ICN SmartPass App??
 

I searched this forum and there was a single thread (one post, no responses) regarding the SmartPass app. Based on what I read, registering and using the app appears to offer the potential of time saved when departing from ICN, but I was curious regarding any personal experience FlyerTalk people might be able to share.

The service is free, but it does require scanning your passport and taking selfies. Since I have yet to try it, I can't say thumbs up or thumbs down; the rating for the app on the Apple App Store is less than 2/5, comparable with the JR SmartEX Shinkansen app.

I'm curious if it works as advertised. Supposedly there are special lanes for app users and the capability of using some kind of special bag drop arrangements.

It works, with some caveats.

The app can be temperamental when registering, usually the biggest issue is you need to scan/read the embedded chip in the passport. That chip can be in different locations for different countries, the US is inside the back cover for instance. The photo scanning can be temperamental too. There are select airlines that work with the app.

The SmartPass app will allow you to bypass the first check in Security where they verify you have a boarding pass, after that you merge with all travelers for security and passport control. It is usually worth it.

As far as I know, the baggage drop is not implemented yet.

Every time in the past 2 years or so that I tried to use the app, it failed with my German passport. Honestly, with ICN having no fast-track through security, it only saves you a few minutes at the first security check gate. Once you are through that you have to slum it with the rest of the thousands....but ICN security is pretty efficient and it's rarely a long wait.

I've never gotten the SmartPass App to work. I really don't know why they can't fix it. In fact, ALL of the Korea Immigration apps and websites I've interacted with are inexplicably poor. The K-ETA site loads slowly and the e-Arrival card one is unnecessarily cumbersome. Add all the stupid information they ask for, and in the last step it freezes, meaning you get to start over. I live in Germany now, so I've gotten used to poor or non-existant government e-services, but I'm sure Korea could do better.

As for wait times at ICN, we've ben stuck in super long lines (an hour+) several times, and the SmartPass lanes looked much better. ICN really is a dreadful experience, especially for early morning departures. Maybe they're hoping that with C/F/status passengers stuck in immgiration/security lines, people don't spend as much time in the mediocre lounges.

Just used it for the first time. How much time did it save? Good question… I’m not sure.

They sure seem to be promoting the use of the app. At ICN they are touting the use via large LCD screens around the bag drop. There are two separate “lanes” at opposite ends of the terminal designated for app users.

We were routed through gates that were lightly attended. A camera captures your image, and at first it was not “recognizing” me so the attendant was just directing me to the next-door gate to try again when the gate opened and I went through.

We ended up in the crew security line, just like when checking in via City Air Terminal in prior trips.

After that it was the regular security lines with everyone else. There we scanned our passports, checked the fingerprint, and airside.

They do have fast-track, but only for those taking the fast train from the central railway station

Yeah, but City Terminal is useless for 90% of airlines departing from ICN.....