Korean Air Skypass - Check-in in central Seoul

I looked through the Korean Air webpage and noticed this interesting page about check-in at the City Air Terminal in central Seoul.

http://www.koreanair.com/local/kr/gp/eng/aa/as/eng_aa_as_ca.jsp

However one thing that made me confused was the third step "confirm arrival of checked baggage" after arriving at ICN.
Exactly what does that mean? Do you have to go to a counter to report you have arrived at the airport? Or does it mean you need to be on the same bus as your luggage?

My idea was to get rid of the luggage in the morning and then go straight to ICN and the gate in the afternoon/evening (possibly using another transportation option), is that possible?

Thanks!

I have used this service many times years ago...

I believe I did check bags at KE counter in city terminal and did not take Limo (bus from city terminal is more expensice than other airport buses) and took a locally operated bus..

They might change the policy to increase the revenue of limo company...

Official website
http://www.calt.co.kr/index.html?menu=process&v=eng

My understanding is.. 1st floor check in (KE or OZ) is a seperate operation with 2nd floor limo bus.

It's Koream or English site does not say about the confirmation of baggage. It is only in KE website. I think KE is assuming passenger will take the first available limo and KE will put bag on the first available limo, too. And it can be checked visually if bag is not lost (responsiblity issue.. KE or limo if it is lost).

What I did more than 5 years ago, checked bag at the city terminal in the morning and came back home. Took a airport bus in the afternoon.

Limo from city terminal is now 14000 KRW (about $11-12 USD)
airport bus is 8000KRW (about $6-7 USD) with stops

http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busList.iia?flag=E&fake=1245596817180

However one thing that made me confused was the third step "confirm arrival of checked baggage" after arriving at ICN.



I think it might mean a checked bag in bus...
The bus driver will issue a bag tag (like a tag you will get a jet bridge) for a small carry-on bag and put the bag in the cargo area of the bus.

From Q&A section


Answer is

Yes you can check your bag in the morning and go to ICN later that day.
(only same day check in)



Copy from website

KAL로 미국을 갑니다. (라스베가스)

1. 전일 탑승수속이 불가능한지요? 당일날만 가능한가요?

2. 당일 3시간 10분전까지 완료라고만 되어있는데, 얼마나 일찍부터 가능한가요? 제가 출근했다 밤출장을 가야 하는데 (비행기 20:50) 혹시 아침에 출근전 탑승수속을 해서 짐을 부쳐놓고, 출근했다가 곧바로 공항에 가는게 가능할까요?
(아침에 수속을 한다면, 9시 이전이 될거 같습니다만..)

수속가능시간을 알려주시면 감사하겠습니다. 저처럼 하고 가는게 가능한지두요.

감사합니다.




관리자 (2009-06-01 07:40)

안녕하십니까?
한국도심공항을 이용해 주셔서 감사합니다.

인천 출발이 대한항공이므로 체크인 서비스를 받으실 수 있습니다.

탑승수속은 출발당일 본인만 가능하며, 3시간 10분전 의미는 수하물이 리무진으로 운송되어 인천공항 체크인 수하물 처리 등을 감안한 시간입니다. 출국수속가능시간대는 05:20~18:30입니다.

기타 체크인 시간관련 문의는 항공사(02-551-3321~3325 : 대한항공)로
문의 부탁드리겠습니다.

감사합니다.


안녕하세요.

오후 7시 시드니행 아시아나 탑승인데, 오전에 도심공항터미널에 짐을 우선 부치고 나왔다가 일을 보고 갈 수 있을까요?

아니면 짐보관소가 있는지 궁금합니다.

짐을 들고 다닐 수가 없어서요.

답변 부탁드립니다.




관리자 (2009-01-29 09:16)

안녕하십니까?
한국도심공항을 이용해 주시는 고객님께 감사드립니다.

출발당일 3시간 10분 전이면 미리 체크인 수하물을 항공사에 맡기실수 있습니다.

앞으로도 많은 이용 부탁드리겠습니다.
감사합니다.

