Korean Air Skypass - Transfer desk or main check-in?

First time poster here hopng readers can clarify something. Here's my situation--
I'm flying Fukuoka (Japan) to Seoul-Incheon on Korean Airlines. 90 minutes after the scheduled arrival at Incheon, I'm scheduled to fly Turkish Airlines, Seoul-Istanbul.

Now, here's the rub. The two tickets are separate tickets. I bought them at an online agency. I thought since it was under the 'minimum international transfer' time limit that it would be OK, I'd be protected etc. but, obviously, separate tickets are different from a transfer on the same itinery (or with the same, or related, airline). Ouch. I know.

But,
I will have no checked in baggage, only hand bagage.
I will have checked in online for the Turkish Airlines flight and print up my boarding pass in advance.

So, can I not just go through the transfer desk at Incheon after arriving (OK timewise) or MUST I go through immigration into Korea and then all the way to the Turkish Airlines check-in counter (which, of course, closes 1 hr before departure, giving me only 30 minutes from my arrival at Incheon)? The latter puts me at great great risk of missing the check in and even foreiting a huge ticket (family of three).

Help.

First time poster here hopng readers can clarify something. Here's my situation--
I'm flying Fukuoka (Japan) to Seoul-Incheon on Korean Airlines. 90 minutes after the scheduled arrival at Incheon, I'm scheduled to fly Turkish Airlines, Seoul-Istanbul.

Now, here's the rub. The two tickets are separate tickets. I bought them at an online agency. I thought since it was under the 'minimum international transfer' time limit that it would be OK, I'd be protected etc. but, obviously, separate tickets are different from a transfer on the same itinery (or with the same, or related, airline). Ouch. I know.

But,
I will have no checked in baggage, only hand bagage.
I will have checked in online for the Turkish Airlines flight and print up my boarding pass in advance.

So, can I not just go through the transfer desk at Incheon after arriving (OK timewise) or MUST I go through immigration into Korea and then all the way to the Turkish Airlines check-in counter (which, of course, closes 1 hr before departure, giving me only 30 minutes from my arrival at Incheon)? The latter puts me at great great risk of missing the check in and even foreiting a huge ticket (family of three).

Help.
If you are already checked in for your Turkish Airlines flight, why would you have to go to check-in, even if you were o go through customs and immigration.
You don't even need to go to a transfer desk.

Well anytime you go from arrival to departure in an international airport you have to go through a transfer desk where documents are checked, security etc.

But your question regarding the redundancy of going to the check in counter when you've done it online already is a good one. Yet when I talked to Turkish Airlines in Tokyo (I called them because I live in Japan) they said I would have to check in at the regular counter in Incheon. Without bags to check in, with a self-printed boarding pass etc. -- why? Does it make sense to anyone?

My biggest worry is that because I bought the ticket via an internet agency I won't be able to check-in and/or get a boarding pass online at the Turkish Airlines website (only doable from 24hrs prior to departure). Anybody with experience with Turkish Airlines on such issues-- input is appreciated.

Some airlines don't treat printed boarding passes with the same "weight" as others. On both SQ and EK, I have pre-printed my boarding pass, and still had to check in, and got a proper boarding pass, so it seemed to me that the process was kinda worthless, apart from being able to pick my seat early.

FWIW, I have also had problems checking in online with TK generally (rejected two out of three times, requiring me to check in at the airport).... You might want to check if ICN is within the permitted airports for TK online checkin? (Don't even know if this is still a thing...)

None of these were transfer though, and I was always travelling with checked luggage.

Well anytime you go from arrival to departure in an international airport you have to go through a transfer desk where documents are checked, security etc.


Well, this is plain wrong regarding many airports.
However, the *A transfer desk at ICN is able to produce BP's for itins starting there. This is at least true for SQ from own experience. Don't know about TK though.

This 'weight' of the two boarding passes is an odd thing. Many (most) airlines say that if you've checked in online and printed your BP you should go straight to security (assuming baggage has been dealt with). In other words, the printed BP is sufficient up to the gate. If so with normal airport arrival, why shouldn't it be the same when arriving inside the terminal?

Ryanbryan's comment worries me though. I may be able to choose a seat when I 'check in' with TK 24 hrs before (this Saturday, that is) but the rest of the process may reject me. Any idea why this happens sometimes? ICN is listed as one of TK's airports where you can do full check-in and get a BP online.

This 'weight' of the two boarding passes is an odd thing. Many (most) airlines say that if you've checked in online and printed your BP you should go straight to security (assuming baggage has been dealt with). In other words, the printed BP is sufficient up to the gate. If so with normal airport arrival, why shouldn't it be the same when arriving inside the terminal?

