Korean Air announced that it will introduce premium seats that are 10% more expensive than economy seats and have an area 1.5 times larger, but it turns out that the actual area will be about 1.3 times larger. In introducing the premium seats, Korean Air reduced the lateral spacing of the existing economy seats to increase the number of seats. Currently, the seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration, but the lateral spacing will be reduced by 1 inch (2.54 cm) to change to a 3-4-3 configuration. Consumers are expressing dissatisfaction as the introduction of the expensive premium seats has led to the narrowing of standard class seats.
The premium seats that Korean Air will deploy on medium- and short-haul routes starting in September will have a front-to-back spacing of 39 to 41 inches (approximately 99.06 to 104.14 cm) and a seat width of 19.5 inches (49.53 cm), making the area per seat between 760.5 and 799.5 square inches (approximately 4906.44 to 5158.05 cm²). Eleven Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be involved, and Korean Air has invested approximately 300 billion won for the modifications.
Korean Air said, "Premium seats offer an area about 1.5 times larger than standard class (economy seats). They provide more space than the seat spacing offered by major international airlines for premium economy class seats."
Contrary to Korean Air's explanation, the area difference compared to existing economy seats is about 1.3 times. The front-to-back spacing of existing economy seats is 33 to 34 inches (83.82 to 86.36 cm) and the lateral width is 18.1 inches (45.97 cm), making the area per seat range from 597.3 to 615.4 square inches (3853.54 to 3970.31 cm²). Compared to this area, the premium seats are 1.27 to 1.29 times larger.
The 'new economy seats' introduced alongside the premium seats have the same front-to-back spacing, but the lateral width has been narrowed to 17.1 inches (43.43 cm). Compared to the new economy seats, the area of the premium seats is not 1.5 times larger but rather 1.35 to 1.37 times larger.
Korean Air noted that, while it is difficult to provide exact figures on how the 1.5 times larger claim was calculated, "when comparing the largest measured premium seats to the smallest measured standard seats, it is about 1.5 times larger." Even by Korean Air's explanation, comparing the front-to-back spacing of 33 inches and 41 inches between the narrowest new economy seats and the widest premium seats results in a ratio of 1.42 times.
Korean Air has priced the premium seats at 10% higher than the economy seats. This is because they include larger space, leg and footrests, premium seat monitors, and premium in-flight meals. Lee Eun-hee, a professor at Inha University, said, "When they say the premium seats are 1.5 times larger, it gives a strong impression that they are significantly wider than existing economy seats. The difference between 1.3 to 1.4 times and 1.5 times is excessive exaggeration from the consumer's perspective."
There are also consumer complaints about the reduced spacing of standard class seats. As the standard class seat configuration changed from '3-3-3' to '3-4-3', the total number of seats per aircraft increased from 291 to 328.
Korean Air explains that the seats are not perceived as too narrow by consumers and that convenience has been further enhanced. A Korean Air official said, "Thanks to the slim seat design, the space that passengers actually feel is even wider, and the interference with the space of the passenger behind is minimized when the seatback is reclined."