Information on Jeju Air Flights

Jeju Air is the very first low-cost airline in South Korea. Its simple, no-frills service is a great way to get around the Republic of Korea quickly without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for tourists looking to explore under the surface of a country that should be high on the list of any traveler who loves vibrant cities and untamed nature.

As well as flying domestically from its main hub on Jeju Island in the south and from Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) just outside the capital, it also has an impressive array of international destinations connecting South Korea with Japan, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Singapore and Mongolia.

If you have a trip planned to South Korea or even an adventure that starts there and moves beyond its shores and deeper into Asia, this expert guide will help you understand what to expect and how to plan your Jeju Air trip.

Jeju Air fare categories

When booking a seat with Jeju Air you’ll find four different fare categories to choose from: Fly, Flybag, Flex and Business Lite. As with many other budget airlines, prices go up with each category offering more inclusions. Fly comes with a 22-pound carry-on allowance, while Flybag and Flex add checked baggage up to 33 pounds into the mix, the latter coming with additional flexibility.

In my experience, you can get away with just a 22-pound bag when traveling in the hotter months, but the small extra cost of having a checked bag is worth it if you’re traveling in winter when South Korea can range from wet and wild to snowy and cold.

Biz Lite throws in priority boarding, priority check-in and priority baggage service, along with a wider, more comfortable seat and a huge 66-pound checked bag allowance. If you like to shop while away or are going on an extended trip, laying out the additional fee may well be worth it.

Biz Lite is only available on select international routes from Incheon and Busan, including Tokyo, Buhal and Hiroshima. If your budget is tight and you don’t have much to carry, I would suggest choosing a cheaper seat instead of Biz Lite.

Jeju Air check-in

In order to smooth the check-in process, Jeju Air recommends that all passengers use their mobile devices. As you’ll likely have experienced on other airlines, all you need is your booking reference, found in the confirmation email you receive when you purchase your ticket, and your surname.

For domestic flights, check-in opens 24 hours ahead of departure and closes just 30 minutes before the plane pushes back for take-off. Of course, cutting it so fine is not advisable. If you have bags to drop off, Jeju Air recommends arriving at the airport two hours beforehand and passing through security and any ID checks 50 minutes ahead of your departure time. Boarding closes 10 minutes before departure.

When it comes to international flights, check-in opens 24 hours before departure but closes sooner than domestic – one and a half hours before scheduled departure. You should allow one hour to pass security and arrive at your gate with half an hour to spare.

I recommend paying close attention to the Jeju Airlines transfer policies too. If you’re catching one of its domestic flights and then one of its international ones, you’ll need to retrieve your bags and check them in again. You should also double check whether you need to check in twice for 2 connecting Jeju Air international flights, as some airports allow you to check in just once for both while others don’t.

In this case, speak with staff at your departing airport for advice to be sure you are properly checked all the way through your journey.

Jeju Air amenities and entertainment

Because Jeju Air is a budget airline, bells and whistles such as in-seat USB charging ports and seat back in-flight entertainment are not on the agenda, at least not in standard seats. That’s understandable considering the lower prices, but my advice is to make sure your smartphone or tablet is fully charged and that you’ve downloaded all of the TV, films and music you need for the flight ahead.

Biz Lite does at least come with power supply, but it never hurts to come with a charged device anyway.

That said, on select flights Jeju Air does take a novel approach to keeping passengers entertained. You may find a magician on board and even a tarot reader. It also offers balloon art for kids and even caricature and calligraphy if you want a keepsake from your trip. You won’t find this on many other airlines.

There’s a rudimentary in-flight food service known as Air Cafe. This offers hot drinks and snacks, but I suggest you load up on food before take-off unless you’re only taking a short hop. That way you’ll save money and have something a bit more enjoyable to eat, as the options are not particularly special.

Seats and legroom

The legroom on most Jeju Air flights is fairly standard for a budget airline. That means if you’re of average height, your knees will just about touch the seat in front of you. If you’re over 5’10”, however, you can expect it to be a bit more of a squeeze.

I find this small space bearable on shorter domestic flights and even international hops from South Korea to closer parts of Japan and China. Head further, such as to Bangkok or Singapore, and you may want to pay extra for front row seats or even opt for Biz Lite instead.

Biz Lite seats are wider, can be reclined and have leg rests, not to mention more space in general for stretching out. Regular seats are comfortable enough on short routes and definitely feel wider than European budget offerings such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. However, any longer than 2 hours and you’ll need to make sure to get up and stretch often in order to stay comfortable.

Jeju Air loyalty program

Jeju Air has a membership program called Refresh. This is more akin to a service offered by pricier airlines rather than budget ones and allows you to earn Refresh Points, which you can then spend on products and services offered by Jeju Air. These could be used for in-flight shopping or could go towards discounts for your next flight.

New members can attain 1,000 Refresh Points when they sign up and get a 5% discount on international flights. Points can also be used towards booking specific seats and using baggage services, and you can even send points to other Jeju Air customers as gifts.

The points expire after 36 months, so it’s best to use them up as soon as you have enough for your next trip, or whatever perk you’re aiming for.

Jeju Air alliance

Jeju Air is part of the Value Alliance, a grouping of five low-cost carriers. This includes Cebu Pacific, Ceb Go, Nok Air and Scoot. It covers 160 destinations in 20 countries and means that you can book connecting flights, max out Refresh Points and gain lounge access with any of these partner airlines, gaining a smoother experience across the Asia Pacific region.

Jeju Air pet policy

Jeju Air has a very generous pet policy, allowing smaller dogs and cats under about 15.5 pounds (officially seven kilograms) to travel with passengers on domestic flights and on certain international routes too. For domestic routes there is always fee per pet, and this is also the case on some international flights. Be sure to book early as only 6 pets per flight are allowed.

What’s more, you can take advantage of Pet Pass if you travel frequently with your four-legged friend. Each time you travel they’ll get a stamp. Thre stamps will get you 10,000 refresh points. Six stamps will get you a 50% discount on domestic pet transportation. Eight stamps will bag you a free pet flight on a one-way domestic trip. It’s really worthwhile for all Korean-based animal lovers.