While I flew into Seoul Gimpo Airport, I flew out of Seoul Incheon Airport. To reach the airport from central Seoul, it proved much easier to take a bus (6103) than a subway train.
My Bus Ride From Seoul To Incheon Airport
I was staying at the Park Hyatt Seoul and a bus station was located at the nearby COEX Convention & Exhibition Center that would take me nonstop to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN). This station is also known as Seoul Station City Air Terminal and Samseong Station. While traffic is notoriously bad in Seoul and the 44-mile journey takes about 1 hour, 45 minutes, taking the Metro/subway from my hotel would have required two connections and taken over two hours.
Even though I was traveling light, I was happy to pay a bit more for a bus that had wi-fi onboard and would travel nonstop.
I purchased my ticket from a machine in the bus station (with English translation). The process was quick and easy and I tapped my credit card to pay. The cost was 18,000 KRW (about 13 USD).
I boarded the bus–which was not full–and we pulled out precisely on time (to the second) at 1:40 pm…that was impressive.
The motor coach had fairly comfortable seats in a 1-2 configuration that were well-padded with sufficient legroom and even generous recline (though I am not sure how I would have felt if the person in front of me suddenly reclined…).
While it appeared the bus was wired to accommodate various audio and video channels via earphones, the system was turned off.
Traffic was heavy until we got out of Seoul and the journey took the full 1 hour, 45 minutes, but the internet worked and the ride was smooth.
We finally reached the airport, where stops were made at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
Overall, riding bus 6013 could not have been a smoother process and represents a cost-efficient and productive way to travel between Seoul and Incheon Airport.
I’m waiting on the story of the former NFL player who urinated on another passenger to Dublin. The plane returned to Boston, trying to get more details if he stood up and did it or if he just passed out and wet himself and residual hit the other guy. Good bet alcohol was involved.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-nfl-starter-arrested-after-allegedly-urinating-passenger-during-flight
Ten years ago I took a similar bus from ICN to downtown Seoul and I was pleased with the service and journey. I don’t remember what I paid but it was reasonable. The ride took 90 minutes.
I recall taking a bus from City Air Terminal at CoEx, and when we arrived at ICN, we were allowed to use the crew entry at the passport control, saving significant queue time. Is that benefit still available?
Unfortunately, the city airport check-in facility at Coex is closed permanently since COVID. You should go to Seoul Station for that.
I find the bus much easier to use from ICN to your hotel than navigating Seoul Station from AREX to the metro.
I agree!
Travel time from hotel to T1 or 2 at icn is same by metro or the bus you used, not over 2 hrs by metro. Not transferring and having nicer seats and wifi is nice but travel time is the same. During most of the day there is a 1 stop route that takes 1:49 w/ very high frequency (much more frequent than bus) on each connecting line between 5am and 10pm or so. When using Google maps for transit directions it’s important to note that google does a bad job finding origins/destinations at transit stations and will spurriously add walking time and distance that doesn’t exist. T1 and 2 metro stations are very close to respective terminals.
And as a plus for those who are mobility impaired, versus a coach-style bus they have level boarding and escalators and elevators for transfers.
Helpful comment. Thank you, Sam.