Review: Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class from Seoul to Jeju

Part of the reason I traveled via Seoul and Jeju on my recent trip to Africa was to get another chance to fly on Asiana Airlines’ 767-300, which is the last active non-ER version of the type in service. Not long before departure, however, the type scheduled to operate my flight was changed to Airbus A330-300.

With that, continue reading this review to see what you can expect when flying on an Asiana Airlines A330 on a domestic flight in South Korea.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class
Asiana Airlines A330-300 economy class.

Check-in, Lounge & Boarding at Seoul Gimpo Airport

Having checked in online without any issues, I skipped the check-in counters located on the second floor of Gimpo Airport’s domestic terminal and headed to the third floor where the security check and departure gates can be found.

The line at security check was shorter than most other times I traveled through the airport and so I was airside within five minutes. That said, I wasn’t spared an extra check of my carry-on. In fact, I feel like my camera equipment got swabbed more often on this trip than anytime in the past – I wonder why.

Seoul Gimpo Asiana Airlines Check-In
Check-in area.

With almost two hours left before my flight’s scheduled departure time of 4:35PM, I headed to Asiana Airlines’ lounge, which I could access thanks to my Star Alliance Gold status, once airside.

While the lounge was nothing special (it only serves passengers departing on hour-long domestic flights after all), it was still a better place to relax and get some work done in than the terminal’s public area.

Domestic Asiana Lounge at Seoul Gimpo Seating
Asiana Lounge at Seoul Gimpo.

I left the lounge just after 4PM and headed to gate 17 where a 19-year old A330-300 registered HL7740, which was delivered new to Asiana Airlines in 2005, was being prepared for the flight.

Boarding of the nearly full flight started at 4:09PM. Those requiring assistance were invited to board first, followed by business class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members, and those sitting in emergency exit row seats.

Asiana Airlines A330-300
The A330-300 being prepared for the flight.
Asiana Airlines Boarding
Priority boarding.
Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Boarding
Boarding.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Cabin & Seat

Asiana Airlines operates A330-300s in two configurations – one with 290 seats and one with 298 seats. Both of the configurations feature 30 business class seats. The latter have an extra row of economy class seats and slightly more modern seats.

Stepping onboard the aircraft, I passed through the business class cabin, which was equipped with five rows of angled flat seats in a 2-2-2 layout. While the seats were well past their prime, they were still considerably better than what most other airlines offer on flights of similar duration.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Business Class
Business class.

Economy class seats were in a 2-4-2 layout and, as one would expect from older generation seats, were well-padded. The legroom provided by the 32 to 33 inches seat pitch of the 290-seater I was on was good as well. That said, there was a rather bulky in-flight entertainment box under window seats.

There were no individual air vents on the overhead panels.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class
Economy class.
Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Seat
In-flight entertainment box under the seat.
Asiana Airlines A330-300 Seat Pocket
Content of the seat pocket.

Taking a closer look at the seat, there were a (at this point vintage) 6.5-inch low-resolution in-flight entertainment screen, a single-piece tray table, and a seat pocket on the seatback in front. There was also an (essentially useless as you will see later) in-flight entertainment controller in the armrest.

There were no power outlets or USB charging ports in economy class.

It is worth noting here that the 298-seater A330s feature larger, 10.6-inch screens and universal power outlets in economy class.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Screen
Screen.
Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class IFE
Entertainment controller.

Asiana Airlines Flight 8967 Departure

Just after 4:30PM, we were welcomed onboard by the captain who mentioned that it was clear and 21 degrees Celsius in Jeju. I found it interesting that he also mentioned the temperature in Fahrenheit, something I haven’t encountered in Asia (or outside North America for that matter) before.

Then, the cabin crew armed the aircraft’s doors, saying Asiana’s unique “Number one, clear,” “Number two, clear,” up to number four while doing so.

We were pushed back just one minute behind schedule, at 4:36PM, and started making our way to runway 32L.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Push Back
Ready to go.
Seoul Gimpo
Korean Air and T’Way 737s.

We took off at 4:48PM and made a left turn to set course for Jeju.

During the turn, a nice view of Gimpo Airport and Seoul’s suburbs surrounding it could be had.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Take-Off
Take-off.
Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Take Off
Seoul Gimpo Airport.

Asiana Airlines Domestic Economy Class Drink Service

The seatbelt signs were switched off about five minutes after take-off, at which point the cabin crew started preparing for a drink service. From there, it took less then 10 minutes until it was my time to choose.

A selection of soft drinks including sodas and juices was offered, and I went with Coke.

Empty cups were collected about five minutes later.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Drink
Drink.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 In-Flight Entertainment System

While, as mentioned earlier, the aircraft was equipped with tiny in-flight entertainment screens, there was no content for passengers to choose from. Instead, airshow (map and flight information) and ads were played on loop throughout the flight.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Economy Class Map
Map.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Onboard Wi-Fi

The 390-seater A330-300 that I was flying on wasn’t equipped with onboard wi-fi.

Arrival at Jeju Airport

The remainder of the flight after the drink service was uneventful.

That said, at some point, we flew past Gwangju Airport (only served from Seoul and Jeju) allowing me to get some photos of the airport I have yet to visit.

Gwangju Airport
Gwangju Airport.

The cabin crew started preparing the cabin for landing around 5:10PM, just 20 minutes after take-off.

Another 20 minutes later, Jeju Island could be seen from the left side windows, and less than an hour after take off, at 5:40PM, we landed on Jeju Airport’s runway 25.

Jeju
Jeju.
Arriving in Jeju
Shortly before landing.
Asiana A330 Landing in Jeju
Landing.

We arrived at our gate at 5:46PM, four minutes ahead of schedule.

Jeju Airport
Jeju Airport.
Asiana Airlines
Thank you, see you again.
Asiana Airlines A330-300 Jeju
The A330-300 after arrival in Jeju.

Asiana Airlines A330-300 Domestic Economy Class Summary

While the 290-seater A330-300’s outdated cabin makes it an aircraft you would not want to fly on a long-haul flight these days, it worked perfectly fine for a one-hour domestic hop.

Given that the flight was on time, the seat was comfortable enough, and there was a free drink service, the flight was about as good as it gets on short domestic flights.

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