Flying the Kosmo 2.0 Suites was a delightful experience made all the better because I was expecting to fly Business Class Plus (Prestige Class Plus). It turned out to be a true first class suite rather than just some bulkhead business class seats that airlines have been doing these days. (See Starlux, American Airlines, and others.) Even though I call these seats "First Class Lite," the hard product was anything but "Lite". It was a true first class product. Here's my experience flying Korean Air's 777-300ER from SGN to ICN in 1J.
How I booked Korean Air First Class Lite
Booking Korean Air First Class with points can be tricky, especially since they dropped Chase Ultimate Rewards as a transfer partner. Now the only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy, but at a 3:1 transfer ratio, which is not a good ratio and not recommended. I just set flight alerts to track my route, Ho Chi Minh City to Seoul, and waited to be notified by Roame. Once alerted, you can typically transfer points instantly from nearly all the major credit card currencies to Flying Blue to book the flight.
After booking the Prestige Class flight (Korean Air’s term for business class), I was offered the opportunity to upgrade to First Class Lite for only $200 USD!
Not bad for a chance to fly the Kosmo Suite 2.0 on an intra-Asia route.
Flight Information
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Flight #: KE 476
Route: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) to Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Duration: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Cabin & Layout: 8 Kosmo Suites 2.0 in a 1-2-1 configuration
Class: First Class Lite or Prestige Class Plus
Seat: 1J (window seat, front row on the right-side)
Access to Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge & Review
The lounge has standard seating and a handful of hot and cold food items that were decent, but not the best in Asia. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi was weak.
Don't arrive early expecting a Cathay or ANA-level lounge experience. This lounge is more a place to sit and hydrate than indulge.
Cabin & Seat - Korean Air First Class Kosmo Suite 2.0 on Boeing 777-300ER
Let’s just say this. I was shocked at how nice the Kosmo 2.0 Suites were. I was expecting the Kosmo 1.0 suites, which do not fully enclose and have short walls (20-25 inches tall). So this suite was a lovely experience even on a sub-6-hour flight.
The color palette leans toward beige and bronze with glossy wood finishes, exuding old-school Korean luxury. The cabin felt extremely classy with flight attendants wearing beige and celadon colored uniforms.
The seat is 24 inches wide and 32 inches wide when it transforms into a fully flat 80-inch bed. Each suite has tall 52 inch privacy walls and sliding doors that close completely, giving you near-total seclusion.
There is a 34-inch touch screen, reading light, and an outlet.
Metal seat controls located on the side console that lets you adjust the recline, lighting, and privacy divider with ease. There's also a separate handheld entertainment controller that docks neatly into the armrest.
Storage is generous: a deep compartment under the ottoman for your bag, multiple shelves, and a large console next to the seat. Seat controls are intuitive, and a handheld remote handles lighting, recline, and in-flight entertainment.
The only overhead storage is located above the middle seats, but there are none above the side suites. So the cabin feels very airy.
Korean Air First Class Lite Entertainment & Amenities
The 34-inch personal screen was crisp and responsive, though the movie selection leaned heavily Korean. A pair of slippers, a blanket, and a pillow were provided. However, we were not provided a pair of headphones and we did not receive complimentary WiFi.
Despite being "First Class Lite," Korean Air didn’t skimp on the amenity bag. We were provided with the full-size GRAFF amenity kit typically available on long-haul routes.
The GRAFF-branded kit comes in a textured leather case with an understated, luxurious design. Inside, you'll find high-end skincare products by the British luxury house GRAFF, including moisturizing lotion, lip balm, and facial mist.
There's also a dental kit, hairbrush, eye mask, earplugs, and a few thoughtful extras like a facial tissue pack and hand sanitizer. It's an elegant, well-curated kit that reflects Korean Air's premium branding. The GRAFF bag was premium enough that you could definitely reuse later.
Prestige Class Dining - Food & Drinks
Dining is where Korean Air has scaled back the most on these regional First Class Lite routes. This was not the multi-course caviar service you might find on their long-haul JFK or LAX routes.
We were only offered the regular Prestige Class dining options, which was definitely a short-haul dining experience. Since we were flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Seoul, we were only offered “Breakfast”:
- Amuse Bouche: Ham Cheese Roll Canape
- Salad
- Main Course: Korean “Bibimap”, Roasted Chicken Thigh with Tomato Sauce, Stir-Fried Seafood with Chili and Oyster Sauce
- Seasonal Fresh Fruit
- Bread Selection
I chose the Korean Bibimbap and had a glass of the champagne: Deval Leroy Blanc de Blancs Bruc Grand Cru. For dinner, I also had a glass of cabernet sauvignon (Chateau Montus Rouge).
I was most disappointed with the dining. Korean Air is known for excellent dining and I have had great meals even in economy. So while bibimbap was fresh and tasty, it was not much better than the bibimbap I ate on a Korean Air long-haul economy flight.
Sleeping Experience
As a night time departure from Saigon, these new Kosmo 2.0 suites were great for getting some shuteye even if it was a super short flight. Shortly after the meal service, I converted the seat into a fully flat bed and slid the doors shut.
Unfortunately, there was no bedding, so I just slept on top of the lay flat seat. There was no turn down service or pajamas were offered on this route. I did receive a soft pillow and blanket that helped me sleep for a solid three hours.
With the cabin quiet, dark, and only 4 passengers up front, I woke up just as we began our descent into Seoul.
Final Thoughts: Pleasantly surprised (8/10)
For a 5.5-hour regional flight, this was outstanding. The Kosmo Suite 2.0 rivals the best last generation of first class seats out there. While the service and soft product were slightly dialed down, they were still much better than business class.
I had a hard time rating this First Class Lite product because I was not sure if I should rank against first class or rank against business class.
- Food Quality: 6/10
- Drinks Quality: 7/10
- Cleanliness: 8.5/10
- Cabin Design: 8/10
- Seat: 9/10
- Service: 10/10
