The best ways to fly Brisbane to Seoul, South Korea

15 replies

dylanmalloch

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 16 Jul 2018

Total posts 34

Hi all, I'm heading to Seoul (from Brisbane) for work in June and can choose which airline I would like to fly. Will be in business class. I was tempted to go Qantas but it seems the most direct route is via Asiana Airlines. Korean Air would be on an A330 and the product doesn't look great. Another option is to go Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

Has anyone travelled to Seoul recently and can share their experience? Cheers.

Lmc

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 09 Nov 2018

Total posts 50

Definitely Cathay or even look at EVA

Skylight

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 08 Nov 2018

Total posts 12

My son flies to Seoul a lot and he prefers SQ J via Singapore. Has tried the others but likes SQ the best.

AsiaBizTraveller

Member since 20 Nov 2015

Total posts 43

Korean Air is obviously going to be the fastest way, as it's a direct flight of 10 hours, and at least the flight from Brisbane is in daylight hours, but you're right, the A330 business class seat isn't the best experience. Cathay Pacific is certainly a good option, it has a better business class for sure and the bonus of being an on Airbus A350, but check the layover time at HKG between flights, Google Flights indicates a 7 hour layover which means a 20 hour journey, so you will spend twice as much time travelling, to me that's not worth it. Maybe you can get a better connection flying Qantas BNE-HKG and then changing to CX? Also, don't overlook China Airlines which does BNE-TPE-ICN. Singapore Airlines would be another good choice. I think in the end you will end up choosing the best flight based on your personal timetable and how long you can afford to be travelling, as well as the airline schedules.

jch

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 15 Nov 2017

Total posts 143

Definitely Cathay or even look at EVA

Looks like EVA is switching to Dreamliner in November

afloskar

Member since 10 Aug 2015

Total posts 156

Definitely Cathay or even look at EVA

Looks like EVA is switching to Dreamliner in November

Where did you see that?

dlam

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 21 Dec 2016

Total posts 10

Just flew Asiana LHR-ICN-SYD and was happy. Good seats (pretty standard for business class these days), direct aisle access and really impeccable service. Asiana lounges in ICN are nothing special but would happily fly them again (and indeed, will do, on the return leg.)

Dredgy

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Apr 2017

Total posts 182

Korean Air hands down. The experience is fine...the food is very good, the seats are comfy enough, you get a good sleep if you want, plus direct flight. The service is very traditionally Korean which some might not interpret as particularly friendly but it is very efficient and accomodating. (If you ever have to make the trip in economy Korean is an excellent economy product).

If you have complete freedom on choosing fares and can transfer in SYD - Korean sends their A380 and 747-8 to Sydney every now and then (don't know about in June) and those are truly excellent.

Asiana is good but a step down from what it used to be. Singapore Air out of Brisbane is a regional A350 now I think so I wouldn't be queuing up for it. China Airlines & EVA are both very good to Taipei and would be my second choices.

Last editedby Dredgy at Mar 13, 2019, 11:45 PM.

jch

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 15 Nov 2017

Total posts 143

Definitely Cathay or even look at EVA

Looks like EVA is switching to Dreamliner in November

Where did you see that?

Local Taiwanese press is reporting that EVA's chairman said that the Dreamliner will be put on the Brisbane route in November.


EVA Air will introduce six Dreamliner Boeing 787s this year, including two 787-9s and four 787-10s with the larger fuselage.

The six 787s will mainly be equipped for regional routes and some long-haul routes. For example, from May onwards, Taipei-Vienna will be replaced by the 787-9, and in July, Taipei-Amsterdam will be replaced by the 787-9, and in November Taipei-Brisbane will be changed to the 787-10.



dylanmalloch

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 16 Jul 2018

Total posts 34

Korean Air is obviously going to be the fastest way, as it's a direct flight of 10 hours, and at least the flight from Brisbane is in daylight hours, but you're right, the A330 business class seat isn't the best experience. Cathay Pacific is certainly a good option, it has a better business class for sure and the bonus of being an on Airbus A350, but check the layover time at HKG between flights, Google Flights indicates a 7 hour layover which means a 20 hour journey, so you will spend twice as much time travelling, to me that's not worth it. Maybe you can get a better connection flying Qantas BNE-HKG and then changing to CX? Also, don't overlook China Airlines which does BNE-TPE-ICN. Singapore Airlines would be another good choice. I think in the end you will end up choosing the best flight based on your personal timetable and how long you can afford to be travelling, as well as the airline schedules.

Thanks mate. Actually the Cathay layover is just two hours apparently so it looks like Cathay is the way to go.

Chris C.

Member since 24 Apr 2012

Total posts 1,116

Asiana doesn't fly to Brisbane, only Sydney, which leaves Korean Air as the only non-stop option.

The fastest one-stops are EVA Air via Taipei, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, and China Airlines via Taipei (in that order, as it depends on stopover time etc.).

S

Member since 13 Sep 2013

Total posts 119

My son flies to Seoul a lot and he prefers SQ J via Singapore. Has tried the others but likes SQ the best.

We did the SYD-SIN-SEL flight on SQ not long ago and it’s just way too long a trip to be feasible! It’s a full day travelling to SIN, then an overnight flight from SIN-SEL.

Whilst SQ is lovely, I wouldn’t recommend for flying to Seoul.

nix584

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 10 Jan 2012

Total posts 108

Hi all, I'm heading to Seoul (from Brisbane) for work in June and can choose which airline I would like to fly. Will be in business class. I was tempted to go Qantas but it seems the most direct route is via Asiana Airlines. Korean Air would be on an A330 and the product doesn't look great. Another option is to go Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

Has anyone travelled to Seoul recently and can share their experience? Cheers.

KE fly the 789 to BNE, unless they're switching back to an A330 before June?

nix584

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 10 Jan 2012

Total posts 108

Korean Air hands down. The experience is fine...the food is very good, the seats are comfy enough, you get a good sleep if you want, plus direct flight. The service is very traditionally Korean which some might not interpret as particularly friendly but it is very efficient and accomodating. (If you ever have to make the trip in economy Korean is an excellent economy product).
If you have complete freedom on choosing fares and can transfer in SYD - Korean sends their A380 and 747-8 to Sydney every now and then (don't know about in June) and those are truly excellent.

Asiana is good but a step down from what it used to be. Singapore Air out of Brisbane is a regional A350 now I think so I wouldn't be queuing up for it. China Airlines & EVA are both very good to Taipei and would be my second choices.
Last edited by Dredgy at Mar 13, 2019, 11.45 PM.

One of the four daily SQ flights is still a 3 class A350. But if flying in Business I think I'd rather fly in A350 regional J than 3 class J. Economy is no different.

afloskar

Member since 10 Aug 2015

Total posts 156

Hi all, I'm heading to Seoul (from Brisbane) for work in June and can choose which airline I would like to fly. Will be in business class. I was tempted to go Qantas but it seems the most direct route is via Asiana Airlines. Korean Air would be on an A330 and the product doesn't look great. Another option is to go Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

Has anyone travelled to Seoul recently and can share their experience? Cheers.
KE fly the 789 to BNE, unless they're switching back to an A330 before June?


KE will fly 789 to BNE for NW19/20. So current 789 service will end around 26 MAR 19, with the A333 to operate until 26 OCT 19 where the 789 will then take over. NS20 schedules obviously not up yet so may see 789 year-round after that.

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