Kate Taylor/Business Insider
Here is what it was like to fly in the largest passenger jet for 14 and a half hours.
- I flew Korean Air's Airbus A380 on a 14 and a half hour flight from New York City to Seoul, South Korea.
- The A380 is beloved by passengers and aviation enthusiasts but has been rejected by airlines due to its expensive operating costs. Airbus will stop producing the plane in 2021.
- I had a fantastic flight on Korean Air's Airbus A380, with exceptional food, comfortable environment, and a bit of drama that comes from flying in the world's largest passenger jet.
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I booked the longest flight I have ever taken just three days before take-off.
The Friday before my Air China flight to Seoul, South Korea was set to depart, Air China alerted passengers that certain flights were eligible for a full refund due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. My Monday flight was on the refund list.
I was ready to double down on the Air China flight - which I had originally booked for just $415 - until a coworker told me that there was a direct flight to Seoul on Korean Air available for $668. It was on the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, the largest passenger plane in the world.
The Airbus A380 has been largely rejected by the airlines, due to its expensive operating costs. Airbus struggled to sell the massive, expensive plane for years until finally surrendering with an announcement last year that it would stop making the A380 in 2021.
However, my more aviation-obsessed friends promised that the A380 was actually a treat, with two levels of seating, an onboard duty-free store, and a bar for prestige-class flyers. I decided to take their advice, and got a full refund on the Air China flight and booked the Korean Air flight aboard the Airbus A380, swapping a layover in Shanghai for a 14 hour and 25-minute direct flight to Seoul.
Previously, the longest flights I had taken were a bit over 13 hours, so I was slightly nervous about the long solo voyage. However, there was no need to worry - the A380 was a delight, even in economy. In fact, instead of leaving the flight desperate to be on solid ground, I would have been happy to spend a bit more time exploring the massive plane.
Here is what it was like to fly in the largest passenger jet for 14 and a half hours.