A few data points. I stress from my personal experience today, but who knows it may assist others at some point.

1. Checking in bags at midday for 8.30pm Sydney long haul flight no issue at all. Many airlines do not allow that far ahead.

2. Decided to take the 5 hour FREE Seoul City tour that airport offer along with a bunch of shorter tours. All they needed was passport and inward (do not throw that one away!) It'l Boarding pass and outward one - ours were over 24 hours apart so no idea what the "rule" is. You can leave hand baggage in lockers at their desk OR take it on the huge bus they run .. even if only ONE person shows up they take the huge bus and driver and guide totally FREE downtown for hours. No wonder Seoul keeps getting Airport of The Year Award globally.

3. Re airport lounge, can only report my observations from 4pm to 8pm today. Seems like there are 2 lounges one to left of staff desk, one to right. Girl said to left was newer but right was better! Signage seemed to split them into Star Gold and Asiana Business. We were flying long haul business on Asiana so she said pick whatever we wished, so chose the RH one which did had an 80s look to it, but was nice and large. No idea if pax can move from 1 to the other. I assume they can?

4. Asked re shower and she took boarding pass told me there was a half hour wait and gave me a beeper, which I exchanged for a key pretty soon. Pretty well stocked. Gillette shaving cream and razor, hair gel, 4 or 5 lotions etc, Q Tips, toothbrush, shower cap, and 3 shampoos and conditioners. I was not expecting the Waldorf Astoria suite and it was perfect for me. 9 out of 10 for sure.

5. Re lounge food - seemed to be plenty of if, hot and cold, for 2 hours at all times, with a 5 Star Hotel Chef even making up things - see photos.

6. Fast dedicated internet, and easy to connect to. We had just flown in today from Beijing and the Air China lounge there uses the FREE and SLOW airport WiFi system that you need to read Chinese to use. I wasted 15 minutes sorting that out via 2 trips to desk on a very tight connection. You need to scan your passport at lounge entry to get some kind of code that is then not obvious where to input (they never ell you this) and was a disaster system for ANY airline to use.

Again an 8 or 9 out of 10, and I've travelled to 140 different countries, and visited many 100s of different airline lounges, and is my own personal opinion as always. Visit the massive Turkish Airlines Biz lounge in Istanbul etc, and the entire World's lounges are ALL in the shade, but this one is decent.

Anyone who regards this lounge as sub standard will DIE if they ever get out more, and visit anywhere in Latin American in flagship carrier lounges, which are often tiny - the size of this one's food area in total, and packed tight, and filled with screaming and unruly kids, and near zero food.

Glen


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