Quick summary
T’way Air flies nonstop from Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, and Barcelona to Seoul Incheon at €600–800 roundtrip—40% below Korean Air and Asiana’s €1,100+ fares on identical city pairs. All economy fares include two meals and 23kg checked baggage as standard, with daily frequencies from Frankfurt and Rome through March 2026.
Savings narrow after promotional windows close, and winter frequencies on Paris and Barcelona routes may dip below summer levels. The full breakdown covers route-by-route scoring, fare class inclusions versus hidden extras, and three scenarios where the budget math stops working.
European travelers booking Seoul pay €300–500 more per person than they need to. Korean Air and Asiana dominate Europe–Seoul search results on Google Flights, but a Korean low-cost carrier called T’way Air now operates nonstop widebody service from four major European cities at fares that consistently undercut legacy carriers by 35–42%.
The pricing gap is structural, not seasonal. T’way flies Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Frankfurt (daily), Rome (daily), Paris CDG (five times weekly), and Barcelona (four times weekly) to Seoul Incheon. Roundtrip fares land between €600–800 through March 2026, while Korean Air and Asiana list the same city pairs at €1,100–1,300. Air Traveler Club’s fare analysis across these four European gateways shows T’way delivering consistent 35–42% savings without sacrificing the basics most travelers assume they’ll lose on a budget carrier.
For EU-based travelers departing between now and March 2026, the sweet spot is booking 2–3 months ahead on Frankfurt or Rome routes for maximum schedule flexibility. Paris and Barcelona offer comparable fares but fewer weekly departures.
What T’way includes—and what it doesn’t
Unlike typical European low-cost carriers that strip everything to reach a headline fare, T’way’s long-haul economy product includes two complimentary meals and 23kg checked baggage as standard on all Europe–Seoul flights. This is the detail that changes the comparison math entirely. When Korean Air quotes €1,100 including meals and bags, T’way’s €650 genuinely competes on an apples-to-apples basis.
The extras that aren’t included: seat selection (€30), blankets, additional checked bags, and premium meal upgrades. Pre-purchasing these through T’way’s booking engine costs significantly less than adding them at the airport. Seat selection alone runs €30 online versus unpublished but steeper gate fees. For a couple on an 11-hour flight, pre-selecting adjacent seats adds €60 total—still leaving €500+ in net savings versus Korean Air.
T’way operates widebody aircraft with economy seat pitch within one inch of Korean Air’s configuration—a critical detail for 10.5–12.5 hour flights. Our evaluation of long-haul aircraft comfort rates both the A330-200 and 777-300ER as capable performers on routes of this duration, particularly when cabin humidity and noise levels matter more than entertainment screen size.
Route-by-route breakdown: where the savings peak
Not all four gateways deliver equal value. Daily service from Frankfurt and Rome provides the scheduling flexibility that justifies the fare comparison, while Barcelona’s longer flight time and lower frequency make it the weakest option unless it’s your home airport.
| Route | Frequency | RT Fare (€) | Duration | Savings vs Korean Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome FCO–ICN | Daily | 600–750 | 11.5 hrs | 38% |
| Frankfurt FRA–ICN | Daily | 650–800 | 10.5 hrs | 35% |
| Paris CDG–ICN | 5x weekly | 600–750 | 11 hrs | 38% |
| Barcelona BCN–ICN | 4x weekly | 700–800 | 12.5 hrs | 32% |
According to T’way Air’s official Europe–Seoul schedule and inclusions, a fifth route—Zagreb to Incheon (three times weekly)—offers the deepest discounts at €550–700, representing 42% savings. The trade-off is limited Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday departures that demand rigid date flexibility.
Frankfurt scores highest overall: daily departures, shortest flight time at 10.5 hours, and fares that start at €650. Rome matches on frequency with slightly lower base fares but adds an hour of flight time. For travelers using the Continental Hop Trick—positioning via a budget intra-European flight to reach a cheaper long-haul gateway—Rome and Frankfurt both work as positioning targets from secondary cities across Southern and Central Europe.
Zagreb: Europe’s hidden Seoul gateway
Croatia’s capital isn’t on most travelers’ radar for Asia flights, but T’way’s three-weekly Zagreb–Incheon service at €550–700 roundtrip represents the deepest discount in the network. For travelers already visiting the Adriatic or willing to position cheaply from Vienna or Budapest, Zagreb delivers 42% savings—the highest margin of any European T’way gateway.
