Korean Air Skypass - Help! Very short connection time at ICN (merged with same post in Asiana forum)

I have a flight booked (through Expedia, quite possibly my first mistake) for next Saturday from ATL-ICN and ICN to BKK. Our ATL-ICN flight on Korean lands at 5:10PM, with the ICN-BKK leg on Asiana now leaving at 6:10PM (it was originally 6:30PM). Is this connection totally undoable? I am just trying to figure out what the best plan of action would be to ensure that we arrive in BKK as scheduled (or at least the same night--Asiana has another ICN-BKK flight 2 hours later, so wondering if I should go ahead and try and get us on there now).

Any advice/opionions would be greatly appreciated.

Assuming your KE flight is on time, then you can make 1 hr. connection.
You'll have to pass security, but it's normally painless.

Thank you :)

I guess my main concern is that since it appears our luggage won't be checked through, having to claim and recheck it will be our downfall. Any thoughts? (Besides taking only carry-ons, which is just not going happen, nice as it sounds!)

I have a flight booked (through Expedia, quite possibly my first mistake) for next Saturday from ATL-ICN and ICN to BKK. Our ATL-ICN flight on Korean lands at 5:10PM, with the ICN-BKK leg on Asiana now leaving at 6:10PM (it was originally 6:30PM). Is this connection totally undoable? I am just trying to figure out what the best plan of action would be to ensure that we arrive in BKK as scheduled (or at least the same night--Asiana has another ICN-BKK flight 2 hours later, so wondering if I should go ahead and try and get us on there now).

Any advice/opionions would be greatly appreciated.



Are you sure that the ICN-BKK flight two hours later is operated by Asiana, not Thai? I don't think small company Asiana can have mid-haul flights departing within two-hour frame. I'm guessing the latter is opearted by Thai. Unless you purchased an expensive ticket, they won't put you on codeshare. What you should have done is flying ATL-ICN-BKK on KE. Had you done that, KE would certainly make sure you get on your connecting flight.

Thank you :)

I guess my main concern is that since it appears our luggage won't be checked through, having to claim and recheck it will be our downfall. Any thoughts? (Besides taking only carry-ons, which is just not going happen, nice as it sounds!)



If they don't interline baggage, there is no way for you to make connection with checked baggage in one hour. BTW, PLEASE do not double post the same thread in different forums.

I appreciate the advice, N227, and apologize for apparently breaking a rule of etiquette on here. I was unsure of where this post would really belong, and did not realize I would be causing such grave offense by posting on two different forums. But really, was "yelling" at me in caps truly necessary?

Thank you for the insight--I just double checked and it does appear that the later flight is operated by Thai. I absolutely agree that a full KE itinerary would have been the best option. Unfortunately, when we bought the tickets a few weeks ago, going KE all the way was about twice the cost for whatever reason.

Isn't your ticket a through-fare? Airlines will usually check-through luggage if the connection time is within limit, even when on separate tickets anyway.

Not sure of the minimum connection time at ICN normally, but as above you're almost definitely not going to make the connection unless your transfer is entirely airside.

You have an illegal international connection. You might make the connecting flight but any checked bags won't. Are your flights on 2 separate records? What class of service are you flying?

ICN is a very efficient airport. When you deplane from the transpacific flight you will need to clear security at ICN and go upstairs to the the departure level. If you are in coach, you will be the last group to deplane since the passengers in F and C will be allowed to exit the aircraft before the Y customers. The line at security moves quickly but if there is a long line.......

The departure to BKK will begin boarding 40 min before the departure time. You'd be well advised to re book your flights and make sure you have a proper connection time. BTW, why are you cross posting in separate forums?

KE throughchecks bags within KE, even on separate itineraries. I'm not sure if they'll throughcheck to Asiana, though I think I saw one of the counter people throughcheck onto Lufthansa.

INC is busy in the early morning and in the evening. That could be VERY tight. During the day you might make it but not a t this time. Expedia should be responsible for making corrections to illegal connections. You know I don't even know why outfits like Expedia even offer them they should know better and should be held liable for this nonsence. Lots of Newbees get caught with connections like this.

I'm sure they have interline agreements with OZ as well, but if the connection time is too tight on a separate ticket then they could refuse to through-check at the origin.That's the issue.

I appreciate the advice, N227, and apologize for apparently breaking a rule of etiquette on here. I was unsure of where this post would really belong, and did not realize I would be causing such grave offense by posting on two different forums. But really, was "yelling" at me in caps truly necessary?


Sorry, but I wasn't really yelling. Just emphasizing.



Isn't your ticket a through-fare? Airlines will usually check-through luggage if the connection time is within limit, even when on separate tickets anyway.

Not sure of the minimum connection time at ICN normally, but as above you're almost definitely not going to make the connection unless your transfer is entirely airside.


Through-fare has nothing to do with baggage interline agreement. For instance, try getting a CX ticket with through-fare between OZ and CX, and see if OZ will do baggage interline to CX.

MCT at ICN for international connections is 60 minutes IIRC.



I'm sure they have interline agreements with OZ as well, but if the connection time is too tight on a separate ticket then they could refuse to through-check at the origin.That's the issue.


I'm not positive if OZ has baggage interline agreement with KE given that they are competing fiercely. Anyhow, as long as they have the agreement and MCT is obeyed, KE would accept bag. The OP stated that she bought her ticket on Expedia, and Expedia wouldn't issue a ticket that doesn't meet MCT requirement.

You have an illegal international connection. You might make the connecting flight but any checked bags won't. Are your flights on 2 separate records? What class of service are you flying?

ICN is a very efficient airport. When you deplane from the transpacific flight you will need to clear security at ICN and go upstairs to the the departure level. If you are in coach, you will be the last group to deplane since the passengers in F and C will be allowed to exit the aircraft before the Y customers. The line at security moves quickly but if there is a long line.......

The departure to BKK will begin boarding 40 min before the departure time. You'd be well advised to re book your flights and make sure you have a proper connection time. BTW, why are you cross posting in separate forums?


Do you know what the MCT at ICN is exactly?



INC is busy in the early morning and in the evening. That could be VERY tight. During the day you might make it but not a t this time. Expedia should be responsible for making corrections to illegal connections. You know I don't even know why outfits like Expedia even offer them they should know better and should be held liable for this nonsence. Lots of Newbees get caught with connections like this.


Suggestions to the OP, contact KE, OZ or Expedia to find out what the exact minimum connecting time at ICN between international flights is. If it's more than 60 minutes, ask Expedia to change your ticket since the connection has become illegal due to schedule change. If it's 60 minutes, ask KE if they have interline baggage agreement with OZ. If not, you really can't check any bag. If they do, checking bag should be okay since your itinerary obeys MCT.

If you're connecting flights that are operated by the same company or the same alliance, like Skyteam, transferring at ICN would have been a lot easier. Since KE and OZ hate each other, I don't know which company will be taking care of you at ICN. Typical practice is that your outbound flight operator, which is OZ, should take of you at ICN. However since KE and OZ do not cooperate, I don't think OZ would pick you up upon your KE arrival.

If I were you, I would seek OZ ground staff as soon as I deplane. Let them know that you're on the flight to BKK, and they should take care of you then. Although boarding begins like 45min before departure, don't mind that. Most Asian carriers would wait for pax until departure time, especially when they are informed pax is coming. I'm not sure if there is something KE can do for you here at ICN though. Good luck.

The point is, if it is in the same ticket, it wouldn't have been ticketed (unless manually overridden) if the MCT was not obeyed. On the other hand, it is possible to buy two separate tickets that have any amount of time, including under the MCT, for the connection.

My point regarding the through-fare was therefore to do with the difference of everything on one ticket, not to do with the fare paid.

The point is, if it is in the same ticket, it wouldn't have been ticketed (unless manually overridden) if the MCT was not obeyed. On the other hand, it is possible to buy two separate tickets that have any amount of time, including under the MCT, for the connection.

My point regarding the through-fare was therefore to do with the difference of everything on one ticket, not to do with the fare paid.



So what does everything on one ticket mean? Your point is that the MCT was originally obeyed. Yes everyone realizes that. However her connecting time has been reduced from 80min to 60min because of schedule change. Besides, what good does MCT do if KE and OZ do not have interline baggage agreement? I just don't get the significance of through-fare except that MCT was met when the ticket was originally issued.

I think you guys are all nuts, possibly causing unneccessary panic. Without having to reclaim baggage, 1 hour at Incheon is TOTALLY FINE, even at this time of day. I've easily made a KE-KE connection (somewhat different from KE-OZ, I'll allow) in the morning in under an hour, and that was with my inbound aircraft parking at the end of one of the piers (Gate 23 or so), me entering Korea to get a passport stamp, going upstairs, going through passport check and outbound passport control, going up to the lounge for a quick visit, and still making it to the departure gate just as boarding was beginning. I was in C inbound from BKK and Y outbound to ATL.

If the OP is on a single ticket, which it sounds like he is, then the airline issuing the ticket is responsible for reaccommodating him if a delayed inbound causes a misconnect. Barring a physical disability, the OP can hustle from the arriving gate to the departing gate easily, and they will not necessarily be that far apart. In general, OZ often uses the lowest-numbered gates at Incheon (1 through 11 or so), and KE often uses the next batch of gates (those in the first pier and in the arc between the piers). That means clearing security (no need to clear immigration if his baggage is interlined) at the connection point at the base of the first pier or at the tip of the first pier, depending on where the ATL flight docks. The security folks often let people rushing to catch a connection jump the line; the OP can certainly ask for permission for that, and an OZ staff member lending assistance could probably help.

Can someone confirm what the MCT is? If the OP's connection is now illegal, then either expedia or the airline issuing the ticket should get the OP reaccommodated.

Well, ask.com bought up horrible results for "What is the minimum connection time at Incheon International Airport?" But google was my friend. First result: the Korean Air webpage (http://www.koreanair.com/local/na/gd/eng/aa/ia/eng_aa_ia_ts.htm), which quotes 55 minutes as the MCT for Int'l-Int'l connections at Incheon. You are invited to go to KE's Transit Counter C for help with connections to other carriers, or to the transit desks for the operating carrier. Since Counter C is all the way at the far end of the concourse, in the opposite direction from the gates Asiana often uses, I would go to Asiana's desk instead.

Despite the spirited competition between KE and OZ, I'd be surprised to hear that they don't interline baggage.

As for holding flights, I've heard that they'll do that for connecting pax, but maybe not if you're coming from another airline. And the one time that it came up, and my mom called KE to ask about holding a flight from JFK as she dashed to the airport (this was during the Christmas 2004 Comair meltdown), KE responded: "We don't hold planes. We leave on time." Maybe they were just trying to scare her to get her there on time.

A little bit more info:

KE's webpage (http://www.koreanair.com/local/na/gd/eng/aa/bt/eng_bg_0102.htm) also indicates that baggage generally will be transfered between KE and another carrier for International-International flight connections. Not transfering to OZ would be a huge exception to that rule, and I doubt that's the policy.

I think you guys are all nuts, possibly causing unneccessary panic. Without having to reclaim baggage, 1 hour at Incheon is TOTALLY FINE, even at this time of day. I've easily made a KE-KE connection (somewhat different from KE-OZ, I'll allow) in the morning in under an hour, and that was with my inbound aircraft parking at the end of one of the piers (Gate 23 or so), me entering Korea to get a passport stamp, going upstairs, going through passport check and outbound passport control, going up to the lounge for a quick visit, and still making it to the departure gate just as boarding was beginning. I was in C inbound from BKK and Y outbound to ATL.

If the OP is on a single ticket, which it sounds like he is, then the airline issuing the ticket is responsible for reaccommodating him if a delayed inbound causes a misconnect. Barring a physical disability, the OP can hustle from the arriving gate to the departing gate easily, and they will not necessarily be that far apart. In general, OZ often uses the lowest-numbered gates at Incheon (1 through 11 or so), and KE often uses the next batch of gates (those in the first pier and in the arc between the piers). That means clearing security (no need to clear immigration if his baggage is interlined) at the connection point at the base of the first pier or at the tip of the first pier, depending on where the ATL flight docks. The security folks often let people rushing to catch a connection jump the line; the OP can certainly ask for permission for that, and an OZ staff member lending assistance could probably help.

