Korean Air 787-10 Prestige 2.0 Suites Review [ICN to SEA]

The author flew as an invited guest of Korean Air. All opinions are the author’s own, and Korean Air did not have any input in any part of this review.

Airline: Korean Air (KE)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
Flight #: KE41
Route: Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Date: June 19, 2025
Duration: 10 hours, 10 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Business class; 36 seats across 9 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration
Seat: 7F
Cost: 210,000 Capital One miles

After an unforgettable mother-and-son trip to Japan and South Korea, I wanted our flight home to mark the culmination of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for my mom.

Korean Air invited me to experience its newest business class product, Prestige 2.0, on the Boeing 787-10. This product builds on the original Prestige Suites, which first launched in 2015. But since this was a meaningful trip for us, I also booked a cash fare so my mom could join me up front and enjoy the ride in style.

Korean Air’s new Prestige Suites 2.0 officially launched in mid-2024, but they only began flying to the U.S. in January 2025, debuting on the route from Seoul (ICN) to Seattle (SEA). Currently, Seattle remains the only U.S. city served by this upgraded business class product, though it’s also available on flights to Vancouver (YVR), making North America’s access to it still quite limited.

As someone who’s flown a fair share of premium cabins, I was curious to see how this refreshed seat would compare — not just in looks, but in comfort, privacy, and overall experience.

Here’s what it was like to fly Korean Air’s most modern business class on the final leg of our Asia adventure.

Booking Korean Air Prestige 2.0 Suites Business Class

Booking Korean Air business class for my mom wasn’t exactly straightforward.

Korean Air’s SKYPASS program no longer partners with any of the major U.S. credit card rewards programs, making booking my mom’s seat with points a real challenge. Since this was a special trip, I didn’t want her stuck in economy while I was up front enjoying Korean Air’s new Prestige 2.0 business class.

The cash price for the one-way ticket from Seoul (ICN) to Seattle (SEA) was about $2,100 — which, honestly, is more than I’d typically spend on a premium cabin flight. But because there weren’t any good award options and I wanted us to enjoy the experience together, I had to get creative.

Luckily, I had around 250,000 Capital One miles sitting in my account and hadn’t yet used the $300 annual travel credit that comes with my Capital One Venture X Business Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.. So I booked the ticket directly through Capital One’s travel booking site.

I applied the $300 credit first and then used a little more than 180,000 Capital One miles to cover the rest (at a rate of 1 cent per mile), plus $128.37 in taxes and fees.

Now, this definitely isn’t the most efficient way to redeem Capital One miles — I prefer to transfer to partners for more value — but that simply wasn’t an option. And for a once-in-a-lifetime trip with my mom, I didn’t mind paying more than I usually do to make it happen.

Hot Tip:

Booking flights through travel portals from Capital One, American Express, Chase, and other bank rewards programs is treated like a cash fare by the airlines, even if you pay with points. Therefore, you should enter your rewards number when booking your flight. I credited my mom’s flight to her Alaska Mileage Plan account.

Incheon International Airport

We arrived at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, excited to kick off our journey home in Korean Air’s Prestige Class.

Korean Air has a dedicated Prestige Class check-in area that is completely separate from the regular terminal counters.

As soon as we approached, friendly Korean Air agents greeted us right outside the entrance.

We showed our boarding passes, and they personally welcomed us into a private check-in zone, a calm, spacious room with about a dozen counters and no lines.

The check-in process was smooth and stress-free. Whether it was printing boarding passes, checking bags, or just asking a quick question, the agents were incredibly attentive and made everything feel easy.

After check-in, we breezed through security and were inside the Prestige Lounge within minutes. Korean Air operates 2 Prestige Lounges at ICN, East and West.

They’re similar, but we used the slightly larger West Lounge during our visit.

Korean Air Prestige West Business Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport

After scanning our boarding passes at the entrance, we stepped into Korean Air’s Prestige Lounge, a sleek, well-equipped space, though not quite what I’d call luxurious.

Access to Korean Air’s Prestige Lounges at Incheon Airport is available to:

• Korean Air Prestige Class (business class) passengers
• First class passengers on Korean Air and select SkyTeam partners
• SkyTeam Elite Plus members flying internationally on any SkyTeam-operated flight, regardless of cabin class
• KAL Morning Calm Premium Club and Million Miler Club members, when flying on Korean Air

It was fairly busy during our afternoon visit, but thanks to plenty of seating spread across various zones, it never felt overcrowded.

We headed straight for the hot buffet, which featured a good mix of Korean comfort food and international bites. Think beef bulgogi, kimbap, savory soups, and lighter snacks.

There was also a full-service bar, which felt like a nice touch for anyone looking to relax with a drink before boarding.

The lounge also offered clean restrooms and shower suites, which is a big plus for long-haul travelers. Thanks to a digital kiosk near the entrance, reserving a shower was simple, too.

