Review of Korean Air flight from Busan to Seoul in Economy

Korean Air KE1818 Busan to Seoul[Gimpo]

Flight details:
Airline: Korean Air
Flight: KE1818 PUS - GMP
Reg: HL8313
Aircraft: Airbus A220-300
Seat: 33A
Depart Busan Gimhae International Airport Domestic Terminal Gate 32: 01:15PM [Actual time: 01:30PM]
Arrive Seoul Gimpo Terminal D: 02:20PM [Actual time: 02.09PM]
Total time: 1 hour 05 mins

Video: Korean Air KE1818 Busan to Seoul[Gimpo]

Introduction

This trip report is from Dec 2023. I travelled to South Korea, Read report: Korean Air KE402 Sydney to Seoul

After two days of stay in Seoul, rode the KTX HSR train to Busan. This report covers the journey from Busan to Seoul - Gimpo.

Flight Booking

Korean Air has multiple flights between Busan and Gimpo and few to Incheon, as my hotel was near Seoul Station. Gimpo being in the city was the preferred airport.

While booking ticket, there were many options but most were on either Airbus A320/21 or Boeing 737-800. Chose this flight as it was timed well with the hotel check-in and able to get a Airbus A220-300. Price was also off-peak which made this a no-brainer choice.

I had booked Economy class for this flight. Below information is from the Korean Air website.

Aircraft information

Online check-in

On the previous night, I checked online for this flight through the Korean Air website

Received email with boarding pass

Mobile version

Check-in process completed

Boarding procedure

Arriving at Airport

I checked out of the hotel and then walked towards Busan station

Walked straight and then Busan metro entrance on the left side, Right side is the Busan KTX station.

Entered the Busan Metro Station Line 1

Walking through underground shopping area

Checked with station staff for guidance.

Train to Busan Gimhae International Airport

Line 1 to change at 219 Seomyeon to line 2 for 227 Sasang. At Sasang, change to LRT for 104 Gimhae International airport.

Catching train at Station no. 113 Busan Station

Metro train direction of travel.

Interchange at 219 Seomyeon Line 2

Information and direction

Escalator to platform

Change at 227 Sasang to LRT

Following directions

Exiting Sasang metro line

Walking towards the LRT station

Escalator to LRT station

LRT concourse

Entering the LRT station

Following directions

LRT platform

Waiting for train

LRT train arrives

2 Car train, boarding

Car view

Drivers view

Entering station

Airport in view

Busan Gimhae International Airport Domestic Terminal

Exiting the train

Tapping T-money card to exit station. 

I had no bag and had plenty of time to reach airport. Journey took about 45 mins. Other options to take bus or taxi.

Fare was cheap on train, I used the money stored in the T-money card.

After exiting walked for 5 mins following the signs.

Domestic and International terminal are separate buildings.

Crossing the road

Domestic Terminal

Domestic Terminal Entrance

Arrivals

Departure on upper level

Self Check-in

I had checked online for the flight. I didn't get a physical boarding pass.

Flight schedule displayed over the security entrance.

Shops- Got a coffee from the food store.

Donut shop

After a few minutes, headed towards security check.

Security check

Passengers have to scan the boarding pass to enter the security area. Digital or physical boarding pass scanned to enter.

Security was quick, removed the laptop and electronic devices for separate scan. All done within a minute.

Aircraft and Flight information

I checked flight information and aircraft was listed.

Korean Air HL8313 Airbus A220-300 would be operating KE1815 to Busan

Aircraft information: Korean Air HL8313 from Airfleets.net

Departure Area

Entered the Departure area after clearning security

Flight schedule -  Flights either to Jeju or Seoul - Gimpo. In spite of KTX HSR with shortest travel time of about 2.15hrs to Seoul.

KE1818 would depart from Gate 32

No passengers yet in the waiting area.

I explored the departure area of the domestic terminal from one corner to another.

Passenger waiting for their boarding at gate 31

Walking towards gate 37

Waiting area

Gate 37 waiting for boarding call on Korean Air Airbus A321.

I returned to the waiting area and aircraft had landed. Korean Air HL8313 arrived as KE1815 GMP to PUS

Boarding

Boarding call was made and conducted by Zones.

Boarding pass was scanned and was allowed to proceed towards aircraft.

View of aircraft

Korean Air HL8313 Airbus A220-300. My 1st flight on this aircraft type. I flew on Qantas Airbus 220-300 in 2024, read report here - QantasLink QF1276 Melbourne to Canberra

Onboard

Cabin crew used a scanner to check boarding pass.

Onboard - Aircraft was all economy configuration, seating in 2-3 arrangement.

Boarding continued as it was full flight.

Seat Pocket Content

Seat pocket contained Morning calm - inflight magazine, Streaming IFE information card, air sickness bag.

Korean Air Airbus A220-300 Safety card

Full view

middle pages

last page

Pushback and Departure

Pushback commenced on time, as announcement that photos and video was prohibited. I didn't take airside or departure video. Aircraft departed from runway 36L- 18R.

Inflight

It was sunny and I had window shades down after departure.

Each seat had USB charger

Cabin service

Crew began drinks service after attaining cruising altitude.

Option was coke or orange juice/apple juice. I chose coke.

SEAT View

Cabin was neat and clean

Seat was made of cloth and padding was adequate and comfortable to seat.

Approaching Seoul - Gimpo Airport

Window view. Flight attained cruise altitude for few minutes.

 Captain announced descend would commence in few minutes.

Airport close to Seoul

Descend continued with skyscraper visible

Landing

Aircraft landed on runway 32R-14L.

Gimpo has two runway in parallel. Aircraft landed ahead of schedule in 45 minutes.

Crossing runway, followed by long taxi.

View of Airside

AirSeoul and EasterAir

Asiana Airlines

Korean Air

Arrived at gate

Aligning with parking marks

Parked at gate.

Disembarkation

After aircraft parked, passenger waiting for aerobridge to connect.

Window view while waiting

Disembarkation commenced, seat view

All economy seating on this aircraft.

Crew was waiting on the aerobridge to wish passengers of the flight.

Airside view from the aerobridge

Entering the Termnal D

Arrivals and baggage claim is on lower level

Escalator to lower level

Walking towards baggage claim

Walked 5- 10 mins

Time was 1.42pm, when I entered the baggage claim.

Toilets in the arrivals area

Belt information, I was carrying only a handbag. Didn't have to wait for the bag.

Baggage claim area

Korean Air KE1818 bags would arrive on belt 1.

Exiting the arrivals area

As I had no checked bag, walked towards the exit.

I would be talking the Subway to Seoul Station

Following Subway direction

Long walk to subway which located between the Domestic and International Terminal

Followed the Seoul Station direction

Escalator to ticket barriers

Tapped the T-money card and reached platform.

Train Information

Boarding train

Onboard

This AREX train stops at all stations, journey took about 25 minutes

Window view from train

After reaching Seoul Station, took another Subway train to Myeong-dong. To read further, check the Tourism bonus section.

Aircraft and FLight Information

Flight route

Video: Korean Air KE1818 Busan to Seoul[Gimpo] route

Aircraft rotation

Flight information

END of Trip Report

Hope you enjoyed this trip report. Thanks for reading.
:)