Practical tips
- If you are flying to Seoul from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport—Incheon International Airport
ICN
or Gimpo International AirportGMP
.
Located on Yeongjong Island, approximately 48 kilometers west of the city center, Incheon Airport is the larger of the two airports and serves as the main international gateway to Seoul. After landing, follow the signs to the immigration checkpoint, then proceed to the baggage claim area to collect your luggage. The quickest way to get to the city center is to take the AREX Express Train that runs between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station (travel time approximately 40 minutes, cost around KRW 9,500 / USD 7 / AUD 10). Alternatively, you can take a Limousine Airport Bus that serves various city areas, including landmark hotels and subway stations (fares starting from KRW 15,000 / USD 12 / AUD 17). Taxis are also available, but they can be more expensive, with fares from KRW 60,000 (USD 50 / AUD 70) to AUD 100,000 (USD 80 / AUD 110).
Gimpo Airport is located approximately 16 kilometers to the west of the city center and primarily serves domestic flights and some international destinations within Asia. To reach Seoul's central business district, you can take the subway, which is the quickest and most budget-friendly option, with fares starting from KRW 1,350 (USD 1 / AUD 1.5). Alternatively and depending on your final destination, you can take a limousine bus or a taxi.
These are also the best (and cheapest) airports to fly into Seoul. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce, and airfare decreases as a result.

ICN
, located on Yeongjong Island, approximately 48 kilometers west of the city center (serves as the main international gateway to Seoul), and Gimpo International Airport GMP
, located much closer to the city center, about 16 kilometers to the west, near the Han River (serves primarily domestic flights and some international destinations within Asia).
- Once in Seoul, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, T'way Air, Aero K, Air Seoul, and Fly Gangwon. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation) and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Seoul can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bamboo Airways, Cebu Pacific, Jetstar, Scoot, Tigerair Taiwan, VietJet Air, and Zipair. If you have a layover in Seoul and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money.
Flights to Seoul
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Seoul. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Seoul, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are plenty of direct flights from the US/Canada to Seoul via Hawaiian Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The flying time is between 11 and 14 hours. Ticket prices start at $500 one-way for the shortest route from Honolulu to Seoul.
- Seoul is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Seoul with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Seoul from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, American Airlines, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
40–80% off flights to Seoul
from North America
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What is the best time to book flights to Seoul?
The best time to book flights to Seoul is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Seoul flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Seoul flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in South Korea. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Seoul less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Seoul, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Seoul from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Seoul — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Seoul are about 9.5-12 hours long. Only some of the largest European hubs have a nonstop connection to the South Korea's capital city - among them are Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Milan, Munich, Paris, Vienna, and Warsaw. Those flights arrive at Incheon International Airport and are operated by Korean Air, Air France, Finnair, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Seoul include Air France, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Emirates, Finnair, KLM, LOT, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Seoul from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
40–80% off flights to Seoul
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Airlines flying to Seoul | Aeroflot, Aeromexico, AirAsia X, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Italia, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas, Austrian Airlines, Bamboo Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Egypt Air, El Al Israel Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EVA Air, Finnair, Flynas, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jetstar, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, LOT, Korean Air, Lao Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Mongolian Airlines, Myanmar Airways, Peach Aviation, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, S7 Airlines, Scoot, Sichuan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Sky Angkor, Saudia, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Tigerair Taiwan, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Airlines, VietJet Air, Aerolíneas Vietnamitas, Zipair |
---|---|
Korean airlines | Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, T'way Air, Aero K, Air Seoul, Air Premia, Fly Gangwon, Hi Air |
Main airports in Seoul | Incheon International Airport (ICN) Gimpo International Airport (GMP) |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €650 – €900 (from Europe) ✈ $900 – $1200 (from USA) |
Use Korean budget airlines
It can be time-consuming and uncomfortable to travel on buses or trains in South Korea. Opt for domestic air travel instead, as it is usually cheap, easy, and convenient.
Most domestic flight routes from Seoul are reasonably priced and short. For example, to go from Seoul to Busan in the southern part of the country takes about 1 hour on a non-stop flight, at the cost of around 70,000 Korean won (~50 USD or ~75 AUD).
