Mengunjungi Seoul Airport

Pengalaman Terbang ke Korea 

Hello Mayers!

Because there was a school holiday, I had time to take a break from blogging again. Who here is still waiting for my blog content?

Talking about school holidays, where did you go during school holidays? there must be those who are on vacation in the country and abroad, or maybe just sleeping at home.

Have you ever thought about enjoying your school holidays in Korea? If you come at the right time, you will be able to see the cherry blossoms falling, sounds fun and romantic, doesn't it. Because currently Korean dramas and K-pop singer groups are very well known in Indonesia, thus attracting the interest of many Indonesians to visit this Gingseng country. South Korea itself has become the center of world attention in recent years because they succeeded in introducing their culture to the world.

Vacationing in a foreign country is definitely not easy, there are many different regulations than in Indonesia, and of course the things we need while there are very varied. This time, I will invite you to plan your next vacation to Korea carefully, so that when you are there, you can enjoy your vacation comfortably without anything missing or wrong. Listen to my writing until it's finished, so you don't miss anything.

A. What do you need to prepare to go to Korea?

Before going to Korea, of course, we have to carefully pack whatever items are needed there, such as toiletries, shoes or sandals, accessories, personal medicines, clothes. Use clothes according to the season that were there when you visited Korea, and some other personal equipment. Don't forget to arrange it neatly and put it in the suitcase.

Oh yes, recently the airline Garuda Indonesia said that in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases caused by livestock such as swine fever, foot and mouth disease, bird flu, and foreign pests such as red fire ants and oriental fruit flies, when We are not allowed to bring agricultural, forestry and livestock products to Korean territory, such as raw meat, processed food with meat or fish ingredients, milk, raw fruit and many more. So make sure you don't bring any prohibited items.

1.   1.      Buy flight tickets

Before going to Korea, of course, we have to book flight tickets, this time I started my trip from Semarang. I ordered a ticket at tiket.com for a flight on July 20 2023 in economy class at a price of IDR 9,274,030/pax. Here are my flight details.

First I flew from Achmad Yani airport in domestic terminal 1 at 7 AM to Soekarno Hatta airport using a Garuda Indonesia plane, from domestic terminal 3 I moved to terminal 3, I transited for 13 hours, and continued my journey to Seoul Incheon International Airport using Korea Air, I arrived there at 7 AM on July 20 2023 at terminal 2.

B. Flight Process to Korea 

When you first enter the airport, there is a Direction Airport that reads Domestic International Airport and Domestic International Arrival, we enter according to the instructions that say Domestic International Airport. If you have already taken care of your baggage and check-in, go straight to the inspection room to go inside, then go to the Security Check Point. Following an example of a conversation at the Check-in Desk and Security Check Point.

 CONVERSATION #1

At The Check-in Desk

Hanni is flying from Semarang to Korea. When she arrives at the airport, she goes to the check-in desk. Listen to the conversation she has with the agent:

Agent  : Good afternoon! Where are you flying to today?

Hanni  : Jakarta.

Agent  : May I have your passport, please?

Hanni  : Here you go.

Agent  : Are you checking any bags?

Hanni  : Just this one.

Agent  : OK, please place your bag on the scale.

Hanni  : I have a stopover in Jakarta – do I need to pick up my luggage there?

Agent  : No, it’ll go straight through to Korea. Here are your boarding passes – your flight leaves from gate 15A and it’ll begin boarding at 7:05. Your seat number is 26E.

Hanni  : Thanks.

 

CONVERSATION #2

Going Through Security

There are two pieces of equipment in security: you put your bags through the X-ray machine, and you walk through the metal detector. Some airports also use a body scanner for a more careful check.

The X-ray machine has a conveyor belt that moves your bags automatically through the machine. You can put small items like keys or money into plastic bins.

In the picture below, the woman is walking through the metal detector.

Her suitcase is on the conveyor belt after going through the X-ray machine.

Agent  : Please lay your bags flat on the conveyor belt, and use the bins for small objects.

Mira     : Do I need to take my laptop out of the bag?

Agent  : Yes, you do. Take off your hat and your shoes, too.

(she walks through the metal detector)

[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]

Agent  : Please step back. Do you have anything in your pockets – keys, cell phone, loose change?

Mira     : I don’t think so. Let me try taking off my belt.

Agent  : Okay, come on through.

(she goes through the metal detector again)

Agent  : You’re all set! Have a nice flight.

After heading to the domestic departure area, we will check what gate we are leaving at, then wait for the plane to arrive.

C. Direction Airport in Korea

Because airports in Korea are very large and crowded, maybe some people who come there for the first time feel confused if they want to go to a place such as a toilet, or want to buy coffee and snacks there. Therefore, I will explain what the signs are there and how to ask people or officers who are there using English.

After arriving at the Seoul airport you will go through Immigration, there your luggage will be checked, make sure you are not carrying prohibited items that I explained earlier. Prepare documents such as Passport, Arrival Card, and Traveler Declaration Form. After passing through Immigration we will see the Baggage Claim screen to see what number our plane picks up baggage.

a.       How to see the baggage claim line:

Look at the flight number and the aircraft used, for example if you use Korea Air with flight number KE-628 from Jakarta on line number 5.

