Free hotel during Seoul overnight layover
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW/KMG
Programs: AA; Korean Air
Posts: 18
Free hotel during Seoul overnight layover
Have a flight later this month on Korean Air from Guangzhou to San Francisco with an overnight layover in Seoul. This is the return half of a similar flight I took with them several months ago.
I called Korean Air yesterday to see if they would furnish me a hotel room in Seoul, but they said they couldnt since they already did that for me on the first leg of the trip (San Francisco to Guangzhou.)
That seemed reasonable, and I just thanked the agent for checking, and made no attempt to argue or insist. Now today Im wondering if I should have been more assertive, pressing my case by politely requesting a supervisor and so on.
What Id like to ask the experts here is whether furnishing a room during an international overnight layover is just a courtesy airlines sometimes do on a discretionary basis, or whether its something I should reasonably expect. Ive found some older discussion of the topic on line suggesting that the former is probably the case.
Realize the answer might depend on several variables, so let me add that Im a member of Korean Airs frequent flier program, but have no elite or elevated status. The details of my ticket are that it is Q (Economy) class with the actual fare basis being QKXEUS3. The details of the trip are that I arrive ICN at 17:05 local time one day and depart for SFO at 16:10 the following afternoon.
Its not a huge deal, and paying for my own room wont break the bank. But I am curious as to whether or not this is currently usual practice. I also realize that it might very well be a belt tightening measure, recently instituted by KE for its lower priced tickets, and I can live with that if it is.
Thanks.
I called Korean Air yesterday to see if they would furnish me a hotel room in Seoul, but they said they couldnt since they already did that for me on the first leg of the trip (San Francisco to Guangzhou.)
That seemed reasonable, and I just thanked the agent for checking, and made no attempt to argue or insist. Now today Im wondering if I should have been more assertive, pressing my case by politely requesting a supervisor and so on.
What Id like to ask the experts here is whether furnishing a room during an international overnight layover is just a courtesy airlines sometimes do on a discretionary basis, or whether its something I should reasonably expect. Ive found some older discussion of the topic on line suggesting that the former is probably the case.
Realize the answer might depend on several variables, so let me add that Im a member of Korean Airs frequent flier program, but have no elite or elevated status. The details of my ticket are that it is Q (Economy) class with the actual fare basis being QKXEUS3. The details of the trip are that I arrive ICN at 17:05 local time one day and depart for SFO at 16:10 the following afternoon.
Its not a huge deal, and paying for my own room wont break the bank. But I am curious as to whether or not this is currently usual practice. I also realize that it might very well be a belt tightening measure, recently instituted by KE for its lower priced tickets, and I can live with that if it is.
Thanks.
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DFW/KMG
Programs: AA; Korean Air
Posts: 18
Oops, I just now found a very similar question that I had missed while doing a Google search.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/korea...-included.html
Perhaps KE is changing its previous policy. Or perhaps I just got an unhelpful agent.
FWIW, they seem to have outsourced their customer service to a call center in India.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/korea...-included.html
Perhaps KE is changing its previous policy. Or perhaps I just got an unhelpful agent.
FWIW, they seem to have outsourced their customer service to a call center in India.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,367
The English speaking agents, particularly when you call the domestic Korea number, are based in Kuala Lumpur. The agents, while perfectly nice, do not know very much outside of their script and what's on screen, to be perfectly honest.
Trying calling a Korean Air ticket office instead OR calling Incheon airport directly. They'll speak English just fine and probably know the ins and outs better.
Man, I miss the Korean English speaking agents that they used to have on the domestic Korean line.
Trying calling a Korean Air ticket office instead OR calling Incheon airport directly. They'll speak English just fine and probably know the ins and outs better.
Man, I miss the Korean English speaking agents that they used to have on the domestic Korean line.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,573
A quick check on KE schedule shows that you are required to overnight on the outbound, but you can have same day connection on inbound.
Last edited by TerryK; Oct 10, 2013 at 3:13 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MNL
Programs: Skymiles, Mabuhay Miles, Le Club PM
Posts: 14
Award ticket - Free overnight hotel?
Hi Guys, I have a similar question. Would be doing a trip next year Sep. with an overnight layover at ICN. However, this would be on an award ticket from Delta. Any luck for me to score a free overnight hotel?
#7
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Newport, Or, USA
Programs: DL PM, 2 Million Miller
Posts: 273
If your ticket was issued by DL, KE will not provide a hotel room, even if the flight is on KE metal.
Options are to pay for an off airport hotel in Inchon, rent an airside room at the the airport's hotel or waiting in the airport where there is free wifi, lots of restaurants and some quiet areas with shower access. I'd recommend leaving the airport and staying at the Hyatt Inchon. There is a direct shuttle bus to the hotel, nice rooms, a fine restaurant & bakery and a health club with a swimming pool. A stay there is a nice way to break up a long flight.
Options are to pay for an off airport hotel in Inchon, rent an airside room at the the airport's hotel or waiting in the airport where there is free wifi, lots of restaurants and some quiet areas with shower access. I'd recommend leaving the airport and staying at the Hyatt Inchon. There is a direct shuttle bus to the hotel, nice rooms, a fine restaurant & bakery and a health club with a swimming pool. A stay there is a nice way to break up a long flight.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MNL
Programs: Skymiles, Mabuhay Miles, Le Club PM
Posts: 14
Thanks for the reply! I've confirmed this with a KE agent as well. No luck there. Will check back on the Hyatt rates, for now it's about 350 usd for my stay. Or probably will just stay in Unseo (Airport Town) for a cheaper accommodation.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,848
Does Korean Air have some sort of favorable "corporate" rate at the Hyatt Regency Incheon Airport, for travelers on overnight transit but not entitled to a free room (eg, because used it on the outbound, or on award ticket, or on ineligible fare, etc.)?
I've heard KE (or another wing of Hanjin Group) actually owns the hotel property, so it would be more entitled than most companies steering a lot of business to a hotel. But maybe KE steers so much business just by force of nature that the hotel doesn't have a reason to offer a favorable corporate rate, except to KE itself when KE is paying on its own account (eg, those on "free" overnight transit stays).
I'm on a DL-issued award ticket in Prestige, coming from Narita and going out to USA on morning departure, so had no choice but to overnight at Incheon.
I've heard KE (or another wing of Hanjin Group) actually owns the hotel property, so it would be more entitled than most companies steering a lot of business to a hotel. But maybe KE steers so much business just by force of nature that the hotel doesn't have a reason to offer a favorable corporate rate, except to KE itself when KE is paying on its own account (eg, those on "free" overnight transit stays).
I'm on a DL-issued award ticket in Prestige, coming from Narita and going out to USA on morning departure, so had no choice but to overnight at Incheon.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC, HNL
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT, DL PM, BA Gold, UA Gold, Bonvoy LT PLT
Posts: 669
The ICN Hyatt is great...stayed there quite a few times. If you have Hyatt Gold Passport points, it is only a category 2 hotel so a redemption night is only 8000 points..an absolutely great use of points considering rates can be $250-$300.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,848
So without a but more information about your trip, it would be hard to give you an answer.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,776
ICN is one airport a "sleeping in the airport" would not be unpleasant. The Transfer Passenger Amenities are the best I have noted at an airport. Free showers! Travel to Seoul is quick and easy via the subway for non airport accommodations.