Flying to South Korea During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

I can’t believe I’m crying, and the flight to Seoul hasn’t even left the ground yet. I knew this could happen, but I thought it wouldn’t happen until much later. Maybe on our first overseas adventure. It didn’t always happen, but when it does, it makes the journey way less fun than the destination. Journal notes about what to expect during Covid-19 Pandemic and the Flight to South Korea.

_{This post is sponsored and/or contains affiliate links, from which I earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. I appreciate your support and know that all the views expressed are my own.}

Flying to South Korea During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The first flight from Manhattan, Kansas to Dallas was uneventful if not early in the morning. Steven carted all eleven pieces of luggage from the room to the rental car and into the airport terminal under the blanket of night. It was about 4:30. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 6:00 am. Ninety minutes later, we arrived determined but wary of what we didn’t know about traveling abroad during a pandemic.

The check-in to our flight on Korean Airlines wasn’t exactly smooth. And this is where our adventure begins to unfold.

Kakao Taxi App: Your Ultimate Guide to Stress-Free Ridesharing

Korean Airlines Check-in

Steven marched up to the counter with our travel documents (military orders and ID cards, my passport, and what we thought were our Covid-19 test results). They were not accepted for several reasons we figured out, and another one we wouldn’t know until we landed in Seoul 14+ hours later.

The gate attendant queried Steven as to why the documents did not have a time stamp. You are required to have a Covid-19/ PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test within 72 hours of flying.

This was Monday, and our tests were administered on Friday. We were asked to stand aside and wait for a supervisor. Thirty minutes later, we were permitted to board our flight.

Flight to Seoul

We decided to upgrade our seats before flying. We had intended to upgrade to first class until we were told it would be $5000 more EACH to do. Suffice to say, we settled for the premium economy for an additional $200 (worth of points) and felt we had made the best decision based on the online flight map.

As soon as I plopped down, I knew we hadn’t chosen wisely. I am a lady with exceptional ass-ets. And the armrest between us did not bulge. A mere inconvenience, I thought. Until I tried to buckle my seatbelt, and I couldn’t buckle it. The damn thing was a good two inches too short. All I could do is clang metal to metal. I sat back in my seat and began to cry.

Suppose you are unfamiliar with me, my weight struggles, and my husband. You know, the last thing I want to do is admit to him (or anybody else) that I need a seatbelt extender. Ten minutes later, I did just that through a thin veil of tears.

No Upgrade Possible

It turns out the flight map was incorrect, and there was an entire category of seats (just in front of us) we could have selected. However, due to the calculations of the loadmaster, we could not move forward only backward.

I was definitely disappointed. But I was more than irritated with the flight attendants less than hospitable rebuff. She just scoffed ‘NO’ and hurried up the aisle towards the elusive but empty row of seats I coveted. Later I wondered if our eleven pieces of luggage had anything to do with the imbalance.

Just before takeoff, she returned and pointed to an empty row of seats behind us. You can move there if you like, which is exactly what I did before someone else did. The middle armrest was mobile, and I was able to enjoy the flight a little better. I was even able to dismiss the flight attendant’s gruff response. She was Korean. And like the rest of her countrymen, she was direct and honest to a fault.

The flight to South Korea was 14 hours long, but at least I wasn’t pinned against the armrest dreading every minute.

Re-Introduction to South Korea

I don’t mean to suggest Koreans aren’t nice. Some are very nice. However, patience may not be one of their better-known strengths. Honestly, it doesn’t even break the top 10. We knew Covid-19 would probably make things worse. I’ve learned to accept they don’t like to queue (stand in line), and they will cut you off in traffic or the sidewalk. And for goodness sake, they don’t believe in personal space even during a pandemic like Covid-19. Steven and I refer to this as taking the ‘shortest route’ to their destination.

We overlook this for several reasons. And the food is definitely on top. We love Korean food. And on this flight, the hot meals were two of my favorites. We ate the bibimbap for dinner, which made Steven very happy. An hour before landing, we were served noodles with gochujang sauce. Gochujang is a fermented chili paste made from glutinous rice, soybeans, red chili pepper flakes, and salt. And I can eat it on almost everything. We’re back in Asia, where noodles, rice, and spicy foods are eaten all day long.

South Korea’s Inchon International Airport

Covid-19/ PCR Test Results

This is where hindsight is 20-20. We should have realized we didn’t have what we needed during our two-hour layover in Dallas.

Everyone was herded towards the Covid-19 Verification area, where we presented all our documents. I’ll skip ahead. We had a document that stated we were negative, but the agent needed a copy of the actual test. We did not know that.

So Steven logged into TriCare online and downloaded both our test results, and emailed them to the gate agent who printed them out. It sounds simple.

No, not even with useful Internet. But we managed nonetheless. We arrived at the PCR Verification station at 4:25. We did not leave until well after 7 pm.

It took us so long because he didn’t know his password. I didn’t register for an online account. And neither one of us knew how to navigate the site. We stood at a ledge, where we could be monitored, balancing Steven’s laptop and our cell phones. Once the documents were verified, we proceeded to the next station.

Covid-19 and this pandemic have made travel much more complicated. So make sure you know exactly what documentation (and several copies) you’ll need. We witnessed several people being turned away or detained.

Covid-19 Check-in App

South Korea, like many Asian countries, has developed a Covid-19 App. The app is a simple way to monitor you for the 2-week quarantine period. New arrivals are required to register with your email, local address, and phone number. And for the next two weeks, we will have to log in and self-diagnose for signs and symptoms of Covid-19.

Upon arrival at our quarantine location, we undertook another Covid-19/ PCR test. Now that we know, we’ve logged into TriCare and discovered we posted tested negative. We will undergo a third nasal swab test on day 12 of our Great South Korean Quarantine Adventure.

Lessons Learned from Traveling During Covid-19 Pandemic in South Korea

The first thing I can say is that the guidelines outlined by the CDC appear to work. We’ve managed to avoid getting sick on our cross country road trip and flights to Korea by following the safety protocols. Be diligent— wear your mask at all times. Wash your hands and practice social distancing whenever possible.

Here are a few other tips:

1. Travel light to lessen the chances of cross-contamination by placing anything on the floor.

2. Wipe down the seat tray and armrests. Leave the pillow in the plastic.

3. Do not walk around barefoot

4. Use hand sanitizer if you touch anything, ex, pens or door handles.

5. Do not drink from a can without cleaning it first. Better yet, don’t drink out of a can.

How to: Day Camping in South Korea with the Kims

Asia Travel Plans

Even though we haven’t been off the post, I can tell a lot has changed in the time we’ve been away. And I’m very excited to see what’s new and different– especially the hiking, which is excellent here. My butt will thank you later. The Covid-19 pandemic in South Korea will delay many of our international travel plans because we’ll have to quarantine for 14 days every time we leave the country. Steven is not going to be able to do that. So we’ll settle, for now, on exploring the country more in-depth until the virus subsides or the people are vaccinated (herd immunity), which they have begun to do.

I am a little heartbroken over the thought that many of the festivals I loved will be canceled due to the virus. I loved the Fireworks Festival in Busan and the Lantern Festival in Daegu. My son and I went to a mud festival in Boryeong, a Holi Celebration, and walked on water at the Jindo Miracle Sea Parting Festival.

We left here in 2017 and traveled all over the region. We went to Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The pandemic puts a pause on that. We’ll be lucky if we get to the few places left on my bucket list: the Philippines, Singapore, and Hong Kong. And we’d both love to travel back to Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. We were hoping to visit Australia and New Zealand, but that may have to wait for later.

But for now, our first planned trip will be a return to Jeju Island.

Like it? Pin it!

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!