highly regarded for both its execution and pacing, and the flight attendants are incredibly accommodating as long as requests are reasonable, leaving very little room for discomfort during the flight. However, I personally felt that this elaborate multi-course meal was a double-edged sword. While it delivers a highly polished service experience, the first meal after takeoff can drag on for nearly two hours—and even longer if turbulence delays the service. For passengers prioritizing rest over dining on a long flight, this leisurely pacing meal process can sometimes feel like a drawback.

Korean Air Prestige Class Headphones

Korean Air Prestige Class New Tableware

Overall, the in-flight dining experience on Korean Air KE38 from Chicago O’Hare to Seoul Incheon was highly satisfactory. Although the meal service was quite lengthy, it didn’t feel burdensome given that this was a long-haul flight departing around noon and arriving the next afternoon. In an era where many airlines are scaling back multi-course business class dining, Korean Air’s full service—from apéritifs to dessert and tea—really stands out as a unique strength. The mid-flight snack offerings also seem to be gradually improving. I particularly loved the freshly baked cookies, which are always a highlight in Prestige Class, and having light options like the shrimp roll or ramen for the long flight was a nice touch. I also appreciated the small details, such as the non-slip tray liners and the newly refreshed tableware, which felt much cleaner and more premium than before.

However, the execution lacked a bit of refinement in the details. The seasoning and doneness varied noticeably between dishes, and some of the side dishes were so underseasoned they were almost flavorless. The shrimp roll had a decent filling, but the bun was excessively hard, making it difficult to eat. Additionally, dishes that required manual plating by the cabin crew understandably lacked the precision you’d expect in a high-end restaurant. Even the ramen, a beloved Prestige Class staple, felt like it had room for improvement as a business class snack. Serving ramen is great, but adding more varied garnishes or toppings beyond just dried pollack would elevate it to a snack truly fitting of the Prestige Class brand.

Nevertheless, taking everything into account, the catering on Korean Air’s long-haul Prestige Class remains a strong selling point. For passengers who love Korean cuisine, the menu—from the first meal down to the pre-landing service and mid-flight snacks—offers a comforting, hearty, and familiar experience. Despite a few minor missteps in the details, for travelers who value in-flight dining, this experience easily meets the mark for a satisfying journey.

I mostly stick to red ginseng tea, sparkling water, and coffee. The red ginseng tea was Hansamin brand, rather than CheongKwanJang, and a single packet yielded a relatively mild flavor. If you prefer a stronger taste, asking for a second packet to steep together is a good trick. The sparkling water was served in San Pellegrino cans. As for coffee, regular coffee was brewed drip coffee, while the decaf option was served as instant coffee.

I find the overall beverage and liquor selection in Korean Air’s long-haul Prestige Class to be quite impressive. The alcohol lineup is highly competitive compared to other long-haul business class products, and the non-alcoholic options cover almost everything you’d expect. However, there were a few minor letdowns. For a Korean carrier, it’s a bit disappointing that they don’t serve any traditional Korean spirits on board, unlike Asiana Airlines. Additionally, since the coffee service revolves around drip or instant coffee, ordering an iced coffee usually just means getting drip coffee poured over ice. Lastly, the lack of a distinct signature cocktail specifically crafted for Korean Air feels like a missed opportunity.

Nevertheless, looking at the big picture, the beverage and alcohol selection on KE38’s Prestige Class was highly satisfactory. With a broad array of wines, whiskeys, beers, teas, coffees, and juices, there were plenty of options to perfectly complement meals or relaxation during the long flight—a lineup truly befitting of Prestige Class.

The audio quality pumped out by the IFE system was actually decent. The problem was that the supplied headset wasn’t good enough to properly deliver that sound. As mentioned in the amenities section, the default headphones in Korean Air’s Prestige Class fall short in noise cancellation, comfort, and overall audio fidelity by 2026 standards.

As a result, I relied almost entirely on my personal noise-canceling headset for the duration of the flight. If you own decent wired earbuds or headphones, you are far better off using them instead of the airline-supplied pair. Since Bluetooth audio transmitters that plug into 3.5mm jacks are now cheap and widely available, bringing one along is an excellent strategy if you prefer using your own wireless earbuds or headphones.

Once again, the service from the Korean Air staff was outstanding. From the warm reception at the check-in counter to the attentive cabin crew, everyone was incredibly friendly and detail-oriented, anticipating needs before they were even voiced. The hospitality was quintessentially Korean, reinforcing that service remains one of Korean Air’s greatest strengths. It’s also evident that Korean Air is steadily upgrading the finer details of its Prestige Class. The addition of Graff amenity kits, Frette bedding, refreshed tableware, non-slip tray liners, and an ever-improving snack menu shows a clear commitment to refining the long-haul business class experience.

