Travelling internationally with Asiana Airlines

The airline industry has transformed significantly over the years in terms of amenities offered during international flights. I can’t quite recall my first experience travelling internationally as I was merely a child; plagued with an unfortunate case of motion sickness, I was unable to enjoy the flight and had prayed for a quick landing instead. Fourteen years later and equipped with a better sense of appreciation for the services, however, I can say with utmost certainty that my experience this time around will never be forgotten.

Since I had a good month off for the winter break, my parents thought it would be a good idea to send my sister and I to Vietnam to revisit our relatives with whom we have not connected in over a decade. My sister recently graduated and I had only a semester left of school, so we decided to seize this opportunity to “vacation” before we begin our full-time careers. Again I practically had no recollection of our prior international trip, so I had no idea what was in store for me. My expectations were bounded solely by what I’ve experienced from a few domestic flights in recent years—a simple snack and drink, middle-aged airline attendants with less-than-pleasant attitudes, and free radio services for those who wish to purchase a set of headphones at an inflated price. As such, I had considered travelling a nightmare and was definitely dreading the 13-hour flight ahead of me. To my surprise, however, my experience was far more pleasant than I could have ever imagined.

The first thing that I noticed when I stepped onto the plane was the group of young ladies who greeted and helped me to my seat. Adorned in makeup and no older than 27 years old at most, these airline attendants were the most beautiful women I had ever seen, and their warm and cheerful attitudes certainly made the flight more bearable. I never hesitated to ask for an extra blanket, more snacks, or even for them to repeat the captain’s announcements. I waved when they walked by and gladly switched to water when they were out of orange juice. They even had my full attention during demonstration of safety procedures, a task that many attendants have difficulty accomplishing. The appeal of these airline attendants made me want to stay on the plane.  

The next things that stood out to me were the personal television sets on the back of each seat. Equipped with its very own remote, each TV set gave the passenger instant access to a wealth of entertainment. From over 50 channels of music and video games to the most recent blockbuster hits and hottest shows on television, the supply was enough to keep me preoccupied for the whole winter break. Therefore, it was more than sufficient for the duration of the flight. I was able to watch a few blockbuster hits for which I, as a college student on a budget and tight schedule, had neither the money nor time otherwise. I slept to some of my favorite classical pieces and even caught up on current events around the world through the on-demand news channels. I endured 13 hours on a plane as if I were in the comfort of my own living room. That’s how magical these TV sets were.  

The last amenity worthy of mentioning was, without a doubt, the delicious food. Now of course, when I say delicious, I mean it in relation to foods that I have been served on other flights on which I’ve been. Sure you can’t really compare a bag of peanuts to a full meal, but never would I have imagined receiving a meal of such high quality on a flight. The airline served a total of two meals and 2 snacks that ranged from authentic Korean cuisine to classic American favorites; we were usually given the option of choosing from the two alternatives. Our meals were complete with drinks, appetizers, entrées, and desserts, all of which never failed to satisfy our taste buds.

When I first stepped onto the plane, I expected nothing more than a comfortable seat, an adequate selection of radio stations, and a supply of moderately edible snacks. What I ended up getting, however, was so much more. I now look forward to travelling internationally.