Korean Job Discussion Forums

Spike · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

I asked my travel agent for the cheapest flights to the eastern-ish US in July and the cheapest one they brought up was a non-stop return to Detroit for 1,850,000!

Does anyone still use the Korean online sites? Or better yet, has anyone found cheaper flights towards the same part of the world?

1.85 seems like madness to me. Madness!!

alwaysbeclosing100 · Joined: 07 Feb 2009

not a terrible price........the price is mainly based on the dates......there are lots of cheap flights during the low season......

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Are you insisting on direct flights? It really should't be that expensive.

Spike · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

Honestly, I looked into cheaper flights based on transfers, and they all worked out to be more expensive.

Sounds odd, but it's true. Odd travel season.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Direct from Incheon to East Coast US is expensive.
1 way tickets are easily 30-40% more expensive than round trip.

In 2010 I was quoted 2.4 million won from Incheon to DC direct Korean Air one way.
The same ticket was 1.8 Million for round trip.

You can find cheaper tickets, but that will require layovers. For me, that flight from Korea to East Coast can take ~14 hours. I'll pay the extra money to get to my destination as quickly as possible, while minimizing the risk of lost baggage.

lawyertood · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:52 am Post subject:

Keep in mind fuel taxes have been on the rise, too. Going up in April, I believe.

July falls in one of the many "peak travel" times, so the price doesn't seem too far off the mark.

I have been looking to fly to Chicago this summer and have come up with similar fares.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:24 am Post subject:

That is a high season price and you are flying smack in the midddle of high season.

That is about what you will have to pay.

As was stated earlier, fuel surcharges are going up for most airlines in April and prices start to climb from June.

You could try other airlines (if you have not done that already) and contact a few travel agents or online booking sites (ex:whypaymore.kr).

At the end of the day however, a ticket to North America in July will cost you. Also, if you fly to a smaller airport as your final destination, that raises the price too.

mikesaidyes · Joined: 26 Apr 2011 Location: Sanbon, South Korea

I'm looking at a two week trip home to Atlanta in early July.... $2200 on Korean Air nonstop, $1850 with a one hour layover in Detroit.... (gotta get my SkyMiles).

I doubt it's gonna budge a penny in price. Thank you, hagwon, for paying for the ticket home for a quick visit.

duke of new york · Joined: 23 Jan 2011

Check kayak.com and cheapoair.com. I know there are much cheaper flights to most of North America if you don't mind layovers.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:38 am Post subject:

Spike · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

I ended up calling the Korean Air offices directly in late March..

They too warned me of the impending April gas tax increase..

Booked a direct return flight to Detroit for 1.68 million...

As of today, the same flight is 2.05

Yay Gas tax! :S

BriTunes · Joined: 12 Jan 2010

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:28 am Post subject:

Up to you of course. I would rather pay a little more and get there withing a reasonable time like say 20-some hours.

To each his own.

lawyertood · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject:

Keep in mind some airports do not operate 24 hours and you might have to shell out for a hotel.