However, the biggest disappointment was undoubtedly the older aircraft and its Prestige Sleeper seats. This B777-300ER was nearly 15 years old and had never undergone a comprehensive cabin retrofit. While the Prestige Sleeper converts into a fully flat bed, by 2026 standards, its lack of storage, privacy, and direct aisle access make it unmistakably obsolete. In truth, this seat felt dated even back in the 2010s, so it’s hard not to feel let down when encountering it in long-haul business class today.

The shortcomings weren’t limited to the seats. While the cabin was well-maintained and I experienced no malfunctions or major discomfort during the flight, the age of the aircraft was palpable in the harsh way the lighting turned on and off, the dated lavatory fixtures, and the worn finishes and buttons around the seat. A fresh coat of paint on the exterior is nice, but since passengers spend their time inside the cabin, I wish more attention were given to updating the interior facilities. Of course, other airlines have operated—or still operate—similar 2-3-2 business class layouts. However, Turkish Airlines compensates with truly exceptional catering, and Emirates makes up for it with outstanding soft products, cabin ambiance, entertainment, and beverage selections. On Korean Air, however, no amount of excellent service could entirely mask the outdated seats and interior design of the Prestige Sleeper.

What is particularly frustrating is the stark difference in experience across Korean Air’s own Prestige Class cabins, depending purely on the aircraft and seat type. For passengers paying the same fare or redeeming the same number of miles, the gap between the modern Prestige Suites and the outdated Prestige Sleeper is hard to ignore. This inconsistency in the passenger experience, dictated entirely by aircraft assignment, is a gap Korean Air urgently needs to close. I understand why the cabin retrofit program stalled. The shift from a 3-3-3 to a tighter 3-4-3 layout in Economy Class sparked negative feedback from consumers, and Korean Air naturally had to consider public opinion. However, leaving the older aircraft completely unrefurbished for this long is a separate issue entirely. Regardless of the Economy Class layout, the aging Prestige Class product clearly demands attention.

To sum up, KE38 delivered a thoroughly satisfying experience when it came to the soft product—the staff’s service, catering, lounge access, and baggage handling were all excellent. However, the shortcomings of the hard product, stemming from the aging B777-300ER and its outdated Prestige Sleeper seats, were impossible to ignore. If Korean Air wants to be a truly top-tier competitor in the global market, it must prioritize the qualitative improvement of its legacy Prestige Class cabins alongside its ongoing network expansion.

Overall, my flight in Korean Air KE38 Prestige Class was marked by excellent, brand-standard service and catering, but undeniably dragged down by the disappointing, outdated seats and aircraft.

Having access to the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 5 at Chicago O’Hare was great, and being able to board directly from Gate M14 inside the lounge was incredibly convenient. The entire process—from check-in and boarding to in-flight service and baggage claim upon arrival—was seamless, and the staff’s hospitality was exceptional. Experiencing Korean Air’s reliable service and signature Korean hospitality on a long-haul route was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of this flight. The catering was also highly satisfactory. The multi-course first meal, mid-flight snacks, and pre-landing meal provided plenty of food, and passengers who enjoy Korean cuisine will find the experience very rewarding. The freshly baked cookies, braised beef short ribs, and wide selection of beverages were particularly strong points during the long journey. Small improvements to the amenity kits, bedding, and tableware also showed that the airline is continuing to refine its soft product.

The hard product, however, left a lot to be desired. While the Prestige Sleeper seat offers the fundamental perk of a fully flat bed, its lack of storage, privacy, direct aisle access, bed length, and modern IFE screen make it feel woefully inferior to newer business class products. With the aircraft itself showing its age, you could feel the wear and tear not just in the seat, but in the harsh lighting, the dated lavatories, and the scuffed finishes around the cabin.

Ultimately, my flight on KE38 proved that while Korean Air’s soft product remains excellent, its hard product is in desperate need of an overhaul. The service from the staff, the catering, the lounge, and the baggage handling were all phenomenal. Yet, the massive disparity in the passenger experience within the exact same Prestige Class, based solely on aircraft type, is a gap Korean Air must close. Even so, considering I snagged this long-haul business class seat with miles just a day before departure, the overall journey was incredibly comfortable and reliable. If you board expecting the latest generation of business class seats, you will be disappointed. But if you value Korean Air’s steady service, excellent Korean cuisine, and generous baggage allowances, this flight still delivers a highly satisfying experience.