1. Buy Food at the Airport

After picking up your luggage, pay attention to the existing signs, for example if you are hungry and want to buy food or a snack, you can go directly to the available store, there are many kinds of food store brands such as Dunkin Donat, Sanuki Bore, Food Market near gate 50, 49, 48 or you can visit the existing foodcort. Look for the Food Court sign near the Information Desk, there is the Food Court to the right at number 30, if you don't know where area 30 is, look for the Smart Guide screen and look for the number 30, you can see where area 30 is on the Smart Guide board. If you have found the food court or food store that you want, then how do you order at that store? I will give examples of conversations that you can apply when you want to buy food at the store.

CONVERSATION #3

Ordered Coffee and Asked Wifi Password

Coffee shops like Starbucks are currently very popular with young people. But how do you order coffee and ask for the wifi password in a place like that? The following are examples of conversations at Starbucks in English.

Barista : Good morning. Welcome to Starbucks. What would you like to order?

Sana    : Good morning. I would like to order one matcha latte, please.

Barista : What size of matcha latte would you like?

Sana    : Medium size, please.

Barista : Would you like anything else to accompany your drink?

Sana    : No thank you. That would be all for me.

Barista : Okay. That’d be $4.00. Is that for here or to go?

Sana    : For here.

Barista : What is your name?

Sana    : Sana.

Barista : Okay. We will call your name once your order is ready. Please wait at the counter over there.

Sana    : Alright. Thanks. Also, what is the WiFi password here?

Barista : It’s starbucks2018 all in lower case.

Sana    : Okay. Thank you again!

Barista : No problem.

CONVERSATION #4

Buy sandwich

Seller   : Welcome to Mako. How may I help you?

Tina     : Do you have a bagel or sandwich here?

Seller   : We have a variety of tuna and beef sandwich.

Tina     : Okay, I would also like one beef sandwich.

Seller   : Certainly. What is your name?

Tina     : Tina.

Seller   : Is it for here or to go?

Tina     : To go, please.

Seller   : That would be $8.00. Would you like to pay with card or cash?

Tina     : I’m paying with cash. Here you go.

1.     2. Transit Rest Area at the Airport

If it's a long transit, where can we rest?

The length of transit time and several other factors such as delayed flights make us have to stay longer at the airport, but can we still rest at the airport? Of course you can, Seoul Incheon International Airport provides a Transit Hotel facility called Matina Lounge, if you don't stop at the airport for too long and want to take a short break you can visit the Rest & Relax area, near the information desk there is a Rest & Relax area sign to the left.

If your cellphone's battery runs out, you can look for a charging area in the form of a silver pole, usually located in the waiting room, there are USB sockets, 220 voult and 110 voult available. In the waiting room besides you can charge your cellphone, you can also sit and rest for a while there.

2.  3. Want to Go to the Toilets

When in public places, especially airports, sometimes the need to use the bathroom arises. Every airport generally provides public facilities for this purpose, but as visitors, of course we don't always know where it is located. The solution is, we can check the location plan that is usually displayed or ask other visitors if we don't find an officer.

Then, what should be said when asking a stranger where a public toilet is? The following are examples of related conversations in English that can be learned. Listen carefully.

CONVERSATION #5

Ask where the toilet is

A: Excuse me, could you tell me where the toilet is?

B: It’s a little bit far from here. Do you know the way back to the entrance?

A: I don’t, sorry.

B: Well, you could just go this way and turn left once you get to that Information Desk. Keep going until you see the sign that points to the entrance. There’s a public toilet nearby.

A: Is that the nearest toilet from here?

B: I’m not sure, but that’s the only one I remember.

A: Okay. Thanks for the help.

 4. Exchange Money

If you want to go to Korea, just exchange a little for Korean Won in Jakarta and then withdraw money in Korea because the rate is better if we withdraw money there, and the withdrawal fee is also not expensive, around IDR 35,000.00. If for example you want to exchange, at the airport there is a Self Money Changer, a kind of ATM machine, you can exchange Dollars or Euros from Jakarta but don't try exchanging Rupiah to the destination country because usually the rate abroad is bad.

After you arrive at Seoul Incheon International Airport and your business at the airport is done, it's time for you to enjoy your vacation in Korea with ease, if you are confused about going to the hotel using what transportation you can see the Public Transportation Guide board, there you just have to choose the destination you want to go to and the system will direct you where to go. If you want to use rail transportation, look for the Airport Railroad instructions.

Happy holidays Mayers! 

References

Seoul Incheon International Airport https://youtu.be/I2pMzsy56H4

Achmad Yani Airport https://youtu.be/imrF8765Wsg

Alur Kedatangan https://youtu.be/C3tgOHvqpPo

Direction Airport https://youtu.be/I2pMzsy56H4

Barang yang dilarang dibawa oleh pihak Imigrasi Korea

Flight Ticket https://www.tiket.com/pesawat/rute/semarang-ke-seoul

Conversation at the Check-in Desk and going through security

Conversation buy coffe and sandwich

Conversation ask where the toilet is