On a recent vacation in Vietnam, I was dreading the flight back to New York — mainly because I wanted to spend more time hiking in the mountain villages and sipping killer iced coffee, but also because I had a five-hour layover on my 22-hour return trip.
Lucky for me, I had a fantastic economy-class experience on Korean Air, and my early-morning layover was scheduled for Incheon International Airport in South Korea.
Located 30 miles west of the country's capital city, Seoul, Incheon ranks second on Business Insider's 2015 list of the best airports in the world. But I'd done zero research ahead of my arrival in South Korea, so I was unaware of Incheon International's stellar ranking.
Determined to stretch my legs before the 13-hour flight to New York, I spent my layover walking around and checking out all the airport had to offer for weary travelers like myself.
5:30 a.m. — Welcome to South Korea!
I landed in South Korea after a four-hour flight from Hanoi. The overnight flight combined with the time difference between cities left me drowsy.
After connecting to the airport's free Wi-Fi, I emailed my parents to let them know I was still alive and then groggily followed these super helpful screens through a security check to the international transfer section.
5:50 a.m. — I arrive at the nicest airport gate I've ever seen.
At this early, quiet hour, a few signs and directories told me that things would start to come alive at 7 a.m., so I headed to the gate for my 10:05 a.m. flight to JFK.
Once there, I was stunned.
Where was the ratty, blue-gray carpet specked with pastry crumbs? Who had replaced the ambiguously stained, maximized-for-lower-back-pain plastic seating with these sleek, comfortable chairs? Why do these hardwood floors looks so clean and new?
I had an hour to kill, so I decided to charge up at the gate.
These charging stations were great for a couple of reasons. First, they had a few different wattage and plug options, which is really helpful for international travelers. And the outlets were spaced to allow for bulky converters, because there's nothing more frustrating than a perfectly available outlet being covered by the corner of someone else's plug.
Finally, the stations are conveniently located in the seating areas, eliminating the need to sit on the floor next to a wall outlet while your Kindle charges. Being able to sit at the main gate and keep eyes on your valuables in the charging station — as well as your luggage — is key.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider