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Jin Air (LJ) Guide

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Low-cost flights from Seoul and Busan to Bangkok, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Guam: Jin Air routes, fleet, baggage, check-in, tips and the 2027 merger explained. Ask a question
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In short

Jin Air is the low-cost airline of Korean Air, based in Seoul with hubs at Incheon and Gimpo. Boeing 737s and 777s fly to Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Guam, a budget option within the Korean Air group. It has no alliance. All seats are Economy, with a 10 kg cabin bag and 15 kg checked on Southeast Asian routes or 20 kg to China.

Jin Air is the budget carrier of the Korean Air group and the company that will absorb Air Busan and Air Seoul.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Jin Air. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Jin Air is the low-cost subsidiary of Korean Air. It was incorporated in January 2008, began flying on 17 July 2008 and is headquartered in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, close to Gimpo Airport. Its hubs are Seoul Incheon and Gimpo, with Busan and Jeju as focus cities.

For Thailand, Jin Air offers two nonstop routes into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi: one from Seoul Incheon and one from Busan Gimhae. Travellers comparing the Seoul pair can see every operator on Bangkok to Seoul flights and Seoul to Bangkok flights.

The airline is in the middle of a large change. In August 2026 the boards of Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul signed a merger agreement under which Jin Air absorbs the other two. Shareholder votes are scheduled for December 2026, and the combined carrier is due to launch under the Jin Air name on 17 March 2027, which would make it the largest budget airline in Korea by fleet. Tickets bought today are simply Jin Air tickets; any changes for passengers are expected closer to the launch date.

Away from Thailand, Jin Air covers about a dozen Japanese airports, Vietnam (Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc), the Philippines, Kota Kinabalu, Taipei, Hong Kong, Ulaanbaatar and Guam, and it flies Boeing 777-200ERs on some of its busiest sectors. Travellers arriving in Bangkok on other airlines, such as Biman or US-Bangla, can continue to Korea on Jin Air from Suvarnabhumi.

How Jin Air grew

Jin Air's first flight, Gimpo to Jeju on a Boeing 737-800, took off on 17 July 2008. Bangkok was its first scheduled international destination, in December 2009, which makes the Thai route one of its oldest. Cargo flights started in November 2013, and in December 2015 the airline opened its first long-haul route, Incheon to Honolulu, using Boeing 777-200ERs. It listed on the Korea Exchange on 8 December 2017. In 2018 it carried 3.5 million domestic and 5.4 million international passengers and was the country's second-largest budget airline.

Its 777s were taken out of service in February 2021, after an engine failure on a United Airlines 777 with the same Pratt and Whitney engine family led the FAA to issue an airworthiness directive; the first returned to service on 12 June 2022. The chief executive is Park Byung-Ryul and the ICAO code is JNA.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
Jin Air official website

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  1. Jin Air official website
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Good to know

  • AllianceNone (Korean Air group)
  • Founded2008
  • Online check-inYes

Everything you should know

Airline codes

LJ · JNA

IATA · ICAO · callsign “JIN AIR”

Every Jin Air flight number begins with LJ. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code JNA, and the radio callsign is JIN AIR.

Key facts

Network

Korea and Asia-Pacific

Thailand · Japan · Vietnam · Philippines · Taiwan · Guam

Jin Air flies from Seoul and Busan to Bangkok, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia and Guam.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Economy

Economy throughout, with paid JINI PLUS extra-legroom seats.

About the cabin

Good to know

Jin Air includes 15 kg of checked baggage on Southeast Asia routes, which many budget airlines charge for. Official website: jinair.com.

Start a new search

bookingMentor lists LJ fares beside the other carriers on the same route, which shows quickly whether Jin Air is the cheaper way to reach Bangkok.

Safe travels on Jin Air.

