Transit tour and luggage storage
Jul 22, 2018, 12:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: WAS
Programs: Virtuoso TA, UA 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 445
Transit tour and luggage storage
I am arriving at ICN from MNL at 5am and leaving for JFK at 11am. I plan to do the iCN transit tour. Is six hours enough time? Where would I store my luggage? Online I only see the Paradise City tour appropriate for my connection time. Are there other tours not found online only found in person? I am flying OZ J, US passport. Thanks!
Jul 22, 2018, 10:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
The only tours offered officially are the ones on the website. To be perfectly honest, the Paradise City Tour is basically a mega casino resort. Not much Korea to see there. You don't really have any time at all to go into Seoul anywhere yourself. I would just take a shower, relax in the lounge OR visit the free showers in the 4th floor Rest & Relax area if J lounge is too busy.
Jul 23, 2018, 7:45 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere in Y class
Programs: OZ D+ Lifetime
Posts: 1,181
Since a trip into the city takes at least an hour, I would also just stay at the airport. The Paradise City Tour is probably fine. But if you really wanted to max out your layover, it is possible to get in and see the city briefly. Let's assume your flight arrives on time and you make it street side by 6am. Also, let's say that boarding time for your next flight starts at 10:30am. That gives you about 4 hours to get into the city, look around, head back to ICN, go through security and immigration. Also keep in mind that mornings at ICN are very busy. Expect longer waits in the security lines. You could avoid that by 'checking in' at Seoul station and take the non-stop Airport Train back to ICN. But they require a 3 hour min check in time. So if you flight is at 11am, the latest you could check in would be 8am at Seoul Station. This will allow you to bypass the long security lines at the airport. Not sure if its worth the trade off for your schedule. You can still take the nonstop airport express train to ICN, just not do the check in component.
Assuming you go into the city, most places will not be open that early. If I were to go into the city, I would take the limo bus 6005 to Gwanghwamun stop, have a very nice breakfast at the 4 Seasons hotel nearby, then look around the area, have coffee at one of the many coffee shops, then start heading back around 8:30am or whenever the next pick up time is for the airport limo. If you are adventurous, you can try taking the subway to Seoul station and then taking the Airport Express train back. Morning rush hour will be in full force at that time, but still it might be worth the experience!
Assuming you go into the city, most places will not be open that early. If I were to go into the city, I would take the limo bus 6005 to Gwanghwamun stop, have a very nice breakfast at the 4 Seasons hotel nearby, then look around the area, have coffee at one of the many coffee shops, then start heading back around 8:30am or whenever the next pick up time is for the airport limo. If you are adventurous, you can try taking the subway to Seoul station and then taking the Airport Express train back. Morning rush hour will be in full force at that time, but still it might be worth the experience!