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This was our return flight from Incheon to Singapore on Asiana’s A350-900, wrapping up our sakura trip. We reviewed the outbound SIN-ICN leg earlier, so we won’t repeat the details on the aircraft, the headrest, or the IFE. This review covers what was different on the way home.
Check-in and boarding
We had an overnight layover for our return flight, so we stayed near Seoul. We ended up having an extra piece of luggage to check in as we bought more things from Seoul, and we managed to check in without issues.
Priority boarding was accorded as Star Alliance Gold members. Nothing else notable about the boarding process.
The seat
It is the same 3-3-3 configuration in the newer A350-900 cabin. After spending the past week on Asiana’s ageing A330-300s between Incheon and Nagoya, coming back to the A350 was a noticeable improvement. The cabin felt fresher, the seats more comfortable, and the adjustable headrest (already covered in our previous review) remained one of the better economy headrests we’ve used.
In-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi
Same system as the outbound flight. Nothing new to add here.
Food and drinks
Food was served twice on this flight. The first meal came shortly after takeoff. The options were bibimbap or noodles. We went with the bibimbap again. The rice was fragrant, and it was just as good as the outbound flight. Asiana’s bibimbap continues to be one of the better economy class meals you can get on any airline.
Closer to landing, a chicken pizza panini was served as a snack. It was hot and surprisingly good for a pre-arrival bite. A step above the usual cold sandwich or cup noodle that some airlines hand out before descent.
Arrival
The in-flight stretching exercises made another appearance before landing, same as the outbound flight. Still a nice way to wake up before arrival.
Concluding thoughts
The A350-900 is clearly the better aircraft in Asiana’s fleet for economy passengers. After experiencing both the A350 and the A330-300 on this trip, the difference is obvious. The newer cabin, the adjustable headrest, and the overall comfort level put the A350 well ahead. If you’re booking Asiana and have a choice of aircraft on your route, go for the A350.
