Incheon Airport has long been ranked as one of the world’s best airports, though personally I always thought it was incredibly overrated. That’s why I was excited to check out Incheon’s new Terminal 2, which opened earlier this year.
My connection at Incheon was about three hours, as I arrived from Hong Kong at around 5PM, and my flight to San Francisco was departing at 8PM.
It was quite a walk from our gate to the transfer and immigration area, though thanks to the moving sidewalks it only took about five minutes.
Incheon Airport Terminal 2
I was pleasantly surprised to find no wait at transit security, though since I was on a US-bound flight I got a separate screening. I guess at the first boarding pass check they direct you to a different lane if you’re on a US-bound flight, and then the screening is a bit more intensive.
From there I found myself in the Terminal 2 departures area — WOW, this is a beautiful terminal.
Incheon Airport Terminal 2
While the old terminal never impressed me, this one did. This has to be one of the most architecturally stunning terminals in the world. The ceilings are very high, there’s lots of greenery, and just in general the design is beautiful.
Incheon Airport Terminal 2
Incheon Airport Terminal 2
Incheon Airport Terminal 2
ICN Terminal 2
ICN Terminal 2
ICN Terminal 2
There was even some live music in the terminal. These ladies were really good.
Live music at ICN Terminal 2
I wanted to stand and watch them for hours, but I had a lounge to review, so I made my way to the Korean Air First Class Lounge. The escalator to the lounge is located right near the center of the terminal, and there’s a sign saying “KAL Lounge First Class/Miler Club.”
Korean Air First Class Lounge escalator
Once at the top of the escalator there’s a reception desk straight ahead, and then the million miler club is to the left, and the first class lounge is to the right.
Korean Air First Class Lounge reception
Korean Air First Class Lounge entrance
Inside the entrance was a long hallway, with some storage lockers for luggage, as well as a selection of magazines and newspapers.
Korean Air First Class Lounge entryway
Korean Air First Class Lounge storage lockers
Korean Air First Class Lounge magazines & newspapers
The lounge is quite small, though despite that, it wasn’t crowded at all. The entire lounge is basically what you see in the below three pictures (which are just different angles of the same space).
Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN seating
Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN seating
Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN seating
As you can see, there was a glass shield separating the lounge into two parts — in one area was the dining area and buffet, and in the other area was the space for lounging. All of the seating in the main area had plenty of privacy shields, so there were anywhere from one to four seats in each section.
Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN seating
I love the privacy of all the seating options here. For the areas for one person, you could choose between a day bed or a chair with ottoman.
Korean Air First Class Lounge ICN seating
Korean Air First Class Lounge Incheon seating
Korean Air First Class Lounge Incheon seating
Or there were areas for two people, where you face one another.
Korean Air First Class Lounge Incheon seating
Then the areas for four people had two seats facing one another.
Korean Air First Class Lounge Incheon seating
All of the seats had both 220v and USB outlets.
Korean Air First Class Lounge Incheon outlets
Unfortunately the lounge didn’t have any exterior views, but rather just faced the inside of the terminal. At least Incheon has a nice terminal.
Korean Air First Class Lounge Incheon seating
Then the other main section of the lounge is a dining area, which features a buffet and about half a dozen tables, seating 2-4 people each.
Korean Air First Class Lounge buffet
Korean Air First Class Lounge dining area
On one side of the buffet were drinks and ice cream. This included water and soft drinks.
Korean Air First Class Lounge drink selection
Then there was self serve prosecco, one bottle of white wine, and two bottles of red wine.
Korean Air First Class Lounge wine
Korean Air First Class Lounge wine
The liquor selection was very limited, with just three options.
Korean Air First Class Lounge liquor
Then there was a coffee machine with some syrups.
Korean Air First Class Lounge coffee machine
Korean Air First Class Lounge syrup
Then there was a fridge with a selection of Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
Korean Air First Class Lounge ice cream
The food selection was along the center aisle, and was alright. This included fruit, finger sandwiches, a couple of types of salads, cookies, cheese, packaged bananas, soup, and several hot options.
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Korean Air First Class Lounge food selection
Not an impressive selection for a first class lounge, but not terrible either. I should also mention that there’s a lounge host with an iPad, and the second you sit down they offer you something to eat from the menu. There are five options, including soba noodles, seafood, chicken, beef, etc. I was already full, so couldn’t even bring myself to try one of them.
The lounge had a room with frosted glass windows that had a massage chair.
Korean Air First Class Lounge massage chair
Rather oddly the lounge only has a one person bathroom for men and a one person bathroom for women, so you may sometimes have to wait to use the bathroom here. On the plus side, the bathroom was quite nice.
Korean Air First Class Lounge bathroom
The lounge also has a single shower room, so I decided to get a quick shower before my flight. Even though there was only one shower, it was readily available. The shower room was massive, and had a sink, toilet, and a huge walk-in shower.
Korean Air First Class Lounge shower room
Korean Air First Class Lounge shower room
Korean Air First Class Lounge shower room
The shower room had several toiletries available, and the water pressure and temperature control were excellent.
Korean Air First Class Lounge shower room amenities
Korean Air First Class Lounge shower room toiletries
My flight to San Francisco was departing from gate 256, and boarding was scheduled for 7:30PM. So I headed in the direction of the gate at around 7PM. It was a long walk to the gate, and the departures level of the terminal doesn’t have many moving sidewalks.
Incheon Terminal 2
Incheon Terminal 2
Incheon Terminal 2
Incheon Terminal 2
On the plus side, there was lots of great plane spotting enroute to the gate.
Korean Air 747 Incheon Airport
Korean Air 777 Incheon Airport
Gate 256 was located at the pier at the very end of the terminal.
Incheon Terminal 2
Incheon Terminal 2
Boarding at Incheon is always so civilized, as just about everyone seems to stay seated until boarding is called, etc. Furthermore, boarding always seems to start on-time. So as expected, boarding started at exactly 7:30PM.
Departure gate to SFO
I was excited for my first flight on the Korean Air 787!
Korean Air 787 heading to SFO
Korean Air First Class Lounge bottom line
First of all, Incheon Airport’s new Terminal 2 is beautiful. It’s easily one of my new favorite new terminals in the world. Incheon Airport used to be mediocre, in my opinion, but the new terminal actually puts it up there in terms of global airports.
Korean Air’s lounge experience has long been quite sub-par. I’ve reviewed their first class lounge in their old terminal as well, and it was at best a mediocre business class lounge, and most definitely not one of the top first class lounges out there. This lounge still isn’t great, though is better. All in all, it doesn’t rank anywhere near the top of the best airport lounges in the world for me, but it’s still made lots of improvements since last time I visited.
If you’ve visited the new Incheon Terminal 2, and/or the Korean Air lounges in the terminal, what did you think?
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