Transfer

Korean Air can complete your check-in through to your final destination, even if your travel requires connection via another airline.

Boarding and transfer procedures

Transfer from a Korea domestic route to an international route

Issuance of a boarding pass up to the final destination

Pick up your baggage at the transferring airport and check it in again

• You can be issued a boarding pass for your entire trip, including connecting flights.

• At your connecting airport, make sure you pick up your baggage and check it in again.
• If you are traveling on a transit exclusive domestic flight to or from Incheon, your baggage will be automatically connected to your final destination.
• When transferring at Jeju or Busan airport, your checked baggage will be automatically transferred to your final destination without needing to be claimed, but only when traveling on flights operated by Korean Air for the entire itinerary.

Conditions for boarding a connecting flight

Only same-day connections are available for international flights departing from Gimpo/Busan/Jeju. Boarding conditions Check the conditions for boarding domestic-international connecting flights

Give yourself enough time for flight connections to ensure you board your connecting flight. Connecting time information Here is the minimum connecting time for each segment.

Minimum connecting time by segment

Give yourself enough time for flight connections to ensure you board your connecting flight Connecting time information Here is the minimum connecting time for each segment

When transferring between Korean Air international flights and other airlines

Issuance of a boarding pass up to the final destination

Baggage drop

• You can be issued a boarding pass for your entire trip, including connecting flights.

• At the check-in counter at your departure airport, make sure your baggage will be transferred to your final destination.
  
• If you issue flight tickets separately, connection procedures will be limited.
  

Boarding pass issuance and baggage transfer may not be available for some airlines and destinations.

Baggage drop when transferring to a connecting domestic flight in a country other than Korea

Transferring to domestic connecting flights in Europe

In most cases, your baggage will be transferred to your final destination.

Example

Incheon-Paris-Nice route: You can pick up your checked baggage in Nice.

Transferring to domestic connecting flights in the U.S./Canada

Baggage tags are issued for your final destination, but you must collect your baggage at the first airport. After the customs inspection, you may take your baggage to the conveyor belt for transfers.

Example

Incheon-Los Angeles-San Francisco route: Please pick up your checked baggage in Los Angeles, go through customs, and take it to the conveyor belt for transfers.

Implementation of International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) for Incheon–U.S. Routes

Transferring to domestic connecting flights in other regions

Most countries, including Japan, China, Australia, Russia, and India, do not allow baggage transfer if you are connecting to a domestic flight.

Example

Incheon-Tokyo-Fukuoka route: Please pick up your checked baggage in Tokyo.

Domestic-international transfers

Transferring between airlines

Boarding conditions

• Passengers with a confirmed reservation of a connecting flight within 24 hours
• Passengers taking flights departing from regional airports before 8:30 PM
• Passengers using domestic-international flights operated and sold by Korean Air 
• When a domestic flight segment and an international flight segment are issued with one ticket

Minimum connecting time information

minimum connecting time for each segment

International flights

Domestic flights

• Give yourself enough time for flight connections to ensure you board your connecting flight. 
• Separate standards apply for some flights departing from China and for connections from Korean Air to foreign airlines. 

What you should know

• Circumstances of the transfer airport and the connecting flight carrier may limit baggage transfer. 
• If baggage transfer is limited due to the circumstances of the connecting flight carrier, the baggage will be checked up to the segment immediately before the connecting flight.
• You can select your transfer airport from the destination airports to find information on transfer rules by airport.

Implementation of International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) for Incheon–U.S. Routes

Korean Air, in cooperation with the Korean and U.S. governments, has implemented the International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) program. The IRBS program streamlines the travel process by conducting X-ray screening of checked baggage at the departure airport (Incheon), simplifying arrival and connection procedures in the United States.

Applicable Flight: Incheon-Atlanta/Los Angeles/Seattle flights

• Passengers connecting at the arrival airport on IRBS‑applied routes can claim their checked baggage at the final destination.
  • However, if U.S. authorities request a re-screening, you will receive separate instructions at the immigration inspection area.
• For separately ticketed itineraries, your baggage may not be automatically transferred. Please check with our staff at the airport.

Notification on Third-Party Provision and Overseas Transfer of Personal Information (Related to IRBS Operations)

• Recipient: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Information Provided: Baggage tag information, baggage X-ray images
  • Baggage X-ray images are provided by Incheon International Airport Corporation.
• Purpose of Provision: International remote baggage screening and customs inspection
• Destination country, time of transfer, and method of transfer: United States, at the time of flight departure, transmitted via a dedicated secure network

Important Notes

• Your checked baggage must be under your own name.
• If your baggage contains items prohibited or restricted for import into the U.S., it may be subject to additional inspection. Please avoid packing the following items in your checked baggage.
  • Food: Homemade kimchi containing meat, meat side dishes, dumplings, any type of meat (including bulgogi), blood sausage (sundae), fresh fruits, vegetables, uncooked rice, and similar products
  • Herbal products: Herbal medicine ingredients, plant roots, deer antlers, dried meat, seeds, etc.

For detailed information on prohibited and restricted items, please refer to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.