The cheapest flights can be found on Korean budget airlines – Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, and T’way Air. Most of these budget airlines fly out from Seoul using Gimpo International Airport GMP
, and some depart from Incheon International Airport ICN
.
The cheapest time to fly to Seoul
South Korea’s weather makes it a year-round travel destination, but you should be aware of the 4 very different seasons. Winters from late November to early March are seriously cold (with temperatures reaching below freezing at times) – especially in the northern area of the country, where Seoul is located. However, travelers who are willing to endure the weather can reap financial benefits: November to March is the cheapest time to fly to Seoul as with fewer tourists visiting the city, airlines tend to offer discounted airfares.
The Korean summer is rather hot and humid and is accompanied by a few sometimes quite dangerous typhoons. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons – days are cool, rain-free, and sunny. Most tourists visit Seoul from April to May and from September to October – these peak months are also by far the most expensive to fly, so it’s wise to book the flights well in advance.
AREX is the cheapest airport transport
The Airport Railroad (AREX) Express Train is a quick and convenient way to travel between Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport.
It takes only 43 minutes to travel nonstop from Terminal 1, and 51 minutes from Terminal 2 to Seoul Station, located right in the heart of the capital. The ticket cost 9,500 won (~7 USD) for adults and 7,500 won (~5.50 USD) for children.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
South Korea has only one time zone – Korea Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+9. As a result, clocks in Seoul are 9 hours ahead of London and 14 hours ahead of New York. KST does not have an associated daylight saving time.
There is no Uber nor Grab in Seoul
Uber launched in Seoul in 2013, however, due to regulations and the taxi industry’s resistance, it was forced to leave in 2019. Grab never entered the market.
However, getting around in Seoul is pretty convenient thanks to Kakao T which works similarly to Uber or Grab. It lets you call a taxi through the app and automatically pays the fare when your ride ends with the payment information you provide in the app. Only registered drivers with a special taxi license can offer a ride, according to local law.
Download the Kakao T app for Android or iOS before arriving in Seoul.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and others).
When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@KoreanAir_KE”). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Seoul airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
Plan ahead and exchange some money for the Korean won at home.
Duty-free rules
South Korea is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items. Alcoholic beverages for personal consumption – such as wine, spirits or beer – cannot exceed 1 bottle (maximum 1 liter) per person aged 19 and over, and you can carry only 200 cigarettes. The total market value of all other articles must be under $800. Anything above those limits must be declared at the Seoul airport.
Domestic flights from Seoul
Most domestic routes in South Korea are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Busan, Jeju, Gangneung, Daegu, Gyeongju, Tongyeong from Seoul and Gimpo Airports, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, T'way Air, Aero K, Air Seoul, and Fly Gangwon.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Korean destinations.
Flights to Seoul
from major hubs in Asia
- Seoul's strategic location makes it one of the most important transportation hubs in Asia. Travelers can easily reach Seoul from a variety of popular cities such as Bali
DPS
, BangkokBKK
, BeijingPEK
, ColomboCMB
, HanoiHAN
, Hong KongHKG
, JakartaCGK
, KathmanduKTM
, ManilaMNL
, New DelhiDEL
, Kuala LumpurKUL
, SingaporeSIN
, ShangaiPVG
, and TaipeiTPE
. - Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Seoul look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Seoul will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting South Korea and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Flights to Seoul dataset
User Review
4.3 (588 votes)Flights to Seoul
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. The optimal time to book international flights to Seoul is 2–8 months in advance, with a "prime booking window" at 4–6 months before departure for the best bargains.
In economy class, medium to long-haul flights to Seoul range from $150 to $600, and can go up to $1,000 for routes exceeding 6,000 km. Round-trip bookings offer savings between 20% and 35%. Strategic planning like early booking, flying in low-season, booking directly with airlines, or chosing a route with a layover can save an additional 5–30%.
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About the author

Maksim Koval
Aviation industry expert, digital editor at Tiket2 since 2010, and the pioneering founder of the Air Traveler Club.
Maksim is a Bali-based seasoned travel writer, avid flyer, tinkerer, photographer, motorbiker, animal lover, and the truest evangelist of the company. His dedication to providing valuable insights and engaging content has established him as a trusted voice in the industry.
You can contact him via email at maksim[at]tiket2.com.