Why I will choose to fly Korean Air over Singapore Airlines

For as long as I can remember, I’d fly Singapore Airlines whenever my budget allows. But now that I’ve flew on Korean Air a few times since I moved to Korea last August, the Seoul-based airline is now my preferred carrier.

True to its “Excellence In Flight” motto, I’ve witnessed and experienced great service with the airline. Here are some examples:

1. The cabin crew is ever so attentive. When they realized I don’t understand Korean, they made it a point to switch to English in our conversations that follow.

2. Even on a red-eye flight, the cabin crew would walk the aisles regularly to make sure those who are asleep are tucked in properly. On the Singapore Airline flights that I’ve been on, cabin crew disappears once the lights onboard are dimmed.

3. But what really impressed me (the main reason why I’m writing this post) was that this particular cabin crew went around discreetly switching off the in-flight entertainment screens for pax who were asleep. When I had a chance to speak to her later, I told her that her actions were very sweet, and that was something I don’t recall ever seeing on a Singapore Airlines red-eye flight. She replied that if she hadn’t done so, it’d be difficult for the passenger to rest due to the brightness of the screen.

Of course, that’s not all. The cabin crew on the Korean Air flights I’ve been on seem genuinely nice. You could tell from their smiles and the lengths they’d go to make sure you have a comfortable flight.

A simple gesture like switching off the screen, or the quickening of pace when delivering a drink to a pax, makes you feel like the Korean Air crew truly believes in their airline’s motto, Excellence In Flight, even though you’re flying Economy.

Snowboarding at Phoenix Resort (휘닉스파크)

With a total of 22 slopes, from beginner to advanced, skiers and snowboarders are naturally spoilt for choice at Phoenix Resort. For snowboarders, the Extreme Park has a half-pipe, tabletop, round quarter and rails. (I mistakenly went for this slope during my first run and subsequently spent my time avoiding all the obstacles. Ugh.) For beginners, the Penguin and Sparrow courses are ideal. And when you’re ready to go for the next challenge, the Hawk1 run has a steeper incline.

Spotted a GALAXY Nexus booth at the resort! So fitting! Ice Cream Sandwich. The panoramic feature on the GALAXY Nexus camera would come in useful at the peak.

Crowds usually thin out in the evening, so if you’re staying over at the resort, it’s best to hit the slopes at night and also in the early morning.

At the starting point of Hawk1 and Penguin, you can find a cafeteria and an aromatherapy shop. Beats me why the latter is there, but it sure feels good to step in after a long day at the slopes. If you can brave the cold, the alfresco area provides a good view of the upper and mid-level slopes.

Oh, and one of the best snacks to have in between runs are these fishcakes. At 3,500 won a bowl, it feels oh-so-good to have something steaming hot in the cold.

Here’s the crowd, or lack of, in the early morning session. Best time to work out the technicalities of your runs.

Snowboarding at YongPyong Resort (용평리조트)

Widely known as a filming location of the famous drama “Winter Sonata”, YongPyong Resort was the setting for my first snowboarding escapade. About 3 hours from Seoul, YongPyong Resort is very popular with tourists and most of the staff speak basic English, so it wasn’t too difficult to figure my way around.

To get to the resort, first you’ll need to book a seat on the shuttle bus (15,000 won) which leaves at Jamsil, although if you know Korean, you’ll be able to find out if the bus makes any stops along the way to the resort. Typically, the 6am bus from Jamsil will reach the resort at about 9.45am.

Once there, you can either buy a return ticket before you alight the bus, or make a separate reservation at the Tourist Information counter at the Tower Condominium (the building where you alight).

It’s a short walk to the Dragon Plaza where you can sign up for ski/snowboard lessons, rent equipment, etc. Lessons in foreign languages are at cutthroat prices (2-3 times more expensive than lessons in Korean), so if you are a beginner or haven’t snowboarded before, it’s best to go with friends who are experienced enough to teach you the basics.

Depending on how much you want to board, the price for the equipment rental and access to the slope/lift/gondola varies, but be prepared to spend about 100,000 won for a decent amount of riding time. During weekends, you can also expect to wait a while for the chair lift which takes you up the slopes. Which is why I say snowboarding is a sport with a low ROI. It take about 5 minutes to go up, but less than a minute to board down the slope without stopping.

Most of the staff at YongPyong (at least those I’ve encountered) are friendly and willing to help you out. There are other miscellaneous expenditure you have to factor in, such as locker rental (1,000 won), board storage (1,000 won), food and drinks.

In total, for a day trip, you can spend upwards of 100,000 won, which is why it really makes sense to purchase a season pass if you intend to go fairly often.

YongPyong season pass:
1. 400,000 won (lift and gondola)
2. 490,000 won (lift, gondola and shuttle bus from Seoul)

Other benefits include discounted prices for accommodation at Tower Condominium, free rental of equipment except clothes on weekdays, discounted prices for purchase of snowboard equipment, 30-40% off equipment rental on weekends, etc.

If you’re comfortable wakeboarding and can do simple tricks like air grabs and turns, then snowboarding would be relatively easy for you to pick up. The techniques are similar, such as edging on the heelside and toeside.

The biggest difference for me was placing equal weight on both feet, in fact, a little more on the leading foot. It took me about an hour to get the fundamentals, rules and safety issues sorted out. The same do-nots apply, such as never let the snow catch the edge. Otherwise, you’ll end up face-planting.

Regardless, being properly attired is also key to enjoying the sport.

You need to wear clothes that can keep out wind, retain body warmth and are waterproof. A good pair of gloves is also essential because you’ll use your hands to support yourself on the snow, or to balance when you’re doing quick, hard cuts on the snow.

As you lose the most heat from your head, a beanie (or helmet) and a neck gaiter are also highly recommended. If you are going to snowboard frequently, investing in a pair of snow goggles would make your ride more comfortable as you don’t have to deal with the wind and snow in your face, and it lets you see better.