Flight Delayed or Cancelled to/from Korea? What to Do

What to do at the airport right away, whether you may be owed compensation (it depends on the route, the airline and the cause), and how to get into Seoul if you land late.

At the airport: do this first

1. 1
   Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation (screenshots are fine).
2. 2
   Photograph the departure board and save every message from the airline about the delay or cancellation, with the time.
3. 3
   Go to the airline’s counter (or its app / website) and ask about rebooking on the next available flight.
4. 4
   Ask the reason for the delay or cancellation, ideally in writing — it matters for any claim later.
5. 5
   Ask what they provide while you wait (meals, a hotel, transport) and keep every receipt if you pay yourself.
6. 6
   Note the actual arrival time at your final destination (when the doors open).

Can I get compensation? It depends

There is no single rule for every flight. Whether you are owed anything — and what — depends on:

• The route and the airline. Some routes are covered by passenger-rights rules. For example, the EU rules (often called EU261) can apply to flights departing from an EU airport, and to flights into the EU on an EU airline — so a Korea–Europe flight may or may not be covered depending on the direction and the airline. Many other routes are handled only under the airline’s own conditions of carriage and local consumer rules.
• The cause. Delays caused by the airline are treated differently from “extraordinary circumstances”.
• How late you arrived at your final destination and what the airline offered you (rebooking, refund).

Check the airline’s conditions of carriage and, for EU-covered flights, the EU air passenger rights page. For flights to or from Korea you can also ask the airline, and Korea’s consumer agency, which rules apply to your case.

Source: Your Europe — air passenger rights (European Union)

Let a claim service check it

If you’re not sure whether your flight qualifies, or the airline isn’t answering, a claim service can check your flight and file the claim for you. You can also claim directly from the airline yourself.

Landing late at Incheon

A delay can push your arrival past the last trains. The last all-stop AREX trains toward Seoul leave around 23:30.

After that there are late-night buses and taxis — see Incheon Airport to Seoul for the options and our taxi estimate. If you rebook onto a later flight, you can also move your airport transfer.

Travel insurance claims

Many travel insurance policies include trip delay or missed connection cover for extra hotel nights, meals and transport — but the conditions differ by policy. Keep the airline’s written confirmation of the delay or cancellation and all receipts, and claim promptly.

Last checked: September 2026. Passenger-rights rules and airline policies change and depend on your case — check the airline’s terms and the official sources.

FAQ

Does Korean Air or Asiana pay compensation for delays?

It depends on the route, the cause and the rules that apply to your flight. Ask the airline for the reason in writing and check its conditions of carriage; for flights departing from the EU, the EU rules may apply.

My flight from Incheon was cancelled. What first?

Get rebooked (counter and app at the same time), ask what meals or hotel the airline provides, keep all receipts, and ask for the cancellation reason in writing.

Does bad weather count?

Weather and other “extraordinary circumstances” are usually excluded from compensation, but the airline may still have to rebook you or refund the ticket, and your travel insurance may cover extra costs.

Do I need a claim service?

No — you can claim directly from the airline. A claim service is an option if you’d rather not deal with it yourself; check its fee and terms first.

Related guides

• Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX vs bus vs taxi vs pickup
• Korea trip checklist: what to sort out before you fly
• Accommodation cancelled or overcharged? A checklist
• Korea eSIM vs SIM vs pocket Wi-Fi