Long Layover in Incheon Airport: Quick Seoulful Escape

Inspired by recent questions in Trip Advisor, here is a sample itinerary for those having almost 12 hours layover in Incheon Airport.  I also suggest to not take a risk in skipping your flight, so make sure to remove and reduce a place in your Seoul experience to have enough time on your way back to the airport.

Luggage Storage & Lockers - 

You are not going to the city with your luggage!  Just in case you have it with you, there are lockers in the airport. 

These are located in the public area of the Passenger Terminal (on the 3rd & 1st floor). 

Rate: approx. $5 - $9 USD per day. 

Hours: 0600-2200

Locations:

• Arrivals - Korean Express Parcel Service  - Level 1F, near Exit F/3F.  
• Arrivals - Hanjin Express - Level 1F, near Exit A.
• Departures -  Korean Express Parcel Service - Level 3F, near Check-in M.  
• Departures - Hanjin Express - Level 3F, near Check-in A.

Reference: https://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/seoul.htm

Expense and Schedule

You can exchange some money that is possibly less than 100USD.

2011 November: South Korea: Incheon Airport

How to kill time in the Airport?

1. Make sure to get a map of the airport in the Information Center, you can start by food hunting, shopping and looking for available entertainment (I was able to watch a musical show on their center stage).

South Korea: Incheon to Jeju

In less than 18 hours, I've been to 4 airports: Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, Incheon International Airport, Gimpo Domestic Airport, and Jeju International Airport.

Flight 5J 194 is from Manila with arrival time of 20:45 at Incheon International Airport. I decided to spend the night at the airport just in time to my flight the next day. For my late dinner, I was hoping to take a soup from Paris Croissant Kitchen – sad, but it is no longer available. So I started to enjoy Paris Baguette goodies.

The following day, I started it with a very quick breakfast at McDo, then run to Airport Railroad. I was able to take the 2nd AREX train departing from Incheon to Gimpo Airport (6:05am).

Find Exit 1, this will take you to the Airport. On the following, left will be going to Gimpo Domestic Airport while the right direction is to the Gimpo International Airport.

You will pass around 3 walkalators and 2 more escalators to reach the Check-in Counters.

Initially I saw the one for Asiana Airlines, following is Korean Air. Far left is the check-in counter for Jeju Air. The counter told me to wait for the next 5 minutes before I can proceed to the Departure Gates – this for the security check of the check-in luggage.

Gate 17, the last gate, I arrived there 5 minutes before boarding time, just enough to finish my breakfast. Exactly 7:15am, the plane departed and it is my first time to see the ground personnel directing the airport traffic and waving goodbye!

With only 55 minutes of air travel, they no longer offer food, but instead the flight attendants were offering free water or juice. We arrived at Jeju International Airport exactly 8:20, took an airport bus going to the terminal and took me few more minutes before I got my luggage at the rotating belt.

Short-distance taxi is available between Gate 4 and 5. I was bit caught in traffic while going to Yeha Guesthouse. So as I arrived at the place, the receptionist and the guide is already looking for me, “Actually, we should depart now.” He immediately took my luggage, carry it inside and good thing he asked me if I still need something. I just took my monopod and we immediately left the place.

So we started the West Course English Guided Tour...

Date Visited: November 2011

2011 June: South Korea: Goodbye Seoul, Hello Incheon

Travel Date: June 26, 2011
Destination: Incheon
This is free day in Seoul, I have not set anything on this day except that we need to hear a mass in Myeongdong Cathedral.

It is a rainy and windy day as tropical storm Meari is heading a land fall in South Korea from Philippines. We can’t use umbrellas as it is flipping over due to strong winds.

We had a quick breakfast in Paris Baguette. We ordered for sausage (1700won) and ham (1400won) sandwiches with steamed milk (3000won) and café latte (3500won) for a total of 9600won (400php).


We continued our walk by taking exit #8 and turning right in ABC Shopping Store. We had to take the stairs going to the church. The Sunday English mass is at 9am. You can get the mass book from the right-hand side entrance of the church.

How is it different from the masses I have attended in the Philippines?

• There is no kneeler and bibles are available in each row.
• During the offering, the basket is only on the aisle and the attendees should be standing and giving the offering to the basket.
• During the communion rites, each row will be standing and will take the host. The sacristan is not on the left-side but behind the priest/giver of host.

We went back to Zaza Backpackers, prepare our luggage and covered them with plastic so we could freely walk during the storm when going to the Airport bus stop. We took bus 6015 going straight to Incheon Airport for an hour with a fare of 9000won (360php).

We had lunch at the airport, then decided to go to our 4th and last accommodation in South Korea. We took a cab and paid 5000won for less than 5 minutes travel going to Theoville building.

Global Guest House 801 IBC Daewoo Theoville, 2850 Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon http://globalgh.com/

Reposting from my review in www.agoda.com:

Global Guesthouse is like 5-10 minutes away from the airport terminal. We did not bother to take the Airport Free Shuttle, we paid 5000 won going to the building and 10000 won returning to the airport.

You will go to the room in 801, then the owner will give you the keys to your room.

It is good to stay here if you are just waiting for your flight, but if you will be looking for a cab very early in the morning – it will only be a luck by chance.

The room is so big, like condominium unit. Everything is clean,. We stayed on the 11th floor, and we can see planes arriving and leaving. Television has English channels and has several channels with Arrival and Departure Status. Also, has good wifi internet connection. We had 2 cups, spoons, 2 coffee bags and 1 free bottled water; hangers and cabinet. Room has stove and refrigerator. Toilet is with hair dryer, toiletries and towels.

Book Global Guest House, Incheon in Agoda

The most stressful trip thinking on how we can get back to Manila in the middle of a typhoon. Even if the building is just close to the airport, we can’t take the option of walking to the airport building as it is dangerous because of the strong winds. While seeing from above, there are no cabs or Airport Shuttle and very rare for private cars to pass by at 4-5am. We decided to stay at the building grounds at 5:30, hoping we could see a cab. Then we were seen by a cab driver who was waiting for his scheduled passenger, after sending off his passengers, he went back and volunteered to help us – i’m so touched and thankful!

We need to keep running until we complete the check-in, breakfast, airport train and finally reach the boarding gates. It is my first time to be on the second row, we were seated at 2D and 2E – I guess we are that late! And still another big appreciation, I was able to get my first win at Cebu Pacific Fun Games on Air. Question: What is the currency of Thailand. As inspired by 2PM’s latest hit song, ‘put your hands up’ – I just did and win a Cebu Pacific box for the answer of ‘Baht’.

Thank God, we landed at NAIA with blue skies! Thanky you to my brother for being with me on this trip. Thanks to all the hosts of the fours accommodations we had (4 in just less than 9-day trip?!). To the cab drivers that were very helpful, to the locals and tourists who helped us take every single step on the confusing streets of the place where Hallyu stars are born.

This is not my last entry for Korea, I’ll be posting more entries on those things I have observed during my visit. And I'll say, see you soon Jeju!