Major changes at ICN for *A passengers
May 31, 2008 | 5:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NE & SE Asia, N America
Programs: TG ROP Gold, Lifetime OZ Diamond Plus, BA Gold
Posts: 3,105
Major changes at ICN for *A passengers
ICN will soon open the new Concourse A terminal and it will bring some major changes for *A as well as other carriers. I was told the new terminal will open in June but haven't heard a fixed date yet. I'm at ICN now and see numerous planes parked at the new terminal but as far as I know it's still in the testing mode.
Asiana will move their checkin counters to K/L, which is on the complete opposite side of the terminal. The idea is to group the *A carrier's checkin counters together on the western side and Skyteam with KE on the eastern side. So anyone traveling soon to ICN should pay attention to the signs, rather than assuming the checkin counters are the same as your last trip, to avoid a lot of unnecessary walking from one side of the terminal to the other.
Asiana will open a new lounge on the western side but I'm not sure of the exact location. Asiana flights will generally depart from gates on the western side while KE will use gates on the eastern side. All other airlines, including *A carriers will use gates on the new Concourse A terminal. SQ will open a new lounge at the Concourse A terminal. SQ and OZ are currently the only *A carriers with lounges at ICN but not sure if any of the others will open a new lounge or not. I haven't heard of any plans. There is a train/tram located near the center of the terminal, after you pass through immigration, that will take you from the main concourse to the new Concourse A. There is no immigration or checkin at Concourse A.
SQ and OZ have some of the best lounges in the *A world so I'm looking forward to their new lounges and hopefully they're at least up to the standards of their old lounges.
Asiana will move their checkin counters to K/L, which is on the complete opposite side of the terminal. The idea is to group the *A carrier's checkin counters together on the western side and Skyteam with KE on the eastern side. So anyone traveling soon to ICN should pay attention to the signs, rather than assuming the checkin counters are the same as your last trip, to avoid a lot of unnecessary walking from one side of the terminal to the other.
Asiana will open a new lounge on the western side but I'm not sure of the exact location. Asiana flights will generally depart from gates on the western side while KE will use gates on the eastern side. All other airlines, including *A carriers will use gates on the new Concourse A terminal. SQ will open a new lounge at the Concourse A terminal. SQ and OZ are currently the only *A carriers with lounges at ICN but not sure if any of the others will open a new lounge or not. I haven't heard of any plans. There is a train/tram located near the center of the terminal, after you pass through immigration, that will take you from the main concourse to the new Concourse A. There is no immigration or checkin at Concourse A.
SQ and OZ have some of the best lounges in the *A world so I'm looking forward to their new lounges and hopefully they're at least up to the standards of their old lounges.
Jun 1, 2008 | 5:31 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NE & SE Asia, N America
Programs: TG ROP Gold, Lifetime OZ Diamond Plus, BA Gold
Posts: 3,105
Update: June 10 is the day the changeover will be made. As of May 29 some of some of the Chinese airlines made the move but the remainder, including all the *A carriers will make the move on June 10.
Jun 1, 2008 | 5:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MDT/BWI ✈️ ICN
Programs: UA*P, DL, Marriott LP
Posts: 52
ICN will soon open the new Concourse A terminal and it will bring some major changes for *A as well as other carriers. I was told the new terminal will open in June but haven't heard a fixed date yet. I'm at ICN now and see numerous planes parked at the new terminal but as far as I know it's still in the testing mode.
Asiana will move their checkin counters to K/L, which is on the complete opposite side of the terminal. The idea is to group the *A carrier's checkin counters together on the western side and Skyteam with KE on the eastern side. So anyone traveling soon to ICN should pay attention to the signs, rather than assuming the checkin counters are the same as your last trip, to avoid a lot of unnecessary walking from one side of the terminal to the other.
