Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alljokingaside]

Hey,

So regarding the newish KTX line to Incheon Airport...

-Is it generally on time? (ie arrives to the airport as scheduled?)

-How far/long is it from departure at Seoul Station to the KTX to Incheon? How are the lines? (Or should I buy a ticket in advance?)

-How far is it from the KTX Station at Incheon to the terminals/counter?

Basically, my flight leaves for Hanoi at 1:55p and I've a KTX from Busan to Seoul that morning, arriving at around 11:30-45a <KTX to Seoul should arrive as scheduled, no?> and am considering if I should get a ticket to Incheon for 12 or 12:30p. While the latter'd leave me more time should anything go wrong, it won't leave me much time to pick up my ticket and go through security (which I estimate at something like an hour). I'm also trying to figure out how much time I'd need to get to the counter from the KTX terminal.

[bossface]

wait, so the train gets to Seoul Station at around 11:45 a.m. and the flight leaves at 1:55 p.m.? No way will you make that flight.

no "KTX" goes to the airport. There is the AREX train, the local takes 53 minutes, the express takes 43. best case scenario - you'll get to the airport at 1. most likely, you can't board the plane any later than 1:40 or so unless it's delayed. i suppose it's possible to get through check-in, security, immigration, and through the airport train to the sattelite teminal (if you are on a non-Korean airline) in 40 minutes, but i wouldn't want to try it. book an earlier train.

[ttompatz]

The KTX to Incheon is NOT ICN airport. It is about an hour's drive away.

As mentioned above you will NOT make a flight if you are arriving in Seoul at noon and the flight departs at 2 (it is at least an hour out to the airport from Seoul station if you add in the waits for transportation and transit time).

If your flight is at 13:55 you need a minimum of 3-4 hours between arriving at Seoul station to your flight time. You need to get there no later than 10am to make the connection.

Options include a domestic flight from Busan direct to ICN (you need 2 hours to make the connection or

Busan to Gimpo and catch a bus/subway from there. You'll still need 3-4 hours to make the connection however.

Lastly there are the buses from Busan to ICN. They take about 5-6 hours but you are at the airport.

Do be aware that in many cases they close the check-in for flights 45 minutes prior to boarding so if you miss it you are hooped; even if you did have time to clear through security and immigration before the flight leaves.

.

[nstick13]

AREX takes about 30-35 minutes to ICN from Gimpo. Sometimes you have to wait at one of the stops along the way and transfer.

[motiontodismiss]

IF you do online checkin and print your boarding pass at home, IF your KTX train arrives on time (it almost never does), IF you catch the nonstop AREX within 10 minutes of your arrival at Seoul Station, and IF you're traveling with a carry on only, and IF you don't have a huge backup at security (or immigration), you MIGHT be able to make it. But that's a lot of if's and a might. I wouldn't risk it.

Then again, I did get off the subway at Gimpo airport, run to the domestic terminal, go through security, and run to my gate, board the bus to my plane, board my flight and sit down with my seatbelt securely fastened in about 7 minutes once.