Send your luggage ahead for an easier trip! Check in your bags in Seoul and take the AREX straight to Incheon Airport 🚄
Rabby兔子💄
3 months ago
My first solo trip and I experienced the legendary 'Arrive at Incheon Airport 4 hours early' 😱
When I first heard about this, I was totally stunned, thinking: Oh my god, doesn’t this mean the last day is a total waste? I haven't even started exploring and I'll have to drag my luggage to the airport early. Just imagining myself rushing for the flight in a mess makes me feel overwhelmed…
But later I discovered an awesome method 👉 Luggage check-in at Seoul Station + Advance customs clearance.
This is truly a lifesaver for first-time independent travelers. After experiencing it myself, I just want to say: I wish I had learned this sooner!
Early that morning, I dragged my luggage to Seoul Station, found the check-in counter, and handed my passport and ticket to the staff. The moment my luggage was placed on the conveyor belt and slowly disappeared, I really felt like a huge weight was instantly lifted off my shoulders. I was a bit nervous at first, but when I saw the system display 'Check-in complete,' I felt so much lighter, I almost wanted to go run a 100-meter dash 🏃♀️.
You can also complete outbound customs pre-inspection right here. I walked in, handed over my passport, got it stamped—the whole process took just a few minutes. There was no line at all; it was so efficient that I thought I was going through the VIP channel. At that moment, I was secretly delighted: when I get to Incheon Airport, I’ll be able to go straight through without getting stuck in a long line with everyone else.
After getting everything settled, I instantly transformed from a tense 'luggage-towing traveler' to a 'light traveler.' With only a small bag left in my hand, my steps felt lighter as I walked through Seoul Station.
👉 Quick reminder: Checked baggage starts 'three hours before departure,' so you don't need to arrive too early.
Then I made a special trip to the Lotte Mart at Exit 1 of Seoul Station to stock up. Since I had already checked in my luggage, I didn't have to worry at all about the painful question of 'how am I going to carry all this to the airport?' As a result, I totally lost control and loaded up on instant noodles, snacks, and Korean sauces🛒. While pushing my shopping cart, I thought to myself, 'Being able to relax like this on the last day of my trip is really a win!'
'Rakuten Supermarket opens as early as 10:00 AM,' which is super considerate. When I went, I entered right when it opened, so I didn't have to deal with any crowds at all.
After buying my spoils, I slowly walked back to take the Arex Airport Express. That feeling of not having to drag a big suitcase is truly the best gift on the last day of a trip. It felt even better after arriving at Incheon, because I had already completed customs clearance at Seoul Station and could go straight through the fast lane. While watching people next to me waiting in a long line, I breezed right through. All I could think was, 'So awesome!'
Because I saved so much time, I even spent a while in the airport lounge. The first time I went in, I was really amazed: the spacious and quiet environment, comfortable sofas, the view of the runway outside the window, plus all kinds of food you could eat as much as you wanted. Sitting in there, recharging and looking back on my trip from the past few days, I suddenly felt like I wasn’t a backpacker rushing to catch a flight, but a sophisticated traveler.
Thinking back, if I hadn’t used the “Seoul Station baggage check-in + customs pre-clearance,” my last day would have been: dragging my luggage → rushing to catch the express train → waiting in long lines at the airport → hungry and tired while waiting to board. Just imagining it feels exhausting 🤦♀️. But because I used this method, not only did I buy all my souvenirs, I also enjoyed the lounge gracefully, and even had time to slowly write this review.
So the biggest gain from this trip was:
👉 Although Incheon is big and can make people nervous, as long as you use 'Seoul Station check-in + advance customs clearance,' your luggage will be lighter, your mood will be better, and you can even save a perfect ending for yourself on the last day.
I've decided that from now on, whenever I come to Korea, I'll always do it this way👌.
Travel is not just about the itinerary and checking in; what matters most is being able to “wrap things up gracefully” at the end. That’s the perfect ending 🥰✈️🇰🇷
