Asiana Club - Arriving KE F, departing OZ F 9 hours later. Transit hotel?

I have researched the logistics of the following scenario a fair bit, but I'm still unclear about how this will work:

I arrive ICN on KE854 at 12:10am, then I depart on a separate itinerary on OZ102 at 9am. What to do?

1. Since I don't believe I have any arrivals lounge access based on the KE flight, and the OZ F lounge doesn't open until 5:50am, is there even an option for lounge access during this 9ish hour layover? Possibly the OZ J lounge? If so, any reasonably comfortable areas to nap?

2. If I decide to bunk at the transit hotel for a few hours, how will that work exactly? KE arrival->Customs/immigration->OZ check-in (open at this time?)->security->transit hotel in departures area?

3. Or should I just leave the airport and stay at the Hyatt ICN?

Your advice is much appreciated.

This is very tricky. Basically from 9 pm Incheon is a very dead airport, with just a few flights here and there. Almost all shops are closed, restaurants closed, lounges closed.

1. There is no arrival lounges in Incheon, the best bet for a quick shower is the spa in the basement of Incheon Airport. There is also free showers in the transit area, but they are also closed. The lounges should open already from 5am, according to Asiana's website, but since I have never been there so early, I cant verify this. Life generally starts at Incheon around 6am, but from 3-4am the first people are walking around and the convenience stores are open of course. There is places to sit everywhere, but its mostly wooden benches. Not too comfortable - you might find a better place in the train station (even though that is a building site atm unfortunately) or in the departures area. But its not too welcoming. I recommend to go to the Spa in the basement, there you can freshen up and have some nap for a good price. You can lock your belongings into a locker and dont have to care about anything.

2. You should be able to go to the transit area without clearing immigration and customs, just follow the transfer escalators. The OZ-girls next to these escalators (if there are some, otherwise ask anybody) will be able to give you your boarding pass, I just am not sure about the luggage. Try to check it through already or they will find a solution for you, especially given you travel in F. There should also be some open OZ check-in in the departures hall, if you follow my recommendation and head to the spa. Immigration should be a matter of seconds, when arriving that late in the night.

3. It is possible - but I dont see that you gain anything from that. You arrive too late and leave too early, to make it worthwhile. Maybe if the rate is much better than the transit hotel and you despise staying up or in the spa.

The lounges should open already from 5am, according to Asiana's website, but since I have never been there so early, I cant verify this.

If this is true, then it must be new hours. Last I checked, which was perhaps a year ago, outbound immigration doesn't open until about 06:20 ~ 06:30 and the lounges opened about that time to coincide with the arrival of outbound passengers beginning their journey at ICN. IMHO, there's a real need though to make ICN a 24-hour airport. They consistently are given awards naming them the best or near the best airport in the world. But the one point where they completely fail is in their lack of being a 24-hour airport. As they get busier though, the flights I suppose start departing earlier in the morning and leave later at night. So perhaps 05:00 is the new opening time now. BTW, the last time I arrived early morning and had a connecting flight, the C lounge opened first and the F lounge opened about 30 minutes later, so I had to spend a while in the C lounge first.



2. You should be able to go to the transit area without clearing immigration and customs, just follow the transfer escalators. The OZ-girls next to these escalators (if there are some, otherwise ask anybody) will be able to give you your boarding pass, I just am not sure about the luggage. Try to check it through already or they will find a solution for you, especially given you travel in F. There should also be some open OZ check-in in the departures hall, if you follow my recommendation and head to the spa. Immigration should be a matter of seconds, when arriving that late in the night.

I've never seen any OZ personnel next to the transit escalators. They do have a transit desk up one more level (the lounge level), but I seriously doubt there will be anyone there when the OP arrives (at 00:10). But even if they are open, it doesn't really matter. You don't need your boarding pass except to access the lounge, at which time the transfer counter should be open. Provided you have a printout of your e-ticket, that's all that's necessary to get through transit security.

Likewise I doubt any OZ check-in counters will be open in the departures hall at that time of night, but again it shouldn't be necessary as I don't think outbound immigration is open, so there's no need for a boarding pass at that time of night.