I use this service all the time and I never confirm my baggage has made it to ICN. I just check it in at the terminal and forget until I'm at baggage claim. You don't have to take the bus upstairs but it's quite convenient.

Thanks for the replies! Good to have it sorted out,

I thought it sounded a bit strange indeed. I have used city check-in in other cities like Hong Kong and London (when it was available for LHR) and it has always been, well just a second check-in option.
You check-in anytime during the day (until a cut-off time, x hours before the departure) and then you go to the airport whenever you want.

Thanks for the replies! Good to have it sorted out,

I thought it sounded a bit strange indeed. I have used city check-in in other cities like Hong Kong and London (when it was available for LHR) and it has always been, well just a second check-in option.
You check-in anytime during the day (until a cut-off time, x hours before the departure) and then you go to the airport whenever you want.

Initial goal was to help passengers with heavy bags.
But more airport bus routes with bag service have been introduced with cheaper fare. So not many people want to use Seoul city airport any more. Passengers with heavy bags have to carry the bags anyway to either city airport or ICN. Seoul city airport is located about 1/3 mile away from Samsung subway station and it is located in heavily congested area.

I beleive many airline companies opened their office in seoul city terminal, but closed after several years of operation. Now only KE and OZ have their office (OZ runs quantas office)

I heard that seoul city terminal makes profit from its wedding hall. (cheaper than getting married in 5 star hotel. still accomodates more than 500 people and located in heart of gangnam area.)

Bit late to the thread but just wanted to confirm that you do not need to confirm checked baggage once at the airport.

Simply check-in downstairs, check baggage, then take the escalator upstairs to go through immigrations for departure processes (getting passport and boarding pass stamped with City Air Terminal stamp to bypass long lines at security once you are at the airport).

From there, it is up to you whether or not you take the bus service available. I usually check-in around 9am even for an evening flight, spend the day in the city luggage-free, and then go straight to the airport with my own car arrangements.

HTH!

BTW cut-off for check-in is usually around 3 hours.

I live next door to the City Air Terminal and use it regualarily. Here is it how it works.

Check in at either Korean Airlines or Asiana only. Must check in no later than 3 hours prior.

Your baggage will be checked and you receive a boarding pass. You do not have to go to the counter at the airport.

Proceed upstairs and you can pre clear immigration.

You have the option of taking the regualar busess, every 20 minutes or taking your own transport.

I usually go in the morning, check in, do immigration thing and then go to work all day and head to the ariport later.

If it is less than 3 hrs you can still get your boarding pass then take the bags to the airport yourself.

When you get to the airport go to security entrance and look for sign for City Air Terminal Passengers. Has separate security, just show your stamped boarding pass. Separate quicker security line. Then look for City Air Terminal sign at immigration and just show your pre stamped passport and boarding pass. Whole exercise can save 30 minutes at security and immigration vs normal line ups.

I have checked in with less than 3 hrs to flight time and the will give you a boarding pass and tag your bags. In that case you need to take them to the counte at the airport but you can still use City Air Terminal security and immigration lines.

Hope that is helful.

I've never tried it but might in the future. I'm wondering, are the check-in staff actual KE and OZ staff? Are they able to issue lounge invitations there? Are there separate lines for economy, business, first?

I've never tried it but might in the future. I'm wondering, are the check-in staff actual KE and OZ staff? Are they able to issue lounge invitations there? Are there separate lines for economy, business, first?

I assume they are actual staff.

The KE section has First, Prestige/Morning Calm, Economy and Web check-in counters. The lines there are never very long so it doesn't really matter much.

I've never tried it but might in the future. I'm wondering, are the check-in staff actual KE and OZ staff? Are they able to issue lounge invitations there? Are there separate lines for economy, business, first?
Employees: Yes. Not employed by CALT, as it's now called.
Yes, they have lounge invitations.
Yes, they have separate lines for each class.
It works seamlessly and is well worth the US$ 0 that it costs- ie it's free.