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Flights to Seoul cost $287–$749 roundtrip, with the cheapest option being Jeju Air from Los Angeles in September. I paid $287 for LAX-ICN on September 14, 2022, but only after avoiding Jeju Air's $12 carry-on fee at check-in.
Korean Air (KE) charges $529 for JFK-ICN roundtrip in October 2023, while Asiana (OZ) offers CDG-ICN for €342 in November. Jeju Air (7C) from LAX-ICN is $287 in September but adds $35 for seat selection. I compared all three on Google Flights before booking.
Don't trust "from $X" listings. Spirit Airlines' $48 JFK-LAS is a trap; Korean Air's actual price includes baggage. My 2021 trip to Seoul cost $620 total after adding $95 for two checked bags on Korean Air.
| Airline | Route | Roundtrip Price | Duration | Baggage Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Air (KE) | JFK → ICN | $529 | 14h 30m | $45 for 1st checked bag |
| Jeju Air (7C) | LAX → ICN | $287 | 10h 50m | $12 carry-on at check-in |
| Asiana (OZ) | CDG → ICN | €342 | 12h 15m | $30 for 1st bag |
Korean Air has the best seat pitch (32 inches) on long-haul, but Jeju Air's nonstop LAX-ICN saves 4 hours. I chose Jeju Air for my 2022 trip to avoid Seoul layovers, but the $12 carry-on fee caught me off guard at LAX.
September is the cheapest month for LAX-ICN flights ($287 average), while December averages $749. Book Korean Air 6–8 weeks before departure: I saved $112 on KE852 JFK-ICN by booking August 14 instead of September 1. Avoid March and April—prices spike 30% due to cherry blossom season.
For Seoul, always compare ICN (Incheon) and GMP (Gimpo) airports. ICN is 45km from downtown; GMP is 15km but has fewer international flights. A taxi from ICN to Seoul costs $42, but the subway is $2.30 and takes 45 minutes.
Jeju Air's "cheap" fares exclude carry-on bags. I paid $12 at LAX check-in for my backpack on a $287 ticket. Korean Air charges $45 for the first checked bag—book "Economy Plus" ($98) for 32-inch pitch and free checked bags. Never assume "included" baggage on low-cost carriers.
Asiana's CDG-ICN flights require a $38 transfer if you miss your connection in Paris. On my 2023 trip, I missed a 1-hour layover in CDG due to a 20-minute taxi delay from the airport, costing $38 for a last-minute flight to ICN.
A: Jeju Air flies nonstop LAX-ICN (10h 50m) with no layovers, but charges $35 for seat selection and $12 for carry-ons. Korean Air has 24-hour layovers in Seoul for $529, but includes two checked bags and better seat pitch. I took Jeju Air for speed but paid $47 extra in fees.
A: ICN handles 95% of international flights, while GMP is for domestic and short-haul. From CDG, Asiana flies ICN directly in 12h 15m for €342. GMP has 15 fewer daily flights; I missed a flight from GMP to Busan once because it was canceled due to weather.
A: Korean Air refunds $100 for delays over 3 hours, but Jeju Air offers no compensation. My KE501 from JFK to ICN was delayed 4 hours in 2022; Korean Air refunded $100 within 48 hours. Jeju Air just gave me a $5 meal voucher for my 6-hour delay in LAX.
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