North Korea Victory Day: Air Koryo Beijing-Pyongyang

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Air Koryo and Air China fly Beijing to Pyongyang. Air China is more expensive, less memorable, and never has award availability. Gotta’ go for the full North Korean experience with Air Koryo.

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Air Koryo is white-glove service on Russian TU-204-100’s.

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Business class has standard short-haul business class seats.

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Economy class is sleek with lots of room up front by the exit row.

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Lots of reading material.

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Choice headlines like “Disgusting buck-passing” and “Farce.”

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Rousing in-flight entertainment.

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Simple snack in economy, a chance to sample flat North Korean sparkling cider soda.

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Peeking into business class, they have a nice spread, followed by a hot entree.

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Upon arrival, just a little traffic on the runway.

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Mile Adventures
11 years ago

I wonder if I can get a subscription to the Pyongyang Times. There are sadly very few articles in the NYT about “Disgusting Buck Passing” and “Farce”.

john
john
11 years ago

interesting comments. it is interesting how none of the communist/socialist regimes ever truly were that. just naming and spin for dictatorships.

Rapid Travel Chai
11 years ago

@Gary – I know, just thought I would explicate for those less familiar with the country. Thinking it is communist leads to very misleading interpretations. For instance, at a model farm a person asked the guide if there is communal dining and it was one of the few times he got really passionate, “We NEVER had such things like other countries. That is totally against Korean tradition. We always eat meals at home as a family.”

Gary
11 years ago

@Rapid Travel Chai – I wasn’t actually surprised to see this, and was making a very similar point in a fairly ham-handed way 🙂

Lively
Lively
11 years ago

Amazing. Thanks for the pics.

Rapid Travel Chai
11 years ago

@Gary – North Korea is an extremely class-based and hierarchical society, it is much more a mix of totalitarianism and Confucianism than communism, so what seems an incongruity to outsiders appears to be normal to locals. Preferential treatment and privilege is in evidence everywhere. @Scott – I can see your view. Officially no electronics are allowed on Air Koryo at any time so I had to keep a low profile with pictures, last time I was scolded for taking a pic of the cabin. While in the typical half-hour sit on the Beijing runway waiting for takeoff I looked back… Read more »

Shannon
Shannon
11 years ago

You are my hero and made it again to N. Korea!! Last time there was no picture taken allowed. They let you do this time?

Scott
Scott
11 years ago

The pics are nice, but pic #1, you’re a creep!

Jeff
11 years ago

Very nice!

Gary
11 years ago

The notion of North Korea’s state airline offering business class is truly striking.

WanderingEntrepreneur
11 years ago

North Korea fascinates me. I was in South Korea in April, and I did the DMZ/Panmunjom tour where I got to peek inside the border, but I would really like to check out the country for myself. I’ve heard that it’s a surreal place that is almost impossible to understand until you are actually inside it. That being said, stay safe, especially on those ancient Russian planes.