Our Review of Seoul Incheon Airport

Our Review of Seoul Incheon Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Seoul Incheon Airport

PROS

Accessibility: Seoul Incheon Airport is well connected to its surroundings by the Airport Railroad Express (AREX), express buses, taxis, trains, and car rentals.

Modern and Comprehensive Facilities: Features a diverse choice of stores, eating options, and lounges to meet the needs of tourists, including cultural activities and relaxing locations. The airport is known for its excellent levels of cleanliness and well-kept amenities.

Top Destinations:  Top destinations from Incheon Airport are Hong Kong, Osaka, Tokyo, Bangkok, Da Nang, Taipei, Fukuoka, Shanghai, Qingdao and Hanoi.

Airline Hub: ICN Airport is a hub for Air Busan, Air Incheon, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, FedEx Express, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Polar Air Cargo and T’way Air, and a focus city for Thai Airways, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Spacious and Comfortable Design: The airport features a spacious and modern design, providing a comfortable and pleasant experience for passengers.

 

CONS

Overcrowding: During peak travel seasons, the airport might get overcrowded, resulting in lengthier wait times at check-in and security.

Public Transport Costs: Although well-connected, public transportation options like the AREX can be costly when compared to other cities.

Immigration Delays: At times, passengers might experience extended waiting times at immigration, especially during busy travel periods.

Long Travel Time: Airport is located around 48 kilometers (30 miles) from Seoul. This distance may result in a longer travel time to or from the city center.

Complex Airport Layout: The airport’s huge size and various floors might be overwhelming for some first time visitors.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

There are Two Terminals: Incheon Airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. If necessary, take the free shuttle buses to travel between terminals. Make sure you know which terminal your flight departs from, to avoid last minute confusion.

Transport to and from Seoul: The airport is well connected to Seoul by the Airport Railroad Express (AREX), which takes around 45 minutes to reach Seoul Station. You can also use airport shuttles, taxis, or private transfer services. Public transportation is efficient.

 

Check- in Areas:

Terminal 1: The check-in desks are located on the third floor. It’s a large area with all the airlines packed together. Security checkpoints are conveniently located within the same level.

Terminal 2: Check-in area is located on the third floor along with the departure area. This area is modern and well-organized, with security checkpoints immediately after the check-in desks.

Facilities: Incheon Airport has a variety of amenities. Terminals 1 and 2 each include huge shopping sections, numerous food options, and lounges. Look for cultural displays and Korean traditional performances to enrich your airport experience.

Family Services: The airport is family-friendly, with play areas for children, nursing rooms, and family toilets located in both the terminals.

Lounges: Choose from a variety of lounges in both the terminals. They provide comfy seats, snacks, and facilities to make your wait more enjoyable.

Additional Tips: The airport is known for its efficiency and cleanliness. However, be prepared for possible crowds during peak travel times and ensure you check the terminal and gate information carefully for a smooth travel experience.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Seoul Incheon Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Seoul Incheon Airport (last month)