✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Air Seoul is Asiana’s low-cost offshoot, flying short-haul out of Seoul Incheon and Gimpo to Japan, China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, plus the domestic Gimpo–Jeju shuttle. The thing to know before you book the cheapest fare: on an international Special Fare you get zero free checked baggage — just your 10 kg of cabin allowance and nothing in the hold. That’s the rock-bottom price you see on a deal, and the bag is an add-on, not an oversight.
It’s not a blanket “no bag ever,” though, and that’s where Air Seoul differs from a Ryanair-style LCC. Domestic flights and international Regular/Discount fares include 15 kg of checked baggage free. So whether your cheap ticket comes with a bag depends entirely on which fare bucket it sits in — a Special Fare to Tokyo or Da Nang is bag-less, while a slightly dearer Discount fare on the same route hands you 15 kg. Read the fare name at checkout, not just the price.
Quick facts
| Cabin + personal item | 10 kg total, 55 x 40 x 20 cm |
| Cheapest int'l fare (Special) | No free checked bag |
| Int'l Regular/Discount fare | 15 kg checked included |
| Domestic fare | 15 kg checked included |
| Checked size limit | 203 cm (L+W+H) |
| Prepaid extra bag (int'l) | ~₩40,000–60,000 per 15 kg |
| Sports/sized equipment | ₩20,000 per item |
| Gate-check penalty | ₩10,000 domestic / ₩20,000 int'l |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | One small item (laptop, handbag, duty-free) under the seat — counts toward the 10 kg total |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm (115 cm total); cabin bag + personal item combined must not exceed 10 kg — all fares |
Checked baggage & fees
| Int'l Special Fare (cheapest) | 0 kg free — buy a bag separately |
| Int'l Regular / Discount Fare | 15 kg per piece included |
| Domestic Regular / Discount | 15 kg per piece included |
| Max checked size | 203 cm total (L+W+H); bags over 23 kg refused at the gate |
| Prepaid int'l (first 15 kg) | ₩40,000 Japan · ₩50,000 China/HK · ₩60,000 SE Asia |
| Airport excess (int'l, per kg) | ~₩12,000 Japan · ₩15,000 China/HK · ₩18,000 SE Asia |
| Domestic excess | ₩8,000 per 5 kg prepaid · ₩3,000 per kg at airport |
Baggage by region & route
Checked-bag inclusion on the cheapest fare can depend on where you fly, not just the fare name. Here is what the lowest fare includes by route:
| Route / fare | Cheapest fare includes |
|---|---|
| Domestic (Gimpo–Jeju etc.) | 15 kg checked included |
| International — Regular / Discount fare | 15 kg checked included |
| International — Special Fare (cheapest) | No checked bag |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special (int'l) | Included (in 10 kg) | 10 kg total | None — add separately |
| Discount (int'l) | Included (in 10 kg) | 10 kg total | 15 kg |
| Regular (int'l) | Included (in 10 kg) | 10 kg total | 15 kg |
| Domestic | Included (in 10 kg) | 10 kg total | 15 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
On a cheap Air Seoul deal fare you’re almost always on a Special Fare, which means cabin-only: 10 kg total split between your carry-on and a personal item, and an empty hold. For a weekend in Tokyo or Osaka that’s livable. For two weeks in Vietnam or a China trip with gifts coming home, you’ll need to add a bag — and the smart move is to buy it online before you fly, not at the counter.
Budget roughly ₩40,000 (Japan), ₩50,000 (China/Hong Kong) or ₩60,000 (Southeast Asia) for your first 15 kg prepaid — call it €25–40 each way. Walk up to the airport with an unbooked bag and you’re paying per kilo (₩12,000–18,000/kg internationally), which spirals fast on a full case. Note the hard cap: anything over 23 kg is refused at the boarding gate, so split heavy loads across two pieces.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports and specially-sized gear — skis, snowboards, surfboards, windsurfing kit, diving equipment and bicycles — carries a flat ₩20,000-per-item charge that applies even if the item is within your free weight allowance, so a bagged-fare passenger still pays it. Total checked dimensions are capped at 203 cm normally and 277 cm absolute; oversized items must clear that. Strollers and one piece of infant equipment fly free, and infants get one bag up to 10 kg.
2025/2026 note: domestic airport excess rose to ₩3,000 per kg from 1 January 2025 (up from ₩2,000). Air Seoul remains a short-haul carrier with no long-haul fleet, so there is no intercontinental fare that bundles a bag the way a US- or Canada-origin transpacific Basic fare might — every Air Seoul checked allowance is the 15 kg short-haul piece or nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Air Seoul's cheapest fare include a checked bag?
Not on international routes. The cheapest international ticket is a Special Fare, which gives you 0 kg of free checked baggage — only the 10 kg cabin allowance. International Regular/Discount fares and all domestic fares include 15 kg.
How much carry-on can I bring on Air Seoul?
One cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm plus one small personal item, with a combined weight of 10 kg across both. This is the same on every fare, including the cheapest Special Fare.
What is Air Seoul's free checked baggage allowance?
15 kg per piece on domestic flights and on international Regular/Discount fares. International Special Fares get nothing free. Maximum checked size is 203 cm (length + width + height).
How much does it cost to add a checked bag to a Special Fare?
Prepaid online, the first 15 kg runs about ₩40,000 to Japan, ₩50,000 to China/Hong Kong and ₩60,000 to Southeast Asia. Buying at the airport is charged per kilo (₩12,000–18,000/kg internationally) and works out far more expensive.
Is there a weight limit per checked bag on Air Seoul?
Yes — any single bag over 23 kg will be refused at the boarding gate. Heavy loads must be split across multiple pieces, and overall dimensions can’t exceed 277 cm.
Does Air Seoul charge for sports equipment?
Yes, a flat ₩20,000 per item for skis, snowboards, surfboards, windsurfing gear, diving equipment and bicycles. This applies even if the item fits within your free checked allowance.
Does Air Seoul fly long-haul, and would those fares include a bag?
No. Air Seoul is a short-haul carrier serving Korea, Japan, China/Hong Kong and Southeast Asia only. There’s no intercontinental fare, so the bag rules are simply: 15 kg on domestic and Regular/Discount international fares, nothing on Special Fares.
What happens if I show up at the gate with an unregistered bag?
You’ll pay a gate-check penalty of ₩10,000 on domestic flights or ₩20,000 on international flights, on top of any excess weight charges. Register and prepay your bag online to avoid it.