Incheon Airport: Getting Between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2

Incheon International Airport has two terminals, T1 and T2, 15–19 km apart — one at the north end of Yeongjong Island, one at the south. Two questions come up before every trip: which terminal does my flight use, and if I get it wrong, how quickly can I move?

There are only two proper ways between them: the free shuttle bus on the outside lane of the 3F departures level, and the AREX train on B1 of the Transport Centre. The bus is free and takes luggage easily; the train is fast and entirely indoors. Times and fares can change; check the airport's announcements on the day.

1. Check your ticket: T1 or T2

• Terminal 1: Jeju Air, T'way Air, Eastar Jet, Air Premia, Parata Air, Aero K, and most other international carriers.
• Terminal 2: Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Seoul, Air Busan, Delta Air Lines and others.

That list is not permanent. Airlines move terminals when their operating arrangements change, low-cost carriers most often of all, so check the terminal on your ticket the day before you fly and read the airport's screens on arrival rather than trusting an old guide. Both terminals put departures on 3F and arrivals on 1F, so "board on 3, land on 1" holds in either building. There is no walking route between T1 and T2; at this distance the shuttle or the train are the only options.

2. The free shuttle: buses 03 and 04

The shuttles pick up on the outer lane of the 3F departures level. Each direction has its own route number, so check before you board:

Both are free, and the buses carry "Airport 03 / 04" on the front and on the stop signs. There is room for luggage on board, which makes this the easier choice with large cases, a pushchair or a family group — no hauling bags down to B1 and back up again.

A common mistake is waiting on the 1F arrivals kerb, where the 6000-series city limousines to Seoul stop; those are different vehicles on different tickets. The shuttle is one level up on 3F departures, a lift ride from arrivals. Check the route number on the front before loading your bags.

Frequency is the great advantage: normally no more than ten minutes' wait. When several flights land together the 3F lane queues and the wait stretches out; with hand luggage only, the train downstairs is then the faster bet.

3. AREX: one stop on B1, 1,050 won

When time is tight, go down to the B1 Transport Centre. Both terminals' AREX platforms are on that level: take the all-stop train towards the other terminal, one stop, about 6–10 minutes, for 1,050 won, with departures roughly every 5 minutes. Tap a T-money card at the gate instead of queueing.

The appeal is that the weather and the traffic are irrelevant — the whole route is indoors. The trade-off is the lifts between platform and departures level: with several cases during a check-in peak, waiting for a lift can take longer than the ride. Watch which train you board, too: the orange-yellow Express runs to Seoul Station, so between terminals take the blue all-stop service. Buying the wrong ticket costs more than ten times as much.

Set side by side: the shuttle is free, swallows luggage and answers to traffic; AREX costs 1,050 won, takes six to ten minutes and ignores the roads, but you handle the bags on lifts. More than two cases, or children — take the bus. One backpack and a boarding time to protect — take the train.

4. Wrong terminal? Four steps

1. Confirm the terminal first. Check your ticket, itinerary or the airport screens; do not go on memory. T2 is Korean Air and Asiana territory, while T1 handles most low-cost and foreign carriers.
2. Choose by the clock. More than an hour before departure with heavy bags: the free shuttle. Under an hour with hand luggage only: AREX from B1 is quicker.
3. Allow three hours. Be at the airport three hours ahead for an international flight, and add the 15–18 minute transfer plus waiting time when crossing terminals; peak-season queues are longer.
4. Read the screens on arrival. Confirm your check-in desk and gate before setting off, so you are not criss-crossing the building.

The classic cross-terminal case: an international flight on a foreign carrier (usually T1) followed by Korean Air or Asiana (T2). On a single ticket the bags may already be checked through while you still have to move yourself — read the terminal on your boarding pass before deciding between bus and train.

5. Two things to know when connecting between terminals

The first is immigration. The shuttle and AREX both run landside, outside the transit area. If your two flights are separate tickets and you have to change buildings yourself, you must clear immigration and come back up to departures to check in and clear security again; only a connection that stays in the transit area avoids that. Ask your airline which kind of ticket you hold — "changing gates" and "changing terminals" are not the same thing.

The second is baggage. On one ticket, bags can be checked through to the final destination; on two separate tickets you collect them at T1 or T2, push them across and check in again. Nobody moves luggage for you on that leg, so the shuttle bus is the better choice with large cases.

Late arrivals need one more calculation. The T1 → T2 shuttle runs until 23:20 and T2 → T1 until 23:40; between then and 04:30 neither shuttle nor AREX runs, so a late landing means a taxi from arrivals, or waiting for the first bus. All times are subject to the airport's announcements on the day.

Related links

• On this site: Incheon International Airport (ICN), South Korea (KR)
• Wikipedia: Incheon International Airport
• Baidu Baike: Incheon International Airport
• Official sites: Incheon Airport, AREX

Terminal assignments, shuttle times and AREX fares can change; the figures here are for reference. Check Incheon Airport's website and the signs on the day before you travel.