Asiana will open a new lounge on the western side but I'm not sure of the exact location. Asiana flights will generally depart from gates on the western side while KE will use gates on the eastern side. All other airlines, including *A carriers will use gates on the new Concourse A terminal. SQ will open a new lounge at the Concourse A terminal. SQ and OZ are currently the only *A carriers with lounges at ICN but not sure if any of the others will open a new lounge or not. I haven't heard of any plans. There is a train/tram located near the center of the terminal, after you pass through immigration, that will take you from the main concourse to the new Concourse A. There is no immigration or checkin at Concourse A.
SQ and OZ have some of the best lounges in the *A world so I'm looking forward to their new lounges and hopefully they're at least up to the standards of their old lounges.
Asiana will move their checkin counters to K/L, which is on the complete opposite side of the terminal. The idea is to group the *A carrier's checkin counters together on the western side and Skyteam with KE on the eastern side. So anyone traveling soon to ICN should pay attention to the signs, rather than assuming the checkin counters are the same as your last trip, to avoid a lot of unnecessary walking from one side of the terminal to the other.
Asiana will open a new lounge on the western side but I'm not sure of the exact location. Asiana flights will generally depart from gates on the western side while KE will use gates on the eastern side. All other airlines, including *A carriers will use gates on the new Concourse A terminal. SQ will open a new lounge at the Concourse A terminal. SQ and OZ are currently the only *A carriers with lounges at ICN but not sure if any of the others will open a new lounge or not. I haven't heard of any plans. There is a train/tram located near the center of the terminal, after you pass through immigration, that will take you from the main concourse to the new Concourse A. There is no immigration or checkin at Concourse A.
SQ and OZ have some of the best lounges in the *A world so I'm looking forward to their new lounges and hopefully they're at least up to the standards of their old lounges.
Wish me luck. I'm flying out (not on *A, on DL) June 11th
Jun 1, 2008 | 11:25 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Seattle & Seoul.... and now, Maastricht....
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, NWA WorldPerks deserter, Alaska Airlines Something-er-Other...
Posts: 1,951
Yay!
I'll get to check it out, as I'm flying Malaysia Airlines out of ICN on the 20th (I'll go check it out even if MH flies out of the "old" side). Then, in July, I'll be on United so I'll get to try the new SQ lounge (assuming that's still the one that UA is going to use)! Fun!
I've seen the new terminal from a distance for quite some time now, so I'm looking forward to getting to finally go in it!
I'll get to check it out, as I'm flying Malaysia Airlines out of ICN on the 20th (I'll go check it out even if MH flies out of the "old" side). Then, in July, I'll be on United so I'll get to try the new SQ lounge (assuming that's still the one that UA is going to use)! Fun!
I've seen the new terminal from a distance for quite some time now, so I'm looking forward to getting to finally go in it!
Jun 2, 2008 | 4:27 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: NZ Elite
Posts: 6,518
My next trip seems to be attracting some changes! 
I fly out of ICN on SQ on the 11th.... So this will be interesting... Hope it's all "up and running"!
(My return home was meant to be on NZ all the way LAX-NAN-AKL-SYD.. after I booked (of course!) NZ announced they were pulling out of the LAX-NAN route.. so I've been shunted over to FJ..... Hmmmm....)
I wonder what will change next?? With a week to go I hope.. nothing!!!
Thanks for the advice......^
I fly out of ICN on SQ on the 11th.... So this will be interesting... Hope it's all "up and running"!
(My return home was meant to be on NZ all the way LAX-NAN-AKL-SYD.. after I booked (of course!) NZ announced they were pulling out of the LAX-NAN route.. so I've been shunted over to FJ..... Hmmmm....)
I wonder what will change next??
With a week to go I hope.. nothing!!!Thanks for the advice......^
Jun 5, 2008 | 9:24 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Too many
Programs: Lots
Posts: 5,765
Note that SQ is not opening a lounge in concourse A. They will use the OZ lounge. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=830168
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CDG/BVA
Programs: AFKL Plat STE+ (LT), OZ Diam+ *G (LT), QF Gold OWS (LTG 83%)
Posts: 324
My next trip seems to be attracting some changes!
