Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By Air
South Korea's closed border with the reclusive North makes overland travel to the country
impossible for most visitors, so the vast majority arrive by air. Incheon International Air-
port, which opened in 2001 on a massive patch of reclaimed land off the coast, 43 kilo-
meters (26 miles) west of Seoul, is the country's main gateway. The airy glass-and-steel
structure, one of the busiest transport hubs in the region, regularly notches up awards for
its efficiency, comfort, and services, which include the standard duty-free and foreign ex-
change outlets as well as a few exceptional touches like an on-site health spa.
Around 80 airlines serve Incheon, including the country's flagship carriers, Korean Air
and Asiana Airlines. There are regular direct connections to major cities in Asia, Europe,
and a few destinations in North America, including Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles,
Atlanta, and New York, with many other cities accessible via code-share arrangements.
Round-trip flights from the West Coast of the United States to Seoul start at about US$1,000
in off-peak seasons; children up to 12 are usually entitled to fare reductions of 20 percent
or so and infants about 80 percent.
Gimpo International Airport, on Seoul's western outskirts and the country's main airport
before Incheon relegated it to second-tier status, and Busan's Gimhae International Airport
also have some international traffic, mainly commuter flights to cities in neighboring
Japan and China and a few services to popular Southeast Asian vacation destinations like
Bangkok and Cebu.
Domestically, Korean Air, Asiana, and upstarts like Jeju Air run dozens of flights per
day connecting Seoul with Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Jeju Island, and other sizable cities. These
are a quick and relatively inexpensive way to get around—the country's longest flight,
Seoul to Jeju, takes only about an hour and costs about 80,000 won. As airports are of-
ten located some distance from city centers, however, many travelers find buses or trains a
more convenient way to move around the mainland.
The domestic heavyweights ensured they were locked out for years, but a handful of
budget carriers, including Jeju Air, Jin Air, Malaysia's Air Asia, Japan's Peach and Cebu
Pacific Air from the Philippines now serve South Korea with regular flights to other Asian
destinations. Ticket prices are usually slightly cheaper than those offered by the standard
carriers, but the rock-bottom rates found on similar outfits in Europe are rare. On the plus
side, there are fewer problems with service and hidden surcharges.
 
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