I know that's true for domestic flights but on every international flight where I've done OLCI I've had to present my passport to the check-in agent & get a real cardboard BP. Since the carrier is responsible for verifying pax docs & are subject to large fines for transporting someone without the proper credentials I haven't run into a case where the responsibility has been assigned to a gate agent. But then I've never boarded Turkish in ICN so YMMV.

Please continue to follow this thread in the Korean Airlines Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Here is the deal. When you arrive at ICN, go to the Transfer desk. The Transfer desk will be located just before Immigration. At the Transfer Desk, they will check your documents for your next flight. You can provide a Boarding Pass, or a flight confirmation document. Then you will go through security and then up you go to the Departure level.

Having said this, I believe Turkish Airlines will be located in the Concourse Terminal (gates 1xx-) so you will need to take the underground Terminal train to the Concourse terminal. Just follow the signs to get to your gate. Concourse Terminal has all facilities there (lounge, duty free etc.) so no need to spend time at the Main Terminal where KE operates.

One tip, the Transfer desk usually does not have many staffers working and may only have 1 security line operating. So I recommend that you get to the transfer desk as quick as you can the second you deplane. I got stuck behind a family with a baby and stroller and it took forever to process them.



First time poster here hopng readers can clarify something. Here's my situation--
I'm flying Fukuoka (Japan) to Seoul-Incheon on Korean Airlines. 90 minutes after the scheduled arrival at Incheon, I'm scheduled to fly Turkish Airlines, Seoul-Istanbul.

Now, here's the rub. The two tickets are separate tickets. I bought them at an online agency. I thought since it was under the 'minimum international transfer' time limit that it would be OK, I'd be protected etc. but, obviously, separate tickets are different from a transfer on the same itinery (or with the same, or related, airline). Ouch. I know.

But,
I will have no checked in baggage, only hand bagage.
I will have checked in online for the Turkish Airlines flight and print up my boarding pass in advance.

So, can I not just go through the transfer desk at Incheon after arriving (OK timewise) or MUST I go through immigration into Korea and then all the way to the Turkish Airlines check-in counter (which, of course, closes 1 hr before departure, giving me only 30 minutes from my arrival at Incheon)? The latter puts me at great great risk of missing the check in and even foreiting a huge ticket (family of three).

Help.

Thanks nme7.

So, here's the bottom line. If I'm able to check in online and print a boarding pass from TK then I'll head for that transfer desk at ICN upon deplaning and those documents should suffice.

If I can't do the check in etc. via the TK website, then it's the heart-pounding rush through immigration, customs, and down to the TK check in area.

I'll make a call to TKs office at ICN before we leave Japan to confirm procedures and also to let them know that we will be somewhere in the airport trying our damndest to get to their check in booth if that becomes absolutely necessary.

Any others who want to weigh in here, feel free to do so.

I don't think you need a boarding pass to go through the transfer desk. At least that was my experience when I went through. I just had a print out of the email confirmation for my next flight. I showed that to the transfer desk and they let me through.

With this scenario however, you will need to secure the boarding pass once you make it up to the Departure level. Just note that since Turkish Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, you may have to go to the Asiana Transfer Desk once you go past Security.

Here's a quote from TK's online check in FAQ:

"14. What do I need to do at the airport?

Check-in formalities including getting boarding card, delivering the baggage and security procedures will be completed at the check-in counters which are special to online checked-in passengers, if these desk does not exists Business class counters can be used instead. (Except Singapur Station.)

Passenger without baggage and have online printed boarding card may go directly to the gate through to security control or otherwise baggage should be registered at “baggage drop off point” or “online check-in desk”.

So, without baggage and with a self-printed bording pass it seems that 'check in' can be bypassed and I go straight trough to security. Since I'll already be inside the airport, 'security' becomes the transfer desk area security.

The weird thing is how people who checked in online are asked to go to a special 'checked in online' line at the check in counters for 'security procedures'.

But then I find this also on TK's site:
In following cases passengers are not allowed to print an online boarding pass.
•Few stations within Turkish Airlines network are not suitable to print online boarding passes.Please click here to find out where online boarding pass is available.
•Passengers without electronic tickets will be entitled to online check-in but will not be allowed to print online boarding passes.
•From the web site and via Call Center purchased tickets must be identical on name and surname with the credit card holder. If this is not the case, online boarding pass issuance will not be allowed.
In a situation like this if the credit card holder is other than the passenger or passengers on the purchased tickets, the credit card holder must apply to a Turkish Airlines sales office in order to declare and confirm the usage of the card.Only having done these steps online boarding pass issuance will be allowed. (Except New York and Chicago flights.)
•Passengers with documental discounts can not print their boarding passes.

I think that's me, although the wording is awkward and unclear.

Just go the transfer desk first. It's the closest and the easiest way. They can always radio someone/call, too, if you show them the time. ICN airport staff are great.

OP here. All went fine as the KE plane arrived early and Incheon Airport staff were thoroughly professional and efficient. Thanks for all earlier comments.