Choi Seung-pyo’s Travel Skills-Non-Landing Tourism Flight
‘Non-landing tourist flight’, which started in October last year, is becoming a new travel method in the era when overseas travel is prohibited. The number of users is steadily increasing as you can go overseas to see foreign countries and even enjoy duty-free shopping. yunhap news
In the era when overseas travel is prohibited, non-landing tourist flights are attracting attention as’similar overseas travel’. It is a method of taking a plane and turning over the sky and then returning, so the word’pretend to travel abroad’ comes out. It is quite popular because you can visit foreign countries outside the window and do duty-free shopping. But I have a lot of questions. Do you provide in-flight meals or do you have access to all duty-free shops? Departing from Incheon on the 20th, I experienced a flight flying over Fukuoka, Japan. We summarized all of the’non-landing tourist flight’.
airplane food? I can’t drink a glass of water
The non-landing tourist flight started last October. At the time, only two or three airlines were flying, but in March this year, seven airlines are operating tourist flights. At first, it only turned over domestic air for about two hours. It was fun to fly low and overlook the country. Some airlines also served in-flight meals. Asiana Airlines, which launched the A380, called the’Hotel on the Sky’, provided food equivalent to a hotel course meal to business class passengers.
One of the fun of a non-landing tourist flight is looking down the country through the window. The appearance of Baengnokdam in Hallasan Mountain. yunhap news
However, in December last year, a lot has changed. It allowed the government to leave and come overseas airspace. Of course, it became possible to purchase duty-free goods. Instead, due to concerns about the spread of Corona 19, they were not allowed to give a glass of water, rather than a meal. When I did an actual experience flight, I felt thirsty in a dry cabin, but there was no way to solve it.
Airfare is in the range of 90,000~100,000 won for low-cost airlines. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines receive 150,000 to 200,000 won in economy class and 350,000 to 500,000 won in business class and first class. Airfare is on the decline as several airlines compete. Seats are spaced one by one. T’way Air’s public relations team leader Yoon Seong-beom said, “Two times a month, there are sightseeing flights, and the boarding rate reaches 90%.”
Strict international flights, you must bring your passport
Most of the non-landing tourist flights orbit over nearby Japan. It is a definite international flight, so it goes through immigration procedures. You must also bring your passport. When you arrive at Incheon International Airport, go through the procedures at the airline counter on the 3rd floor. If you wish to do non-face-to-face procedures, you can use a kiosk. Baggage is only allowed on board.
A non-landing tourist flight follows the same procedures as for overseas travel. Passing a passport and a flight ticket at the airline check-in counter in Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Reporter Choi Seung-pyo
After security screening and immigration, you will enter the duty-free area. You can pick up products purchased at a downtown duty free shop or online duty free shop, or enjoy shopping at an airport duty free shop. You can also use the airline’s in-flight duty-free shop, but you can only order in advance.
The criteria for using duty-free shops are the same as when traveling abroad. The purchase limit is $5,000 (about 5.66 million won), and the tax-free limit is $600 (680,000 won). Apart from the basic duty-free limit, 1 bottle of alcohol (less than 1 liter, maximum $400), 1 bottle of perfume (60 ml), and 1 bag of cigarettes provides tax-free benefits. According to a duty-free shop official who requested anonymity, the average consumption per passenger for a non-landing flight is 500,000 to 600,000 won.
T’way Air’s TW200 flight that boarded on the 20th recorded a boarding rate of about 90%. In fear of the spread of Corona 19, the center seat is left empty and passengers sit only in the window seats and in the hallway seats. Reporter Choi Seung-pyo
Many people enjoy shopping beyond the duty-free limit. This is because each duty-free shop offers competitive discounts, so the product price is attractive even if you pay tax upon entry. For example, bags and wallets worth 1.852,000 won apply a simple tax rate of 20% and pay a tax of 370,000 won. If it exceeds 1.852,000 won, individual consumption tax is applied and the tax rate jumps to 50%.
Duty-free goods filled in the trunk
107 passengers boarded T’way Air’s TW200 flight departing from Incheon International Airport on the 20th. In front of Gate 8, most of the passengers were holding duty-free shopping bags in their hands. There were also many passengers putting duty-free goods in their luggage. The captain’s voice was heard one hour after departure.
“Now it is over Fukuoka. However, I cannot descend due to rain clouds, so I will go back to Seoul right away.”
Depending on the airline, non-landing tourist flights are sometimes referred to as’duty-free flights’. Airlines and duty-free shops are holding hands-on discount events. Photo capture of Air Busan website
‘Seeing Japan’ looking down from the sky is a failure. However, it seemed that there were not many passengers who were disappointed. The flight attendant was busy delivering the duty-free goods pre-ordered by the passengers. According to one flight attendant, the amount of in-flight duty-free items pre-ordered by passengers that day was about $8,000. That’s an average of 74 dollars per person. T’way Air, like other airlines and duty-free shops, was holding an exceptional discount event. Valentine’s 30-year-old liquor was sold for 236 dollars (262,000 won). One passenger said, “If a couple buys two bottles of premium whiskey, they will be able to pay for the plane.” The normal price of 30-year-old Valentine’s liquor is $394 (440,000 won).
In December of last year, duty-free shops were also invigorated by allowing the use of duty-free shops for non-landing tourist flights. Even though they are not traveling to Jeju Island or overseas, there are many passengers who bring their own travel trunks and purchase duty-free goods. Newsis
Two hours after departure, the plane returned to Incheon Airport. The moment I finished the immigration procedure and tried to go through customs, I encountered an amazing scene. There is a separate declaration area for passengers who purchase in excess of the $600 duty-free limit, and there is a long line. An official at Incheon International Airport pointed out, “Among the passengers of non-landing tourist flights, there are also many package prizes.”
