Thursday, June 28, 2012

Best Transit Airport - Seoul/Incheon International Airport

Seoul-Icheon Innternational Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8830

My favorite transit airport is definitely the Seoul/Incheon International Airport, which I almost always made connections when I visited my family in Manchurian China.

My transit time there usually last about 3-4 hours, in the afternoon, or in the early morning when the shops were mostly closed.  Even during those wee hours, there were much comfort in that very considerate airport.

First, it was a modern facility with information clearly marked, at least in Korean and in English.  There were also many labels and brochures with QR codes and there were QR code readers in the airport for travelers' convenience:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8874

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8884 Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8885

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0960

There was a Shuttle Train down below which will lead people from Incheon to Seoul:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0912

People could also sign on for half-day tour of Seoul, to sample its cultural highlights, or Incheon, including its modern medical facility, to have a health check up or a botox injection done.

If stay in the airport, one could see the cultural/art gallery in the lounge area at any hour, or visit the Cultural Experience Center in the concourse level during business hours:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0903

The lounge and hotel were in the Rest and Relax Area, which had many comforts, either one checked into hotel or not:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8859

The Transit Hotel charged by 6 hours and cost about US$100 per shift:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8864

The Lounge had many sections, open or more private, gave more economical travelers many options, from club lounge to comfortable chairs to sleep on:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8879

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8880

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0956

It also offered free Internet and massage chairs and a screening room for news and movies:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8855

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8866

A very convenient facility was the free shower during business hours, which had a large room with a cabinet, toilet, basin and a shower.  A free towel was provided as well.  I pushed my cart into the shower room and still was able to move able without bumping into anything:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8850

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0925

Next to the Shower, there was Massage and Beauty shop:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8868

In the same area, a Luggage Service and Library desk operated during business hours:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8856

There were several cafeterias in the area, opened fairly early:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0953

They also had a large Kids' Zone in the lounge area and a smoking room on the concourse level, for people had special needs:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8853



Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 7751
Smoking Room

There were naturally many fancy shops, many of them had great store design:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0904

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0915

If inclined, travelers could deposit them currencies to make donations to the Korean Red Cross.  The container below I saw on the concourse held currencies issued from many countries:

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 0917

All in all, it was a great airport with many human touches.  It was also a very "green" one.  For example, the escalators only operated when people were on it.  The still escalators started very gently when people approached it and it would stop automatically when no one was using it.

When I was there, I always felt calm.

Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Korea, May 2012 _ 8857 


Label: Shenyang Trip 2012

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for the review. I'm going to transfer at this airport this Saturday and planing to take a shower over there. Where is the free shower room located? At what floor? Is it near some other places? Thank you so much! :)

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  2. Hello, Ann:

    I believe that "Rest and Relax Area" is on the second floor. You may push your little cart on the elevator to go up and down. In that area, you will find free shower (7 am - 10 pm), message chairs and internet, and for service fees, beauty and message salon, VIP lounge etc. It is on the same level of the Transit Hotel.

    Look for signs pointing to the Transit Hotel, or ask the information desk on the ground level. I think you need to go to one side to get onto the upper lounge level.

    Have a wonderful trip and relaxing transit in Seoul/Incheon Airport.

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  3. Thank you so much and also thanks for such a useful review!!! I really appreciate it! Another question, Do they have a dryer at a free shower place? If not, I guess I have to work around with my wet hair...lolz

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  4. Hi, Ann:

    I am very happy to help you a bit. I don't remember anything about dryer - I have short hair so my wet hair didn't bother me. They might have, either free or for rent. I don't remember if they have free shampoo or not. At least you can buy them.

    By the way, the shower place is in the middle of the long narrow corridor and might not look like business area so you might have to explore a bit.

    Good luck with your traveling!

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  5. I recently flew to the Philippines from New York City via S. Korea, and vice-versa. It was such a fascinating layover in Korea :) Exceptional airport, with exceptional amenities. I look forward to going there again.

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