At the Airport

Check-in

Shanghai has two international airports, Pudong and Hongqiao. Our Asiana Airlines flight departs from Shanghai Pudong Airport Terminal 2, which predominantly serves Star Alliance carriers. Asiana Airlines operates 10 check-in counters in Row K, the second row of counters from the left of the terminal building. There are two queues serving three groups of passengers at Shanghai Pudong Airport, and Economy Class passengers get their own line. In contrast, Star Alliance Gold and Business Class passengers are served in another line. The entrance to the Business Class queue was guarded by one of the ground staff to ensure only Business Class passengers were allowed in the queue. As we were one of the last few to check-in, there was no queue at the Business Class line (and Economy Class for that matter). The check-in experience fell short of typical Business Class standards. The ground staff came across as couldn’t care less and took his time to process our check-in. And when there were some issues with our seating, the ground staff took the time to confirm our seats over the phone without providing any updates on the status of the situation. He did not even bother telling us where to go after he processed our check-in (Shanghai Pudong Airport has two separate airside areas for domestic and international departures). The only information we were given was to head to the D77 Business Lounge after immigration.

China Eastern D77 Business Class Lounge

Asiana Airlines does not operate its Business Lounge in Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Instead of using the Star Alliance partner, D71 Air China Lounge, we were assigned to use the SkyTeam group partner, China Eastern Airlines D77 Business Class Lounge. I suppose this arrangement was intended to provide convenience for Asiana Airlines Business Class passengers, as the China Eastern Airlines Lounge was closer to our boarding gate. The China Eastern D77 Business Class Lounge, near Gate 77, is also accessible to Priority Pass holders. It serves many other airlines not affiliated with the SkyTeam group. Coming up from the escalator, the friendly lounge staff welcomed us to the lounge. China Eastern D77 Business Class Lounge felt airy and spacious as it shares the same ceiling as the airport terminal. The decor in the lounge mainly utilises natural wood that exudes a relaxing vibe. The front part of the lounge is primarily furnished with dining tables and chairs for four, which are also found near the bar area at the rear of the lounge. The seating in the centre of the lounge, next to the buffet lines, primarily consists of lounge armchairs that accommodate four or six people. Despite the armchair arrangement, we were also able to consume the food from the lounge comfortably in these seats. I also spotted a high table with power outlets for passengers to work on. While there are some individual high table pods on the adjacent side of the lounge, catering to passengers who prefer more privacy.

The food offered in the China Eastern D77 Business Class Lounge was quite extensive. There are two buffet lines in the lounge offering different food options. The buffet table located along the main entrance corridor primarily serves hot food, offering five options that range from curry chicken to fried rice to dim sum. The buffet table in the adjacent corridor mainly serves cold food and bread, from salads to fresh-cut fruits. It is here that I spotted a noodle counter, serving four options of made-to-order noodles. The additional condiments to complement the noodles are located opposite the noodle window. China Eastern D77 Business Class Lounge also features a bar that serves spirits and wine, but it was not open during my visit. There are no shower facilities in the China Eastern D77 Business Class Lounge.

The Aircraft

Asiana Airlines operates A330-300 and A321-200 aircraft between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Seoul. We flew on the A321-200 aircraft, which the airline has in two variants: one in an Economy Class configuration and the other with a small Business Class section.

The Cabin

The colour theme used on the larger Asiana Airlines aircraft is also found in this narrow-body aircraft. The A321-200 Business Class cabin had a bright and airy feel, with a royal vibe. The seats in the cabin are upholstered in beige, and the headrest covers and pillows are adorned with yellow, a symbol of royalty and nobility in the Korean culture. The cabin was bright, thanks to the use of white lights, which gave it an airy feel. The Business Class cabin is equipped with only three rows of two seats in a 2-2 configuration.

There is only one lavatory behind the cockpit serving all 12 Business Class passengers. As this is a smaller plane, the lavatory felt a little cramped compared to the airlines’ wider-body aircraft. However, it has the necessities of a lavatory. The lavatory does not come across as posh or any different from that in Economy Class. Still, I noticed additional amenities, such as dental kits and mouthwash, in addition to the L’Occitane lotion and facial mist, which were made available in the Business Class lavatories.