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At a glance

Jin Air (IATA: LJ, ICAO: JNA) is the low-cost subsidiary of Korean Air, founded in 2008 and based in Seoul with hubs at Incheon and Gimpo. It flies Boeing 737s and 777-200ERs to Japan, Southeast Asia and Guam, including Incheon and Busan to Bangkok, and is due to absorb Air Busan and Air Seoul in March 2027.

Key facts about Jin Air
HeadquartersGangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Fleet typesBoeing 737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 8, 777-200ER, Airbus A321-200
Official websitejinair.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
Jin Air adjusts its network every season, and the 2027 merger is likely to reshape it further. These are established destinations; confirm the current schedule when you search. Search flights

Thailand

Seoul (ICN) departures1 destination

Fleet and aircraft

Jin Air flies 31 aircraft: 19 Boeing 737-800s, five 737 MAX 8s, three 737-900s, three 777-200ERs and one Airbus A321 taken over from Asiana in 2026, with 13 more on order.

  • Boeing 737-800 Narrow-body The core of the fleet on regional international routes
  • Boeing 737-900 Narrow-body Higher-capacity and newer narrow-body flights
  • Boeing 737 MAX 8 Narrow-body Higher-capacity and newer narrow-body flights
  • Boeing 777-200ER Wide-body Peak-demand routes, about 393 seats
  • Airbus A321-200 Narrow-body Single aircraft taken over from Asiana Airlines

Cabin classes

One cabin, with optional extra-legroom seats.

Economy All flights

Free checked bag included

10 kg cabin bag15 kg checked on Southeast Asia routesPaid JINI PLUS extra-legroom seats

Frequent flyer programme

Details of the Jin Air loyalty programme are being added Jin Air is a member of None (Korean Air group), so you may earn miles with its partner programmes.
Join on the airline's site

Baggage allowance

Your allowance depends on the region you fly to. The exact amount is printed on your booking.

Cabin baggage
1 piece, 10 kg, 115 cm
Checked, Southeast Asia
15 kg
Checked, China
20 kg
Infants
10 kg

One 10 kg cabin bag within 115 cm. Checked baggage: 15 kg to Southeast Asia, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan; 20 kg to China.

Pro tip: buy extra weight online at least 24 hours before the flight.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Here is the order to follow for an LJ flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.

  • Online check-in available
  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Online check-in for LJ flights is on the official Jin Air website or app. You need the LJ booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your Jin Air flight.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Get to the airport with time for Jin Air check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.

    Well before departure
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Jin Air desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your LJ trip.

    Jin Air counter
Departing from Seoul? Terminals, lounges, food and transport at Incheon International, all in one guide.
Seoul Airport guide Check in with Jin Air
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Cheap tickets

Points that help on a Jin Air trip between Thailand and Korea.

  1. 01

    Count the included bag

    When comparing Jin Air with other budget fares to Seoul, add the bag fee to the rivals. Jin Air's 15 kg is already in the price.

    15 kg free
  2. 02

    Top up in 5 kg steps

    Shopping in Bangkok? Add 5 kg online up to a day before the flight; excess paid at the Suvarnabhumi counter costs more.

    Online only
  3. 03

    Look for the 777

    On dates when Jin Air puts a 777-200ER on a route, the bigger cabin can mean more seats at lower fares. The aircraft is shown at booking.

    Wide-body
  4. 04

    Watch the merger news

    For travel after March 2027, expect flight numbers, check-in and membership to change as Air Busan and Air Seoul fold into Jin Air.

    March 2027
  5. 05

    Top up weight in 5 kg steps

    Unlike many Asian budget carriers, Jin Air includes a 15 kg checked bag on its Southeast Asia routes. If that is not enough, extra weight is sold online in 5 kg steps up to 24 hours before departure, at a discount to airport rates.

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Jin Air alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Jin Air flights

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Jin Air.
Answers checked against Jin Air’s official sources and public aviation references, and reviewed each season.

General

Yes. Alongside its Incheon service, Jin Air runs a nonstop flight between Busan Gimhae and Suvarnabhumi, convenient for the south-east of Korea.