Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the busiest airport in South Korea and consistently ranks among the best in the world for good reason. As the hub for Asiana Airlines and Korean Air, it connects Asia with Australia, Europe and North America, and it’s a popular transit point. I’ve found traveling through Incheon to be efficient and intuitive, though I’ve picked up some insider tips that’ll make your trip even smoother.
How to get to and from ICN and Seoul
Train and bus are your best bets for getting between Incheon Airport and central Seoul. The airport sits quite far from the city center, so taxis and rideshare options like Uber are too expensive to justify for most travelers.
I personally prefer the Airport Railroad Express, or AREX. These speedy trains depart frequently from both terminals and take approximately 43 minutes from Terminal 1 or 51 minutes from Terminal 2 to reach Seoul Station if you choose an Express service.
From Seoul Station, you can transfer to Lines 1 and 4 of the Seoul Subway via a direct transfer passageway, plus Korail trains to nearby destinations and high-speed KTX trains to ones farther away.
Another option is to ride one of the Limousine Bus services. The most recognizable is the K Airport Limousine (formerly KAL Limousine) operated by Korean Air. In one way, these buses are very convenient, as they travel to destinations in Seoul beyond Seoul Station, including the popular Myeongdong commercial area. On the other hand, I usually avoid them because they take about 70 minutes even without traffic.
Traffic adds to the reasons I find taxis and rideshare to be impractical for traveling to and from ICN. Although door-to-door transport is nice, I personally don’t think it justifies paying several times more than riding a bus (which usually takes the same amount of time), and certainly not the much quicker train.
Before leaving Seoul for the airport, double-check which terminal your flight departs from. Each terminal has its own bus and train stop several miles apart. Asiana Airlines and Star Alliance partners (United, ANA, Thai) use Terminal 1, while Korean Air, Delta and Skyteam use Terminal 2.
When in doubt, check your airline’s website or app.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that the city has two airports. If you’re flying to North America, Europe or Australia, you’ll almost certainly be using Incheon. However, if you’re flying domestically or on select international routes (such as to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport), you’re likely departing from Gimpo Airport (GMP). This is an older, smaller airport closer to the city center. Importantly, options for reaching it are totally different from those for ICN.
Navigating security lines at ICN
Like most queues in Korea, security lines at Incheon move quickly despite the airport’s high traffic. I find that giving myself at least an hour for the full process from check-in through security to passport control feels comfortable rather than rushed.
ICN doesn’t have any program comparable to TSA Precheck, though the airport does provide a fast departure lane for passengers who complete check-in and immigration at the City Airport Terminal (if you’re taking the Express Train). However, pregnant passengers, children under age 7, persons with disabilities and senior citizens (age 70+) can access priority queues, along with up to three accompanying family members. You’re also entitled to use these if you hold an APEC Business Travel Card, though this privilege generally only applies to the individual cardholder.
Conveniently, foreigner travelers from several countries (including the US) can use automated immigration kiosks at Incheon Airport through the Smart Entry Service (SES) after completing enrollment. As an American, this has saved me a ton of time, especially when arriving at ICN.
Airline lounges at ICN
The lounges at Incheon Airport are generally excellent and worth arriving early to enjoy. You’ll find options for passengers in first and business class, elite frequent flyers and those with lounge credentials like Priority Pass.
In Terminal 1, the majority of lounges are ones operated by Asiana. Not surprisingly, you can access these lounges if you’re traveling in first or business class on Asiana or other Star Alliance airlines, or if you hold Star Alliance Gold status.
In my experience, it’s pretty rare for airline-branded lounges to accept Priority Pass, but the Asiana lounges do. Just note that staff may temporarily deny Priority Pass members entry if the lounges are over capacity.
The Korean Air lounges in Terminal 2 have stricter entry rules, and are only available to passengers traveling in premium classes on Korean Air and Skyteam partners like Delta, as well as Skyteam Elite Plus members. However, third-party lounges such as Matina and SkyHub lounge (which also operate locations in Terminal 1) are open to Priority Pass members
And what about domestic lounges? Since the only domestic flights from ICN are Korean Air connections for international travelers, there aren’t separate domestic lounges. If you’re a premium passenger on one of those Transit Exclusive Domestic Flights to Busan or Daegu, you’ll use the main Korean Air lounges in Terminal 2.
Transfers at ICN
As I mentioned earlier in this article, domestic-to-international and international-to-domestic transfers at ICN are limited to just two routes. Specifically, passengers flying Korean Air internationally can connect to or from Transit Exclusive Domestic Flights to Busan (PUS) and Daegu (TAE). Airline staff will instruct you as to how to complete the transfer process.
International-to-international transfers are much more common. Ideally, you’ll fly the same airline or at least within the same alliance, like Korean Air from Thailand connecting to Korean Air or Delta to the US.
Staying within the same terminal means you’ll just need to clear security before heading to your onward gate.
If you need to change terminals, for example if you arrive on Korean Air but leave on Asiana or United, the process gets more complicated. For standard transfers between terminals, you can typically remain airside without clearing immigration if your bags are checked through. If you aren’t collecting or checking luggage, you’ll need to proceed through a security check, then ride a free shuttle bus to the other terminal. If you don’t yet have your boarding pass, make sure to visit the transit desk to pick it up.
However, if you do need to collect luggage (such as when bags aren’t checked through or for certain specific itineraries), you will need to clear immigration control to do so. You’ll then need to clear customs and, after re-checking your bags on your other carrier, proceed through security and outbound passport control. This whole procedure will add 1-2 hours to your total transit time, so make sure to leave plenty of “padding” between your arriving and departing flights.
Traditional Korean cultural experiences at ICN
One of my favorite things about Incheon Airport is how it lets you experience Korean culture, even during a layover. The airport offers free Traditional Korean Culture Experience Centers where you can make traditional crafts and practice Taekwondo in augmented reality.
These experiences are completely free of charge, though they do require a certain amount of time. Staff will ask to see your boarding pass, which will let them know whether you can complete a given activity without fear of missing your flight. If you’re on a tight connection, you can still have a look around the center, which also hosts photo and video exhibitions.
If you’re transiting Terminal 2, you have two options. If you have a long layover, you can ride a free shuttle bus to Terminal 1 and visit the Traditional Korean Culture Experience Center. Otherwise, you can visit the K-Culture Zone in Terminal 2. This is a smaller space, but it’s still a nice respite from the travel grind, especially if you don’t have lounge access. It’s also free of charge to enjoy.
Luggage storage at ICN
Both terminals at ICN offer luggage storage, with counters located on different levels throughout the terminals. In Terminal 1, you’ll find them on the 1st floor (Arrivals) and 3rd floor (Departures), while Terminal 2 has them on the 3rd floor (Departures) and B1 level (Transportation Center). I find this most useful when entering Korea without an overnight hotel stay. It’s nice to leave my big bags somewhere safe while heading to Seoul or the DMZ for a day trip.
If you are spending at least one night in Seoul (or elsewhere in Korea), but don’t want to lug your bags on the train or bus, another convenient option is luggage delivery. While not as ubiquitous as it is in Japan, this service is well-advertised within the airport terminal. It’s a lifesaver if you’re traveling with small kids and don’t have many extra hands, or if you or someone you’re traveling with has a disability.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