We didn’t linger too long, but it was a perfectly functional and comfortable space to grab a quick meal, freshen up, or watch TV.

It wasn’t the most luxurious lounge out there, but it did the job for a quick bite and some downtime before boarding.

The West Lounge near gate 249 operates daily from 4 a.m. until midnight, and the East Lounge near gate 253 opens from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Access is typically limited to same-day, departing international flights.

Boarding

Since the gates at Incheon Airport can be quite a walk from the lounge, we left the lounge with plenty of time to spare. We arrived at the gate about an hour before our scheduled departure, only to find that boarding hadn’t started yet.

The inbound aircraft had arrived roughly 30 minutes late, so the cabin crew was still waiting to board while cleaning and catering services were being completed.

When boarding was finally called, Prestige Class passengers were invited to board first. My mom and I headed down the jet bridge right away, not just to settle in early, but to take in the cabin before it got busy. It was a great chance to snap a few photos of the Prestige Class cabin and savor that first impression of the onboard experience.

On Board Korean Air 787-10 Prestige 2.0 Suites

Business Class Cabin and Seat

Stepping onto Korean Air’s Boeing 787-10, I was immediately struck by how sleek and modern the cabin felt, a refreshing change from the airline’s classic baby-blue branding, which I’ve admittedly always loved.

This new cabin design — with its muted grays and darker and more elegant colors — was hard not to be impressed by. The polished, upscale vibe gave the whole space a fresh, contemporary feel that felt like a real upgrade.

The Prestige Suites 2.0 are arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout, with 36 seats filling the space between the first and second set of doors. This staggered configuration ensures that every passenger gets direct aisle access, which is always a plus when flying long-haul international business class.

One standout feature of the Prestige Suite 2.0 is the sliding door at each seat, designed to enhance privacy. However, Korean Air hasn’t yet received regulatory approval to allow passengers to fully close these doors during flight.

Once full closure is permitted, this product has the potential to earn even more glowing reviews, as it would bring Korean Air’s business class offering closer to the enclosed suites offered by some of its top competitors.

Since I was traveling with my mom, we chose seats 7E and 7F, the middle bulkhead pair, which made it easy to chat throughout the flight.

If I were solo, I’d definitely pick a window seat for the added privacy.

The seat itself features convenient one-touch controls that let you easily adjust between lie-flat, angled, or upright positions. With just a tap, you can find the perfect angle for working, relaxing, or sleeping.

Each seat also includes tech conveniences such as wireless phone charging, a powerful 60W USB-C port, a standard AC outlet, Bluetooth audio pairing, and an impressively large 23.8-inch Ultra HD touchscreen.

One of my favorite tech perks was being able to connect my phone via Bluetooth and use it as a remote control for the entertainment system — something I wish more airlines would support. It made browsing and selecting content effortless.

I was able to easily pair my Bluetooth AirPods Max to the entertainment system and listen to content wirelessly, which made for a seamless experience. That said, if you don’t have your own headphones, Korean Air provides a pair that you can plug in and use during the flight.

At 5 feet, 8 inches, I found the footwell to be quite roomy, and even fully reclined into lie-flat mode, the bed felt long enough to stretch out comfortably, even for those a few inches taller.

The seat did feel a bit narrow when flat, which is a common tradeoff with staggered seating designs.

A thoughtful feature was the center divider, which could be raised for extra privacy from your seat companion.

In the same breath, the divider could be fully lowered to create a kind of double bed — ideal for traveling with a partner or family member who wants to share the space.

The seat featured a dedicated storage compartment, which was useful for keeping my wallet, passport, and other handheld items secure and easily accessible during the flight.

One thing to note is that the cabin stayed quite warm throughout the flight. This is a common issue on many Asian carriers, and there were no individual air nozzles at the seats. If you tend to get warm easily, like I do, dress appropriately for the flight.

As for bedding, Korean Air could improve in this area. There was no mattress pad, which made the seat firmer than I’d expected.

I used the same pillow provided at boarding for sleeping, which wasn’t the fluffiest but did the job. I was offered a thick, duvet-style blanket, but with the cabin being warm, I didn’t use it much. Despite this, the seat’s firmness actually worked well for my back. I was pleasantly surprised to get nearly 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep — a new personal best for me on a plane.

Food and Beverages

On our over-9-hour flight, there were 2 full meal services, and Korean Air definitely aimed to impress—though the results were mixed.

Prior to departure, I was offered a choice of orange juice, water, or sparkling wine. I had sparkling wine.

The first service started with an amuse-bouche of scallop with sweetcorn velouté, which was delicate and creamy, a nice start to my meal.

The next course was a satisfying yet straightforward cheese plate, served with a small selection of crackers, nuts, and a few fresh grapes.

The appetizer featured salmon with sour cream sauce. The salmon was tender, but the sauce was bland. That said, the accompanying kimchi was delicious. While salmon is my least favorite fish, I’m not a picky eater, so I ate it all.

