Incheon Airport

Terribly long wait lines at check in and security areas. I am a frequent air traveler internationally and these were by far the worst and longest lines I have ever seen. The line for security must have been at least an hour long. If you don't get there 3 hours before your flight in peak times you might miss your flight due to the lines. As everything is in one big terminal there are really long walking distances if you need to go from area A to area M or in between. It is too much to cram into one terminal. there should have been 3 terminals.

I had a 9 hour transit on my way to HNL. The terminal is massive but smells like a big ashtray. Jostling crowds from every direction. I did a free transit tour of Incheon City it was a nice distraction but we got caught up in some serious gridlock traffic. The KAL Prestige Lounge was an even better escape from the maddening crowds - - so quiet and relaxing. I looked forward to comparing Incheon to the old Gimpo. This new facility (albeit 9 years old) is big and spacious but I was not too impressed.

Large clean airport with lots of facilities if they are open. Fairly quiet between 2200-0600. Some transit facility closed for reno. The 4th floor is where the transit hotel and free shower are located. Transit hotel expansive if you book outside 0730-2030 because you have to pay 12 hours minimum. Most transpacific flights probably arrive or depart within that time frame. The free shower opens 0800-1800 and you'll need to Q up. They have 6-8 stalls and provide a very small towel so get your own. Transit security check very quick at 04.00 but very slow about one hour at 07.00. No gate security checks so once you pass the central check point you can buy your liquids etc. The free Korean Cultural Center is worth your 20-30 minutes.

Disappointed with Incheon. I will not say that it is bad but nowhere near where it should be. Arrived at the airport and the plane took a really long time to taxi to the gate. Waited for a good 20-30 mins on the plane. Upon entering into the terminal I had to take a train to the main terminal and there was a snaking queue all the way to the escalator. Missed 3-4 trains that are packed to the brim just to get myself to the main terminal. Immigration was a nightmare as well queued for another 30 mins or so. My friends and I ended up missing our connecting flight at Gimpo because of all the unnecessary delays. Really gets on my nerve every time they promoted themselves as the world's best and most efficient airport on the screen and I am stuck in the queue that is barely moving. Departure from the airport was very disappointing as well. Tax refund was horrible. I could only find 2 companies mailboxes near gate 28 (as indicated on all the forms and directed by all the airport staff) and of which only 1 of them is among the 4 that I needed to find. Roamed the airport and eventually managed to get refund for 2 others that I have from the kiosk. Still end up having 1 more that I couldn't find after 30 mins to an hour of searching. As it was past 10pm almost all (90%) the eateries are closed and we could only find 1 small cafe. Overall very disappointed in Incheon. Reasonable for an international airport but definitely nowhere near the world's best or top few.

This is a beautiful facility that suffers from the inability to handle high volumes of passengers at peak periods. Three major issues on my last visit. Firstly the train to arrivals was not frequent enough to handle high passenger volumes. Secondly upon exiting the train there is a single escalator leaving the train platform leading to a huge crush as everyone exiting the train tries to access it. Finally - and probably worst - was immigration. Four desks were open to people with foreign passports - not nearly enough to cope with the number of arriving passengers The waiting area for foreign passengers was completely full forcing arriving Korean travelers to push their way through the lines of people queuing at the foreign passport desks to the other side where their immigration counters were. There was no queue management leading to mass confusion and deliberate queue jumping. My flight landed before 9.30pm. I didn't clear immigration until past 11pm. Compounding the problem: many of the bus services to hotels in the city end around 11pm. There is a video in the immigration hall that proudly claims Korean immigration services as the 'best in the world'. Well I had 1.5 hours in a queue to ponder the reality of that claim.

This is a huge airport with wide areas and very crowded. Huge relaxing zones a free of charge shower/bathroom corner and a tasty food corner. Staff were helpful. But the way to the transit counters was not easy to find. Immigration takes a lot of time.

The airport is visually very clean it makes you believe that they are aware of their customer's health and well being. Good service with private sectors that can keep you interested for the whole time you are there: Also many events that let you experience the Korean culture at the airport was satisfying. With high technology the airport seems to be ready to serve their users.

This is like an airport should be. Spotlessly clean well signed with all facilities working. I used this airport four times in 10 days and never had to queue for more than a few minutes. The airport appears well managed with staff who remember that passengers are customers not cattle that are there to be processed. It gives the lie to the idea that seems to prevail in a lot of European and North American airports I have used that effective security and border controls require passenger discomfort and inconvenience at the hands of officious disinterested and rude staff. Well done ICN.

Excellent airport especially after arriving from Frankfurt. Most things on the same level and well sign-posted. First time through stayed overnight and security immigration quick. Second time through in transit. Found the Rest and Relax area one floor up which is excellent for a snooze and a shower.

This airport is clean well designed and comfortable. Service airport and staff are good and timely. Incheon has a good subway.