If this is true, then it must be new hours. Last I checked, which was perhaps a year ago, outbound immigration doesn't open until about 06:20 ~ 06:30 and the lounges opened about that time to coincide with the arrival of outbound passengers beginning their journey at ICN.
I cant confirm on the lounges as I said before, but I have been on the 5J flight to Manila which leaves at 7:30am and made it to the concourse before 6am. Immigration was open obviously, but I think it was only one of the big gates in the departures hall and then after security only 2 immigrations desks were staffed.

IMHO, there's a real need though to make ICN a 24-hour airport. They consistently are given awards naming them the best or near the best airport in the world. But the one point where they completely fail is in their lack of being a 24-hour airport.

I fully agree on that, I was quite disappointed, leaving on the 11:10pm flight to Palau recently with not a single shop or lounge open on the way to the gate. Fair enough it was the only flight in the entire part of the airport, but still it felt very strange. Also I have met various people inside the transit area which spent the night without staying at the transit hotel, it is quiet but also very inconvenient.

I've never seen any OZ personnel next to the transit escalators. They do have a transit desk up one more level (the lounge level), but I seriously doubt there will be anyone there when the OP arrives (at 00:10).

Actually you got me here, as I never made a clean transit at ICN, always got out and back in again for whatever reason. There is also a OZ transit desk opposite immigration. But you are right, the probability that no one is there is high. Just make yourself heard, it works...

Likewise I doubt any OZ check-in counters will be open in the departures hall at that time of night, but again it shouldn't be necessary as I don't think outbound immigration is open, so there's no need for a boarding pass at that time of night.

As I said, there is some immigration open before 6am. But I agree, it could be hard to find any OZ personal, but not impossible. Worst case there might be someone at the OZ transit counter near arrivals gate F.

Thanks Lerwick and A-Lee. Based on no small part on your observations and recommendations, I am inclined to find myself a proper bed at what I understand to be one of two separate transit hotels at ICN. Now, what I cannot figure out, despite researching this a fair bit, is:

1. At which of the two transit hotels shall I make a reservation, or if I can just as easily get to either then that really doesn't matter. I would like like to have a confirmed reservation.

2. Do I need to go through security/customs/immigration between stepping off my KE flight and entering the transit hotel?

Thanks.

Once you exit your first flight, head over to the Transfer desk. It is just before the immigration lines. They will ask for your next flight information, so have that printed out somewhere beforehand. Usually something that shows your flight info with your name on it will be fine. Then you will go through security again before going upstairs. Once upstairs, you might want to check in at the OZ transfer desk so you can get your boarding pass for your next flight. However, I am not sure if it will still be open at that hour. Just fyi, since you are arriving on KE and then departing on OZ, the OZ transfer desk is on the other side of the main terminal. You will have to walk a bit.

For the transit hotel, they have two on each side of the main terminal. I believe you can make a reservation online www.airgardenhotel.com. Head up to the 4th floor where the airline lounges are and you should see signs for the Transit Hotel.

Just to clarify, you will go through security again, however you will not go through customs and/or immigration.

I would use the Hyatt - I had claustrophobia in the Transit Hotel (no windows, no fresh air)

I have stayed at both transit hotels (actually three including Best Western Premier).

The Air Garden hotel is a bit cheaper but the room is a bit smaller with no windows obviously. However I find it comfortable for a few hours of sleep without the hassle of clearing immigration especially so such short transit. I will just stay at the Air Garden Hotel. Just remember to print out the e-ticket for your onward flight the next morning (and the transit hotel reservation too - it makes everyone's life easier especially most security staffs speak little English)! They will check and make sure you are flying the next morning.

Hyatt Incheon is excellent and Korean Air has check-in desks in the hotel, which makes the departure experience smoother. Lots of KE out station crews stay here too. However I will do it if you have more times. Plus there is really not much to do at these late hours.

Best Western Premier - really bad and avoid it at all costs.

Incheon City has a couple hotels and even a Lotte department store, but with such a short layover, it will be too bothersome to go there.

I think Air Garden Hotel will be the best option!

Carfield

....Hyatt Incheon is excellent and Korean Air has check-in desks in the hotel, which makes the departure experience smoother. Lots of KE out station crews stay here too...

KE owns Hyatt Regency Incheon. It is one of the nicest Hyatt Regency properties. Unfortunately, they often charge outrageous rates.:(