For the main course, I chose Korean Air’s signature bibimbap. While it was beautifully presented with all the traditional accompaniments — rice, vegetables, gochujang, and sesame oil — the overall flavor fell flat for me, lacking the bold seasoning and spice I expected. To pair with the meal, I enjoyed a glass of Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, a lovely red retailing around $60 a bottle.

I finished off the first meal with Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream and a few tasty sweet treats.

I asked to be woken up for the second meal, and I’m glad I did. I was served a pasta dish with truffle and mushrooms that was rich, aromatic, and full of flavor, though slightly greasy. It was undoubtedly the culinary highlight of the flight for me.

I rounded out the meal with fresh fruit and chamomile tea, a calming way to finish my inflight dining experience.

Hot Tip:

If you’re flying in Prestige Class (business) or first class on a long-haul international flight, Korean Air allows you to preselect your meals in advance on its website or mobile app. Additionally, the carrier offers an à la carte menu throughout the flight, so you can order anything you like if you get hungry or want a snack outside of meal service.

Amenities

Amenity Kit

The thoughtful amenity kit was designed by Graff, a British gemstones and jewelry brand. Inside were essentials like an eye mask, socks, lotions, and other small comfort items.

Inflight Entertainment

The tech in Korean Air’s Prestige 2.0 Suites really stood out. As previously mentioned, each seat featured an impressively large 23.8-inch Ultra HD touchscreen that was sharp and vibrant, paired with a user interface that was both quick and easy to navigate.

Korean Air definitely deserves praise for its high-resolution inflight entertainment system, which made browsing movies and TV shows enjoyable. The selection was solid overall, though I’d love to see even more international titles and newer releases added in the future.

Connecting my phone wirelessly to the entertainment system via Bluetooth was super convenient.

While there was a handheld controller and a touchscreen option to select shows and movies, I loved that I could control everything right from my phone, making it easy to change content from the palm of my hand.

Charging was effortless too; I simply placed my phone on the armrest’s built-in wireless charging pad and didn’t have to worry about cables.

Wi-Fi

I purchased the inflight Wi-Fi, which cost $20.95 for the entire flight.

Though it was painfully slow and not suited for streaming or heavy browsing, it was enough to keep me connected for messaging family and light social media scrolling.

So if you need to stay in touch, it does the job, but don’t expect much beyond that.

Lavatories

In the Prestige Class cabin, there were 2 lavatories available for business class passengers. The one I used most often was right by my seat in the galley in front of the bulkhead (row 7). It was always clean and well-stocked.

There was also a second lavatory just behind the cockpit, separated by a curtain. It was easy to overlook, but it was there if you needed it.

One thing I noticed: Unlike many Asian or Middle Eastern carriers on long-haul business flights, these lavs didn’t include toothbrushes, which I’ve come to expect. Instead, they stocked shaving kits and mouthwash packets — an interesting choice since I wondered how many people actually shave midflight.

Service

From the moment we arrived at Korean Air’s dedicated Prestige Class check-in area to the final hour of the flight, the service felt consistently warm and attentive.

My mom and I truly felt taken care of throughout the journey. While the crew wasn’t overly hands-on or preemptively anticipating every need — like you might experience on some Japanese carriers — they struck a nice balance between being available and giving passengers space to relax.

The flight attendants were friendly, professional, and responsive whenever we needed something, whether it was a drink refill, adjusting meal timing, or helping with seat functions. It wasn’t the most polished or proactive service I’ve ever received in business class, but it was genuine and made us feel comfortable from start to finish.

Arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Although we departed Seoul nearly an hour behind schedule because the inbound aircraft was delayed, we still managed to arrive in Seattle just a few minutes after the originally scheduled arrival time.

Deplaning was quick and efficient, as we exited through the rear business class door and were among the first passengers off the plane. Immigration and customs at SEA was a breeze, and within minutes, my mom and I were landside and officially back in the U.S. — a smooth end to a memorable journey.

Final Thoughts

Korean Air’s Prestige 2.0 Suites on the Boeing 787-10 delivered a solid and comfortable business class experience for our flight from Seoul to Seattle. From the dedicated check-in area to the warm, attentive inflight service, my mom and I felt well taken care of every step of the way.

The Prestige 2.0 Suite product offers a modern, elevated design with great tech features, direct aisle access, and a surprising level of privacy — even without the fully closable doors (which I hope will be approved soon). While the bedding and first meal quality left room for improvement, the second meal was excellent, and the ability to order off an à la carte menu midflight is a great perk.

The service struck a nice balance — not hyperattentive, but genuine, friendly, and responsive, which made us feel cared for. Add in the little details like Bluetooth audio pairing, wireless charging, and a speedy arrival despite a delayed departure, and it all came together to create a positive overall experience.

Would I fly Korean Air’s Prestige 2.0 Suites Class again? Absolutely, especially once those doors are fully approved and the suite experience reaches its full potential.