Incheon Intl Airport (ICN) Flights & Information

Seoul’s Incheon Airport is large but efficient and overall very pleasant to fly through. While there are other airports in Asia that I prefer for design and passenger experience, Incheon does the job it’s supposed to. And if you look a little more closely it has some nice surprises in store too. The only real downside may be its distance from Seoul itself, but for that there are plenty of easy transport options.

Terminal layout & finding your way around

Incheon has two terminals, the original Terminal 1 and the newer Terminal 2. Both are spacious with high ceilings, good signage and plenty of amenities. They also feature impressive touches like enormous ultra-high definition screens showing dreamy renderings and other art installations that are worth pausing and appreciating along your way.

Terminal 2 is the home of flag carrier Korean Air and most Skyteam airlines – which is handy for connections. Expansion work is ongoing and the plan is to move the rest over once it’s done. Korean Air subsidiary Jin Air also uses this terminal.

Terminal 1 is where you’ll likely find yourself if you’re flying just about any other airline, whether from the other alliances or non-aligned (like Emirates). That also includes most low-cost airlines.

Finding your gate is straightforward, but occasionally it’s a bit of a walk (there are travellators to help you on your way of course). There’s also a Midfield Concourse which is accessed by a quick train, so that’ll add a few more minutes to the journey.

Security at Incheon Airport

Notable at Incheon is the lack of a fast track security for most premium cabin passengers. Security here is not usually too laborious to get through but there can be lines and I’ve waited up to 20 minutes to get through before. This can be a bit of a pain especially if you book a premium cabin expecting to be able to breeze through. It can be worth planning for a little extra time just so as not to be stressed in case it’s busy.

Airlines serving Incheon

Many international airlines serve Incheon as the primary gateway to South Korea, so you’ve got a lot of choice. Meanwhile you might be surprised just how many native airlines Korea has, and pretty much all of them consider Incheon their hub. These include: Air Incheon, Air Premia, Air Seoul, Jin Air, T’Way Air and of course the heavy hitters Korean Air and Asiana.

Korean Air, which is in the process of merging with number two airline Asiana, dominates here with service all over the globe. Korean’s membership in Skyteam means you’ll find quite a lot of service across the alliance here too. But other alliances are well-represented too, and you can find nonstop service all over North America, Asia, Europe and Oceania from Seoul.

Food & retail outlets

There are many great places to eat both before and after security at Incheon, especially if you like Korean food. Before security may have an edge overall, as there’s a basement area at Terminal 2 with lots of good options. Both terminals have food courts, and a number of other options. You’ll also find international food in case Korean cuisine is not your thing.

Most of the retail at Incheon seems to be made up of duty free shops and many sell large amounts of Korean specialties like ginseng tea and supplements at what look to me like pretty high prices. That and luxury shops, plus outlets selling souvenirs. I don’t think it’s worth adding extra time for shopping. That is, unless you’re really into ginseng.

International transit

Transiting through Incheon is relatively easy and you’ll find signage to help you on your way. In most cases it will mean a boarding pass check (there are transit desks in case you still need an onward boarding pass), and then a security check before you’re let out into the secure side of departures.

Lounges

Incheon has dozens of lounges to choose from, some of them being airline specific while a number are third-party lounges selling day passes and/or offering entry to members of programs like Priority Pass. If you want a lounge, in other words, you’ll have plenty of choice. Asiana has three separate business class lounges spread out across Terminal 1, for example.

Getting to and from Incheon Airport

South Korea does transport well although the range of options and the amount of signage in Korean can get a little bewildering. However you shouldn’t worry, it won’t take long before you’re on your way, and you have many ways to do so.

Taxi

I wouldn’t generally recommend a taxi because you’ll be paying quite a bit more and it’ll still take you over an hour to get between central Seoul and Incheon. This is one place where I think public transport is far superior, especially the train as it’s fast. Of course it depends where you’re headed to specifically.

Train

The AREX express train is a convenient and quick option if you’re headed between Incheon and either Gimpo Airport or Seoul Station. It takes between 40 and 50 minutes or so to/from Seoul Station. Note that there’s also an in-town check-in facility at Seoul Station where you can check your luggage. A great perk if you have heavy bags!

Bus

You’ll find all kinds of buses (Limousine Buses) ready to take you over to Gimpo Airport, central Seoul, and also other destinations around South Korea. If you’re staying at a Seoul hotel, it’s possible to catch a bus that will drop you conveniently near to it, as they ply a whole bunch of routes into the city. They can take some time though. Count on at around an hour and a half and possibly more depending on route and time of day.

What to do on a layover

I would only really want to head into Seoul proper if I had around 7+ hours of layover. Partly that’s because of the distance, but also because Seoul is massive and can get confusing as well as traffic-choked. The good news is there’s plenty to do for every layover length: right in the airport you’ll find ways to easily pass many hours, while just beyond it there’s even more to do.

Spas? Movie theaters? It’s all here

One of my favorite things to do at Incheon is go to the Spa on Air in Terminal 1. No transport required, day passes are affordable, and you can even take a nap there (and of course a shower). Plus Koreans know how to do spas. If only every airport had this. Well worth the price of admission. If you’re not feeling the spa, there’s also a movie theater in Terminal 1!

Free Seoul tours

If you have a longer layover (but less than 24 hours) you can hop aboard a free bus tour that will take you around to various sites, and if you want to just sit back, relax and see the sights this is a fantastic option. You can reserve in advance online or just follow signs to the registration desk in either terminal.

Paradise City

There’s a surprising amount to discover right around the airport itself, but not directly within it. Paradise City is a big multi-purpose complex a 5-minute drive away from the terminal which features hotels, shopping, restaurants, a casino, theme park and much more. There’s even a free shuttle to take you over there.

Tip: although a number of countries don’t require a visa to enter South Korea, be sure to check whether you might need an electronic travel authorization (the eKTA) prior to arriving. II was almost caught out by this because it wasn’t a requirement until very recently.

Alternatives to Incheon

If you’re traveling within Korea or to/from regional neighbors, don’t forget to look at flights at Gimpo Airport as well. Gimpo is older but it’s also a lot closer to the city, so for traveling to places like Tokyo or Beijing it can be a lot more convenient from central Seoul.

Airport hotels

There are many hotels to suit every budget located around the artificial island that the airport is built on, and my preference is to stay in the vicinity of Paradise City, which is close and has plenty of attractions in case you want to do more than sleep. Among those, I like the Grand Hyatt best for a good mix of comfort, proximity and price.

If you’d like to head out of the airport complex bubble, Incheon city just across the causeway is another viable option for hotels. There are many, and some even have free shuttles.

There are also transit hotels right in the airport itself, but these are better suited to those of you wanting to take a nap as the rooms are sold in 6 hour blocks. A good option if you don’t have an overnight stop and just want a little rest.