The Seat

Asiana Airlines A321-200 Business Class seats have a seat pitch of 40″ and are 22″ wide. As this is a recliner seat, it does not come in flatbed mode but is capable of reclining up to 5″. The seat controls consist of three mechanical levers that control the deployment of the calf rest, the extension of the calf rest, and the seat back recline. When the seat is reclined and the calf rest is being deployed, the seat feels comfortable enough for me to doze off in it, thanks to its thick cushioning. However, due to ageing, I found difficulty in activating some of the seat functions with these seat controls.

When it comes to storage, the only place we can store anything is in the seat pocket in front of us. There are no additional cubby holes for us to store our stuff. Fortunately, this seat pocket is large enough for me to place my iPad and some small items. Asiana Airlines A321-200 Business Class seats are fitted with a small cocktail table stored in the centre console between the two seats. The seat table is hidden in the armrest and is quite sizable when fully deployed. Other than the reading light above us, there is also a reading light that sticks out of the seat below the headrest. Asiana Airlines A321-200 Business Class seats are equipped with a USB-A charging outlet situated beneath the armrest, alongside two international power sockets in the centre console, allowing us to charge our lifestyle devices.

Inflight Entertainment

Each Business Class seat onboard Asiana Airlines A321-200 is fitted with a 10.6″ personal TV screen. As this is an older product, these TV screens have rather grainy picture quality by today’s standards and do not come with touchscreen functions. Selection of inflight entertainment is solely via the IFE controller, stowed under the armrest of the centre console. The IFE controller was rather old school. In the front, there are buttons that control the overhead reading lights and the flight attendant call button, as well as buttons for entertainment selection. A QWERTY keyboard is located on its back. The headphones provided by Asiana Airlines to Business Class passengers do not feature noise-cancelling functions, but are very comfortable to wear over a prolonged period. The Asiana Airlines A321-200 features the older OZ:enter IFE menu, which was designed for use with non-touchscreen TVs. The menu is well-organised, and finding the entertainment I want was a breeze. The OZ:enter is stocked with smaller entertainment options compared to their A350-900 aircraft. However, I was still able to find the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Korean movies and TV shows. For a 2-hour flight, I thought the contents of OZ:enter are sufficient to keep passengers entertained.

Meal

For the short 2-hour flight today, Asiana Airlines provides Business Class passengers with full meals. The two main course options for our flight today are Braised Dory fish and Egg Crepe. I had the Egg Crepe, served with fresh-cut fruits and a yoghurt. The scrambled eggs had a slightly flaky texture, but the ham was well-seasoned, and the sausage was not overly dry. My friend opted for the Dory fish, which tasted a little bland. Overall, I thought the meal served on this flight was quite hearty for breakfast.

Service

The service onboard this flight is one of the better services I’ve experienced with Asiana Airlines. Apart from the usual greetings at the door, we were being escorted to our seats. The cabin crew came across as friendly and welcoming throughout the entire flight. They were seen volunteering their help to passengers with their carry-ons and continually checking on them. Meal orders were taken and promptly served shortly after the seatbelt signs were turned off. Despite the short flight and the tight schedule, the cabin crew were seen patrolling the cabin frequently. Upon spotting that we had finished our meal, the eagle-eyed cabin crew promptly cleared our meal trays and topped up our drinks. Apart from the slippers provided in the seat, no other amenities were provided. Additional amenities such as pillows and blankets were made available upon request.

Afterthought

Asiana Airlines A321-200 was an older aircraft. Despite its ageing equipment and lack of storage space, I found the Business Class seat to be comfortable, thanks to the thick cushioning used in these seats. For a short 2-hour flight, it didn’t bother me that these Business Class seats don’t have a flat bed function. The service onboard this flight was excellent. The cabin crew came across as personable and attentive. They were seen helping passengers with their seats and luggage. I had a pleasant experience with Asiana Airlines in their A321-200 Business Class.