25 March 2015
Boring stuff - part 1
Getting from Seoul to Incheon airport
Stop reading now if you dont want to hear about planes, trains, airports and waiting in airports.
Part 1 - Seoul to Hong Kong.
Getting to Seoul airport is a long way, its in Incheon, in fact its past Incheon. Thats the city I went to first in Korea on this trip.
Once you heft your suitcase down many stairs, you can get the train, theres 2 choices, the express which is about 49 minutes, or the commuter train on the same tracks, same train type, stops all stations, 56 minutes.
I took the commuter train to save $5. Only thing is, at the first station after Seoul, 9000 people got on, and I had to stand the whole way breathing through a Korean mans ear.
Incheon airport is often voted the best in the world, along with Hong Kong which I am also going to today!
This morning it was very very busy, but very efficient. I didnt leave myself much time there because i am going to spend enough enforced time in airports waiting for flights the next 2 days.
I did however notice they charge stuff in USD, which is annoying, and stupid. I had Korean money to spend, and they will take it, but then they go work out a conversion rate, and its a bullshit rate.
Korea - please take Korean money in Korea.
My actual gate, is of course at the concourse terminal, which is a ghost town compared to the main one, and requires the underground shuttle train.
My top tip - if you dont have a lounge to access in the concourse terminal (I did, but it wasnt great) - stay at the main terminal as long as possible.
Now in Hong Kong airport for 6 hours before my next flight.....
The main terminal. It has lots and lots of shops. Theres a department store before check in. They also have lots of performances, free movie theatres, all the stuff they like to tell you about on tourism ads....THE AIRPORT IS A DESTINATION IN ITSELF!
Apron through tinted glass. Lots of Blue Korean airlines planes. Told you this would be boring.
The concourse terminal. Looks like they are changing ownership of many of the shops here. It was still busy, I picked an un busy bit to show as I walked one end to the other.
The Cathay lounge here is tiny but does still have a dim sum buffet.
My plane, an Airbus A340, 4 small engines, very quiet. I had 2 empty seats next to me, the flight was very pleasant, about 4 hours, no turbulence.
We still managed to circle a few times before we could land, debate rages in Hong Kong over the need for a 3rd runway.
The issue isnt Hong Kong, its access to Chinese air space. My flight from Seoul to Hong Kong flew a huge arc out over Taiwan rather than getting near congested China.
Also, large parts of Chinese airspace are shut down permanently due to military requirements. And on occasion, they have shut down main routes with no notice, which causes flights to divert and the odd fuel emergency.
Anyway, thats enough about airspace.