I fly out of ICN on SQ on the 11th.... So this will be interesting... Hope it's all "up and running"!
(My return home was meant to be on NZ all the way LAX-NAN-AKL-SYD.. after I booked (of course!) NZ announced they were pulling out of the LAX-NAN route.. so I've been shunted over to FJ..... Hmmmm....)
I wonder what will change next?? With a week to go I hope.. nothing!!!
Thanks for the advice......^
I fly out of ICN on SQ on the 11th.... So this will be interesting... Hope it's all "up and running"!
(My return home was meant to be on NZ all the way LAX-NAN-AKL-SYD.. after I booked (of course!) NZ announced they were pulling out of the LAX-NAN route.. so I've been shunted over to FJ..... Hmmmm....)
I wonder what will change next??
With a week to go I hope.. nothing!!!Thanks for the advice......^
Otherwise, the new building looks fine.
Just for you to know : no possible backtracking once you have taken the skytrain to the new concourse.
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Seattle & Seoul.... and now, Maastricht....
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, NWA WorldPerks deserter, Alaska Airlines Something-er-Other...
Posts: 1,951
2) Bummer about the no backtracking thing! Do you happen to know if Malaysia Airlines is taking off from the new concourse? I want to visit it next week! I was planning to visit either way, but if there is no backtracking, I guess I wouldn't be able to if MH was still using the "old" concourse.....
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CDG/BVA
Programs: AFKL Plat STE+ (LT), OZ Diam+ *G (LT), QF Gold OWS (LTG 83%)
Posts: 324
1) Why wouldn't you comment here about it?
2) Bummer about the no backtracking thing! Do you happen to know if Malaysia Airlines is taking off from the new concourse? I want to visit it next week! I was planning to visit either way, but if there is no backtracking, I guess I wouldn't be able to if MH was still using the "old" concourse.....
2) Bummer about the no backtracking thing! Do you happen to know if Malaysia Airlines is taking off from the new concourse? I want to visit it next week! I was planning to visit either way, but if there is no backtracking, I guess I wouldn't be able to if MH was still using the "old" concourse.....
2/ I checked the gates for the 6am~11am flight, all foreign carriers to gate over "100" (=concourse A gate number). I assume then than MH will fall in line, especially when you think they are neither part of ST nor *A which could be the only reason not to be thrown away in concourse A. But even AF, CZ, NW have been (I can see the aircraft next to the lounge !).
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Seattle & Seoul.... and now, Maastricht....
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, NWA WorldPerks deserter, Alaska Airlines Something-er-Other...
Posts: 1,951
1/ See ST forum
2/ I checked the gates for the 6am~11am flight, all foreign carriers to gate over "100" (=concourse A gate number). I assume then than MH will fall in line, especially when you think they are neither part of ST nor *A which could be the only reason not to be thrown away in concourse A. But even AF, CZ, NW have been (I can see the aircraft next to the lounge !).
2/ I checked the gates for the 6am~11am flight, all foreign carriers to gate over "100" (=concourse A gate number). I assume then than MH will fall in line, especially when you think they are neither part of ST nor *A which could be the only reason not to be thrown away in concourse A. But even AF, CZ, NW have been (I can see the aircraft next to the lounge !).
I can't wait to read about it!
^Have a great flight!
-Mike
Jun 9, 2008 | 6:38 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NE & SE Asia, N America
Programs: TG ROP Gold, Lifetime OZ Diamond Plus, BA Gold
Posts: 3,105
That's really a shame that you can't freely move between the concourses. I've got several OZ flights in the future but none yet planned on any other *A carriers, which means I won't be able to check out the new lounge for a while and be stuck in the old OZ lounge.
Malaysian Airlines should use the new Concourse A as all airlines will be there except for OZ and KE. That is what I was told.
Malaysian Airlines should use the new Concourse A as all airlines will be there except for OZ and KE. That is what I was told.