Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression "As pretty as an airport." -Douglas Adams

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200603/200603070024.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/07/business/incheon.php

Anyone catch this? The only issues I have with Incheon: the ground staff at the tickets desks have pitiful English skills. I couldn't, for the life of me, get an United Airlines desk monkey to understand I didn't need an exit visa. Even though my current visa was still valid, I was going to Canada to get another one for another school. I would be returning with a new visa. Eventually he consulted with someone who had a bigger clue...

The final line to get through customs follows Korean rules: People shove their way to the front. It always amazes me you can fly three different airports, say, Chicago, Japan, and then Korea and people, even the Korean travellers, obey lines. But once Koreans are on Korean soil, all line etiquette falls apart.

The airport is far from Seoul. Probably not Mirabel far, but far. Still a limo bus ride isn't oppressively expensive.

I agree the airport is well laid out and easy to get around. Vancouver, however, I do like. Lots of water and natural wood. While it still doesn't match DNA's "pretty as an airport" test, it gets darn close. After a long haul, the natural wood and water is calming.

[VanIslander]

I understand how Vancouver finished second in the most improved category.
And I agree with Denver as a Top-3 in the Americas region.

But Incheon as the best in the world? It does have some extra services (sauna, drycleaning), but I think it's first largely because of (a) high volume of passengers and (b) it's NEW. Hence the votes.

[Zark]

Yeah, saw all the signs yesterday.

I do like Incheon - but I flew Incheon to Singapore yesterday - and no real comparison.

Think about waiting times for immigration and security - no problem in Singapore. Think carpet - so the airport is quiet and peaceful - lots of [real] plants and water features. Think FREE INTERNET, decent bars and restaurants, quiet FREE lounging rooms so you can catch a nap (with timers on them to vibrate you awake) - even a few areas with REAL furniture for comfortable seating.

Think no pushing and shoving (except coming off your Asiana or KAL flights).

I like Kuala Lumpur better too - in particular for the inexpensive (US$18.) lounge with free buffet, free Internet, showers and comfortable living room furniture (okay, not REALLY free - but you know what I mean) - free newspapers and magazines IN ENGLISH.

Incheon is far better than most - but not THE best. Not sure why the raters thought it was better than Singapore and KLIA

[Swiss James]

tell you what Zark- you give me 18 dollars and I'll tell you where the free internet, quiet lounges and showers are at Incheon*

Deal?

By the way there's already another thread on this full of more people with no idea what they're talking about

*hint- transfer section, airside, basement / 2nd floor landside

[Zark]

Free internet - THEY provide the computers?

[rapier]

[Swiss James]

[JongnoGuru]

can never have enough incheon airport threads!

okay, what shall I grouse about this time? oh, I know.

The kerb space is too restrictive. I mean on the upper (departures) level where the bus or taxi lets you out. You'll get these big buses pulling in and spilling out 50 tourists at a time, with heaps of luggage, onto that fairly narrow strip. Except around the door areas, the kerb seems barely wide enough for one smoking ajosshi on the wooden bench and a luggage cart. One more step and you're falling into the street. Two luggage carts from opposite directions can't even pass each other without extra caution, and it's a real mess when the tourist buses arrive (they come one on top of the other at times). Bags piling up on the narrow kerb, tour leaders trying to line people up, other travellers racing to catch their flight, trying to navigate through the crowd, banging into the tour group hordes (usually short, non-Korean Asians), tripping over their piles of luggage...

Gripe #2. More an observation than a complaint. It's an architectural masterpiece and a marvel of the New Millennium. All open-spacey, space-agey, ultra-modern, squeeeeeaky-clean and grey. Now while that leaves me personally a bit cold, I can accept that others may just love that. Another thing that feels different is, when I'm at other large airports I think "okay, I'm at the airport now". At Incheon, it's more "okay, I'm in this really, really massive, stark, shell-like container now. It's called the Passenger Terminal".

That airport is a terminal. The terminal is the airport. Maybe it's the same everywhere, but it feels especially pronounced at Incheon. Maybe it's the lack of walls, walkways and corridors. Maybe it's that there's just one terminal. (though when the second concourse opens, I expect the only difference will be that there are two giant, empty, metal cans instead of just the one.)

However many floors it may have, however interesting the "Great Hall" and the Transportation Centre may be (and they're deadly boring), Incheon Int'l Airport is a huge metal & glass container. It's called the Passenger Terminal. It's one giant room with bare-naked walls and an interior so expansive that it actually borders on the oppressive.

"We welcome you to Incheon International Shipping Container, and we wish you a very pleasant escape".

[rapier]

[quote="JongnoGuru"]

[periwinkle]

Rapier, where have u been? Long time, no post!

[coolsage]

I agree with the points made here: grim, grey, cold, a lack of decently priced Western food ( 15,000 won for a cheeseburger; give me a break). That being said, the place is clean and adequately efficient, but the lack of a rail link makes it less appealing than KL, for example, or even the aging Don Muang airport in BKK (soon to be replaced, or so we keep hearing). The washrooms, however, must be the best in all of Korea ( with the possible exception of the Canadian Embassy).

[dogbert]

Fly in Russia or the CIS.

IIA will seem like heaven.

[Mills]

[Dan]

You haven't lived until you land in Charles de Gaulle.

I never thought much of Incheon until I was forced to go to Europe.

[mindmetoo]