Incheon Airport's Assistance Services for Travelers with Disabilities: Eligibility and Usage Guide

This article provides a comprehensive guide on the conditions and procedures to follow when accompanying travelers with disabilities at Incheon International Airport in South Korea. First, you need to determine whether mobility assistance is required, if you can utilize the priority exit for security checks and departure, and whether you need to request additional airline companion or in-flight support. These three aspects are interconnected but are not processed as the same service. According to airport guidelines, individuals with walking disabilities, children under 7, seniors over 70, and pregnant women may qualify for the priority exit, and up to three accompanying passengers can join them.

First, Identify the Required Services

If you are accompanying a traveler who has difficulty walking or moving within the airport, check the availability of electric cart and wheelchair services first. Incheon Airport offers these mobility services specifically for travelers with disabilities. This is separate from the priority exit usage. Therefore, even if you do not qualify for the priority exit, you can still seek mobility assistance at the airport.

To request mobility services, contact the help desk (1577-2600) or the on-site information desk or help phone before arriving at the airport on the day of travel. Electric carts are available from the general area on the 3rd floor at each entrance to the check-in counters, and from the duty-free area on the 3rd floor to the boarding gates. Wheelchairs can be used in the general area of the passenger terminal, including short-term parking. Long-term and reserved parking, as well as luggage and carrier transport services, are excluded. Operating hours are from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and during peak seasons, service is unavailable from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

If you are using Terminal 1, you can also check the Disabled Travelers' Assistance Center. This center provides airport usage guidance, self-check-in, wheelchair rentals, electric wheelchair charging, and electric cart services. The center advises bringing a welfare card for eligibility verification.

Using the priority exit for security checks and departure requires eligibility verification and card issuance. The airport guidelines specify that individuals with walking disabilities, children under 7, seniors over 70, and pregnant women are eligible, along with up to three accompanying passengers. After confirming eligibility with the airline's check-in counter, obtain the priority card before proceeding to the dedicated departure area. Be sure to prepare mobility assistance and priority exit eligibility separately.

Steps to Use the Priority Exit

1. Using the priority exit is connected to the airline check-in process, so you must verify eligibility at the check-in counter of the airline you are flying with.
2. At the check-in counter, confirm that you qualify for the priority exit and receive the "Priority Exit Card." Do not move to the priority exit before receiving the card; first, complete the eligibility verification and card issuance at the check-in counter.
3. Proceed to the dedicated departure area for priority exit. Present your passport along with the priority exit card at the entrance of the dedicated departure area.
4. Individuals requiring special consideration, such as pregnant women and infants, are exempt from full-body scanning equipment. In this case, security personnel will conduct a thorough pat-down search. Pregnant women and infants can use the priority exit along with up to three accompanying passengers, but using the priority exit does not exempt them from security checks.
5. If you need in-flight support or services provided by the airline, confirm this separately with the airline. Using the airport's priority exit does not automatically apply for in-flight service requests.

Mobility Assistance and Pre-Departure Preparation

• If you need to use a disabled taxi, contact the appropriate agency for your departure area. Incheon Transportation Corporation's disabled taxi service can be reached at 1577-0320, Seoul Facilities Corporation's disabled taxi at 1588-4388 or 02-2024-4200, and Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation's disabled taxi at 1666-0420.
• If traveling with an infant, check the security screening items separately. Baby food, infant milk (breast milk or formula), juice, and wet wipes in containers are allowed in quantities sufficient for the flight duration as exceptions for liquids and gels.

Differentiate Between Arrival Luggage Delivery and Departure Mobility Assistance

Good Luck Easy Pickup is a paid service that delivers checked luggage from your departure location to your home or hotel in South Korea, which should not be confused with wheelchair mobility assistance or priority exit requests. The airport guidelines specify eligibility for individuals with disabilities, travelers with children under 6, pregnant women, seniors over 65, and children under 13. To use this service, you must pre-book through the Good Luck app or goodlugg.com at least three hours before your flight, and you can inquire via the KakaoTalk official channel ID goodlugg.

Additionally, the airport's check-in guidelines specify that children under 2 traveling with an adult and unaccompanied minors are restricted from web check-in. This is not a regulation of the Good Luck delivery service. If traveling with children, confirm the web check-in availability and airport counter procedures with your airline.

Traveling with Children and Unaccompanied Minors

When accompanying children or if a child is traveling without a guardian, you cannot rely solely on the airport's priority exit criteria. You must check the specific airline's guidelines for traveling with children and unaccompanied minors (UM). While there may be variations by airline, generally, children under 5 cannot travel alone without a guardian, while children over 5 may travel through a special service for unaccompanied minors. The actual age and application process may vary by airline, so it is essential to verify with the airline.

Airline services for pregnant women and women traveling with children also have separate criteria. Asiana Airlines provides support services for one passenger accompanying two or more children under 7. This information pertains specifically to Asiana Airlines, so do not assume it applies to other airlines; check the guidelines for the airline you are using. Korean Air offers a Junior Care Service for children traveling alone from regional airports to international destinations via Incheon.

In-Flight Services and Security Screening Should Be Verified Separately with Airlines and the Airport

In-flight services are provided by the airline and vary by carrier. Using the priority exit or receiving electric cart or wheelchair assistance at the airport does not automatically apply for in-flight support. If you require assistance in-flight, such as seating, boarding assistance, traveling with children, or unaccompanied minors, you should confirm these details with the airline in advance. Additionally, if traveling with an infant, be aware that exceptions for liquids and gels apply only to the quantities necessary for the flight, so check security screening guidelines when preparing baby food, milk, juice, and wet wipes.

Final Pre-Departure Checklist

• Check that you have confirmed your airline and departure terminal.
• If you need mobility assistance, verify the availability of electric cart and wheelchair services and the Disabled Travelers' Assistance Center at Terminal 1.
• If you qualify for the priority exit, remember to confirm eligibility at the airline check-in counter and obtain the priority exit card.
• Be prepared to present your passport and priority exit card together at the entrance of the dedicated departure area.
• Check that your accompanying passengers do not exceed the maximum of three.
• If traveling with an infant, ensure that baby food, breast milk, formula, juice, and wet wipes are within the allowed quantities for the flight.
• If traveling with children or unaccompanied minors, verify both the airport and airline criteria separately.
• If you need in-flight services, inquire separately with your airline.
• If you have chosen Good Luck Easy Pickup, confirm the eligibility, reservation, and fee conditions for the arrival luggage delivery service. Inquire separately with your airline about web check-in availability.

Assistance for Travelers with Disabilities

Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children Traveling Together