Is Air Premia Worth it? Flying LAX to Seoul (+My Honest Review)

On my most recent trip to Seoul, I had the opportunity to take a direct flight on Air Premier from LA to Seoul. This flight was one of the cheapest I could find, and I was a bit nervous because I had never heard of Air Premia before. However, after doing some research and because it was at a price point I simply couldn't pass up, I booked it. Below, I detail my experience flying Air Premia, and hope that this guide will encourage you to make a more informed choice.

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA's  easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia.

To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections.

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Flying Air Premia - What to Expect

Because this was my first time flying Air Premia, I really had no idea what to expect, and after flying budget airlines in the past my expectations were pretty low. However, Air Premia simply went above and beyond in every way. Even though their price point matches that of a budget airline, a quick Google search shows that they actually categorize themselves as a "hybrid" airline - meaning they rival budget airline price points, while offering an overall more inclusive and complementary service.

​Even though my husband and I flew in economy seats, this was honestly one of the best flight experiences we've had, and as two people that have taken over 100 flights in the last two years, that's saying something. Below I go into a more in depth review of our entire experience flying Air Premia.

My Favorite Activities in Seoul : 
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul
- Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky
​- Afternoon Tea on the Han River

Air Premia - My Honest Review

Boarding & Hospitality
The boarding experience onto our Air Premia flight felt organized and very efficient. Similar to other airlines, we boarded in zones. Priority passengers (like those in first class) boarded first, and those of us in economy boarded in steps through our assigned zones.

Flight stewardess and attendants were in uniform and cleanly dressed, reminding me of Korean Air standards, and they kindly welcomed us onto the plane as we boarded. Similarly, the plane itself seemed clean as well, there was no garbage on the floor and everything seemed to be in its place. Compared to my prior experience with flights in the same price range, I was impressed.

Food & Entertainment
During our flight to Seoul, we were served two different meals and a snack, as well as various beverages like coffee, tea, and soda. There were more options available for purchase (like their "chi-mek" combo - a chicken & beer combo famous in Korea), but we only tried what was included with our ticket. Overall, the food was ok - you could tell they tried to incorporate a mix of Korean and American food, some of it worked and some didn't. Their version of bibimbap was ok, but as you can tell in the photo some of the vegetables were a bit old. However, it came with a miniature version of sesame oil and gojuchang, which really helped with flavor. On the other hand, their cold coleslaw side with a slice of ham really didn't do it for me, but with so much food included, I really couldn't complain. 

Entertainment was a bit tricky as well. Because they're a Korean based airline, most of the on board entertainment was in Korean as well, really limiting options for English speakers like my husband. Luckily, I had no issues, and unlike experiences on other flights, our screens worked the entire time and we had no issues.

Overall, I honestly enjoyed my flight on Air Premia. Their service went above and beyond my expectations, and even though it might not be as accommodating for non-Korean speakers, it's definitely an airline my husband and I would book again.

Watch all my Korea Adventures here!

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Other Blog Posts you Might be Interested in : 
-> 25 Best Street Foods to Try in South Korea
-> Bojeong Dong Cafe Street Guide
-> Lotte World Guide (Best Rides & Eats)

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