ICN Warning: Don't check out the satellite terminal...
Jun 21, 2016, 1:00 pm
#1
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ICN Warning: Don't check out the satellite terminal...
I'm sure there is a posting on this somewhere...
I had 3 hours to kill at ICN between my KE flights. I've been to ICN many times, and I prefer the shopping in the satellite, so I decided to venture over.
Yes, there was a sign saying "to gate XXX only."
But I didn't realize the sign meant that if you go there, you can't come back.
So after doing a little shopping, I searched for the train entrance. It was nowhere. I asked at the info kiosk, and she told me, "impossible to get back."
I said, "well, how do YOU get back at the end of your shift?"
She smiled, got on her intercom, and someone came to escort me through an interesting maze, ultimately getting me back to point zero!
I had 3 hours to kill at ICN between my KE flights. I've been to ICN many times, and I prefer the shopping in the satellite, so I decided to venture over.
Yes, there was a sign saying "to gate XXX only."
But I didn't realize the sign meant that if you go there, you can't come back.
So after doing a little shopping, I searched for the train entrance. It was nowhere. I asked at the info kiosk, and she told me, "impossible to get back."
I said, "well, how do YOU get back at the end of your shift?"
She smiled, got on her intercom, and someone came to escort me through an interesting maze, ultimately getting me back to point zero!
Jun 21, 2016, 6:14 pm
#2
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lol
yes, this has been posted "somewhere" :P
I guess your post will be helpful for some who see this post in the next few days...
But the facts are that there'll be more people like you who don't search here and don't ask at the airport, and find themselves at the satellite terminal with no obvious way of getting back.
I think part of the issue is the drive to make the departures area of airports more like a shopping mall experience. Makes people think they can go anywhere :P
yes, this has been posted "somewhere" :P
I guess your post will be helpful for some who see this post in the next few days...
But the facts are that there'll be more people like you who don't search here and don't ask at the airport, and find themselves at the satellite terminal with no obvious way of getting back.
I think part of the issue is the drive to make the departures area of airports more like a shopping mall experience. Makes people think they can go anywhere :P
Jun 22, 2016, 1:23 am
#4
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Very interesting. They have people there who check your boarding pass at the top of the escalator (and I presume turn away people whose gate is not in that terminal), but I've noticed that they don't always check everyone.
Just two weeks ago I flew out of that terminal and nobody checked my boarding pass, and I was wondering what would happen if you went through but weren't flying from there. Now I know
Just two weeks ago I flew out of that terminal and nobody checked my boarding pass, and I was wondering what would happen if you went through but weren't flying from there. Now I know
Jun 22, 2016, 9:12 am
#6
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I've flown through ICN several times, AA/CX/JL, all different times of the day, not once had my boarding pass checked before the train either. I don't even recall seeing anyone standing there.
Jun 22, 2016, 9:14 am
#7
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I remember having my boarding pass checked along the "connections" route but never before boarding the train.
Jun 22, 2016, 9:50 am
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Jun 23, 2016, 8:06 am
#10
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SEL is a great connecting point geographically, and the layout at ICN works pretty well for getting aircraft in and out, but I don't love the passenger experience here either.
Was trying to buy some batteries for my headphones last week . . . there are literally no shops selling sundry items. Want to buy Chanel or Gucci? Plenty of options in every direction. Want to buy a necessity - such as Tylenol, toothpaste, or batteries for use on your next flight? Sorry, we don't sell that. I much prefer both HKIA and both airports at TYO.
Was trying to buy some batteries for my headphones last week . . . there are literally no shops selling sundry items. Want to buy Chanel or Gucci? Plenty of options in every direction. Want to buy a necessity - such as Tylenol, toothpaste, or batteries for use on your next flight? Sorry, we don't sell that. I much prefer both HKIA and both airports at TYO.
Jun 24, 2016, 12:42 am
#11
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SEL is a great connecting point geographically, and the layout at ICN works pretty well for getting aircraft in and out, but I don't love the passenger experience here either.
Was trying to buy some batteries for my headphones last week . . . there are literally no shops selling sundry items. Want to buy Chanel or Gucci? Plenty of options in every direction. Want to buy a necessity - such as Tylenol, toothpaste, or batteries for use on your next flight? Sorry, we don't sell that. I much prefer both HKIA and both airports at TYO.
Was trying to buy some batteries for my headphones last week . . . there are literally no shops selling sundry items. Want to buy Chanel or Gucci? Plenty of options in every direction. Want to buy a necessity - such as Tylenol, toothpaste, or batteries for use on your next flight? Sorry, we don't sell that. I much prefer both HKIA and both airports at TYO.
But to be fair, those items you listed can be bought in a few of the stores...but they're almost hole-in-the-wall places that get missed by the sheer size of the luxury duty free places. It doesn't help that the pharmacy, for example, is not signposted in an obvious way unless you're a Korean reader/speaker.
Jun 24, 2016, 8:51 am
#12
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I had a similar issue. I was on a flight leaving from the satellite terminal and as the ailine did not allow prebooking of seats I decided to go to the transit desk early to ensure a good seat. I was in the Diners Club lounge so was pretty comfortable. After going over to the satellite terminal and checking in I found I could not return to my comfortable lounge in the main terminal so had 3 hrs in discomfort. Rather a pointless arrangement that they should just correct. It probably would just mean passing security again in the main terminal which given all the time wasted of people at the entrance checking boarding passes and escorting those back who make it through would favour allowing travel to the main terminal.
Jul 10, 2016, 1:51 am
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Jul 10, 2016, 7:27 am
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