Asiana Business Smartium Review (2026)

Asiana Business Smartium is a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone seat with a 6ft 4in bed on A350-900 and 777-200ER, launched in 2017 as solid mid-market business class. The critical gotcha: Asiana Airlines was acquired by Korean Air in December 2024 and the brand is being phased out by end of 2026 - book now if you want the Asiana experience. Against Korean Air Apex Suite, Smartium loses on soft product consistency but wins on value and the A350's superior cabin experience.

TL;DR

Asiana Business Smartium is a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone bed seat (6ft 4in) configured for 66 seats on the A350-900 upper deck and 777-200ER, positioned as standard business class rather than premium first. The A350-900 is the strongest aircraft to fly it on - it has native WiFi, newer IFE, and a quieter cabin than the 777-200ER. ICN-LAX is the only reliable long-haul route still operating Smartium regularly; most other former A380 routes now use A350 but with different seating. Smartium suits couples and solo sleepers on overnight routes, but the soft product (meals, amenities, pajamas) is identical to regular business class - you're paying for seat geometry, not cabin prestige. Book Korean Air Apex Suite instead if you're chasing first-class hard product on the same routes; book Smartium only if the A350 and 6ft 4in bed matter more than brand longevity. Critical caveat: Asiana is being absorbed into Korean Air and the brand winds down by end of 2026 - this product may not exist in 12 months.

What Asiana Business Smartium actually is

Asiana Business Smartium launched in 2017 as the airline's standard business-class offering, designed to compete with Korean Air's Prestige Sleeper on ICN-LAX and medium-haul Asian routes. It occupies the upper deck on A350-900 (66 seats total) and is also installed on 777-200ER, positioned below the 12-seat First Class Suite tier but above economy. It is not premium first class - soft product (meals, amenities, service rhythm) mirrors regular business class. The product's value proposition is the seat geometry: a true flat bed at 6ft 4in with direct aisle access on every seat, versus competitors' center-pair compromises.

Seat Hardware

Asiana Business Smartium is a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout, with individual seats 19 - 20 inches wide, each converting to a 6ft 4in (193cm) bed with a comfortable mattress and full-size pillow. The A350-900 variant features an optional sliding door (manufacturer: Safran Versa frame with proprietary sliding mechanism) - privacy is excellent for couples in center-pair seats (E/F) or solo flyers, though door operation is manual and can feel delicate. Aisle seats (A, K) have direct access; window seats (C, H) enjoy hull views but narrower stowage. The seat console includes a power outlet, USB, and a relatively deep side cubby for phones and reading glasses. Bed storage is minimal - pillows and blankets are stowed above, not under. The 777-200ER version uses the same layout but lacks the sliding door option; privacy is achieved via recline only.

Cabin & IFE

The A350-900 upper deck cabin is visually modern: mood lighting mimics circadian rhythms on night flights, indirect LED accents, and a matte-finish overhead bin that feels less industrial than the 777. The IFE is a 32-inch retractable 4K screen (A350 only; 777-200ER has 23-inch standard def) - a significant quality gap between the two aircraft. A350 features native WiFi (Viasat, typically free for business class); 777-200ER does not. Bluetooth audio pairing works on both. Cabin air on the A350 is notably fresher due to higher exchange rates; the 777 feels stuffy on 14+ hour routes. Neither aircraft has a dedicated business-class bar, unlike Korean Air's Apex Suite.

Where to find it

Aircraft	Status	Sample Routes
A350-900	Fleet-wide since 2019; primary operating aircraft	ICN - LAX, ICN - NRT, ICN - SFO (transitioning to KE branding)
777-200ER	Partial fleet; being retired by Korean Air by 2026	ICN - LHR (via BKK), ICN - FRA, select Asia-Pacific

Who it suits / who it doesn't

Profile	Verdict	Why
Solo overnight (6 - 14 hrs)	Strong choice	6ft 4in bed covers most adult frames; direct aisle access avoids middle-seat compromise; WiFi on A350 is genuine productivity bonus
Couples	Best in class	Center-pair seats (E/F) with optional sliding door create pseudo-suite experience; convertible to double bed; quieter than window row traffic
Tall (over 6ft 2in)	Pass on 777-200ER; strong on A350	A350's bed is genuinely 6ft 4in with proper ankle cubby; 777 feels tighter and has older mattress. Verify aircraft type before booking
Work-focused	Lukewarm	Tray table is serviceable but not expansive; power outlet is single 110V US standard (no UK/EU without adapter). A350's WiFi helps; 777's lack of WiFi is deal-breaker for productivity
Meal-experience chaser	Pass	Soft product identical to regular business class (Asiana's menu is respectable but not Michelin-influenced). No caviar, no champagne upgrade. Pajamas provided only in First Class Suites, not Smartium

Which aircraft has Asiana Business Smartium?

A350-900 (primary, 66 seats upper deck, WiFi equipped) and 777-200ER (secondary, being phased out by 2026). Always verify aircraft type on your booking confirmation - A350 is vastly superior due to IFE, WiFi, and cabin comfort.

Does Asiana Business Smartium have a sliding privacy door?

Yes, on A350-900 only - manual sliding door with a light lock mechanism. 777-200ER does not have doors; privacy is recline-based only. The A350 door is not full-height (gaps above and below) and is designed for discretion, not complete isolation.

Is Asiana Business Smartium better than Korean Air Apex Suite?

No, and yes - nuanced. Korean Air Apex Suite (777-300ER, A380) has superior soft product (Michelin-influenced dining, caviar service, premium amenities) and a business-lounge vibe. Asiana Smartium wins on seat geometry (genuine 6ft 4in bed vs Apex's narrower profile) and A350 cabin experience (WiFi, lighting, air quality). Apex Suite is the prestige choice; Smartium is the value-sleeper choice. However, book Smartium now because Asiana brand winds down by end of 2026 - Korean Air will retire the Asiana product line. Choose Apex Suite for long-term brand stability and soft-product consistency.

How do I book Asiana Business Smartium with miles?

Asiana's StarAlliance awards are bookable via United MileagePlus or Lufthansa Miles & More at 85,000 - 120,000 miles one-way for ICN-LAX (depending on seasonality). However, miles awards on Smartium are rare; Asiana prioritizes paid bookings and upgrades. Best value: book economy on miles, then upgrade to Smartium with cash ($800 - 1,500 one-way). By 2026, Korean Air Skypass will replace Asiana awards; migrate your balance now.