Can someone confirm what the MCT is? If the OP's connection is now illegal, then either expedia or the airline issuing the ticket should get the OP reaccommodated.



Why is the carrier issuing ticket responsible for any misconnection? Unless fare rule specifies ticket to be issued on flight operator's stock, Expedia can use any company's ticket stock. I'm pretty sure that the OP's ticket is a combination of two different fares although it might be issued as one ticket stock with four segments. Discounted fares carry restricted flight application, and neither any KE discounted fare would allow OZ flight under flight application nor any OZ discounted fare would allow KE flight under flight application. Therefore the ticket cannot have just one fare. Anyhow, which airline issuing the ticket is irrelevant matter because Expedia could use any airline's stock unless prohibited by fare rule.

Edited to Add: Just confirmed that IATA's MCT at ICN is 60min.
As for holding flight, I meant they will hold it until departure time, not after departure time. In other words, they will not close gate 15min or 10min before departure time. Of course, they will not hold it after departure time because they have to pay for sitting on the tarmac.

To the OP, I guess you should be fine.

I wouldn't have any worries about this. 60 minutes is more than enough time at any time of the day as long as your transpac flight arrives on time. It will be more likely to arrive a little early than late.

You'll need to see the Thai transfer counter at ICN for your boarding pass, so make sure you have a copy of your itenerary to get through security since most of the tranfer counters are past security.

There is more than one security checkpoint. If the line is too long at one, you can go use the other one, but its a bit of a walk. Just depends on which gate your next flight will leave from.

Thanks so much, everyone!

Bescobar--I apologize for the XP. I was not sure in which forum this question would belong, and didn't realize that so many were reading both and would be offended by 2 posts.

Moeve--I wish I could blame this on being a newbie (well, I suppose I am to ICN)! I fly several dozen times a year and should really have known better than to book that ticket in the first place. But the siren song of a good price was my downfall. :(

After phone calls to KE, OZ, and Expedia, along with all of your comments, I am feeling better about all of this. The KE website says 55 minutes is legal, a CSR told me it's 1h10m, Expedia and Delta (codeshare for the KE flight) said 1 hour, as did OZ. I am going to assume the truth is there in the middle with 1 hour, hope that the KE flight is not delayed, and run like the wind when we arrive at ICN :)

It also looks as though my bags *should* be checked through, though I am still not entirely confident that they actually will be. Not too concerned about them making our flight--if we don't get them til the next day, it's not the end of the world.

Anyway, thank you all again for the invaluable information and opinions!

Thanks so much, everyone.

FWIW, it is all on the same ticket--the two flights were packaged together by Expedia, rather than me piecing them together on my own.

After phone calls to KE, OZ, and Expedia, along with all of your comments, I am feeling better about all of this. The KE website says 55 minutes is legal, a CSR told me it's 1h10m, Expedia and Delta (codeshare for the KE flight) said 1 hour, as did OZ. I am going to assume the truth is there in the middle with 1 hour, hope that the KE flight is not delayed, and run like the wind when we arrive at ICN

It also looks as though my bags *should* be checked through, though I am still not entirely confident that they actually will be. Not too concerned about them making our flight--if we don't get them til the next day, it's not the end of the world.

Anyway, thank you all again for the invaluable information and opinions!

It also looks as though my bags *should* be checked through, though I am still not entirely confident that they actually will be. Not too concerned about them making our flight--if we don't get them til the next day, it's not the end of the world.

Ask the gate agent at ICN whether or not your bags have been loaded. And try the Ssambap (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=691206) if they're still serving it.

Since we ask that folks not crosspost, and since the OP has received very gracious help to her inquiry in both the Asiana and Korean forums, I have merged the conversation into the Korean thread.

SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator