Transiting through ICN? It's a crapshoot

OK....so the ROK airlines (Korean Air, Asiana, etc) are trying to turn Seoul Inchon (ICN) into a regional hub.

Cool, but...

my flight arrived at 1715 from HKG. I have to cool my heels here until 2000 when I have to get on yet another steel tube (AKA 747-400 PAX) for the 10 hour flight to LAX.

Upon arrival, transit passengers have to go through a security screening (why, since we did this already in HKG?). Fair enough.

However, they only had two metal detectors active and the sensitivity was set so high that EVERYONE who went through set it off and got wanded.

You'd figure that a "world class" airport would be able to figure out when the majority of connecting flights are coming in and staff accordingly.

But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Wasted 30 minutes in queue and finally got to the lounge. Two saving graces from me being absolutely pissed about it all.

Numbah 1: There's free wireless internet in the lounge here, unlike in HKG where anything that has to do with commmunications MUST be controlled by Pacific Century Cyber Works (what a dorky name) so they can make a buck offa you..

Numbah 2: The lounge here has Shin Cup AND Pocari Sweat. And a shower.

Which may leave me about 30 minutes to do some actual work.

Now why did I call this a crapshoot? Because when I was heading to HKG through ICN 3 weeks back, it took all of five minutes to do this.

And oh yah, I like Asiana Airlines A LOT but be careful about the flights you choose. If they are using a 747-400PAX avoid that flight. These are combination cargo carriers/passenger jets and it has none of the in flight amenities that Asiana is known for.

It almost feels like a better maintained UA jet.