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Booking timing and the March 2026 cliff
T’way’s promotional fare structure runs through March 28, 2026. Within that window, the 2–3 month advance purchase range consistently delivers the lowest fares. Booking 4+ months ahead shows marginally higher prices, while last-minute searches within 3 weeks of departure jump 20–30% above the promotional floor.
After March 2026, base fares are projected to rise 20–30% as promotional pricing expires. The gap between T’way and legacy carriers would narrow from 35–42% to roughly 15–25%—still meaningful, but less dramatic. Travelers planning summer 2026 Seoul trips should book now at promotional rates for travel dates before the cutoff.
T’way’s booking engine at twayair.com occasionally surfaces coupon codes (€30–50 off qualifying fares). The original KOREA2507 promotional code from July 2025 has expired, but the site rotates new offers—check the booking page before finalizing payment.
Three scenarios where the savings disappear
T’way’s value proposition is strong but not universal. These situations erode or eliminate the advantage:
- Peak holiday travel (December–February). Lower-frequency routes like Barcelona (4x weekly) and Zagreb (3x weekly) sell out quickly during Korean holiday periods. Booking 3–4 months ahead becomes mandatory, and fare gaps compress as legacy carriers run their own seasonal promotions.
- Winter frequency reductions. T’way filed tentative Q4 2025 frequency adjustments for European routes. Paris and Barcelona services may operate below summer levels during shoulder months, reducing date flexibility and potentially pushing travelers toward pricier alternatives.
- Non-European departures. North American travelers cannot access T’way’s Europe–Seoul routes without positioning flights costing €400–600 plus 6–10 hours of travel time. This cuts effective savings to 15–20%—rarely worth the complexity. Our analysis of Europe–Asia carrier value covers alternatives better suited to transatlantic connections.
The bigger picture: budget long-haul to Asia is expanding
T’way’s European network reflects a broader shift. Korean LCCs are aggressively expanding into long-haul markets that legacy carriers have priced above €1,000 for decades. Seoul Incheon—already Asia’s most efficient transit hub—now serves as a gateway for onward connections across Japan, Southeast Asia, and China on T’way’s 60-destination network.
For travelers whose final destination lies beyond Seoul, the €300–500 saved on the European leg can fund an entire intra-Asia positioning flight. A €650 Frankfurt–Seoul ticket plus a €150 Seoul–Tokyo connection still undercuts Korean Air’s Frankfurt–Tokyo fare by €200+.
Questions? Answers.
Does T’way include checked baggage on all Europe–Seoul economy fares?
Yes. All economy fares on T’way’s European routes include 23kg checked baggage and two meals as standard. Confirm inclusions during booking, as some promotional fare classes may have different add-on structures. Additional bags cost less when pre-purchased online than at the airport.
How does T’way seat comfort compare to Korean Air on 11-hour flights?
T’way operates A330-200 and B777-300ER widebodies with economy pitch within one inch of Korean Air’s configuration. The primary comfort difference is soft product: Korean Air provides complimentary blankets, pillows, and a wider meal selection. T’way charges for blankets and seat selection (€30) but matches the hard product on legroom and seat width.
Are T’way winter frequencies the same as summer 2025?
Not necessarily. Summer 2025 schedules show Frankfurt and Rome as daily, Paris at five times weekly, and Barcelona at four times weekly. T’way filed tentative Q4 2025 frequency adjustments for European routes, meaning winter service may dip on some city pairs. Check the T’way booking calendar for specific travel dates before committing.
Is Zagreb worth the lower frequency for maximum savings?
Zagreb offers the deepest discount at €550–700 roundtrip (42% savings), but only flies Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. If your dates align with those departures, it delivers €50–150 more savings than Frankfurt. If you need flexibility to shift dates by a day or two, daily Frankfurt service at €650–800 is the safer choice.
Can I connect onward from Seoul to other Asian cities on T’way?
T’way operates a 60-destination network across Asia from Seoul Incheon, covering Japan, Southeast Asia, and China. However, European and Asian flights are booked as separate tickets. Build in at least 3–4 hours between arrivals and departures, and note that missed connections on separate tickets carry no airline protection.
What happens to fares after March 2026?
T’way’s current promotional pricing structure expires March 28, 2026. Base fares are expected to rise 20–30%, narrowing the gap with Korean Air and Asiana to roughly 15–25%. The carrier will likely continue undercutting legacy pricing, but the current 35–42% advantage is tied to the active promotional window.
